FAQs For First Generation College Students

I was a first generation college student who lacked knowledge regarding the basics of the higher education process. Initially, I felt alienated and overwhelmed by the process and my learning curve was very steep compared to others. Here are some questions that many of my FGCS classmates and I had.

My declared major is nursing. Why do I need to take classes in subjects such as English, math, science, psychology, and history?

What is the point of tests such as the SAT, ACT, Accuplacer, TEAS, NET, HESI, etc.? Read More

Don't do this in clinical...

I precept a lot of nurses during their med surg clinicals and for capstone / preceptorships. The other day, a student doing a clinical day was talking with her professor and other nurses about prospective jobs after graduation. She was talking about how much she hates the med surg environment and listing off some attractive 9-5 clinic jobs she is going to pursue. It was pointed out that most of the jobs she noted require experience and she said... Read More

[Toon] As a Nursing Student, Will I be Paying off Loans Forever?

Nursing students can accumulate what seems like an insurmountable amounts of loans.......from student loans to car loans. They sometimes see big dollar signs in their sleep. Will they ever be able to pay off all those loans? What plans do you have for paying off your student loans? Read More

Just want to run my data and nsg dx's by you. Please critique!

My patient is a 90 year old female patient that was admitted from home, where she lived alone, with a dx of: After care post surgery and severe malnutrition. Here are my findings so far... Read More

How much time do you spend studying outside of nursing classes?

I start the nursing classes this fall and made up a mock schedule, where I scheduled about 45-50 hours of studying outside of classes/work. Is this enough? Do you have any idea how much time you spend studying and doing homework outside of class? Read More

Networking in Nursing to Achieve Results

Did you know that almost 70 percent of all job openings are not openly advertised? Most positions are filled through word of mouth, and the individuals who know how to effectively network are often hired into these roles. Networking is the practice of cultivating and maintaining connections with a circle of people who can render assistance, boost your professional prospects, share their valuable knowledge and 'put in a good word' for you. Read More

Is Nurse Shadowing Volunteer, a Huge Liability?

Do you think Shadowing a Nurse is a huge Liability to the Healthcare community in your State? Why or Why not?

Did anyone else have difficulty in getting your 24 hours shadowing, or if you did what were your experiences? What is your State" pre-reqs in pre-nursing experiences? Is there a day; week; month or more pre-req for volunteering? Read More

RANT: Fed up with nursing!

ANY article you read will tell you nursing is so freaking in demand nationwide. But I read some statistics last night about how there are thousands of nurses in various states, MORE than there are job openings per year, especially here in California. Since I don't plan on leaving the state ever, (all my family is here and I <3 CA) I really feel discouraged. I wish I had known this before I got into the field, though I am proud of my accomplishments so far... Read More

Are nursing schools saturated, less applying?

Do you think the demand is decreasing, so much so, because there has been so many nurses that have graduated within the period of 2002-2011, that the market has been so over saturated, and not been able to accommodate that much of an increase in numbers of applicants in our field?

Do you think the school are purposely attempting to make the requirements so competitive that it makes it easier to persuade the applicants to go elsewhere, thereby, discouraging and decreasing the numbers of applicants to apply. Read More

Nursing Degrees: The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Practical Nursing (AAS)

LPNs are trained professionals who have made integral contributions to direct patient care for generations. Even though the most common gateway into the practical nursing occupation is satisfactory completion of a state-approved diploma/certificate practical nursing program, this piece is going to discuss another academic option called the associate of applied science degree in practical nursing. Read More

What is chemistry for nursing like?

Instead of taking general chemistry, I was told to take chemistry for nursing instead. I heard that it is an easy class from all the people who have taken it but I am just wondering... what is the class like? What do you do at the labs and what do learn? Read More