FSW FALL 2018

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hello Everybody. My name is Keesh. I'm starting this thread a little early to get a head start on things. I was looking into starting nursing school in the Spring of 2018, but things come up. Now I'm going to start in the FALL. I'm currently looking into the FSW ANEW program which works better with my work schedule. I was told by a student the ANEW program is just like being in the FULL TIME program except it's online. It consist of hard work, time consuming and dedication. I plan to apply for LEE campus as well.

*CHOW

I applied today for Fall 2018 traditional program Lee Campus. My points are better than I previously posted. I hope my stats are good enough to be accepted. I hope we all make it! I look forward to meeting you all!

Lee Traditional Fall 2018

All pre-reqs completed

Program GPA 3.75

85 TEAS

85 admission points

That's great, I will submit my points after I take my TEAS next month. I'm hoping for an 85 as well that score is AWESOME!!!

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Application is open now until May 15th, I applied today.

YAyy cant wait to see everybody points... Fingers crossed we ALL will get in.

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Although this is ALOT I THANK YOU soo much. This not only helps me, but everybody else who comes to this post. I'm just so excited and I cant wait to get started.

Pharmacology is completely online, we only take the tests in person. Most of the work for the class is ATI modules with a little bit of MyNursingLab sprinkled in. Each ATI module is long, so be prepared to spend hours on it. Otherwise, the homework for pharm is reading the textbook.

Health and Wellness, the first semester didactic / lecture, also has a little bit of ATI, but those are much shorter. We mostly do MNL for H&W. All the tests in the program are online and proctored just like the TEAS and NCLEX exams, except for the skills tests in practicum (those are hands on).

My schedule right now is 3 days a week back to back:

Monday: H&W didactic 9:30am - 2:50pm, there's a lunch break around 12pm.

Pharmacology exams 3:30pm-5:20pm

Tuesday: H&W practicum lab 9:30am - 12:30pm, a short break or two depending on what we're doing that day.

Wednesday: Clinical day 6:30am - 4pm / or SIM lab (where you are and what you do depends on the campus, because of the facilities that are in that county, so I'll give the specifics for Collier).

Clinical is either at one of the long term care facilities or at the hospital. The first half of the semester is long term care and we work with the nursing assistants, nurses, and other care staff (physical therapy, activities director / assistant) to take care of the patients. Some people do more with the nursing assistants and some people follow the nurses more, just depends on the facility and their policies. We will have the Department of Health and a child day care center in a few weeks. Then, we're going to the hospital to work more with nurses and see how they chart. Clinical days are not all the same length, but the average is about 8.5 hours, with lunch break included. As you progress in the program, those clinical days are going to be closer to 12 hours and 2 or more days a week, just so that you get the feeling of what it's like to work a 3-12s week as a nurse. You do have paperwork that you fill out throughout the clinical day.

SIM portion of the clinical, I had full SIM day and a half-days, but the entire 8.5 or 9 hours still applied. Can't say more about it, because the first rule of SIM is you don't talk about SIM and the second rule is you don't talk about SIM. All I can is it's more practice for you to be the best nurse you can be at each stage in the program, basically get the nervousness out of the way so you can do your job.

The books...you need all of them the first semester, and the two access codes (ATI and MNL). The didactic flips between the first and second volumes of the textbooks, the clinical skills book is used in the practicum and is your resource for clinical should you forget how to do a certain skill. I literally had a lecture this week where half of the day we spent in Volume 2 and then changed over to Volume 1, because those chapters (modules) are in that volume. ATI is the program's way to tailor the learning based on your learning style, so know it before you start the program or they'll help you determine it during the first week. Basically, if you're an auditory learner, and you like to listen to lectures, you might like ATI. If you are more visual, then you might still like ATI because it has powerpoint-like slides that you can copy over, and they'll show videos for skills, and MNL also has powerpoint-like slides to review the material. If you're more kinesthetic, as in you like to move around, ATI and MNL might be boring, but you'll like the practicum and clinical more as those are completely hands on.

*Note on textbooks, you can use the e-book version for all of the classes and save money that way. There's a lot of note taking in lectures and they do give you powerpoints. Most people print out the powerpoints and jot down notes on them, and others like me actually type our notes and use the e-book version of the texts during lecture to look up and highlight stuff. The books are heavy, couple thousand pages each, except for the 300 page clinical skills, and about 1000 page pharm book. Figure out what's best for you. The textbook bundle includes the MNL codes, those codes have e-book versions for all of your texts that are in that bundle. There's a separate website that you can go to once you activate the codes, so that you have constant access to those textbooks throughout the program. So, if you want to use the e-book versions, just get the MNL codes, one for the 3 Volume set and one for the Pharmacology book. That will save you quite a bit of money and you can print pages from the e-books should you need them or highlight and leave notes for yourself within the e-book. ATI, can't really save money on, because you get it from the bookstore. The school chooses a set of programs within ATI that they want to use and that's what you're paying for.

I'll give you a hint about the equipment that you'll be using for the program: the stethoscope, tuning fork, scissors, penlight, blood pressure cuff..all that. You're going to pay a lab fee for the practicum as part of your first semester tuition, that's something like $500, that fee covers your entire nursing kit. They'll hand out the kit in pieces based on what you're doing in the lab. For example, in a couple of weeks I'll get my stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, because we'll be working on those concepts. So, hold off on buying any of that equipment until you get your kit. If you don't like the stethoscope in your kit, you are free to buy a better one, and if you have one already, they won't have a problem with you using it, as long as you know the ins and outs of it.

Supplies for later semesters that you'll have to eventually get...Be prepared for another $600 or so for the second semester and about another $600 for third semester. There are a few simulations that they cannot set up without the access codes that this money is going to go toward. There may be recommended books thrown in, but you'd have to ask the professor if they are just recommended or if they are required.

As far as NCLEX prep goes (I know it seems far away, but once the program starts you only have the four semesters and I'm already a month into the program though it feels like I just started yesterday).. ATI is the main source that they're using to prepare you for it, and in the very end you'll have a predictor test from ATI that will help gauge you toward a "pass" on the exam. There's a section of ATI that you will have access to during the last semester that does nothing but review the concepts from the program with a personal nursing tutor that will help tailor the sessions to you and your knowledge. The program is like that in general, the MNL especially, will tailor to you. So if you do well on the pre-test for the MNL, then it'll give you a condensed version of the material to review before the post-test, don't cheat on it, it's for you to know where you stand as far as that concept goes. The professor only gives you a grade for completing the post-test in the end, not how you do within the module. This is true for both H&W and Pharm.

Another thing about the program is it's concept-based. So, what that means is your textbook has, within each chapter, nursing that is tailored to concepts and applying them and nursing that is tailored to evidence from research. Some programs teach based on concepts and others teach based on evidence. We're the concepts club, so throughout the program they're going to focus on specific sections that explain the concepts and how they apply to the patient, and to you as a nurse. Basically, what your role is on the healthcare team and how you can provide, for example, safety to an elderly client that has Parkinson's. So, we're not using that much current evidence from research on best practices, we're using more of the time tested and adapted best practices, and you'll see those in practicum.

Program in general...pay attention to what you're learning, there's no busy work here. Anything and everything will be used in later semesters and as a practicing nurse. A concept may seem very basic, but it's just a foundation at Level I, and it will be built upon in later levels. Know your pharm, you will be giving out meds starting at Level II. Clinicals will get more and more involved and you will have to apply information from the lectures and the labs. You will chart for patients, you will talk to the families, you will create care plans (not during the first semester), you will work with other healthcare professionals. Make friends with your classmates and people in other levels of the program. We're all struggling together and somebody might have a trick that you can use. Don't get behind on the readings, especially for pharm, the chapters are dense and many pages long with several chapters to read per week. Your professors are going to make the program as enjoyable as possible, they'll try to take the stress out of it, especially during the testing. That being said, expectations will gradually increase just like they would when you're a practicing nurse. They will give the tools to succeed, many have office hours every work day, including the class days. Also, you'll pick up on this pretty quickly once you get started, but stay organized. Many things can be due for both H&W and Pharm on the same day or during the same week, don't get a zero because you forgot to submit the posttest. Most people in my group are using some kind of calendar or planner to keep track. You might want to do that for clinical as well, because you're not going to be in the same clinical setting throughout the semester. You'll get different units in long term care, different facilities throughout the county, and different patients on the same floor of the hospital. First semester you may be able to choose your long term care facility, it's a lottery type of assignment, and depends on the campus. Later semesters, you will be assigned by your clinical instructor and won't really have a choice as far as where you will go, but it will be within your county. Yes, you do have separate clinical instructors besides the instructor that oversees your lecture, practicum, and clinical. The clinical instructor will be onsite with you during clinical, they're there to guide you, answer any questions, and oversee how you're applying the skills from practicum and lecture. You are evaluated by them throughout the semester to make sure you're meeting competencies of a professional nurse. From day one, they will emphasize to you that even though you're a student, you need to mimic a professional nurse as much as you can just to get yourself in that state of mind, because fourth semester at the very end of that semester, you're going to be that professional nurse for a few patients, from start to finish, before you graduate.

Anything else that I didn't mention but you feel you might want to know, ask away!

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Be proud of your score. I've seen on previous forums people with as low as 65 points get in. 73 isn't bad. I'm taking MICRO right now hoping to get an A in it. I don't think your stats are bad, but you will do good. Looking forward to everybody posting scores.

Went to the info meeting today. Someone asked about multiple attempts. Speaker said only first attempt grades are considered. I have taken DEP, PSY, and comp, twice. No longer, will I be applying with a 3.6 or so. IF IF IF I can pull of an A in both a&p 2 and micro, I will be applying with a 3.11 that's, three point one one. 3.11 cried my old eyes out. And cried. Cried some more. I'm not crying right now. But I did and I will, cry. She said it changed in the last couple years. Apparently, right after I started re-taking classes. So, my goal is an A in a&p2 and micro. Goal, 85 on TEAS. Gives me 73 points. If i apply for charlotte, i think i have a shot. Devastating.
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Hey Leah, do well on the TEAS exam, because that's what they lean more toward when they're deciding who gets into the program. Your GPA is good, mine was a little bit higher when I got in and I'm part of the most competitive group for the current semester. Do your best in your classes and on that TEAS exam. People do get in with total points in the low 60s. Remember that the points can be identical between a person who doesn't have any kind of healthcare license / LPN status and still get in. Me and my classmate had the exact same total points and the same TEAS score, she's an LPN and I'm not.

You do have a shot at Charlotte campus, they're usually not the most competitive. Getting into Lee is very challenging and Collier is right behind it. Just for perspective, people with a 4.0 GPA and a few pre-reqs, and an average TEAS score didn't get in. It's not about the GPA, so don't stress about it.

Take a deep breath, review your stuff, take the TEAS, and retake it again if you need to. They just want to know that you have a foundation that you can use during the program once they start reviewing the information and adding on to it. You can always talk to one of the advisors for the program, like Chris or Wendy, and they'll be able to guide you through the process and tell you how you specifically stack up against previous semesters and what they're anticipating for your semester. Wendy is the person for Charlotte campus. :)

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You're welcome! I just wanted to do the whole spiel at once for you guys so you have one post to look back at and know what's going on in the program. The program is a lot of fun, though you're tested a lot. I'll keep checking on here as you guys post your stats and whatnot :)

Although this is ALOT I THANK YOU soo much. This not only helps me, but everybody else who comes to this post. I'm just so excited and I cant wait to get started.
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Thank you very much. Working on what I can control. Next A&P2 exam is after spring break, micro is a piece of cake, so it's TEAS=life until the 28th when I take it. On pretest, i had an 86 average reading, science, math, oh and a 67 in English. Turns out I don't know the mechanics of my native language. I'll get it, but not having fun with compound/complex/compound-complex sentences. 10 point difference between an 85 and 90.1 on TEAS. 10 point difference between a 3.1 and a 3.6

I swam out of my feelings; I feel better about all of it, now. (See what I did there) I do know I have a chance.

I've been doing this for a few semesters because my math sequence was: mat1018, mat1024, mat1033, algebra, stats. I think when there are changes to requirements an email could be sent to students that have declared pre-nursing. S.M.H.

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You're welcome! I just wanted to do the whole spiel at once for you guys so you have one post to look back at and know what's going on in the program. The program is a lot of fun, though you're tested a lot. I'll keep checking on here as you guys post your stats and whatnot :)

What's your name on FB? Honey you are VERY helpful. I'm taking my TEAS next month. How's pharmacology going?

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Thank you so much for joining the forum! Do you think it's possible to keep a part time job while in the nursing program? I currently work at Gulf Coast hospital and I honestly love my job, I would hate to have to give it up.

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Hey Maria, it is possible to keep a part-time job while in the program, a few people in my group are working part-time. I actually have a classmate who is doing full time right now and isn't struggling, but he has very good time management skills. The program eventually extends to about 4 days a week as you progress through the semesters, but you should still be able to work. They're trying to keep the schedule that you start on for the rest of program. For example, my lectures right now are one day a week 9:30am - 2:50pm, so I should have each lecture in later semesters with the same time frame. Gulf Coast Hospital is Lee Nursing program's territory, so you may end up doing clinicals at that hospital. From what my classmates have said, just manage your time well and you should be able to do all the schoolwork and still work. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for joining the forum! Do you think it's possible to keep a part time job while in the nursing program? I currently work at Gulf Coast hospital and I honestly love my job, I would hate to have to give it up.
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What's your name on FB? Honey you are VERY helpful. I'm taking my TEAS next month. How's pharmacology going?

Know your stuff for the TEAS exam, I know they tweak it a little bit every season and no two people generally have the exact same exam (just like the NCLEX). Pharm is going, we're trying to advocate for incoming classes to see if the faculty will adjust how the class is taught. It's all online and a lot of information. We have a test on at least 15 chapters per exam (approx 300 pages) and that's about every 2 weeks. At this point, we're all trying to find a way to memorize the drugs, there's a lot of them and what the book gives and what ATI gives are slightly different so we need to know both, or at least be comfortable with information from both sources.

Do well on your TEAS!

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Hey! I plan on doing traditional and this first time around I didn't study and much as I could have that is why I want to take it again, but I have the TEAS manual with the practice tests

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