Congrats to everyone who made it in!! Looks like some of us will be meeting tomorrow, June 25th @ 7p at the Brass Tap up at Wiregrass Mall in Wesley Chapel. Anyone is welcome to come celebrate and have a drink! We deserve it!!!
Christina
Applied for RN and day LPN; accepted into day LPN
TEAS 88.2
Pre-Req GPA 3.4
Nothing done yet - no physical, no uniforms, no CPR nothing!!! Anyone want to do CPR together if possible?? Also, who wants to help me get together ~$1500 in the next 6w so I can pay for classes, books and the first month of $600/mo daycare?? Ahhhhhh!!!
I would like to ask if you have any tips for surviving the program, hardest part, easiest part? Any advice you have to offer?
Thanks,
Kelly
Hey Kelly,
LOL.. looks like I started a little terms of service posting drama.. sorry! :)
I'm not sure I can answer the question regarding the hardest/easiest part of the program. The whole thing was hard! Actually, let me rephrase that.. it was definitely a challenge. :) I already have my Bachelors degree from UF, and decided to go back and get a nursing degree- lemme tell you, my Bachelors degree was CAKE compared to this program. No joke. One of my classmates, like me, has her Bachelors degree (except in Microbio) and she feels the same way. We always joke that we're actually getting our "Ph.D in Practical Nursing." :)
So a few things I wanted to mention:
1. You will have to purchase a course manual for every course you take (i.e.: PRN001C, PRN002C). Basically, you're paying for a really overpriced syllabus, and there are copies of your clinical paperwork that will be due throughout the course in it. They usually range in $10-$12 per course. I had a total of 7 courses. 7 courses x $10 for each course = $70 for the whole year. It really adds up. So a word of advice: partner with your classmates and pitch in to purchase ONE manual. Then one of you scan it as a pdf and email it to each other. You can print it at home, OR if you are on North campus, you have access to the Learning Lab where printing is free if you bring your own paper. Just one way to save a couple bucks.
2. Your lab kit is "required," but honestly- you'll probably never use anything in it.. maybe 4 or 5 items max. A penlight is included in your lab kit which has a pupil measuring guide on the side of it. I would hold out on buying one until that one dies on you.
3. BP cuffs are available in the lab, so if you don't feel like forking up the money for one- keep in mind that there are some available to you. The only benefit to buying one is that you'll have one to practice with at home before faculty evaluations. After faculty evals, you'll probably never use it again because all the clinical sites have their own BP cuffs/Dynamaps you will use.
4. Not ONE of my classmates, including myself, had a "sweeping" second-hand on our watches. Biggest concerns for me were at least having a second-hand, making sure it was waterproof, the date was on the watch and it was easy for me to disinfect when I got home. MRSA and C-Diff don't play around!! :)
5. For stethoscopes: I do not recommend the ones at the bookstore. Many of my classmates stethoscopes from the bookstore ended up breaking or they complained they couldn't hear very well. Some of them stain your uniform too. I got my name engraved on the tubing of my Littmann. First name, middle initial and last name. I chose to do it because 1) It was expensive, and 2) I was not going to lose that thing!! In regards to last names and stalking, it depends on your instructor. I covered my last name on my name tag on day one- and no one argued it with me. The engraving on my stethoscope was so subtle, not one of my patients could probably see it. Besides, you're too busy telling them to sit-up, breath-in, breath-out, breath-normal and asking about bowel movements for them to even notice its there.. :) Also, Oak Hill and Brooksville Regional prohibit nursing students from wearing their stethoscopes around their neck bc it harbors bacteria. You have to keep it in your pocket.
6. For the LPN program, they require that we wear one patch on the upper left chest. Some people ironed their patches on, some used Velcro and others just secured them with safety pins. Towards the end of the program you will take individual pictures for pinning and a class photo to be placed in the nursing offices in your white uniform. One thing they didn't tell us was that we could not wear our patches in any of the photos (school policy). So to all the students who used velcro or ironed their patches on- that was a major problem-o. I was one of the lucky ones who used safety pins. It makes it easier to wash your uniforms and you don't have to worry about the patch fading or bleeding onto your whites.
7. For every course, you have to complete a "Self-Evaluation Tool" by the end of clinicals. It lists all competencies that you must meet in order to pass the clinical portion of the course. For each competency, you have to list the date the competency was met, the patient's initials and an explanation of what you did to complete that competency. To make this easier, I recommend you write down the initials of every patient you encounter and a brief excerpt about them, or what you did for them. There will be days where you will not be able to complete this self-eval tool every night, so keeping a running tally of all your patients will make it easier to complete it on a later date.
8. You CAN work while in nursing school. You'll sacrifice quite a bit of sleep.. but it is do-able. I worked 15 hrs/week.. and I had classmates who worked 20-25 hrs/week. We all passed the program. :)
9. I read somewhere on here that someone said "get use" to the staff making things up as they go along. I kinda chuckled a little when I read it. It is VERY true. :)
Anyway, I hope this all makes sense. I could go on and on.. but I think i've written a pretty long novel for you.. :) Sorry about that! Hope this helps somewhat.. let me know if you have additional questions. :)
Does anyone know when the books will be available in the bookstore? I want to start price comparing.
When I started the program, they didn't have the books in until well after orientation. I remember the only thing I could purchase was my lab kit, but even then they recommended that I do not purchase it because they had "just enough" lab kits for each student on each campus. So basically, if I was taking classes on the North Campus, and I bought a lab kit on the West Campus.. one student on the West Campus would be short a lab kit.
Thanks to Steph for sharing your journey with us :) Congratulations on finishing up!!
Are there any more stories out there waiting to be shared? Please jump in :)
So (because I can't follow directions...lol..alright, j/k, I really can! I just choose to plan ahead which means I am doing as much as I can NOW), my uniforms came today. Let's just say, it ain't gonna be a fashion show...but my pants seem like they should be long enough. (I did call the bookstore to get style numbers so I am sure I bought the correct tunic and pants)
I have to ask, am I the only one already worried about wearing white uniform pants at a certain time of the month? Oy ve. If someone doesn't give me something to worry about, I will make up my own stuff...
Umm yes the time of the month....well luckily if you are "normal" you will generally only have to wear your white uniform 2 days of your monthly visit. I always doubled up to be sure though! lol
Yaz...I'm guilty of going onto WISE too. Call it pride, being superficial, or just excited...I still can't believe it. And to everyone, I put all the books EXCEPT the course manual, lab kit, cpr pulse clickers, and the 3 pageburst ebooks into my cart on amazon. If anyone is in the program, or knows if we can purchase any of those listed above separately, please let me know so I can proactively order these books for a halfway decent price and just get those 6 other items later. I talked to the lady at W.C. bookstore today since I see some items as "Used" on their website, but she said they aren't available yet. I've run out of the things to do before orientation and these books are calling my name! If there's a get together, let me know so I can having something to do before August 3rd.
Yaz...I'm guilty of going onto WISE too. Call it pride, being superficial, or just excited...I still can't believe it. And to everyone, I put all the books EXCEPT the course manual, lab kit, cpr pulse clickers, and the 3 pageburst ebooks into my cart on amazon. If anyone is in the program, or knows if we can purchase any of those listed above separately, please let me know so I can proactively order these books for a halfway decent price and just get those 6 other items later. I talked to the lady at W.C. bookstore today since I see some items as "Used" on their website, but she said they aren't available yet. I've run out of the things to do before orientation and these books are calling my name! If there's a get together, let me know so I can having something to do before August 3rd.
I'll call it excitement :)
Check ebay for the cps clickers. The course manual and lab kits you will HAVE to buy from the bookstore. The ebooks should be attainable through elsevier directly, and of course the ati access code will be available through the bookstore as stated in the packet info. Amazon has the best prices for new books and I found some used books at textbooks.com. (They guarantee the condition and that it has any cd's advertised).
Thanks Jenn...so unless anyone has any other suggestions, ideas, or comments, I believe I'll purchase my books off amazon and individually buy the clickers, 3 ebooks, lab kit, and course manual. I'm just banking on the bookstore selling the lab kit and course manual as individual items and not as a book package where I'll have to get all the others as well. Thanks!
Shep626, Thank you for all of the info, a little insight into what to come really helps!
For everyone else, Borders has a 40% off coupon this week! I purchased the majority of my books through them using coupons...amazing savings! Everyone in my house now has a Borders Rewards Card;)
Just got all the books on Amazon. Went to this site: Evolve to check out the "Pageburst ebooks," and each of the three "Access Codes" are $59.95. I'm going to wait and see if we even NEED these codes for our classes. It looks like it may be that online study tool similar to A&PI and II. Bookstore said Course Manual and Lab Kit are individual items and not in yet, and they have no idea about the Mosby's DVD (whether it's in a package deal or individual). Other than that, all I need are the "clickers" (ebay- thanks Jenn!) and the code for the atitesting. Hope everyone is enjoying their last few weeks of freedom!
You bithes better not go to Brass Tap without me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HA!!!! Someone keep me informed! I'm too knee deep in PSY to get on here much! Yaz, keep me informed!!! LOL
I don't understand why I don't get these updates in my e-mail anymore! Anyway, I have yet to get any books because I am trying to wait to see if I get a sponsorship. Since they pay directly to the school, they would pay for books only from the bookstore. If I don't get one, then I'll be online with you guys on amazon and half.com. As for Brass Tap, how does this Friday or Saturday sound? I'm free if you're free!
This Saturday works for me for Brass Tap! I'm going to see if any of my friends who also got accepted for fall want to join us. It will be like a mini orientation for just the students! *wine
July 20th I will finally get my physical all done. I can't believe how time is flying and I don't feel at all prepared!!:uhoh21:
Ahhhhhh!!!
(I did call the bookstore to get style numbers so I am sure I bought the correct tunic and pants)
HA!!!! Someone keep me informed! I'm too knee deep in PSY to get on here much! Yaz, keep me informed!!! LOL
Shep626
26 Posts
Hey Kelly,
LOL.. looks like I started a little terms of service posting drama.. sorry! :)
I'm not sure I can answer the question regarding the hardest/easiest part of the program. The whole thing was hard! Actually, let me rephrase that.. it was definitely a challenge. :) I already have my Bachelors degree from UF, and decided to go back and get a nursing degree- lemme tell you, my Bachelors degree was CAKE compared to this program. No joke. One of my classmates, like me, has her Bachelors degree (except in Microbio) and she feels the same way. We always joke that we're actually getting our "Ph.D in Practical Nursing." :)
So a few things I wanted to mention:
1. You will have to purchase a course manual for every course you take (i.e.: PRN001C, PRN002C). Basically, you're paying for a really overpriced syllabus, and there are copies of your clinical paperwork that will be due throughout the course in it. They usually range in $10-$12 per course. I had a total of 7 courses. 7 courses x $10 for each course = $70 for the whole year. It really adds up. So a word of advice: partner with your classmates and pitch in to purchase ONE manual. Then one of you scan it as a pdf and email it to each other. You can print it at home, OR if you are on North campus, you have access to the Learning Lab where printing is free if you bring your own paper. Just one way to save a couple bucks.
2. Your lab kit is "required," but honestly- you'll probably never use anything in it.. maybe 4 or 5 items max. A penlight is included in your lab kit which has a pupil measuring guide on the side of it. I would hold out on buying one until that one dies on you.
3. BP cuffs are available in the lab, so if you don't feel like forking up the money for one- keep in mind that there are some available to you. The only benefit to buying one is that you'll have one to practice with at home before faculty evaluations. After faculty evals, you'll probably never use it again because all the clinical sites have their own BP cuffs/Dynamaps you will use.
4. Not ONE of my classmates, including myself, had a "sweeping" second-hand on our watches. Biggest concerns for me were at least having a second-hand, making sure it was waterproof, the date was on the watch and it was easy for me to disinfect when I got home. MRSA and C-Diff don't play around!! :)
5. For stethoscopes: I do not recommend the ones at the bookstore. Many of my classmates stethoscopes from the bookstore ended up breaking or they complained they couldn't hear very well. Some of them stain your uniform too. I got my name engraved on the tubing of my Littmann. First name, middle initial and last name. I chose to do it because 1) It was expensive, and 2) I was not going to lose that thing!! In regards to last names and stalking, it depends on your instructor. I covered my last name on my name tag on day one- and no one argued it with me. The engraving on my stethoscope was so subtle, not one of my patients could probably see it. Besides, you're too busy telling them to sit-up, breath-in, breath-out, breath-normal and asking about bowel movements for them to even notice its there.. :) Also, Oak Hill and Brooksville Regional prohibit nursing students from wearing their stethoscopes around their neck bc it harbors bacteria. You have to keep it in your pocket.
6. For the LPN program, they require that we wear one patch on the upper left chest. Some people ironed their patches on, some used Velcro and others just secured them with safety pins. Towards the end of the program you will take individual pictures for pinning and a class photo to be placed in the nursing offices in your white uniform. One thing they didn't tell us was that we could not wear our patches in any of the photos (school policy). So to all the students who used velcro or ironed their patches on- that was a major problem-o. I was one of the lucky ones who used safety pins. It makes it easier to wash your uniforms and you don't have to worry about the patch fading or bleeding onto your whites.
7. For every course, you have to complete a "Self-Evaluation Tool" by the end of clinicals. It lists all competencies that you must meet in order to pass the clinical portion of the course. For each competency, you have to list the date the competency was met, the patient's initials and an explanation of what you did to complete that competency. To make this easier, I recommend you write down the initials of every patient you encounter and a brief excerpt about them, or what you did for them. There will be days where you will not be able to complete this self-eval tool every night, so keeping a running tally of all your patients will make it easier to complete it on a later date.
8. You CAN work while in nursing school. You'll sacrifice quite a bit of sleep.. but it is do-able. I worked 15 hrs/week.. and I had classmates who worked 20-25 hrs/week. We all passed the program. :)
9. I read somewhere on here that someone said "get use" to the staff making things up as they go along. I kinda chuckled a little when I read it. It is VERY true. :)
Anyway, I hope this all makes sense. I could go on and on.. but I think i've written a pretty long novel for you.. :) Sorry about that! Hope this helps somewhat.. let me know if you have additional questions. :)
Steph