HELLLPP! CSN Orientation and professor questions!

First of all congrats to all of you who got into CSN for the Fall. I am just finishing up 3rd semester, so Littlebugger or anyone else, please feel free to PM me with any questions, I have lots of advice when it comes to the teachers. At the beginning the first semester is very confusing and intimidating since so much is going on, but within a few weeks things start to fall into place and it does get better (well the initial shock of it goes away at least!).

Good luck to all of you and enjoy your summer break, I sure am looking forward to it!!!

Ahh! I'm so frustrated! I called 57023975 numbers today about my schedule conflict and no one helped me. I would've gone down there in person but my 224 final is wed and I'm really trying to cram. The Office of the Registrar said it was on the nursing dept to fix but no one answered or returned my calls... is this how it usually is? Anyone know why the limited entry office is closed this week?

PS. Littlebugger- I totally agree with the pp that 'bad' professors to some are 'great' to others

ETA: Mia70: A thread is the topic that you post too. Allnurses.com= board, Nevada nurses= forum, Hellllp!=thread and your reply is a 'post'. It is just chat board lingo.

I totally agree with the nicle&diming you mentioned. I also have 2 children and although my books are covered financially (GI Bill) I hate that we are not allowed to buy them from other sources... like USED! And I personally would like the hardcopy of the book but if they are all online I don't understand why we need them physically. I hope that you find someone who would like to split the cost, it is a huge financial burden but comes with the territory I suppose. On the bright side, you'll be able to throw your children the best parties once you're racking in nursing dough

Do not stress about the classes. They gave you a "bundle" of classes. How many pharmacology classes fit that schedule? That is the only class you are going to have to schedule. You can take it online and then go sit in a classroom with a professor to be sure you are on schedule, meet with others to study and more. If you are taking other classes, that may be a problem.
I am taking math online and a guitar class. I was looking into the pilates classes too but I am waiting for my friend who has taken it to get back to me on that one!

I do not know how to pm people. This is my shortcoming. I start using things before I know how they work exactly! lol.

My A & P exam was today I am getting the ever dreaded--- B. My Micro exam is on Wednesday. All is good. I really want an A in Micro but Im on a line, I must score high to get it. I am trying but with everything else pending, I am working on stabilizing my stress levels.

I kind of like these little symbols!!! This is my favorite! He is how I feel all the time! Lol!

Do you know how many dates have a schedule on them in my weekly planner? OMG!!

We have got this in the bag! No worries, we will figure out your schedule, you just focus on your finals.

tccjknv

Hey thanks for your support! I do not know how to pm. How? But honestly, tell me not of the professors, it will make me edgy. I got who I got and there is nothing I can do to change them! Now, 2nd semester may be different. Is it? Lottery again?

Mia,

I completely agree that we are being taken advantage of. We are not only required to purchase the $761 bundle of books, we are also required to purchase three additional REQUIRED books listed on the second page. This will bring our grand total to over a whopping $1000. There is also an additional list of 13 recommended learning materials.

Then we have to factor in ATI testing $109, Drug testing $29, Uniforms with proper socks and footwear $200, Immunizations $325, Physical exam $95, and our background investigation $50.

Trust me, I am feeling your pain, too. I was particularly overwhelmed when I learned that according to financial aid our first semester is only considered part-time (according to the nursing program you are full-time). What that means is you get half of the financial aid that you actually need to survive.

Now for a little positivity: Your idea to share the book bundle prior to the semester starting is an excellent idea!We could split the cost of the original bundle (easier to come up with $380 than $760) and then when we get our funds we can split the cost of the second bundle.

If you are still interested, let me know...I think that the books will be available at the end of June/early July.

Lori

To those of you who are nervous - you will survive, most of the instructors are really there to help - although don't think it will be all hearts and roses. These are some tough nurses, and they expect a lot of you - as they should. If you want help - ask for it. Go to NSNA (national student nurses association) meetings, meet some of the other semester students, they offer mentors. According to the info we've been getting they are still trying to get some nursing tutors over at the tutoring center.
In your first semester, the second that your syllabi are up - put all of the information on to a calendar, and the same for the week before so you know what you need to be writing when. Don't show up unprepared or not in uniform for lab or clinical, it's not that hard.
With regard to the costs, it's expensive, especially first semester, but you needed to be prepared for this. The reason you don't want used on your books is being able to register everything - plus I've kept, and resourced everything as the time has gone on. Don't buy the APA book, go to the library.
As far as one instructor over another - I've had instructors that other people hated, who were AMAZING FOR ME and I've avoided people because they wouldn't be a good instructor FOR ME. No advice has really worked for that.
Take a deep breath, take another, put one foot in front of the other and move on. There WILL be times next semester when you want to cry - and probably will. That's okay, make sure you have someone to scream to about it, and know that it's normal.
You have to be strong, tough, and ready for bad days, but this will be one of the most amazing and positive experiences of your life.
Congratulations on getting in!

Yes I am still interested in sharing books. I do not know how to pm on this thing. Yes I want to get the books as early as possible too.

I am very interested to see how they have the pharmacology set up.

Does anyone know how it is set up? Are we learning Mech of Action? 1/2 life? Target organs? Indications, effects, contraindications, antagonistic effects or synergistic effects? like phenergan potentiates MS? viagra/nitro?

I just graduated from CSN's nursing program. I guarantee that every semester you will be forewarned to NOT get certain instructors and you will not always be able to avoid them. I also guarantee that one persons nightmare will NOT be yours. The clinicals never have the instructor name so you won't know for certain who you have or even what location until orientation. Based on when your eary registration is each semester you will likely get stuck with someone who is your last choice a couple times during the program. Take it as a learning experience on how to work with different people because you will need those skills working on the floor later.

It's a tough program but very rewarding to complete and remember the ultimate goal is to pass the state board exam and CSN has a high pass rate. Also remember from the beginning that you can only be reinstated ONCE and then you must go back to the very beginning and start over. That means if you have a personal reason to withdraw or if you don't pass your class you can be reinstated and take it over. If it happens a second time for any reason, you must reapply to the program and start at Nurs101 again. It doesn't matter if you were in an accident, if you had a baby or had some other family emergency come up; there are NO exceptions, this happen to two of my friends in the last semester. Good Luck to you!

I would be interested in sharing a bundle of books, I heard some of them are in already. I started my Nursing Skills class last night and the teacher mentioned it. Also, I broke my arm and will be in a cast for the next 6 weeks so it would be great to have someone learn with as we familiarize ourselves with the program that comes with the books.

I looked into the PM... they let you do it after you have 15 posts.. so maybe that feature isn't active on your account yet.

I can be reached via my profile.
Talk to you soon!

I do not know how to reach you via your profile but what nursing skills class are you taking? At what time? I am at the school often and i know the books are in too, I have already been by the bookstore.
mia