My first day of the nursing program starts on August 27th and I have not been able to purchase anything yet!! I take that back, I was able to order my nursing student name tag but the only reason I was able to do that was because it was only 5 dollars! We have a hard time making ends meet and any "extra" money (if there is such a thing) has been spent to get three of my four children their school nessesities.
I have to wait for my student loans before I can buy my things and that money won't come until Aug 20th! That will give me a window of one week to purchase my books, uniforms, and supplies. I also need to buy shoes and some type of hand-held electronic device for nursing apps. Most students that I know are just going to use their smart phones but I think I'm the only person in this world that does not own a smart phone...the phone I currently use is an out-dated dumb-phone :) I plan on getting an I-Pad Touch, and I will only have one week to learn how to use it!
I'm just stressing out a little, well stressing out a lot actually :) I'm worried that I won't be able to get it all done in such a short time. And of course, I'm super stressed about starting the nursing program! I feel like a time-bomb who may explode at any moment because I'm so stressed out!!
(Here's my vent) My kids seem to fight constantly, my house is constantly messy, I don't get enough help from my husband with the kids/house, and I'm sick and tired of wondering how we will manage to make it until the next pay check. I need a vacation, but I can't afford it!! LOL I know that I'm not the only person that has these struggles, and I know that we will make it...we always do. It's just that sometimes I feel like running away and hiding under a big rock!! However, I realize that if I did find some big rock to hide under I wouldn't be able to hide out for very long.....who would feed them, wash their clothes/dishes, solve their arguements, and basically keep them alive? LOL A mother/wife/woman's work is NEVER ending! I would love to trade responsibilites with my husband for just 3 days...but then again, that would just make more work for me in the long-run because I would have to go back and fix everything that went wrong during those 3 days!
WOW!!! this post really turned into a HUGE vent, but it helped...I feel better :) So, back to the topic at hand....I feel unprepared for the nursing program! LOL :)
I have WiFi access at home and also at school. So, an I Pod will only cost me the money for it's purchase and the price for downloading the apps. correct? Nothing per month? Again, sorry for so many questions :)
3/ Nurse Kit (110 bucks) online purchased, delivered directly to school
4/ Background check
5/ Insurance
6/ Parking
7/ Physical exam
8/ Uniform
9/ Watch
10/ Shoes
11/ Rolling bag
.....
I'm broke now... seriously !! However, I'm more than "ready" for nursing school. All i have to do rite now are READING THE TEXTBOOKS AHEAD and SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS before school starts. Excited and Nervous at the same time.
I'd thank God for guiding me to Nursing Career everyday. !!!
You can't get a data plan for an iPod Touch. What was meant earlier is that you're going to need some kind of Internet access. An iPod touch can do pretty much what an iPhone does, though it doesn't have the ability to make phone calls through a cellular provider, or to use a cellular provider's data service.
An iPad, on the other hand, can be bought without a data plan (WiFi-only) or with a data plan (from AT&T, etc.). The data plan costs money. It's useful if you must get on the Internet if you're away from civilization (i.e., away from a WiFi access point), but, since WiFi is available at home, in school, at libraries, and at Starbucks and Panera, it's probably not worth paying $30 a month for it, especially if money is tight.
An iPad costs more than an iPod Touch, but it may serve your needs better. Or not. You ought to think about it.
By the way, the new iPhone will be out within a few months, so a lot current models will be up for sale on eBay and Craigslist.
I feel for you. My situation is similar. I just got the acceptance letter yesterday (was verbally informed a couple days before that). No info as to supplies needed given at all. 'have to learn that from my advisor & given a phone number to set up an appt. Nothing on texts & suggest references either.
Oh well... I will stay on it and get all of the unknowns worked out before the end of the month. Have similar confidence in your ability to resolve it before things start. As you experience life over the years, you will realize that few worthwhile things, like getting your nursing degree, ever come about smoothly. You will work though it. Don't stress.
I have to wait for my student loans before I can buy my things and that money won't come until Aug 20th! That will give me a window of one week to purchase my books, uniforms, and supplies. I also need to buy shoes and some type of hand-held electronic device for nursing apps. Most students that I know are just going to use their smart phones but I think I'm the only person in this world that does not own a smart phone...the phone I currently use is an out-dated dumb-phone :) I plan on getting an I-Pad Touch, and I will only have one week to learn how to use it!
Since you are only going to have a week to purchase supplies, I suggest that you start researching and making lists of everything now. Books end up getting very expensive so you need to make sure that you can get everything with your loan money. (my loans were not enough to cover my books so I compared the price on the book list to prices online and was able to get my entire booklist for several hundred dollars cheaper than if I purchased it from the bookstore.
Are you REQUIRED to have a hand-held electronic device for nursing apps??? If you are not required to have it then why spend the money. I also was able to find better deals online for my nursing shoes.
If you have to have your books by the first day of class sign up for amazon student, you will get free 2 day shipping, and they fulfill orders for several retailers that sell used books also, usally way cheaper than the bookstore. If you don't have to buy your uniforms from school don't, you can probably get them cheaper at a local scrub shop, or online. Check out online retailers for a used smartphone, you do not have to purchase a data plan if it is wifi enabled, and most are (most of the free upgrade phones require a data plan).
Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.
No problem it works for me. Before everyone had assigned chores but did them at weird times. This caused me headaches because I would see them cleaning when they were suppose to be in bed. So that is when the time system came in...Being a parent and student is hard but we can do it. Good luck to you!:w00t:
I survived nursing school with a basic cheap phone. Almost everyone had a smart phone with apps and could find their meds with a touch. I still did it the old school way with my drug book. My school offered nursing central for free. Never used it since I did not have a device. I did well in school despite not having the bells and whistles. So if its not a requirement, I would not go out and buy one. My school recorded lectures and made them available on Itunes so it was great if you had an Ipad or Iphone to be able to listen to your lectures on the go. For the first 3 semesters I just downloaded the lectures to my laptop and listened to them on my laptop.
Last semester they loaned us IPADS. But I was so used to getting by without the bells and whistles I just kept on doing what worked for me the first 3 semesters.
Just saying, I understand being a broke nursing student so don't spend money unless its a requirement.
By the way, I'm an employed new nurse and still don't want to buy a smart phone. I'm too cheap.
I start at the end of August too. I don't expect my husband to share cleaning duties 50/50 because he works a lot more than I do. For my household we don't adhere to a time based routine because our schedules vary greatly day to day but we try to do a little everyday. You shouldn't feel the least bit bad about asking for help. Families work together. I don't ask them to scrub the house top to bottom but their small efforts save me time.
Examples: My husband can fold some laundry while watching tv.
He can help the kids with homework or get them in the shower while I'm finishing up dinner dishes.
My kids are 6 and 8. They can take out trash, vacuum, or dust.
I am ruthless about keeping clutter to a minimum. I don't bring in new clothes unless I get rid of something to keep laundry down.
But most importantly EVERYONE is expected to pick up after themselves.
I started clinicals in 2011 and prerequisite way back in 2008. I have four children of my own and my house is destroyed mostly every second of the day but so far I have done extremely well in my nursing program! It's doable with kids kids and more kids:-). Everyone in my class has either an IPhone or An Android phone bc we had to buy nursing books at the bookstore that are downloaded on our phones (Davis Drug Guide and Tabers comes in handy during clinical hours). Who wants to lug Those heavy books? If you can't afford one then I suggest IPOD touch. You can hook to the wireless Internet through your school but won't be able to use it anywhere that doesn't have wireless Internet!
It may seem like you're riding a roller coaster now but it will all work out for the best! I only have 3 semesters left until I can call myself an RN and it feels so good - the dirty house can wait lol
Excited and Nervous at the same time. 
its_meee
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I have WiFi access at home and also at school. So, an I Pod will only cost me the money for it's purchase and the price for downloading the apps. correct? Nothing per month? Again, sorry for so many questions :)