January 2010 starts

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After months of document submittal, subjecting myself to immunizations and physicals, taking pre-reqs and 2 entrance exams, doing several interviews, and finally getting accepted - I'm ready to start on January 4th.

The school had its orientation last Friday. We were fitted for uniforms, given our textbooks, and informed of the class/clinical schedule for the first 6 months. I'm happy to report that we will get a very occassional day off here and there, but in late May, they give us a whole week to regroup, catch up, take care of business, and generally live life for 7 days!

The school director reinforced the notion that NS will be difficult but not impossible. The critical point being that we simply can not get behind. We need to understand all the concepts that we will be taught, because sure as snot, the one(s) we don't "get" will be the one(s) that will hang us up on NCLEX. She explained how the NCLEX CAT is designed and that if you show weakness in an area, you will get repeated questions to fully check for understanding (or not) of the subject. That was enlightening.

She further discussed the 4 levels of brain work that will get us through the next 11 months.

  • memorization (and lots of it, no getting around it)
  • understanding (the boatloads of material)
  • application (of the above), and finally
  • analyzing (all that we've learned)

Nurses aren't born, they're created. And I need to get going cuz they want us to hit the ground running. They gave us our first assignment due on the 4th. Eight chapters and complete the workbook. There will be a vocabulary test and a shorter quiz on the first day of class.

On your mark, get set, go.....

Anyone else want to start a new thread for January 2010 starts to share experiences? I'm game!

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I'm starting January 14th. I'm really excited about it. We had orientation a few weeks ago, it was mostly concerning financial aid and everything we need to do before school starts. The last thing that I need to do is my first aid class, that's tomorrow afternoon and then I will turn it all in.

I won't be able to get my books until after the first day of classes, most likely. I'm still trying to figure out a way around it. But they know that there are alot of us on pell grant that won't get book money until after classes start. I am going to take to my advisor to find out about getting rembursed if I buy them. I'm also going through WIA so it gets complicated.

We have specific uniforms we have to buy but we'll do that on our own. I still have to buy those but I'm waiting until after Christmas. We have to wear our uniform every day, even to class. We have a white top to wear to clinicals, with hunter green pants. To class, it's hunter green tops and bottoms.

Good luck to everyone!!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I started in September, similar assignment for the first day. Since then it has been a crazy 3 months. Never thought I would do this much and stress out so much in so little time! Keep focused and you will make it. We started with 30 and are down to 19. Wednesday is the last day before break, still 2 more finals to go. When I come back in Jan we start clinicals 4 days a week and we start in med/surg I! I cannot wait. Just so thankful I have made it this far. Does your program require volunteer hours? Ours is 100 and I simply cannot find time for one hundred hours!

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I won't be able to get my books until after the first day of classes, most likely. I'm still trying to figure out a way around it. But they know that there are alot of us on pell grant that won't get book money until after classes start. I am going to take to my advisor to find out about getting rembursed if I buy them. I'm also going through WIA so it gets complicated.

Good luck to everyone!!!

On the pell you have the option of having the school order your books & pay for them until your pell comes in (if they do this) and you will then get what is left or else you can purchase them yourself & you will receive your pell refund by the end of Feb. Most at my school opted to buy them on their own as they save anywhere from $200-$400 of what the school would have charged for ordering them so it was more money they got back.

I know the WIA helps with physicals, uniforms, etc I am not sure about books though.

I'd be asking for more information asap!

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I'm going to check into it again today. I may have been asking the wrong questions. I asked them if WIA would help me get the books early. So I will call them and verify how the money would be reimbursed if I were to pay for the books beforehand.

I'm turning in all of my paperwork today!!!

UPDATE:

YAY!!! I called and spoke with the lady...wow her people skills are lacking!! Anyway, she said that the pell grant will be paid directed to me so I am going to buy my books today!! It's $1080 for all of the books!!!

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the books that we're going to use are part of the Lippincott's PN series - Textbook of Basic Nursing and the accompanying workbook.

they reinforce key concepts, are well-written, and easy to read.

and good thing I like to do strength training, b'cuz I'm gonna need it. at almost 2000 pages, the text must weigh close to 10 lbs, if not more! luckily, I'm not going to be lugging these books very far. it's a very short walk from the parking lot to class.

the publisher makes available online tutorials that you have to register for. some are animated, others are reinactments. the animated body system ones are excellent.

I watched a couple (circulatory system, kidney function) and was fascinated. I'm a visual learner and the animation helps to make sense of complex concepts.

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Hey, everybody! I am TOTALLY freaking out! I am excited but nervous about starting ns! Classes start January 20th , but our orientation isn't until the 14th. I STILL have to get some immunizations & my phsyical completed before classes start as well. I am also getting cpr certified on the 7th since I need to do that before starting fund. of practical nursing. I will also be taking A&P I.

: )

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There's still time, relax for the holidays and then tackle it with a renewed energy.

I was hoping to turn in my paperwork before the holiday but apparently they decided to take an early Christmas break even though the rest of the college is open through tomorrow. I did get my books though. $941.70. They were out of the nursing supply kit and course materials so I'll have to go back and spend another $100. That's just insane when the class itself was a little over $1000 for this semester. But we will use these books for 3 semesters, 3rd semester we will have 2 more books.

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Specializes in LTC, Clinic, Med/Surg, Ortho.

Congratulations everyone!!

Woo hoo I start on the 11th also.. I'm so excited and ready for these 2 weeks to come and go.

Those book prices are crazy!! They gave us a cost list and there saying our books will only be about 545.00.

Good luck to everyone!!:D

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.

Congrats to all of you that are starting in January!:yeah:

I just finished my first semester and OMG what a stressful time! Be prepared to say good bye to your social life, and get into a good study group... There is a lot of reading, memorizing and then applying what you learn to the clinical setting. We started with 30 and now down to 20 students....3 of them we lost 1 week before the end of the semester because they did not pass the Drug Dose Calculations Compentcy exam final...

Also when studying for a test, read and re-read EVERYTHING!!! When you are able to teach the material to someone else, you have owned the material...once you get into clinical, all that you learn will begin to make sense as you begin to apply what you are learning on "real" people, not manaquins....

Best of luck to you all!!!

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Congrats Plaza on getting excepted into NS. Funny I saw your name and knew it was you. Really happy for you. I did my CNA this fall and am doing Fundamental 1 LVN in Feb. You are super smart and I believe you would make one excellent nurse. Your fellow esthie:redpinkhe

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toshea - :chuckle I've been found out!

I thought about changing my name but then I'd have to remember it. I've had the same moniker for so long and having to come up with something new would totally tax my brain.

Made the decision to go to nursing school about a year ago and spent most of 2009 doing prereqs. I've decided that getting a nursing license will enable me to take my esthetics to a higher level.

How 'bout choo? Are you going to stay in esthetics?

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