Thomas Jefferson FACT Program

Sneakers are allowed, but whatever shoes you choose have to be leather and all white. I don't know how picky they'd be if you chose a sneaker that has, say, some silver on the side, although I'd imagine they'd notice. Students must be head-to-toe white so as not to be confused with actual hospital staff. (hard to tell tone from text, so please read sarcasm into the previous statment

A tip - they will try to force you to buy hideous elastic waist pants; don't do it. Go to a store near campus and buy white scrub pants (most people bought dickies). I haven't heard of any instructors noticing or caring that students do this. Have to buy the ugly shirts though. No way around that one.

I think the FACT and 2-yr uniforms are different because I'm almost positive last year's FACT class had the same uniforms as us. Here is what they look like:
http://landau.com/dept.aspx?gp=women&dsp=Women's%20Whites&pro=1909

The shirt - eh. They probably could have chosen a nicer one. The pants don't look that bad because the shirt covers them pretty low on the hips, but they are very uncomfortable and heavy.

OMG! That thing is hideous! And it's going to ride up on my dumpy butt, making me look like a member of the Wide Family! LOL Dang, couldn't they have gone with white golf shirts or something??

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm off to start my diet....

I'm reviving this thread to see if any of you helpful people who posted know the answer to this question: can you choose to do 2-12s for clinicals, or is it out of your hands whether you do 2-12s or 3-8s? This actually is pretty important to my thinking right now.

Thanks so very much to everyone.

Hey Accelerated!

As for the list of books, we were required to order a "book bundle" that had basically all the textbooks we needed. I have heard that we might need to order a few more for the second half of the year (after Christmas). If you have the time and energy to buy the books on your own, I'm sure you can get a better deal...in which case you would need a list, and I'd be happy to provide that to you sometime. Of course, you should maybe check with the faculty to try see if anything is going to change (and with this program, that is highly likely!)

So about the program... It's been going well so far. It is accelerated, and you will feel that... but it is very manageable and doable. I was warned (back when I was in your position) that the program was disorganized, and I have now experienced it for myself - especially in the beginninng. But you know what? Everything worked out... You can't let that get to you, and afterall - everyone is in the same boat. A lot of people in the program are (and the professors will joke) type AAAA++++, and those are the ones that seemed to get the most worked up about it.

Okay, let me give you some more positives, and some actual details!

The first semester (summer) we had one online class that lasted a short three weeks, five didactic classes, and one clinical course that included our first clinical rotation (med/surg). The rotation was ~10 weeks long (2-12 shifts, or 3-8s). We picked our top three choices for units/instructors and they match us the best they can. Classes were on thursdays and fridays, and clinicals were from Sat-Wed depending on where you were placed. We had a two-week break at the end of August, and now we're back for semester 2 (technically they are quarters, but I don't hear them referred to that way!) From here on out, it looks like the clinical rotations are shorter and more diverse (Maternity/Peds/Community, etc).

Wow, there is lots more I could say, but I'm not sure what you know/don't know already. If you have any specific questions about classes, clinicals, instructors, let me know!! I'd be happy to go into more detail. You definitely have a good shot at being accepted this early in the year. I think they accepted people as late as April. Good luck to you, and let me know if you have any more questions!![/quote

Thank you very much for your detailed answer!!!!! You sound very excited and happy about the program!!! So do I, however I am still making a research about it.
Actually, I was applying for FACT in 2008, but I wasn't accepted. Partially, because I found it quite late and there weren't many seats left. I was pretty upset.
So, I completed all my prerequisites by July 2008 and here I am again!
I already had my interview a week ago, and It sounded like my chances are quite strong to be accepted for 2009, however I will get my official results only at the beginning of October, but I am pretty excited already right now!!!!!
Of course, It would be interesting to know about books first of all! I would like to start reading theory before classes start. I am staying at home right now and I have plenty of time to do that. I found titles of two books on this site
Pharmacology for Nursing Care Sixth Edition (Lehne)
Medical-Surgical Nursing Seventh Edition (Lewis) for Pathophysiology and Acute and Chronic1, if it is correct?
I would really appreciate, If you could tell me how many books the whole you have to buy for the program?
What books are necessary to buy for Medical Calculations and Health Assesment? What softwear is it necessary to buy?
How many students are in the program? How many students are in each clinical group for one instructor?
Of course, I have very many questions about the program, but I understand that you are very busy and therefore I don't want to pour out all my question on your head at once.
Thank you beforehand for your time!!!!!!!!!!