Hi Shawn! I'm so happy you sent me a message. I have an e-mail list going between myself and the four other people I've found going in to the program. If you get me your e-mail address I will add your name :-) I believe we are all going to the orientation this Wednesday so we will all have a chance to meet! You can e-mail me anytime at umichgirl124@yahoo.com I definitely agree that it's a great idea to get to know each other now because we are all in for a hell of an adventure together. Talk soon ... Alissa

part 3 of 3
You will work in the pre-natal clinic, in one of the ERs at UM, at a gerontology unit, probably in Chelsea, and a few other places besides the hospitals. There are several hospitals that yo9 can work at. If you want UM, you must register for it. Some people also work at St. Joe's, Foote in Jackson, Oakwood in Dearborn, a few were at Providence in Southfield. That was during the first semester. Most of us are at UM for the second semester (with a few placements at St. Joe).
That's it for now. Feel free to ask other questions as you think of them. It's a big program, but you'll come out of it knowing more than you'd ever believe! My email address is: jjkandjpk@yahoo.com or skrussel@umich.edu
Regards, Susan

part 2 of 3
Advice - do not work during this program. It's really intense and requires studying every day. Sometimes the workload seems enormous, but we all get through it. After you get to know people a little, start a study group - meaning, divide the test review study guides up among your group, and get them done that way. It's too much work for one person alone. My group has 11 people, and I assign the questions, dividing the wqork equally, then they complete hem by the due date I set - usually 4-5 days prior to the test - and I put them together into on big study guide, and re-distribute them to the group. It's a good system. But everyone in the group must participate and be on time.
I also have 2 people that I study with before the tests. We work well together, and we each seem to see things that the other missed. Wait a bit to do this one, until you know people a little better.

Hi Again,

Just saw your second message. No, we graduate in August - same as you will next year. It's a 12 month program. I was given many of my books by someone from the year before, so I must give them back. I will have uniforms (scrubs) available with patches sewn on - let me know what size you wear.

My favorite part - I like the lectures, I LOVE the clinicals. I was not terribly comfortable in clinicals until second semester - after I had some experience. I thought I'd like pediatrics, but it's not my favorite. I am fairly certain that I want cardiovascular, maybe even ICU. As I mentioned earlier, my next rotation is on CVICU at UM Hospital - can't wait! I feel ready for that. I've had good clinical instructors.
I will send this in 3 messages - it's too long!

Hi Shawn,

On the 25th, I'm at my clinical spot for a 12 hour shift, so I won't be stopping by. Have a good time.
Regards, Susan

Thanks Susan, I look forward to starting. What was your favorite clinical so far? Also, I was wondering if you are interested in selling your books at the end of your program perhaps. When is graduation, May? Do you have any advise for me going into the program? Sorry to bombard you with questions, but, I do appreciate any insight I can get.

Sincerely Shawn

Hey Shawn! That's great. I hope you like the program as much as I do. I start in the cardiovascular ICU on Monday - Just finished my second med-surg clinical. Let me know how things are going.
Regards, Susan