El Centro students Spring '06

U.S.A. Texas

Published

i know some of us have received our letters so i was wondering who else i will be making this journey with for the next 2 years.

my name is allison shaffer and it's nice to meet you. i know we will all be close because it's a small group. it would be nice to get to know some of you before november 17. :)

Specializes in ante/postpartum, baby RN.
That's my problem. My CMA days were over 10 years ago now. My most recent job was working at the high school were I graduated from. I worked with students in the ESL dept.

I think putting your ESL job there is a good idea. It shows that you can work with "English is my second language" people (like me ;)). I think it's a great skill.

Katie

Specializes in Operating Room.

I have been putting that...I agree I would think that is a plus.

Specializes in Telemetry.

Hello everyone!

I'm starting the ADN program at North Lake this fall. This will be the 1st time I've ever needed to apply for a student loan, so I'm hoping you can help me out.

Our schedule is available tomorrow afternoon, and I realize I need this in hand before applying for any private loan. So, as soon as I have this, I intend to apply for funds to cover me for August through December, or is this correct? I'm assuming that, come time, I will need to have the spring schedule in my hand in order to apply for the spring semester's funds, but since the administration schedules/registers us for the nursing portion, when do we have this available to us? In other words, should I go ahead and get enough funds to cover me through January, maybe even February while I'm waiting for my schedule plus the turn around time of the check?

Any other pointers/advice about private loans?

Thanks so much, I appreciate your time & advice!

Rachael

Specializes in Postpartum/Nursery.

Any other pointers/advice about private loans?

Rachael

Rachael,

I would suggest Sallie Mae... the Tuition Answer Loan. My in-laws got us a loan from there a couple of years ago for UTA and the process is soooo easy! You can apply on-line or over the phone.... You choose how much money you need and the check is mailed to you in about a week or two. I will say that the amount of money that you can borrow is also determined by the cost of the school you are attending, so with North Lake being a community college, It could hinder you from borrowing a "large" amount of money. I also have a friend who used her bank (Chase) and said that their process is pretty easy as well. I hope that helps... let me know if you have any other questions!

Brianna

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele.
Hello everyone!

I'm starting the ADN program at North Lake this fall. This will be the 1st time I've ever needed to apply for a student loan, so I'm hoping you can help me out.

Our schedule is available tomorrow afternoon, and I realize I need this in hand before applying for any private loan. So, as soon as I have this, I intend to apply for funds to cover me for August through December, or is this correct? I'm assuming that, come time, I will need to have the spring schedule in my hand in order to apply for the spring semester's funds, but since the administration schedules/registers us for the nursing portion, when do we have this available to us? In other words, should I go ahead and get enough funds to cover me through January, maybe even February while I'm waiting for my schedule plus the turn around time of the check?

Any other pointers/advice about private loans?

Thanks so much, I appreciate your time & advice!

Rachael

Hi Rachael,

first of congrats for your acceptance at NL,

since you are applying for a private loan, (and even for a federal funded loan) I don't think you need to wait for your schedule. You decide how much you need in loans and since you are going for a private loan, I don't think you are limited to the amount overall. I myself went with a federal backed loan and filled out a FAFSA early at the beginning of each year. I even got some small grants from "Texas Education Grant". The FAFSA goes directly to the school. Then I went to the financial aid office at the school and filled out their paperwork and got everything rolling. They require, that you attend a small seminar,but you choose your lender. Thats the federal backed loans. I didn't need any other money and I went that route , they give you enough funds to cover your expenses for the program. And like I said above I was pleasantly surprised , I even got some grant money, possibly because I got a daughter in college also, who cost us the big money :madface:.

When you decide how much you need , consider if you also need money for transportation , living expenses and so on. I'm not sure how you do it with private loans, but I don't think you need a schedule. You could go with the estimates on the ADN info packet on EL Centro's website, which states you need about $2040 for first semester.

http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/Programs/HealthLegalStudies/packets/pdf/ADN07web2.pdf

I hope I made sense , and this helped some

Specializes in Telemetry.

For those of us starting 1st semester this fall, what can you tell us (specifically those of you at North Lake) about what we need to know about medications? I've read several posts about basically having to have all of the information given in the drug reference guides on each one of the patient's medications. I would like to try to start making drug note cards now, while I have a few weeks to organize them. (Examples being brand name, generic name, actions, blah blah blah.) Is there a list you can post, email, or even fax of the drugs we need to know? This would be VERY beneficial to us newbies. Please & thanks, I'm guessing that this is a huge request.

Specializes in Operating Room.

It's hard to say because there are so many that any one pt can be taking.

For the careplans, you need to know drug name, classification, action (use), side effects, nursing implications....nothing too in depth though.

Have y'all already check off on PO meds in HPRS? Card-wise, there's only a handful of meds you need to know for check-off for 1st semester and the list could change. Maybe someone will have their list handy to be able to put it on here, though. For check-offs, you are responsible for anything in the drug book, if your instructor decides to ask, but you should be able to look it up if you don't have it listed...as long as you are not out of time. :)

I know some good meds to familiarize yourself with are coumadin/warfarin, acetametophin, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, amoxicillin, prednisolone, acyclovir, randitidine, aspirin, docusate sodium, nitroglycerin, MOM, etc.

I wouldn't really make 'cards' for these, but possibly, you can just familiarize yourself with names/uses.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele.
For those of us starting 1st semester this fall, what can you tell us (specifically those of you at North Lake) about what we need to know about medications? I've read several posts about basically having to have all of the information given in the drug reference guides on each one of the patient's medications. I would like to try to start making drug note cards now, while I have a few weeks to organize them. (Examples being brand name, generic name, actions, blah blah blah.) Is there a list you can post, email, or even fax of the drugs we need to know? This would be VERY beneficial to us newbies. Please & thanks, I'm guessing that this is a huge request.

I send you a private message

Specializes in ante/postpartum, baby RN.

So I have just checked on eCampus we have only 31 people registered for 4th semester. :uhoh21:

I hope you all are having fun this summer. I am getting ready to visit San Antonio and DC in August. And I am thinking about taking my pscyh or management text, too. Or should I take a NCLEX book?:selfbonk:

Specializes in Operating Room.

Have fun on your trip. :)

We were going to go to Mississippi this summer, but it doesn't look like our schedules can be arranged....

Kirsten had a tonsillectomy, Alan's work, Kirsten's drill team practice, etc.....

Oh well...at least I'm not taking a class this summer like I have non-stop since Nov 2004. ha (Sad, huh....and only coming out with a ADN? That's ok, at least I'm getting it paid for.)

I can't wait to start toward my BSN...providing I can make it through the ADN. If not, then I will get be a B in some other field. haha

Specializes in ER.

Katie,

I just got back from DC today (1 week there). Prepare to walk your legs completely off! They have subways, but they don't have stops at everything, so you still wind up walking very long distances....and they aren't too keen about public restrooms along the "mall" where the monuments are. But, it was fun....and we saw lots of wonderful things...you'll enjoy it! Have fun!

Yang

Specializes in Postpartum/Nursery.
So I have just checked on eCampus we have only 31 people registered for 4th semester. :uhoh21:

I hope you all are having fun this summer. I am getting ready to visit San Antonio and DC in August. And I am thinking about taking my pscyh or management text, too. Or should I take a NCLEX book?:selfbonk:

There are 29 people in my class. :uhoh21: I just started practicing NCLEX questions about 2 weeks ago... so I would say take a NCLEX book! We have orientation at the VA on July 30th!?!? :uhoh3: Oh and the first test is over Cancer.. Psych is like the 3rd test.

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