todell80

Its really hart to convey to other people how hard the classes are w/o sounding like you are having a pity party. My husband tries to understand, but on Monday night he had his friends over and they hung out in the garage drinking. I normally have no problem w/ this, in fact, I would much rather him be here than out at a bar or something, but they were being really loud. I had class at 9 the next day, w/ 2 kids to get ready and take to my mom's before that, and they were here till midnight!! He doesn't get that I need sleep personally, and in order to function in class the next day. We had a "talk" and everything is better now, but I know where you are coming from. And try explaining to 2 and 4 year olds that I need to study!! It is nice to have my fellow nursing students, 90% of whom are married or have kids or both, to talk to and vent with. And then we might study some too!! :) When I went to a 4 year university, I always thought the nursing students were so serious and studied waaaay too much. I had no idea how much work this is, and I'm sure your friends don't either. Hopefully you can work it out, if not, be prepared to make new friends who are a little more understanding. ~t

We had to learn that for our first test on Monday. I remembered the order w/ the acronym IPIC (I pee I see!!). Sort of stupid but it helped me! ~t

Thanks for all your tips, guys! When I get my loan checks, I will definetly be trying some of those brands out, even if I have to mail-order them. I broke down and bought the only pair of large petites wal-mart had, they are semi-comfortable at least, even if I do look like a backup dancer for MC Hammer!! I think I'm really just frustrated cuz at the begining of the summer I had lost almost 30 pounds, and I quit exercising, so I'm gaining some of it back. Sigh, I guess its back to the Gazelle for me!!! ~T

Well, I went out of town today, to a bigger uniform store, and still no luck with a pair that fits very well. I think I'm going to just go w/ the big ones, and if my teacher has a problem w/ them, I'll go get them altered. Hopefully that will be after my loan comes!! The good news about my trip was I found a pair of white New Balance 575 shoes that fit soooo well. I even got an employee discount, so they were only $40 instead of $60!! They are completely white except for a small breast cancer awareness symbol on the top of the tongue. At least I have that taken care of!!

Yeah, I have given up looking good in them. The problem is, one of our clinical instructors is very particular in how they fit. She doesn't want them to be tight, but they can't balloon out at all. Also, they can't come up over our shoes and show our legs when we sit down or hit the floor when we walk. I understand they want us to look professional, but come on. I am not a seamstress, but I think I may have to buy a pair and find someone to alter them. I don't know what else to do. ~T

Okay, I don't really hate them, but they sure don't like me! I have tried on every pair of white scrub pants at Wal-Mart and our nursing supply store, and they all are the same: the mediums are too small, and the larges fit my waist but look like hammer-pants on my legs, and are WAAAY too long!! I was so frustrated at the nursing supply store yesterday, and on my way out, the people working there finally decided to acknowledge my presense (like the annoyed woman pushing a double stroller w/ two cranky kids could have snuck by them!), and I told them how much trouble I was having. They looked at each other and said, in unison, "Aw, an in-betweener!!" Like I'm a novelty or something. I wanted to strangle them both w/ their size XS scrubs!!! I just said sarcastically, "I guess I'll be back after I lose 20 pounds." Does anyone else have a hard time finding scrub bottoms that fit? I have tried Dickies, Peaches, and whatever they have a Wal-Mart. We have to have a pair that fit by Sept. 12, and I don't think its gonna happen!!

Thank you for that link!! It sounds like everyone is pointing their fingers at someone else!! My NS was really good, they gave us a list of books we needed at our orientation last March. I have to charge my books to my financial aide, so I'm stuck at the bookstore. I know the manager, though, and she let me come out and pick my books out in the middle of the summer. That way, I did get some used books. There aren't that many, since most nursing students keep all their books. ~T

Wow, I can't believe you get your loan so fast!! Ours aren't even mailed out until Sept. 22nd. I asked one time why they wait so dang long, and they gave me some lame excuse about how students would get their loan/grant money and stop going to classes, so they wait to give it to us. I was like, hey, if someone is that dumb, they are going to do it anyway, and besides, you can only do that once. And they would have to pay it back since it is a school loan. But whatever. Now I have to come up w/ the $$ upfront for all my uniforms and supplies, anything I can't charge to the school. Then in a month I will get all my money, when I don't have anything left to buy, even though I signed something that said, "I will only use the money for school supplies and related needs." Its so frustrating!! ~t

I can empathize with you so much. My family (my mother in particular) is so negative about everything I do. When I first told her I was going back to school for nursing, she said, "But you don't like needles or blood." Like there are really people love them. I have been trying to accept that her attitude is her problem, not mine, but it is tough. And by the way, half my class failed our math placement test and had to take a basic math course over the summer. Doesn't mean they will be bad nurses, just meant they needed a brush up. That's why the schools give the tests, so you can catch up, not to discourage you. Keep your head up. The only person who knows you can't do it is you. Everyone else doesn't matter. If you think you can do it, and you want to, go for it. Some of the best nurses out there aren't "book smart."

Unfortunately, I had to purchase all my books at our bookstore. I charge them to the school, and they use my financial aide to pay for it. I don't have the money to buy them online, even though it would be a lot better. Its really cool that you guys can, though. I know a lot of people that save money that way. ~T

I love notecards, I got a couple of the hard cases they have to hold/organize them. I love those things!! My favorite thing is mnomics (however you spell it). My friend I have taken all my prereqs with is so good at making them up, and we just memorize them. T

Thanks for all the great tips, guys. Its funny, not matter how messy and cluttered my house is, one thing I can't stand is a messy backpack!! I love, love, LOVE 3 ring binders!!! All my stuff, in one neat package, how can you go wrong?! I got a 99 cent clear pencil box at Staples last night to put my teeny stapler, hole punch, white out, post-it flags and other various things. Now, I'm all organized, and hopefully it will last through the first week!!

I am planning to record my lectures, and listen to them in the car. It takes 10 minutes to get to my mom's where my kids are, then 20 minutes to get to class. I will have to do that twice a day, so I will have some "free" time to listen. If only I can shut off my Sirius!!!

Good luck w/ getting in! At my school, the class of RN's that just graduated was entirely alternates that had started out on the next year's list!! Weird, huh? I was supposed to be in the Fall 2007 class, but I'm starting Monday. I hope you get in early as well. T

I read this thread last night, so when I went to Wal-Mart later, I decided to look for beige undies. They didn't have hardly any!! I did find some on a display w/ cami's, bras, boyleg and bikini undies, w/ the brand name of "The Best Fitting Intimates in the World." I bought a pair of the low rise boylegs to try them out, and they seem pretty good. I would recommend getting a size larger, these seem smaller than my normal ones. They aren't riding north like most of my boylegs do, and they are really really soft. They were $2.96 a pair, pretty affordable. Thank goodness my school doesn't care what brand of scrubs we get, as long as they are white and look semi-close to the same. We get more details Monday on what style. Good luck to all you panty protesters!! T