[RxLAUGHqd]

Hi Cari and thanks

I'm actually a full time student at USF right now and live about 5 minutes from campus. I am most likely going to stay with USF since financial aid and everything is already set up. Not to mention I'd most likely have to go back to school to get my BSN later to pursue something else in nursing in the future, might as well get it out of the way now, right? Now I just have to call HCC and let them know I won't be accepting, so they can give the spot so someone else.

But if I were to go to HCC, it would be at the Dale Mabry campus, I don't think I could handle the traffic on I-4 to Plant City .

[noellelynn]

I'm taking the Soc. course online at SPC. It's the only course I will be taking there, but because of my work schedule I can only take one course on campus at a time. So, I opted to take the Soc. online and since it was offered this summer at SPC that's where I'll be taking it! The prof I have there is McCoy I believe.

You said that you have class 3 days a week coming up and it's at varying times? You are in the day program right? That scares me when you say varying times, because I want to apply for the evening program, but cannot go to school at varying times for the most part. Maybe because I am looking into the evening program that's the difference. I know there will be classes 2 nights a week from 530 I think to 830 and then 10 hour clinicals on Saturdays. At least that's what the nursing program coordinator said at Dale Mabry when I spoke to her. She did tell me that one semester it will be 3 times a week and sat. clinicals...but from what I understand the tiems were pretty consistent..in the evening. Since you are in the day program do the times vary for you, but not the evening program? Getting nervous over here....

[CariLiz]

Noelleynn

Hey there. Good luck on your Socio class this summer...it'll be a breeze.

Let me clarify the hours....for daytime if I can. The three days a week "vary" due to the fact that every semester your class times change(for daytime). For instance, this semester I will be going T & W from 1230-330 for class......lab TBA and then you pick which day you want to do clinicals either Thur or Fri. However, next semester I may be going to class Mon and Tues 830-1130 + lab and then Wed clinicals. I hope that makes sense. As far as I know, the night times do stay the same 5pm-8pm I believe.

Although a friend of mine that got accepted and starts this summer stated that they switch the days on them...like it initially was T & Th but then at the last min switched to M & Wed. Clinicals are the same at 10 hours a day on Sat. Therefore, if you work you may want to give your boss and heads up, just in case something like that happens.

I hope that helps and alleviates some of your nervousness. Have a good day.

Cari

[noellelynn]

Yes it does. I believe as you said, the evening times remain the same 5-8, but the days vary. So you are just starting your first semester of nursing school right? Or have you already completed some? What clinical will you have first do you know? And at what hospital? Do they try to place you at a hospital near your home if they can? Also, do you know if any of the clinical will be in NICU? Some hospitals allow new graduates to enter into NICU even if they have no experience, right? But with some sort of orientation for so long? Do you know any who has signed on a contract with a hospital for a certain length of time to be reimbursed for school? Does that happen anywhere around the Tampa/Clearwater area to your knowledge? And just your personal opinon how do you feel about that? I think it'd be great to get some money back from school, but at the same time I'm not sure how I feel about being "locked in" to one hospital for 2 years or so. When you sign on like that, they can place you in any dept. right? You dont necessarily have a choice of where you work right? I'd also be afraid that they could restrict the shift you could work too. Holidays, weekends, nights, whatever they wanted. Almost like they owned you for those 2 years. Just wondering your thoughts on it, or if you have known anyone that's done it and what their experience was with it. Thanks again and you also have a wonderful day!

[compassionate1]

Good questions Noellelynn. Thanks for getting the info

[CariLiz]

Noellelynn

To answer your questions....here goes nothing.

Yes, Aug will be my first semester. I have not completed any nursing classes beside the pre-reqs and then the Chemistry and Nutrition I am finishing up currently. I do have training from CNA(years ago) and I have experience as a medical laboratory technician..but hat is it.

I do not know what clinicals specifically will be first as I do not attend Orientation until the 24 & 25 of June. I'm sure I will know a lot more then.

If any time, I would think the NICU clinicals would be during the third semester. Not positive on that though. The hospitals that HCC says you could be do your clinicals at are:
St. Joseph's
Tampa General
University Community Hospital
James Haley VA Hospital
South Florida Baptist
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Brandon Hospital
and others-------OTHERS???. Like where else? I have NOOOO idea. LOL.

And from what they say, you don't get to pick in choose, you have to go to all of them at different times.

Regarding coming in to the NICU department as a new grad, I'm unsure of, I know what a lot people say is they get a job at the hospital doing secretary work there last semester or two that way their foot is in the door so to speak.

I have heard of the programs that you are referring to, where you sign a contract for 2 years and they will pay such and such of your tuition. I will be honest, that has never interested me for two reasons.

#1. Hubby is military and we could move at any time therefore I do not want to be committed to something I could possibly not fulfill.
#2. Like you, I would feel as though I'm always getting the short end of the stick, whereas, I would be stuck with the holidays as you stated.

Sometimes to get the specialty you want, that's what people do. I know in my case getting into OB right away is probably going to be tough too. Though I'm still undecided, I may look for a RN job in government service after I graduate. Especially because we want to go back overseas. So we will see.

BTW, is your full name Noellelynn or is that long for something? It's beautiful.....I always have to check myself to make sure I'm spelling it correct. Sorry I couldn't be of more help...hopefully I'll know more come the end of June.

Cari

[noellelynn]

compassionate1:

are you currently taking prereqs at HCC? or are you already in the nursing program there? What area of nursing are you most interested in getting into?

[noellelynn]

Cari-
Thanks for the help. I appreciate it greatly! Sorry for so many questions, I never realize how many I've actually asked you consecutively, untill I look back and read the post! Noelle is my first name, middle name is Lynn. I wasn't very creative with my login name, what can I say!?

So you were a CNA years ago? What made you decide you'd rather go to nursing school than continue as a CNA? I thought about CNA school myself, just to at least get out of the job I have now, and then go to nursing school while working as a CNA. But it seems like even that training will take some time and more importantly, I have bills to pay that require me to stay at my current job. I just can't wait to start nursing school and feel like I'm starting towards a job that will mean a lot to me. I just can't wait. I dislike my job so much it's almost depressing some days...well a lot of days. If only I would have made the decision to pursue nursing school years ago then it would have been so much easier...but I figure it will only get harder the more I wait...and there's no time like the present right!?

[compassionate1]

Noelleynn: I am taking the pre-regs right now. I am finishing up Micro this week. I have only taken that and English. This summer I am taking math & Nutrition. Unfortinatly, I did bad on the math portion of the entrance exam so I have to take three math classes just to get the math pre-reg, ugh... Anyway I am basically taking a math and another class every semester until next spring, then I can finally take Anatomy 1 & 2. I am still a little undecided about what "field" of nursing I want to be in. I have thought about Hospice, I volunteer with them and have found it very rewarding. I have also thought about the E.R. I will have to do the eveing program because I have to work.

[Unzie]

I have 1 week of Micro left at the PC campus, (Dr Tran). I would get into a study group soon as we had many peeps fail the first test. Everyone will pass but only about 10-15% will get an A. Thanks for the info on the GPA and slots CariLiz. I want to apply for the Fall 09 term in PC and I should be OK with my current GPA. Only have AP II left to go!