Please help!! I'm in my first term. I have so many questions and can't find answers!

Nursing Students Western Governors

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Hi Everyone!

I'm in the first term of the nursing program (BSPRN) and I'm a little stressed out. When I enrolled I naively thought that my field experience schedule (which showed weekend labs) would be similar to the sample schedule posted on the website. I was a little discouraged when I found out that all of my labs would be in the middle of the week. I know the small print says that labs are subject to be during the week, on holidays, etc... but still I had hope ;). Anyways, I have some burning questions because I don't want any surprises:

- When will I find out how to order the nursing uniform for labs? My intro lab is coming up and I still haven't received this information (I asked my mentor and she doesn't know). Is there a link to an order form or a list of approved vendors?

- What is the CASAL schedule like? I know CASAL isn't until the next term but I'd like to be prepared. Is this an in-person clinical rotation? Do I have to take more days off of work or am I able to schedule rotations over the weekend? (I work Mondays through Thursdays.)

Thank you in advance for your help ?

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Your mentor is your best, and first resource. Make contact with your mentor and have a list of questions drawn up ?

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28 minutes ago, CharleeFoxtrot said:

Your mentor is your best, and first resource. Make contact with your mentor and have a list of questions drawn up ?

Hi CharleeFoxtrot,

Thanks for your advice! Unfortunately I asked my mentor and she didn't know the answers. She told me that someone would contact me regarding the uniform but she wasn't sure who it would be or when. Also, she didn't have any specific details about CASAL. She just mentioned that there shouldn't be too many in-person days.

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Keep being persistent is all I can tell you. Have you looked at the chat threads for your courses? Might be some insight there.

Have you joined the Facebook groups for nursing? There are lots of people that have gone or are going through the program and they may have some thoughts on your questions. Find them through the main WGU Facebook page.

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Specializes in Cosmetic RN.
20 hours ago, Nurseridi said:

Hi Everyone!

I'm in the first term of the nursing program (BSPRN) and I'm a little stressed out. When I enrolled I naively thought that my field experience schedule (which showed weekend labs) would be similar to the sample schedule posted on the website. I was a little discouraged when I found out that all of my labs would be in the middle of the week. I know the small print says that labs are subject to be during the week, on holidays, etc... but still I had hope ;). Anyways, I have some burning questions because I don't want any surprises:

- When will I find out how to order the nursing uniform for labs? My intro lab is coming up and I still haven't received this information (I asked my mentor and she doesn't know). Is there a link to an order form or a list of approved vendors?

- What is the CASAL schedule like? I know CASAL isn't until the next term but I'd like to be prepared. Is this an in-person clinical rotation? Do I have to take more days off of work or am I able to schedule rotations over the weekend? (I work Mondays through Thursdays.)

Thank you in advance for your help ?

You won’t get any information about ordering uniforms until you have been accepted to the 2nd term. For the 1st term, you will wear whatever scrubs you want. Once you have been accepted to term 2 you will receive a link and instructions on how to order our uniforms. There is only 1 vendor so they make it easy. Casal is Fundamentals of nursing and Medical Surgical nursing. You will have an in- person clinical rotation at your assigned hospital. You will receive a preset schedule from the school and you will have to work those assigned days. This can be any day of the week ( including weekends) Iand it could be day shift or night shift. You will likely have to take off days for your clinical rotations. I have never seen anyone who has had all weekend shifts because most we have the same schedule as our preceptors and most of them work weekdays and alternating weekends. If you are on face book. Join this group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1795569107142208/?ref=share

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I’m finishing up term two! You go through the first 6 months before really knowing your clinical schedules, things about uniforms and labs ect. This information really isn’t talked about in depth until you start term 2! During your first lab you can wear whatever scrubs you have or if you don’t have any just buy really cheap ones! You won’t be sent an email with a link to buy your school scrubs until your in term 2. As far as clinicals and labs go everyone’s sample schedule is different because we all start at various times throughout the year and in different locations. You are completely at the hospitals mercy when it comes to clinicals. You are assigned a nurse to follow and you are on their specific schedule so if that nurse works weekend days nights spread out shifts back to back shift that’s what you will work! can not work around each students personal schedules and neither will the partner hospitals so you are expected to be there for labs and clinicals whenever their schedules even if given the schedule a day before. Most people use their vacation and pto for clinicals.

Go follow the Facebook page above also I have an insta and YouTube videos that can help answer any questions you may have feel free to follow! Wgu_future_RN

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