Advice, tips, and tricks!

[koalakoala]

bear with me; this is a long first post. apologies. :redbeathe

i find myself constantly having lots of questions and spending so much time searching for answers. it seems that there are so many tips and tricks about all these nursing programs that i am slowly figuring out.

i have learned some lessons through other people and some things by realizing what i did wrong afterwards. (there should be a book to read (before starting) that tells about the application process, waiting process, and everything else surrounding nursing school!) there is just so much information and it is all spread out between different schools, websites, advisors, etc.

lets change this! this posting/thread will be a place to post all the things you have learned and the knowledge you have gained from the time you thought about going into the field of nursing to graduation!

it will also be a place to read all of the advice that others have. this way, everyone does not have to learn the hard way, like some of us have!

types of things to post: advice, tips, tricks, helpful links, good/bad experiences to learn from/aviod, steps to remember, or anything else you would like!

hopefully, this will turn into a very useful "guide"! :)

*try to keep the posts relatively short and sweet (i.e. without long stories). just post what you learned or what you want others to know. this way, it will be easier to read through the posts and ask questions without having to read the life stories of each person before getting to the last sentence that sums everything up. many of us are students and know how valuable time is!

[koalakoala]

maricopa colleges:

tip 1: take your net/hesi2a (entrance exam) well before you want to submit your application! some people wait to take it until they have completed all of their prerequisites. the problem is, not everyone passes the first time and there is a 2 month waiting period to retake it, which will most likely bump you to the next application period!

tip 2: be familiar with the application periods for the rn programs (i put them below)! the time-stamps are randomized at the end of each period for all of the applicants. you do not want to miss the end of one app. period --> turn in your app. at the beginning of the next one --> and than have to wait until the end of that period to get your time-stamp! ex: if you have your app. completed, turn it in at the end of march (instead of the beginning of april) or at the end of may (instead of the beginning of june). i hope this makes sense!

december 1 - january 31; february 1 - march 31; april 1 - may 31; june 1 - july 31; august 1 - september 30; october 1 - november 30

these came from the np (i.e. nursing program) application,

which can be found at

http://www.nursing.maricopa.edu/

.

[AlishiaRN77]

After you turn in your application

Tip:

1. If you know that you have not had your HEP B shots, get them.

1st injection

2nd injection - 1 month later

3rd injection - within 6 months after your 2nd injection.

2. TB skin test - you will need to get 2.

Initial test with reading

then 2nd test - 1 to 3 weeks after the first test.

Then annually after that.

3. Obtain your health care provider CPR card (must not expire while in Block 1)

4. Get your finger prints completed before hand so that you have the card to take with you to orientation.

5. If you are able to, obtain titers for MMR, HEP B (if you've had the shots), varicella.

[wmg246]

Be prepared and willing to give up some personal things during school.. Nursing school is 2 years of your life...4 semesters....your kids will not become delinquents if you cannot participate in every school activity, the church/school/sports activities will still be there when you graduate. I have observed that the students who struggle and/or fail are the one's unwilling to make sacrifice. Nursing school is the time to be a little selfish and put your needs first...hopefully you have an understanding spouse and believe me your children will understand eventually and come to realize your accomplishment when you graduate and fulfill your dream.

This tops my advice list for new students. My brain is fried from preparing for finals and practicums since the semester is winding down. Good luck.

W.

(graduation 05/2011!)

[Trina0606]

1. Understand that Nursing School is nothing like your prereqs. The exams are COMPLETELY different and they even grade them differently A=92+ B=84-91 C=76-83 and if your average test grade falls below a 76 YOU FAIL:eek: lol no but seriously you do.

2. Be prepared to read 100+ pages a week ahh scary lol.

Thats all i can think of right now because I too am tired and sleep deprived and anxiously awaiting the end of this semester . I will also graduate 05/2011! Yay wmg246 almost there 1 year to go!

[bellabarbiegirl]

THANK YOU koalakoala! This is a wonderful post! Thank you for posting and responding everyone!