CSN RN Fall 2014

TheresaAnderson · May 7, 2014

Hello! Anyone else accepted to the extended track??? I'm excited but also a bit nervous!

normitac86 · May 7, 2014

From what I understand picking up your packet and signing your acceptance letter May 8th was mandatory. If you want to ensure you are in the program I don't think you should have them mail it to you.

christina731 · May 7, 2014

I would definitely go to the signing! I don't trust them to mail it.

normitac86 · May 9, 2014

Christina731,

is there anything you could recommend for us to start looking at? I know we should prob relax n enjoy the summer aside from the toolbox class but I don't want to be idle.

christina731 · May 9, 2014

Christina731,
is there anything you could recommend for us to start looking at? I know we should prob relax n enjoy the summer aside from the toolbox class but I don't want to be idle.

I would recommend that you work overtime to make extra money, and take a vacation (once you know your orientation and advisor dates - you can't miss those under any circumstances) and spend time with your friends and family. These things get to be difficult once the program begins.

You will need to get your vaccines in order so make sure you have proof of them or get them up to date (you can find a list of required ones in the nursing program guidelines handbook on the csn website). If you don't have proof but know you got them, get titers done so you don't get unnecessary vaccines. Get your CPR, TB (2 step) and your physical exam done later in the summer so they will be good until mid summer next year. It's a pain to get that done in the middle of the semester. TB and physical are good for a year and CPR for 2 years.

Once you get your book and supply lists at orientation, post them here and I will let you know what you need and don't need. I wouldn't do any studying other than what you learn in toolbox which I HIGHLY recommend. Practice the math and do every single problem in the toolbox textbook and the assignments. Go see Diane Rhodes (toolbox instructor) if you have problems with math. She will help you in any way possible.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help :)

normitac86 · May 10, 2014

Yea I started my vaccines already. Going back in June for my final doses. CPR class is scheduled and the tb test as well.

I'm kinda anxious for the toolbox class to start. Give me an idea of what these calculations look like.

I do want to get my hands on those books ASAP tho.

christina731 · May 10, 2014

Yea I started my vaccines already. Going back in June for my final doses. CPR class is scheduled and the tb test as well.
I'm kinda anxious for the toolbox class to start. Give me an idea of what these calculations look like.
I do want to get my hands on those books ASAP tho.

Dosagehelp.com is a good resource to use for dosage calculations. I use dimensional analysis to solve every problem and as long as you set up the problem correctly, you will be able to solve the problem. Setting up the problem was my issue 90% of the time.

ElTigreChino · May 10, 2014

Christina 731 are the professors picky on what kind of shoes we wear? I read somewhere in the handbook that we need to have a white leather shoes. Does it necessarily need to be leather? And can my shoe have little hints of black? I'm still contemplating if I'll take the toolbox class! Thanks!

christina731 · May 10, 2014

Christina 731 are the professors picky on what kind of shoes we wear? I read somewhere in the handbook that we need to have a white leather shoes. Does it necessarily need to be leather? And can my shoe have little hints of black? I'm still contemplating if I'll take the toolbox class! Thanks!

It really depends on your clinical instructor; some are more picky than others. Leather shoes are good vs canvas just in case something spills or sprays on them they can be wiped clean. I wouldn't wear anything but solid leather (I wore Dansko professionals) because I did have some nasty stuff get on mine during my long term care rotation. I don't even like shoes that have laces because you can potentially expose your foot to poop, vomit, , urine, blood and who knows what else. As far as little hints of black, I would wait until school starts to buy them so you can ask your ACE (alternative clinical experience -1st 3 weeks of clinical which is at school in the lab) instructor. They will have the final say.

As far as toolbox, unless you're 100% confident in the math I would take it. I have been a pharmacy tech for 7 years so I'm quite familiar with the math involved in dosage calculations but what tripped me up was the way they presented to questions to us. It was nothing like I had ever seen before. I'm glad I took toolbox because I was able to see tons of different problems. Unfortunately I was stubborn and didn't practice the problems enough and I ended up failing my 1st math test in 1st semester and retaking that test was absolutely the most stressful moment of school so far. Everything that I had worked so hard for could have been taken away from me if I got one question wrong. Luckily I passed the test on the retake but the same thing happened again 2nd semester, again because I didn't practice enough. Finally in 3rd semester I passed the test on the 1st time because I practiced like I'm telling you how to practice. So take the class and practice every problem that she gives you. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Then you can sit in on the class in future semesters without paying tuition and practice all over again. I'm confident that if I did not take toolbox in the beginning that I would not be finishing up 3rd semester now. It's 1.5 credits so it's under $200 for tuition, the book is under $10 and the class is 2.5 weeks long. I think that price is SO worth it. Imagine spending thousands of dollars on tuition, books, supplies and uniforms, stressing over your first 2 lecture exams and a huge paper that's all due in the first 4 weeks only to fail a stupid math test by ONE question and lose it all. You will then have to reapply with a point deducted from you application and hope you get accepted again. It's not worth it. Take toolbox! That's my story :)

Rella_ · May 10, 2014

I am so excited to start the RN program in the Fall. Does anybody know if we do clinical in a hospital setting our first semester?

christina731 · May 10, 2014

No, you don't go to the hospital until 2nd semester. First semester is 3 weeks of alternative clinical experience (ACE) which is on campus in the labs, then 4 weeks of long term care, then 6 weeks of sub-acute/rehab.

ElTigreChino · May 11, 2014

Thanks for the input christina731!