[cundiff2001]

UPDATE:

After 3 interviews at two different hospitals for 3 different positions, I finally took a position. I received another offer as well and got called for another interview at a different hospital after accepting the position. I go for my physicals the first week of May and start orientation May 14th. SO EXCITED!!!! The pay is a little less than I had hoped for, but the hospital is newer (a second campus of one that has been around FOREVER) and I will get some great experience!

THanks for all your positive thoughts and prayers!


First a little background....

I have been a member of this board for quite awhile, but haven't been around so much lately. Dh left his job in January 2009. We moved from St. Louis back to Kentucky to be near family and so I could finish school. I graduated in May 2010 with my degrees in Political Science and English. I couldn't find a job here making more than $10/hour that was going to have much of a future for advancement. I wanted to go to Law shcool, but the closest one is over 2 hours away (they stopped their part-time program) and we just couldn't swing it with 3 kiddos, daycare, travel, etc.. for the full-time program b/c i wouldn't be able to work.

I then became aware of a second degree nursing program through the University of Louisville at our local hospital. It is a BSN program that will let me graduate in 5 semesters. I started in the Fall of 2010. I graduate this December. I have a 3.7 GPA right now and have made a 4.0 the last two semesters. Two left to go.

I started applying to Nurse Extern positions last week both at our local hospital and in Evansville. I have some paperwork to finish and should be getting called for interviews soon. The programs run over the summer.

Please pray that I get interviews soon, that they go well, and that I get offered a position. This is a paid position, but I want the experience more than anything before starting my last semester precepting in the fall.

It has been a hard few years for us, but I am almost to the finish line. I want all of this to work out so it is worth all the sacrifice we have all made as a family. I am still working 25-40/hours a week, have 16 hours of class and two full days/nights of clinicals, and most nights am at the library until after midnight studying. It has been hard on my dh and kiddos. I have A LOT of guilt over being gone all the time, but I know it will be worth it when I have my BSN and can go onto grad school one day.

All of your prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated!

Thanks,

Ashley

[StLouisClipper]

Best of luck to you. My DD is a nursing student working on her BSN and it is a very difficult program, but very rewarding in the end. YOU CAN DO THIS, hang in there!!

[marnimae]

Ashley, I don't know you but Congratulations! Your have alot to be proud of, you are setting a excellent example for your kids as a mom and showing them persistance and persaverance, you are awesome and I am sure you will get offers for a job. Anyone who can juggle 3 kids, a hubby and school is going to have a great skill set for a job like that, which is a noble and great profession. Nurses are the angels of America walking in human form, (I come from a family of nurses). I will say a prayer for you, but I am sure things are going to work out for you.

[dcoupon1231]

Praying!!

[lynn226]

Sending Prayers! You may also want to look into working as a CNA this last year. My niece graduated last May. When she was looking for nurse extern positions, hospitals around here were cutting way back due to financial concerns. She took a CNA postition and most of the nurses let her work with them when they could (almost the same as nurse extern). She was able to work the weekend program until she finished school. It also turned out to be the smartest thing she did. When she graduated, there was a hiring freeze and she would not have been hired as an RN. By having her foot in the door, she was offered a job immediately. She still does the weekends only as she was accepted into the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) which is fairly new and will have her grad degree in 2 1/2 more years

[cundiff2001]

Thank you for all the encouragement. I have been trying to get on as a CNA for almost a year. I have interviewed. They call back and say "you are graduating in a year and I will have to hire someone all over again" I am doing an exchange with the hospital. I have to work for two years following graduation and they pay about 1/2 of my tuition. THis area is WAY underserved. There are 85 RN positions open here as of monday on the website and many more aren't posted. I had clinical tonight and the unit I was on has mandatory OT right now.

I am not concerned about getting a job after graduation. I just really want an externship for the experience. I plan on grad school after a couple of years. I want to be a CRNA and you have to have at least 12 months ICU/CCU experience before you can apply. It is a 3 year doctrate program and hard to get into. THe more experience, the better. Two of the hospitals I have applied to have CCU/ICU as an extern position. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

[dcoupon1231]

Sending prayers your way

[cundiff2001]

UPDATE:

Had an interview about three weeks ago, just heard back and DID NOT get the position They had 100s of applicants, so I am not surprised, but somewhat disappointed. That was my dream position for the summer. I have another interview at another hospital on Mon, 3/12. Say a little prayer for me. This is my close second choice. I hope this will be the one!

[pjfrn]

Good Luck!

[pjfrn]

Glad I became a nurse. My husband lost his job eight years ago and I have been able to support our family.