UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing '09'

Has anyone gone to the compliance yet? I got drug tested last week and got my schedule/book list. . .not too happy about the cost of these dang A&P books but I got everything else pretty cheap on Amazon.

I have Mondays off. I talked to a girl at work; she said the first semester is pretty easy.

Just some info for you guys just starting. I'm just finising up 200's and thought I'd give you a heads up on some things!

The first semester is not "easy". You'll figure out out really fast that you're going to devote a lot of time to this program, and as you move forward your life will pretty much revolve around school and nothing else. Micro and Anatomy are definitely do-able, but the key thing with any classes at shadyside is start your grades as high as possible- catching up is not a game that you will want to play.

You won't have to worry about uniforms until the end of the first semester, so don't stress about that. Even though you'll only have 1-day a week clinical to start with in 102, I would recommend buying 2 pairs of tops and bottoms (you won't have to worry about buying more when you start the 2-day clinicals). I paid about $125 for 2 tops, 2 bottoms, stethescope and pen light (i think). An extra note- the pants that the uniform store will be selling are not very comfortable or flattering (most people think this). I would recommend going to another uniform store (walmart and lifeform are good ones) and getting your own Dickies or whatever, they're about the same price or cheaper and you have a much bigger and better selection. Also, remember to write off everything that you buy regarding uniforms, etc. on your taxes!!

As for the first semester, Micro (although I had a different teacher) is rough, no matter what, but as long as you put time into it, you can get a lot out of it. Things you'll learn in micro like the gram negative and positive organisms are handy to know further down the road when you get to passing meds, so pay attention to those! For Anatomy (I had a different teacher than you will), sometimes it can be a blowoff depending who you have but it's so helpful in the long run just having this basis of knowledge on the human body. Really soak up what you learn in these courses, it may not seem like it has anything to do with nursing at this point, but trust me you'll be happy later on that you studied and remembered what you learned. Everyone hates going to labs for these, whether it's in the morning or at night but they're totally beneficial to go to (if they don't require you to).

As for N100, it's a piece of cake. You really need to go to class because there are a lot of group projects, but think about it- it's a "communications" class, so you're going to be doing a lot of unnecessary stuff. The teachers for N100 are awsome, just don't blow them off!

And N101 is an awsome class. I'm assuming they'll still be teaching care plans and whatnot, and the instructor is totally awsome. There will be quizes every week (if they still do them) so definitely go to class every day. She knows when you skip or when you're late, and you miss quiz points everytime you miss or are late for class. This class will be the basis for every care plan you write all the way through the 300's so really get good at care plans. There is a pass-fail project that you'll have to do, and don't be lax about it, there are people that failed the course because they failed this project.

I hope this helps everyone... Good Luck to you all, and anything else you want to know just ask!

I finished the program this past February! Thw program in unbelievable and is well worth the wait! Our class had a very high passing rate on the NCLEX. I know that it seems horrible that you have to wait to get in but it is well worth it. The experience you get is like no other. My advice to you would be to start taking non nursing classes at CCAC. Like Micro, Antatomy, Logic, Nutrition,ect...This will really take some stress off of you in the long run! Hope this helps!

Taking classes at CCAC and transfering them is the smartest thing anyone could do. I graduated in Feb and that is what I did. The classes are doable but they are very time consuming. The first semester you normally would have Micro, Anatomy plus nursing classes! So it makes for a very long semester!!! Doing this also enabled me to continue working up till the 300's! Hope this helps!

Orientation today!

Hi everyone,

I was hoping someone might have some advice as to what I should do.
I'm torn as to whether I should take all the prerequisites at CCAC in the spring and then just apply for St Margaret's June or Shadyside's fall program. Unfortunately, the end of first term at CCAC would not be until after St Margaret's had started for the LPN program, which presents a scheduling conundrum since my classes for both schools would be at the same time of the day. I can either enroll into 18 credits at CCAC starting January and miss the LPN program or Shadyside's Feb program. Or I can skip CCAC and hope I get accepted to St. Margaret's of Shadyside's programs. If I don't get accepted, then I go months again without any schooling; this is problematic, because I'm anxious to start learning and to get on with building a career.

I'm hoping someone can help me out with this question. Did any of you apply to both Shadyside and Mercy? If you how did you choose between the two? I'm a little torn on which may be a better "fit". Also now that you have started can you tell me a little bit about what the school is like? I already have my anatomy and micro and well all the "pre req" classes I guess you would call it out of the way but I'm not sure if they transfer. Any help is very appreciated.

I have a question I just talked to someone who attended the Mercy School of Nursing and they said they took their pharmacology class online, does Shadyside also have pharm online?

In reply to those torn between schools whether it be Mercy or CCAC ...

There was an article this weekend in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Now, I have not yet been accepted for March, so probably should be discouraging everyone away from shadyside ..... but ..... Shadyside has been rated in the top five nursing schools in the country. So.... its the best of the best in Pittsburgh. Its whether you want to spend the money to do it, and have what it takes to get in. My lowest score for fall entrance was a 93 and I had an overall average of 97. But I took testing on the last possible day. So I am on some priority list for March. They assure me not to worry, but until they say I am in, I will be nervous.