MamaG

First semester has 3 books. Med Surg (author: Lemone); Fundamentals of Nursing (Kozier); Health Assessment (not sure about the author ~ I've been told that they changed books this semester). They aren't cheap either! The only plus is that you use the Med Surg book for 4th semester too. Volstate campus has gotten a new instructor and I know that she & the returning instructor have changed up the syllabus ~ so I don't have a good suggestion of where to begin. To my knowledge, the syllabus is not posted online. They usually pass it out on the first day of class. Sorry!

I'm not sure exactly what information you're looking for ~ so, I'll try to give you a brief summary of it all. When you apply to TSU - make sure that you keep copies of everything that you send them. (Side note: You can only choose 1 of the 3 campuses. There is Nashville State {if you are accepted there you will go to the NSCC campus for the first year, then be transferred to the main campus for 2nd year}, TSU (main campus), and TSU @ VolState. Keep in mind, you can only chose ONE campus to apply to). They are notorius for losing things. After you submit everything you can expect to hear from them sometime in April (maybe a little sooner/later). They should send you an acceptance or rejection letter. If you don't receive either - DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL DOWN THERE! ASK THEM WHERE YOUR LETTER IS!! If I hadn't been persistent, I wouldn't have gotten into the program and I am an LPN w/ 13 years of experience with a 4.0 GPA. Don't assume anything. Once you've been accepted, you will attend an orientation meeting at the main campus. A couple of instructors will meet with you and discuss what's expected and what books you will need. First semester, you will have class 2 days/wk and clinicals 1 day. For me, classes were on Tuesday & Wednesday and clinicals were on Thursday. It was nice because you had a long weekend. For the other 1/2 of my class, their clinicals were on Friday. The 1st 5 or 6 weeks of school you don't go to clinicals. Instead you will spend time in the skills lab pefecting your skills. Classes were Fundamentals of Nursing and Health Assessment (with a lab). 2nd semester, the class time is set up very similar to 1st semester. I thought this semester was the hardest. You have Adult Health (MedSurg I) and Pharmacology. Buckle up! Pharm was a rollercoaster ride! Again, I've been a nurse for a while. I thought it was VERY challenging! 3rd semester was probably the easiest semester. They broke the semester up into (3) 5 week sessions. You have 5 weeks of OB, 5 weeks of Psych and 5 weeks of PEDS. I liked this set up because the testing was different. 1st year - you are taking 2 classes at the same time and have 4 or 5 tests in each subject throughout the semester and then a final exam. 3rd semester, you are taking one subject at a time and you have ONE test at the end of that subject. The final is a comprehensive test that covers all 3 subjects for a total of 4 tests all semester. Not bad. I preferred it. The only negative is: if you're lazy and don't put the time into studying and doing well on those end of subject tests - then you're pretty much up a creek. There aren't any other opportunities to pull up your grades. 4th semester remains a mystery to me. I will start it in just a couple of weeks. I have been told that it is very intense and will cover Nursing Management and MedSurg II ~ clinicals will be in critical care settings. Nursing school is hard and very time consuming. Life as you know it ceases to exist. It requires a great deal of dedication and independent study and a great support system. It is not for the unsure or the faint at heart. Good luck to you! Hope this helps.

I don't have any info about the online program - but I am currently enrolled in the 3rd semester of the TSU ADN program @ volstate. Here's what I know ~ the uniforms are white with blue piping on it. They have to be purchased from a little shop out on Charlotte Ave. You have to purchase a lab coat (plain white) but its a particular style that they want you to have. All white shoes - no color at all. Tats have to be covered. Hair needs to be pulled up. No perfume. Clinicals take place at a variety of locations. First semester, the volstate group was at the VA. I know, I know. . . a lot of people are scared of the VA but in all honesty - I didn't mind it at all. The VETS were extremely nice and I got to do a lot of procedures. Our schedule was: Tues/Wed in the classroom and either Thursday/Friday for clinicals (the maximum ratio is 10:1 so the group was split in 1/2.) Clinical days started at 0630 and ended at 1130. It goes by fast. These days were the only days offered - but it may be different for the online program. 2nd semester was much of the same - just an alternate day. This semester has been a little bit of everything. Some days are 8-5, others 12 hours on 2nd shift ~ just depends on where your clinical site is at. Things change at the drop of a hat so you have to be flexible. I think there is one person who has a PDA in my class. The only time I have seen her use it was to load NCLEX questions on it and study in the down time at the hospital. Hope this helps! Let me know if I can help!

I moved back to TN from AR about 9 years ago. In AR, I was a clinic nurse ~ family practice and finally landed in cardiology. Loved it. When I came back to TN - I had a hard time finding work in a "clinic" setting. I found that most clinics didn't want to hire LPN's -they preferred MA's. The only work that I could find (besides a hospital which I had no experience with) was Assisted Living and LTC. I really liked the assisted living side of it. I ended up managing a dementia unit in an assisted living community. We actively recruited new graduates because the pace was manageable and they could get their feet wet in a not so critical atmosphere. The pay scale was comparable to working in a clinic. I'm currently in my 3rd semester of RN school now and during clinicals I have an opportunity to visit some of the larger hospitals in Nashville. I would say the majority of the hospitals are moving toward RNs rather than LPNs and some are exclusive to RNs. All things considered, including the nationwide nursing shortage, I don't think you'll have a problem finding a job - it will just be a question of finding the right fit for you. Best of luck to you!

I am a 2nd semester TSU student at Vol State. Last semester, our whole class went to the VA. Clinical days are either Thursday or Friday. This semester, we are back at the VA - just on a different floor and they have also added rotations to other departments. (GI, Cardiac Cath, Dialysis, etc). It is my understanding that next semester, we will probably go somewhere else. The main campus goes to VA, Metro General, and Skyline. I'm guessing that Nashville State goes to the same places.

I am currently in the Volstate/TSU program. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin! I would say that it is of great importance to get all of your pre-req's done before you enter the program. I can't imagine taking 2 or 3 other classes in addition to the nursing courses! Set yourself up for success by allowing time to complete the courses and to do well in them. Your GPA DOES matter. Once you finish with your pre-req's - get busy on filling out the mounds of paperwork required for the application to get into the program. It is very tedious. Be organized. Above all, only give TSU copies of your paperwork - always keep the original for yourself. They are notorious for losing things. I believe the earliest that you can turn in your application is December. The cut off was March/April. Don't wait until the last minute. Once you have turned everything in - watch for your letter to come in the mail - unless you're like me and a letter NEVER came. They send out letters(rejection, acceptance and alternates) at the end of April/first of May. If you see that your peers have gotten letters and you have not - you need to be persistent with he TSU office. Believe me, from personal experience, that may be your only avenue into the program. Don't assume anything! Get it in writing. Once you get in - its a whole new world. Your life becomes completely immersed in nursing school. 1st semester is 2 days of lecture and lab and 1 day of clinicals. Prepare yourself and your family - your "spare" time is now a thing of the past and you are devoted to the 100+ pages in the reading assignment and learning to write a care plan in your sleep. It is very condensed, very demanding, fast paced and nerve racking. I've been an LPN for 12 years and I was still nervous about demonstrating my skills to check a blood pressure! It is not for the faint hearted or the easily discouraged.

What a fiasco with the application process for TSU program! My application was turned in on time and complete just like everyone elses. Unfortunately, despite my 3.86 GPA and all General Ed classes complete [did I mention that I've been an LPN for 11 years?] ~ I failed to receive any letter of acceptance or rejection. It was only after several messages & emails to the main campus that I found out that I was left out by mistake. At which point, it was too late to get in because all of the slots were taken. I met with TSU's faculty and was subsequently put on the alternate list. Thankfully, I was notified yesterday that there was a slot available at Vol State - which I took. Out of the mouth of TSU's own faculty - the application and notification process was fumbled for this Fall, 2007 class. It doesn't instill a great deal of confidence in the system if you ask me. I'm thankful for the 2nd chance, though. Persistance pays!

I am in my 2nd semester at Vol State - working on pre-req's as well. I have A & P II (I highly recommend Ms. Candella) & Chemistry. That will complete almost everything except nursing curriculum. I'm hoping for admission in the Fall, 2007.

This is my second semester at Vol State - taking Pre-Req's. My plan is to apply to the TSU nursing program in December and keep my fingers crossed. I have A & P II & Chemistry in August. I'm just ready to get started!