Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: RotBaron on August 28, 2014, 12:15:03 AM
-
:huh what a week.
Preface: I never expected this to be easy. Matter of fact I know it will be a ton of work, some of it fun, some of it boring, some of it rewarding and a lot of it all kinds of other things.
First thing, I worry too much, always have, but there I was feeling somewhat confident, comfortable and most of all quite relieved that the week had finally arrived that I have been waiting for. Although I have a BS in CIS, I still had to do 1.5 yrs of science pre-requisites that my business degree didn't encompass. After that I opted to go the community college route instead of the university because of $, that meant a 2yr+ waiting list after pre-reqs.
Sitting in lecture and at break now comes along Debbie Downer and her pessimist accomplice; they spoke to anybody who would listen about how they failed the first semester and are re-do's.
Little info: Nursing school (here) a 76% is a C, at 75% is a D, which is a failing grade. The grade is arrived at by your test scores, and test scores must cumulatively be above 76%, regardless of how many points you earn on other assignments. However you still must pass those other assignment too, so in all basically if you break it into two parts, you must pass both parts.
That's all fine, good and as anticipated.
What was not, is Debbie and her warnings about how "they" (professors) are going to try to weed as many out as possible and that "20 of us (out of 80) will be lucky to graduate on time". To which I thought, wow, 75% attrition rate, holy moly :confused:
So I did a little, research, per my state's Board of Nursing, collectively for all RN programs in 2011, the amount that graduate on time is 67%. I'm sure there is some portion of students in there that lost the feeling, never wanted to do it in the first place, etc. and up to those who just couldn't cut it. It would be pure speculation, but I'd assume 40something yr olds (39 myself) are more successful and account for less of that attrition rate than the 20something yr olds.
If you've read this far, you probably have some advice, so I'd appreciate any you might have. If your wife, family or friends are nurses maybe you could ask about how true it is they are really trying to weed good students out, or if they just want to see their students act and work like adults.
Suckitupbuttercup is my feeling at the moment, but Debbie helped to eschew a moment of pure fear and doubt in myself. I think I'll have to stay as far away from her negativity as possible. It didn't help that 3 other students identified themselves as redo's too.
I know it will be a lot of work, know it will test my patience, my will, and my testament to achieve.
Wish me luck if nothing else.
Sorry kinda felt like ranting a bit too, that I felt duped into a racket; in hindsight 33% attrition is probably not that far off from most universities though.
-
Suckitupbuttercup
^ this, because worrying about it won't help anyone, least of all you.
Good luck.
-
Good luck on becoming an RN.. Ohhh Nurssssee! :neener:
-
You got this! :aok
My wife is a PNP now in private practice. It was a long road but well worth it.
She never showed any doubts that she would finish. She did adjust her graduation timing a couple of times because of class availability but that was all before the nursing program started. Once she was in that, she was in! Don't worry about the others.. you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned your age. It's a grown up's game you are in now. Some of the kids in that school just won't make it until they do grow up.
You'll do just fine.
On another note.. you should seriously consider getting your masters and your NP license after nursing school. The hours and pay are much better outside of the hospital world.
-
You have to put out of your mind all the competition and just focus on what YOU need to do.
It's not easy to do, I wrote all my professional exams thinking "Oh my God, these guys and girls are all so freaking smart" and worried that I would be a victim of the "curve". I even had one guy get caught cheating off me in one exam, he was taken away about half-way through one particular exam. I had no idea what was happening and was just "in the zone". The guy who escorted the cheater out approached me after the exam and told me what had happened. My first comment was "Boy, he chose the WRONG guy to cheat off."
But in the end it all worked out.
-
Lesson #1.....you have to perform.....get out of this game and study...... :old:
-
Thanks for the encouragement.
Time to batten the hatches. My stack of books is over a foot high...
I will play AH from time to time, probably mostly to blow off some steam/take a break every now and then; but you're right Canspec, I won't be :airplane: much for the next two years.
I'm trying to get transferred into the one cc that does summer school after "block" (semester) 2, so that I can finish without having to take a 3 month break, I'm too old to have summer vacation :lol
:salute
-
Do you know why to assess (feel/palpate (for pulse)) the carotid arteries one at a time (non-symmetrical)?
I didn't until the other day.
I know Eeyore would know, so he can't answer yet.
-
Good luck Rotbaron as paramedic for the last 20some yrs I am actually thinking about the medic to rn bridge course they offer online. I am the same age as you and my body is finally telling me it is time to start thinking about getting off the street and work in doors. I know the nursing side of the courses I will not have a problem it is just all the other b/s courses ya need to do I will hate math and English comp. But if all goes well I will hopefully start this adventure after the Holidays plus another side note after I am done and pass I can transfer to nurse gig at the university I work for as a medic.
-
Thank you and good luck to you as well sir.
Having your agency/company find you a spot in a nursing program will be a huge help if they will do so. If you start the Associate's portion at the community college there will be waiting lists, Often, hospitals/healthcare contracting companies have allotted slots in those programs which are not available to the general public, i.e. it is a way to bypass the wait list.
That may not even be necessary if there is a Paramedic to Rn bridge; which it sounds like you are saying, and you can go for the BSN without having to spend time at the commcollege?
I'm not a big math/science guy, the one website that was very helpful in me finding professors for the pre-requisites that are reasonable/don't hide the ball/tell you what they want from you and what to study was: ratemyprofessors.com
At that site you'll have to wade through some professor reviews that aren't helpful, like is the teacher "hot" lol, but you should get a good idea of prof's that students liked not because they were "easy", but rather because they were straight-forward and helped you learn. I earned straight A's in microbio, A&P's, nutrition, chemistry and others not because I'm gifted in that area, but because said professors were upfront about their expectations.
Thank you for your service in your career too :aok
Rot
:salute
-
My wife attended the College of St. Theresa. They did 2 full years in classroom study then 2 years of labs, and in-hospital experience at St. Mary's Hospital/MAYO CLINIC Rochester, MN.
She was a B+ student and worked very hard. The ones that dropped out or changed major either A) Did not anticipate just how much nurses are expected to handle (FAR more than the 1980's). A good 20% of students could not get past the dreaded "A&P" Anatomy & Physiology classes, dissections, and "icky stuff".
If you are a strong student with good study habits you will succeed.
The ones that couldn't hack the science changed majors. There is also two different other roads called A) "I partied Too Much" and B) "I REALLY Have To Go To Class?"
GOOD LUCK. The more classes you can take prior in HS for anatomy, physiology, learning some Latin, etc. helps.
:aok
-
Thank you and good luck to you as well sir.
Having your agency/company find you a spot in a nursing program will be a huge help if they will do so. If you start the Associate's portion at the community college there will be waiting lists, Often, hospitals/healthcare contracting companies have allotted slots in those programs which are not available to the general public, i.e. it is a way to bypass the wait list.
That may not even be necessary if there is a Paramedic to Rn bridge; which it sounds like you are saying, and you can go for the BSN without having to spend time at the commcollege?
I'm not a big math/science guy, the one website that was very helpful in me finding professors for the pre-requisites that are reasonable/don't hide the ball/tell you what they want from you and what to study was: ratemyprofessors.com
At that site you'll have to wade through some professor reviews that aren't helpful, like is the teacher "hot" lol, but you should get a good idea of prof's that students liked not because they were "easy", but rather because they were straight-forward and helped you learn. I earned straight A's in microbio, A&P's, nutrition, chemistry and others not because I'm gifted in that area, but because said professors were upfront about their expectations.
Thank you for your service in your career too :aok
Rot
:salute
Ya the Paramedic to Rn Bridge Course is 18 months long and include's everything from what I am reading for and total cost is around or a tad over 10k so waiting til after the holidays to do this.
<S>
-
Commendable career path, good for you Rot, it sounds like it'll work out well for you. Keep that nose to the grindstone, it sounds from your posts that you're going to do great.
-
Thank you Gman and others.
Week 2; it's hard keeping up with the reading, I'm not a speed reader by any means and there's so much of it. It has to be a lets see if you can figure out what we want from you situation. :bhead
I did my CNA a couple years ago so some of this is review, but the amount of protocol for nursing/na staff just to walk into a patient's and ask questions/do routine head to toe inspection is vast.
'hangin tuff
-
Best of luck! :aok
-
Good luck
Many a good nurse has prevented mistakes by knowing the patient much more than the doctor who only visits once a day. :salute
-
Thank you gents.
Completely cart before horse has arrived, but last time I met with an AF recruiter, potential Officers in medical vocations were getting waivers to go to COT as old as 42 (even older actually wink wink). Several years ago, before I turned 35 I was trying to go standard line and not COT, there weren't any positions, i.e. no jobs/review boards cancelled... Anyone know read the AF Times, kept up with where recruiting is these days in medical? I know medical would be my only path at my advanced age of 39 now. :lol
Just thinking about it...if it happens it happens, so be it. It was such a huge let down 5 yrs ago, I don't get my hopes up for things like that anymore, keeps my keel more even.
Keep more baskets than eggs, keeps me in control.
:salute
-
Wow, today I found out a block 4 (last semester student before NCLEX (RN licensing exam)) failed and will therefore have to repeat block 4. This particular guy was hand picked to come talk to us block 1 noobs about how to succeed, do well here and most importantly pass. Yes, everybody has a bad day now and then, but that's not a bad day. He's a bright guy too.
The thing that gets me is all semester long I've seen this guy on campus nearly everyday I'm there; I can only conclude he must also be there quite a bit when I'm not. He seems to always be in the study rooms and working hard.
I get that there will be many that drop out for whatever reason; we started with 80 and are at 75 already. And I can imagine first week in January it might be 60 or less of us. To me that makes sense, this being the beginning and still early. Problem is it seems it won't stop there and I'm not talking about those that have life issues that come up, I'm talking about good students who are smart and work hard.
Atm I just can't wrap my head around what I'm seeing. Are they running a racket here in my county at the CC's? I can't imagine the same thing going on at our Universities, ppl would be up in arms if they spent that kind of money and effort not to succeed.
The other thing is the nursing "shortage" is not exactly the case anymore; when there was 5-8 yrs ago, did they crank out too many and now they are trying to limit the matriculation?
I'm working my tail off here and I can help but feel a little concerned there is something going on here.
Ugggh. :confused:
-
Geezer:
All of the anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, nutrition, chemistry, microbiology, math, and anything else you can imagine are done as prerequisites here to entering nursing school at the community colleges. Did all that 2-3 yrs ago.
It's all nursing from the beginning: geriatric, med-surg, peds/ob, psych...
-
Anything worth doing...
For what its worth, in the '90s the USAF Academy washout rate over the 4 years was roughly 30-40%. My class started with around 1600 cadets and graduated 1000, and we were a "big" graduating class. The class 2 yrs ahead of me started 1500 and graduated around 800. The lesson there is that any difficult program actually worth completing (that daddy can't buy your way through to graduation) is going to have a high washout rate. The lesson I got out of it is that if you REALLY want it, you'll either graduate or you'll be eased out before you hurt someone through an un-recoverable lack of talent. If you don't make it and have any excuse other than "I wasn't good enough", then you most likely didn't really want it to begin with.
We had some guys spend 6 years at the Academy and still graduate, because they wanted it that bad. Not many show so much motivation that they're given the extra year, but some guys just won't quit.
IMHO.
-
... that "20 of us (out of 80) will be lucky to graduate on time". To which I thought, wow, 75% attrition rate, holy moly :confused:
So I did a little, research, per my state's Board of Nursing, collectively for all RN programs in 2011, the amount that graduate on time is 67%. I'm sure there is some portion of students in there that lost the feeling, never wanted to do it in the first place, etc. and up to those who just couldn't cut it. It would be pure speculation, but I'd assume 40something yr olds (39 myself) are more successful and account for less of that attrition rate than the 20something yr olds.
I do not know if this is true for nursing, but I think (not 100% sure) that the number one reason for college drop outs (from Freshman year to Sophomore) is $$$.
I guess, (and it looks as if you do to), that there has to be a range of reasons for the non- on time graduation rates you found. Finance, change in major, family emergencies, being the victim of a crime, AND failing grades could all be possibilities. So, if all you are worried about is your comprehension and retention levels, (and the ability to regurgitate it all at an appointed time), I think that you'll do just fine.
Good Luck!
-
Wow, today I found out a block 4 (last semester student before NCLEX (RN licensing exam)) failed and will therefore have to repeat block 4. This particular guy was hand picked to come talk to us block 1 noobs about how to succeed, do well here and most importantly pass. Yes, everybody has a bad day now and then, but that's not a bad day. He's a bright guy too.
In September I sat the first exam for the Society of Trust and Estate Practicioners (STEP) designation. It was the first of 5 exams to get their diploma. I have a whole bunch of professional development to do each year and these exams will ensure I get 4 years of all my CPD taken care of, and I'll have a few more initials after my last name as a bonus.
I had been sent the material in May. It sat on my desk and was completely ignored until July. I had every intention to start studying in August. Nada. September came along and we had a week long course to prepare for the exam. All of the other candidates had binders of study notes, they had highlighted up all their material and seemed to be right on top of everything. I pulled the plastic covers off the material and put it into my binders the night before the course started.
That week went well but I was really nervous that I might not do as well as I should. I have acted as a Trustee for many families and individuals for over a decade, but never bothered to get actually qualified.
The day of the exam I was a bit of a nervous wreak and was kicking myself for the lack of preparation detailed above.
We had 15 minutes to read the exam and then three hours to complete 25 multiple choice questions and then choose 3 of 5 case studies to do...like essay questions.
I made a rookie mistake when the exam started...after the 15 minutes of reading. I got hung up on 3 multiple choice questions. They were driving me NUTS. None of the answers made sense. Eventually after re reading the questions four or five times I did finally "get them" and then suddenly realised I had spent FAR too long on that section of the exam.
I looked at my watch and panic set in. I was 30 minutes over my budgeted time for the MC questions. (In reality I had forgotten the 15 minutes we had to read and was only 15 minutes behind). So I started to write. I wrote as fast as I could and dumped down as much info as I could on the first question. Feeling pretty good about that one I started hammering away at question 2, which was comprised of four separate subquestions (a) through (d). When I got down to part (c) it suddenly dawned on me that I had been writing about the wrong type of trust. Completely the wrong one. So, I simply wrote a one liner in the memo to the client "This WOULD have been the case if the desire was to have an asset protection trust. However, this case is focused on a Trust which has been established to provide income to one benficiary and then the balance to the rest" I then kicked into overdrive and finished that.
Question 3...I'll be honest. I have no idea what I wrote. I was going so fast that the entire question was a blur.
When the person who was overseeing the exam said "Stop" I had litterally finished the last sentence I intended to write.
I walked out of that exam thinking I was screwed. I thought I had made a huge mistake in even taking it and worried I was going to look really foolish to my clients if they found out.
Six weeks later and on the day the big hurricane hit us (17th Oct) I was reading my email when one popped up headed: Notification of Exam Results
I hesitated for a second but then opened it up.
Grade: A
Examination result: DISTINCTION
I only relay this because when I was out on a coffee break I was involved in a conversation with some of the other candidates. At one point one of them turned to another and said "Do you know that John Smith from XYZ company passed this exam and didn't study at all until the prep course started?" All of the people involved were shaking their heads and sucking their teeth. Little did they know that I did the same thing.
Just because someone studies alot and works hard and appears very smart doesn't make it so.
-
So I am reading this:
In September I sat the first exam for the Society of Trust and Estate Practicioners (STEP) designation.
OK. What the hell is STEP?
Then I read this:
.... Feeling pretty good about that one I started hammering away at question 2, which was comprised of four separate subquestions (a) through (d). When I got down to part (c) it suddenly dawned on me that I had been writing about the wrong type of trust. Completely the wrong one. So, I simply wrote a one liner in the memo to the client "This WOULD have been the case if the desire was to have an asset protection trust. However, this case is focused on a Trust which has been established to provide income to one benficiary and then the balance to the rest" I then kicked into overdrive and finished that....
OK. The guy is a lawyer or an accountant. Still do not know what STEP is.
Turn on The Google.
And reading reading reading... "Professional Standards" reading reading reading.... CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT ...reading reading reading.... CODE OF BEST PRACTICE reading reading reading.... PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN RELATION TO TAXATION, OK, it is now time to stop. But wait, just one last link (history of...) "There was a P for practitioners and we wanted an S for society. PEST and PETS were quickly rejected leaving the only other anagram - STEP." OK so this George Tasker sounds like a decent guy. A bit old school, but I'm OK with that. Seems to have enjoyed "the privilege of attending a lunch at the Palace of Westminster to welcome the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay, and presenting him with his membership certificate."
OK. Never heard of STEP before. Sounds interesting. I guess that I'll pay attention when I see TEP after a name.
Back to forum. Check again on who made post. Got it. Then saw "Some will fall in love with life and drink it from a fountain that is pouring like an avalanche coming down the mountain".
Now that's interesting. Very memorable. But I can not place it. And I'm a little better than most for recalling worthy quotes. I get them in the ball park - more often than not. At least I'm OK for a nonprofessional. Must be someone I steer clear of. Someone like a Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf or a perhaps the product of a translation of a romantic Russian novel.
Turn on The Google.
Butthole Surfers.
Never heard of them. Really interesting. Not all their stuff, but enough sounds really good. Poets with musical instruments.
I'm glad that you put the quote in your profile and I'm glad that I traced it down.
I do have a suggestion for you though Mr. Curval.
I would like to suggest that you keep separate, distinct and especially secret your association with Aces High from any of your STEP associates and clients. There is a branding incongruity that you should be aware of and thus manage deftly.
-
Based on my Facebook friends in nursing, the Male / Female ratio is insanely in your favor.
I agree with the person who implied people are being weeded out to protect society against an "un-recoverable lack of talent". That's what makes a higher failure rate desirable. That's why I hate it when politicians focus on school graduation rates... a high graduation rate is only desirable when 100% of the graduates deserved to graduate by learning the topics they've been enrolled in.
I also finished school in my 30s. For me, I learned some topics slower, some faster, than the typical 19-23 year old, mainly depending on how much I could relate to experiences and how much was straightly theoretical from the book. I had to retake a few classes, and invariably the second time I learned it far better than if I squeaked out a passing grade, or even a perfect grade, the first time. Financially its not a great thing, but in the long-term, I don't regret it. So as long as you give the best effort you can while retaining your sanity, I wouldn't worry too much about failure, as that's where the most is learned.
-
I just want to know. did they issue you a nurse's uniform with a really short skirt? and if not, did you go and by one? please post pictures.
semp
-
I can't imagine the same thing going on at our Universities, ppl would be up in arms if they spent that kind of money and effort not to succeed.
Weed out classes are way more intense at universities depending on the program
I had a friend going to school for pharmacy and the graduation rate for people who made it to the graduate portion of the degree (2+4 program) was 40% or something, and that was at $60k/year, after you'd already uselessly gotten half of an undergraduate degree.
One of his basic biology teachers got a talking to by the department his freshman year because too many people were passing her exams so she was forced to make then harder
And I know here it seems like half of freshman come in bio-premed and half of them fail bio 1
Calc 2, both ochems, both bios and physics 2 are all really intense here (calc 3, for example, is notably easier than calc 2) to weed out premed/engineering students. Of course I had to take all of them even though I'm not involved with either program.
Medicine is not easy to get into
-
Best of luck Rotbaron. I am 2 months into a foundation paramedic science degree. Know what you mean about the mount kilimanjaro of books!
-
I do have a suggestion for you though Mr. Curval.
I would like to suggest that you keep separate, distinct and especially secret your association with Aces High from any of your STEP associates and clients. There is a branding incongruity that you should be aware of and thus manage deftly.
What is the branding incongruity?
Glad you liked the quote. :)
-
Thanks for the input and responses.
SysError: if it were as easy as regurgitating the lecture/lab info provided to us it'd be a walk in the park. It' much more difficult than that. They want critical thinking and application from us.
Exam questions are almost all case study based, i.e. a patient's info is provided a problem is presented and they want us to choose either (A) the best answer out of several that are correct or (B) they want select all that apply.
It's kind of a game and there are tricks/methods/strategy to getting these questions correct. Knowing the fundamentals behind the questions, is crucial at this point. With each semester these questions will go more toward application of more advanced practice and less fundamentals.
Blindly studying is a waste of time; the best advice I've received so far is to continuously think of any situation in an application sense; i.e. what to do & why would it be done; why is it the best choice.
Google NCLEX questions and you'll quickly find the type of exam questions they are asking us.
"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose".
Won't lose.
:salute
-
Semp: skirt scrubs are for muslim or other affiliations that don't allow women to wear pants.
Sounds like you have a deep interest in this; your local scrub store can provide you with some.
-
.... SysError: if it were as easy as regurgitating the lecture/lab info provided to us it'd be a walk in the park. It' much more difficult than that. They want critical thinking and application from us.
Exam questions are almost all case study based, i.e. a patient's info is provided a problem is presented and they want us to choose either (A) the best answer out of several that are correct or (B) they want select all that apply.
Fair point, I understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tHekt-MFkI
-
Semp: skirt scrubs are for muslim or other affiliations that don't allow women to wear pants.
Sounds like you have a deep interest in this; your local scrub store can provide you with some.
I own several going from extra small to extra extra large. not sure the size of woman vising me :).
semp
-
What is the branding incongruity?
Glad you liked the quote. :)
I had never heard of these guys before I saw your post. So far I like – Pepper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO8vBVUaKvk And- The Shame of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPOfn74MN0g. I now know that these guys have been around since the 1990s, Dad is getting with it as my girls would say.
So when I think of a charted accountant or a trust adviser I guess that I have mental image that conjurers up a professional that is concerned about asset protection. It is one of those cases were measured, non-impulsive characters are a positive. Who Was In My Room Last Night?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNAkbbKycCM just does not convey that image. Here is a sample of their lyrics:
I wonder who was in my room that night.
Who the hell was in my bed
The boss had me that body there
That's where I smelled some flesh
It took a little time but I figured they were mine
Look at the video! Does it need much explaining?
My guess is that unless you specialize in representing heavy metal punk bands/groupies, that a poster of: Who Was In My Room Last Night? In your office is not going help hooking new clients.
BYW: what would you say that their best album was? Was one guy responsible for Pepper and The Shame of Life? Other tracks like it? (have not found one yet).
-
I am hardly a Butthole Surfers expert, I merely like the song "Pepper" when it came out many years ago.
So, no, you won't find any "posters" in my office.
I do have the two binders that were sent to me for the second STEP exam. They are resting comfortably in their plastic wrappers. :)
-
Thank you all for the encouragement.
I passed Block 1 with a B+. :rock :banana:
This has been so much different than college, it's much more like job training, which I suppose that's in fact just what it is. It's difficult somedays to figure them out and what they expect.
They say Block 2 is more difficult... I won't be sitting on my haunches this Christmas break then, gonna take a few days and go back at it even though it's only "suggested" reading.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
:salute
-
WTG :salute
-
Thank you all for the encouragement.
I passed Block 1 with a B+. :rock :banana:
This has been so much different than college, it's much more like job training, which I suppose that's in fact just what it is. It's difficult somedays to figure them out and what they expect.
They say Block 2 is more difficult... I won't be sitting on my haunches this Christmas break then, gonna take a few days and go back at it even though it's only "suggested" reading.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
:salute
Yay!!
Congrats man.
-
How long is nursing school in US?
-
There's not a straight forward easy way answer how long nursing school is; the shortest amount of time one could do it post high school and while taking classes all year round would probably be about 2-3 yrs. That would be an 18-month program at a Univ. where at least a year's worth of prerequisites were already taken.
In all time combined and if all goes as planned, it will have taken me about 5.5 - 6 yrs to get a simple Associates degree. I have a prior Bachelor's but no science, basically started over. 1.5 yrs prereqs, 2.5yrs waiting list, 2yrs for Associate's degree.
If you're not too bored already with that explanation, see below.
In the US we have many different titles for our nurses; RN, Registered Nurse is the most common type and what most refer to when they say "nurse". RN is actually a license, they are registered by the board of nursing for the state in which they live/practice.
The minimum amount of school to be able to take the exam for RN's is approximately 3-4 yrs post high school, but it can be done with only a "two year" Associates degree. There's about 2 yrs of prerequisites, like Anatomy & Physiology, chemistry, microbiology, etc...
There is a waiting list in most counties in the US to get into the "two year" schools (community colleges); I waited over 2.5 yrs after finishing my prerequisites.
There is a lesser qualified degree, known as an LPN, Licensed Practical Nurse. They are becoming antiquated in hospitals and relegated to nursing homes (Long-term care); they mostly administer medication and oversee assistant nurse staff.
There are many higher level/advance practice nurses: Nurse Practitioner ("NP"), Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist's can all prescribe medicine in the US, and do so somewhat autonomously. Those are the highest paid usually averaging well over $100K after establishing themselves.
In all time combined and if all goes as planned, it will have taken me about 5.5 - 6 yrs to get a simple Associates degree. I have a Bachelor's but no science, basically started over. 1.5 yrs prereqs, 2.5yrs waiting list, 2yrs for Associate's degree.
To get around the waiting list, you could do it all at a University and probably find one that has a 3yr Bachelor's program that takes care of every qualification. Last time I priced one of those, Grand Canyon University, I estimated a total cost of $75k in student loans (that was after the automatic scholarship (good grades) they would have given me of $6k/yr.) <-- ouch
My current route will cost me less than one-third of that (I'm including living expenses too).
*for those fluent in Spanish (here), they can bypass the waiting list, because they are in "need".
-
Wow...
I finished nursing school 2010, its a little easier to explain how its over here. U apply for university and if your grades are good enough u get a spot. And after 3 years u are done. Bachelor degree in science is mandatory (and boring).
A fourth year gives u a "specialist nurse" title, u ca be a specialist in pediatric, intensive care, prehospital, surgery, anasteshia and some others. So most paramedics has 4 years at the university (plus often a number of years at the ER before they re getting into the ambulance.
-
Wow, your ambulance paramedics are highly trained!
Ours are not trained as nurses. Here we have EMT (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics that respond to calls via ambulance; rarely would a nurse accompany an ambulance. Sometimes police will call for a nurse if the situation warrants less emergency response, but rather a neuro/psych eval, etc.
In my county (maricopa) I'd rather call the Fire Department, than an ambulance in a true emergency. Our Firemen here are all paradmedics, i.e. trained in advanced life support and can intubate patients and breathe for them. EMT's can not perform advanced life support unless they somehow have ALS certification; usually they'd go on to become a paramedic instead; better pay.
Can advanced level practice nurses prescribe medication there?
-
Short answer is no with a few exceptions.
However there are an extensive use of "general prescriptions" in both ambulances and at hospital, which means that the nurse can decide to give a specific drug without calling the Dr first. Ambulances have a pretty long list of drugs the nurses can use that way.
In palliative care it is more or less "give what u need", there are no limitations in how often and how much i can give, its all up to me to decide.
-
Block 2 is here (Jan20) :banana:
:confused:
:bhead
Whirlwind.... :O
A NP runs this block... high expectations. I hope that is a good thing and that she's good Professor. I'd rather learn from a highly qualified practitioner who has been in trenches.
IV insertion/regulation, NG tube insertion, phlebotomy and Tracheostomy care & suctioning practical on Monday, only two weeks to practice . I guess they don't want us watching the SB...
I'll be much happier with clinicals in the hospital now instead of nursing home; much longer days though.
-
I am hardly a Butthole Surfers expert, I merely like the song "Pepper" when it came out many years ago.
So, no, you won't find any "posters" in my office.
I do have the two binders that were sent to me for the second STEP exam. They are resting comfortably in their plastic wrappers. :)
Curval:
I just came across this comment while listening to butthole surfers on a playlist (again, I am glad I saw and followed up on the quote, I like really like some of their stuff). Thought I would share with you (but then again maybe you already know about the reference). Just call me a middle aged white guy who does not have a clue....
"for anyone wondering, yes butthole surfers has a meaning. heroin junkies would inject into their butthole lining to hide track marks, and because the rectum absorbs drugs really well (read: suppositories)." :confused:
-
:huh
Yes or like Stevie Nicks, Jagger, Tyler who put coke up there because their nasal septums are gone.
-
Update: passed IV insertion and Tracheostomy suctioning and care with flying colors :rock
Btw for some of those that wondered about my method in the 2015 thread and said "they're not buying it"; I saw it, felt it, did it! I envisioned passing/doing skill correctly (w/ample study), envisioned what it would feel like to see my grade = A; then went and rocked it. Works for me, ymmv.
Also, had my first clinical day at a hospital Friday, sad to see so many ppl with severe problems; I was on a cardiac unit. But THIS is what I've been waiting for, waiting to do for so long; might sound strange but it was fun, long day, but fun.
:salute
-
Update: passed IV insertion and Tracheostomy suctioning and care with flying colors :rock
Btw for some of those that wondered about my method in the 2015 thread and said "they're not buying it"; I saw it, felt it, did it! I envisioned passing/doing skill correctly (w/ample study), envisioned what it would feel like to see my grade = A; then went and rocked it. Works for me, ymmv.
Also, had my first clinical day at a hospital Friday, sad to see so many ppl with severe problems; I was on a cardiac unit. But THIS is what I've been waiting for, waiting to do for so long; might sound strange but it was fun, long day, but fun.
:salute
WTG
-
Ty sir!