Mount St. Mary's ABSN 2011 applicants

U.S.A. Maryland

Published

Applying to MSMC's 2011 absn program? Yeah, me too. Just wanted to hearing from others in the same boat.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

NURS 44A

Lewis, Med-Surg Nursing - 8th 2011 Absolutely buy this, and get this edition. You will use it through the middle of 2nd semester.

Porth, Pathophysiology - 8th 2009 - This is a good back up, especially for the 1st 1/2. Buy an old edition.

Shiland, Mastering Healthcare Terminology - 3rd 2010 - A good medical dictionary will help with this, and Google. Good to have if you have taken medical terminology, but otherwise don't bother. If you can find a cheap terminology reference guide, it may be helpful to learn how to read charts.

Taber, Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary - 21st 2009 - Definitely good to have for reference, but not critical to buy. Good to use when writing up care plans.

NURS 45A

Morris, Calculate w/Confidence - 5th 2010 - If you have another calculation book, you won't need this, otherwise it's good to have as reference. Any edition will do.

Mosby, Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference - 24th 2011 - Yes! or buy the kind on index cards, but honestly I liked looking up my drugs in a book much better. I would recommend 2009 or newer.

Pagana, Mosby's Diagnostic & Lab Test Ref - 10th 2010 - Not so much. You can get away with not buying this.

Weber, Health Assessment in Nursing - 4th 2010

I know my cohort will hate me, but don't buy this book, unless you buy mine. You can look up all procedures online the day before skills lab.

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wow, thank you so much Sugarlips!!! I wasn't expecting such a detailed breakdown of what we're going to need but you are amazing!! Since this list isn't the "official" list yet, I was worried about buying the books too early and then having the list change.. but I'm pretty sure the ones you said we will need will be used this year as well. Thanks so much again!!!

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Specializes in Mother/Baby; Postpartum, Newborn Nursery.

if anyone wants books for first semester, i have some older editions i used. I am graduating in 2 weeks. private message me.

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Sugarlips thank you so much for the breakdown, this is very helpful. I am definitely going to purchase the books that you said we need right now.

I do have one question regarding the Cyclopedic Dictionary, do we need the 21st edition or can get by with an older version, do you know?

And I have one other question that is a bit off topic, but are you ever released early from class so that you can have extra study time? How often do you have tests? I heard that you have at least one per week is this correct?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
I do have one question regarding the Cyclopedic Dictionary, do we need the 21st edition or can get by with an older version, do you know?

You can buy an older version, since it is just for reference. Just don't get too old, since you want the most up to date information.

And I have one other question that is a bit off topic, but are you ever released early from class so that you can have extra study time? How often do you have tests? I heard that you have at least one per week is this correct?

Every blue moon you'll get a day off in Theory for group project time, but don't count on it. Plan on first semester Mon and Tues class time and W-F in the hospital. Depending on your clinical group instructor will depend on exactly what time you get out there. Plan on between 2-3pm. Tests are about every other week in a given class, sometimes every 2 weeks. In our 2nd semester we have quizzes every other class, but not on test days.

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Thank you so much Sugarlips. One more question, are there any other books that you recommend that we buy that were not included in that list? They still haven't posted our books yet and we are two weeks out now.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

No, don't spend more money than you have to. Just buy the used books from my class. Private message me so we can connect and I can give you a list of people who are selling books that you can pass around your class.

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Sugarlips... this site confuses me and I can't figure out how to PM you. I sent you a friend request. How do I go about messaging you? I've noticed in the past that my account has told me that I can't private message.

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You can't PM unless you have like 15 posts or something. I'm interested in books also!

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Sugarlips (or anyone else who's in the program reading this), would you happen to know how long it's taking recent graduates from MSMC to find jobs? I have a couple of RN friends who graduated in December (not from MSMC) and they STILL can't find jobs and I guess now that school is starting in a week, it's kind of freaking me out!

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regarding your friends who havent found jobs yet, when did they take their NCLEX? did they graduate with an AA or BSN? there are many factors to consider.

most new-grad programs begin hiring around february and august. if they graduated in december, they might not have taken their NCLEX in time to apply for february new-grad programs. additionally, if your friends only have an associate's degree in nursing, it will be more challenging for them to find a job, since most hospitals only want to hire BSN graduates.

if theyre desperate, have them get a nursing assistant job in a hospital, which will enable them to actually GET hired into a hospital. yes, thats not what you went to school for. i understand, but once theyre working in a hospital, its much easier for them to transfer departments, rather than just applying for a job from the outside.

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Yeah they had AA's, I think that's the biggest problem.

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