K_A_T

I guess there was some confusion on my part. (I AM KAT...changing my sn) What I meant was federal loans are NOT available in the summer. According to my university, federal money is NOT being offered in the summer anymore. I don't know why, but it is not according to them. I know you can get loans through your own unviersity and private funding, but not federal. Salle mae is a private funding company. If the information I have provided is wrong, please let me know so that I can take it to my school. Anything to avoid a private loan. FAFSA is constantly changing its rules and supposably this is newly in effect, as last summer I had financial aid in San Francisco. This summer, I have to pull out alternative loans for school. Hope that clears up what I was trying to say....

Helloo.. I don't actually attend Columbia, but I am in nursing school here in NYC at a private university. Just thought I would throw something at you guys. Check to see about tuition for summer classes. I know for me and the private university (Adelphi) that I attend, summer is NOT considered a semester and therefore, there if NO FINANCIAL AID available and payment is DUE UPON RECEIPT. Beware!! I was told that all private universities don't recognize summer as a semester. It sucks. Tuition this summer for me is $9500 so far. HOPEFULLY this changes, as I just registered today. ALSO, Salle Mae WILL grant you those loans, but take it from me..the INTEREST RATE is DECEIVING! They said I was approved for one and then when I received the master promissory, it turned out to be like 15% HORRIFIC! Anyhow, the way I learned is you have to apply for the smaller loans and you have to keep applying for them until they total $55,000 or whatever they grant you. I have ONLY borrowed like $9000 because their rates are SUPER high. But, this is for alternative loans (which you will more than likely need IN ADDITION) Sorry for reading, but I plan on attending Columbia for nurse anesthesia and I was curious as to what this thread said:) Hope what I have said is helpful and not dismal. ~Kat

Hmmm... I was placed on a wait list and I turned around and chose to move to NYC since I was in there. As far as the classes being in the summer. I took anatomy during the summer and also organic chemistry during the summer at two different colleges. One of them happened to be a community college. Gotta do what you gotta do. I know, every schoool is a pain the rear when it comes to the pre requisites they want you to have. The good news is that the end result will be more education and you will get your R.N. soon enough:) I know it's tough, I remember having to juggle trying to get my prerequisites done before all of the deadlines:( Good luck...

THANK YOU:) Actually, You're right and it does make sense. I know where all the information lies in my nursing books. My first clinical in med surg I, everyone had the basic "same" types of issues. It's normal to feel nervous after graduation because after all, I am dealing with human life. I needed some reassurance from some experienced hands and I got it. Thanks again:)

This is all reassuring. I mean, learning from a textbook and doing well on a exams and quizzes is so much DIFFERENT than the actual application on a human being. I just have the WORST habit of doubting my smarts. I really want to be a good nurse and a strong advocate for the patient. It's just those days when you think "oh my God, there is sooo much information. How am I suppose to remember and know all of this?" Thank you for the support:) ~Kat

...is, will I be able to put it all together?! Sure I am getting clinicals hours and i am doing well in school. But, what if I can't put it all together once I get out there? I fear that!! I certainly do NOT want to kill anyone, i just don't want to and have no idea how I will feel if that happens. This is normal, right?? Any advice?? Thanks:)

I have some that have been super helpful to me so far through nursing school. http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?action=Home&query= This is an online medical dictionary http://www.globalrph.com/abbr2.htm This is an online Medical Abbreviation website. Although abbreviations aren't suppose to be used for certain words, it's still useful. http://ec.hku.hk/mt/wordlist/prefixes/medical_(a-c).htm Medical prefixes http://ec.hku.hk/mt/suffixes.htm A useful site for Medical Suffixes.

You are NOT crazy, not too old to change careers. I'm also 37 and will be 38 upon graduation!! I will be done with my masters by the time I am about 42. No worries!! We need male nurses. Congratulations on the choice! ~Kat

That's not correct. I took more than what med students take in order to get into med school. Med students are NOT required to take physiology in order to get into med school. Atleast to a fair number of med schools in the nation. I know this to be a fact, as my friend had ONLY anatomy and O chem I and II with physics, etc behind him WITHOUT physiology and he is currently enrolled in med school. He takes physiology IN med school.

I think the thing that has been THE MOST CHALLENGING for me is the critical thinking part. I mean, it's really a challenge to figure some things out. Just this morning as I am sitting here practicing NCLEX questions and doing pretty good, I realized it is starting to sink it. It feels good, FINALLY! Now I am just worried about being able to "put it all together" when I get out in the real world. I know that learning from a text book versus doing the hands on thing is completely different and I hope I can pull it off. ~Kat