NicoleInHisWill

One more thought... I remember that when I was being discharged from the hospital the nurse was telling me that there are varying cases of viral meningitis. She mentioned that many people don't suffer pain at the level of needing to be hospitalized. I would think that if your pain was not as severe it would be even easier to mis-diagnose or ignore the warning signs.

I had meningitis a couple of years ago. While I was not a nurse then, I still had a gut feeling that something was not right. I do not normally get headaches so I seem to have a low tolerance level for head pain. My case of meningitis started out with a nasty case of the flu virus. And just as I thought I was on the mend from the flu the headache set in. It took about 48 hours for the headache to reach excruciating. I remember thinking that if this is what a migraine feels like people have got to be shooting their heads off! I would love to hear from someone who suffers from migraines and has had meningitis. Is the pain on the same scale? Is the meningitis pain similar to what migraines feel like? I eventually went to the emergency room, convinced that I must have some sort of brain tumor or something. So for me the diagnosis of meningitis was almost a relief. I was hospitalized for five days while the worst of it ran it's course. I think it took me a month or so to be back to myself. The intensity of the pain just really zapped me. Soon after my bout with meningitis I read about some people who have recurring or chronic meningitis and it about scared the jeepers out of me. On a few occassions over the years, I have come down with the flu or something that comes with a bad headache, and for a moment I worry that I could have meningitis again. But fortunately, I have never had another case nor a another headache that even comes close to what my head felt like with meningitis.

Hi fellow Chemeketa nursing school students, Well I hate to shatter any hopes but I am one of the three or so people who are yet to register, but that is because I am not allowed to until I get all of my immunization information turned in. I was alternate #2 so they are holding my spot while I get all of my requirements met. Maybe the other two people who haven't registered have other reasons for not doing so yet, and if that is the case maybe there will be one or two more spots offered to alternates. I am looking forward to getting started. Although it has been nice that I can get all of my kids started in their new school year before I have to venture into my own new schedule as well. Hope to hear from any others out there that are awaiting the Sept. 29th start.

Yippee!!! I finally got "the call". For what it's worth, the person I spoke with today at the nursing program office mentioned that she would be sending "letters" out tomorrow. So there must have been multiple spots that became available. (Probably because Monday the 28th was the deadline for accepted students to turn in their proof of vaccination, current CPR cert., etc.) I was only alternate #2, but I am curious how many alteranted got offered spots.

Alternate #2 here... I still haven't received THE phone call.

I haven't heard anything yet. (I am alternate #2) I am a bit suprised. I had thought that I would have had a good chance at being called by now.

How close to the start of classes did you get "the call" that there was space for you?

I had heard the same info about how many alternates got in from last year. The big difference may be that last year they got to add more students to the overall number of accepted students because they added one more instructor. I don't know if they are even attempting to do that this year. Let's keep our fingers crossed though!

Wow! That is so cool for you! You must be so very excited.

Now that I think about it I remember another poster who was #17 on the alternate list also had a score of 310. Fortunately for that person, they had also applied to Linfield and got accepted. It would be hard to wait another year but at least you would be pretty guaranteed a spot with the five extra points.

Do you mind if I ask what your score was? Aside from being an alternate last year, which gave a 5 pt. bonus, 310 was the highest a score could be. Please feel no pressure to respond but I am just curious how far in to the alternate list an almost perfect score of 310 went.

I think that it probably varies from year to year. Just depends on how many people decide on other schools or have life situations that keep them from attending. I was in the Chemeketa Nursing office this last week to make sure that they had my correct contact info (I am alternate #2) and they told me that they had one student that had already given them a verbal decline because she found out she was pregnant. So I guess we will just have to wait and see how far they end up getting to go down the alternate list. I know that I had a score of 310 and could not have gotten a better score unless I had been an alternate last year. So it is a bit frustrating that I have fellow classmates from my prereq's that had the same application score that I did and they end up in and I am an alternate. But it just goes to show how important the tie breakers are. Although I think they went to random draw relatively quickly because I would have won out on the first two tie breakers. The Fall 2009 applicants have a different set of tie breakers that make the process a bit more subjective (ie. essay, interview). Good Luck!

What is the monetary difference? I thought that the tuition for Linfield and OHSU were pretty comperable. Maybe I am thinking of out-dated info.

I am just curious how you got to the figure of 1500 nursing students that will be graduating? That seems like it may be too high of a number. OHSU, Linfield, UofP, PCC, Clackamas CC, Mt. Hood CC - Am I missing anyone? Do all of those schools actually add up to 1500?

Hi and welcome! Congrats on the "Triple Crown" of nursing acceptances. That is no small accomplishment. As far as Linfield vs. OHSU I have a couple of thoughts. First of all if you haven't already done so, try doing some searches on allnurses regarding both schools. I think you will probably find a lot of helpful, firsthand information. Secondly, What type of nursing to you forsee yourself going in to? The reason I ask is that I have gotten the feeling from posts that I have read and students/nurses that I have spoke to that Linfield and OHSU have different focuses in their respective programs. I have heard it said that Linfield does a great job of preparing students for community health type nursing. Whereas OHSU takes on more of a hospital critical care focus. I am not sure if that is true or if I am wording myself correctly but it is something to consider. Lastly on a more personal (and perhaps selfish) note: Being that I made the alternate list for OHSU, I am hoping you opt for Linfield. :loveya: (Although, I am an alternate for the Monmouth BSN program, not for Portland. So if you were accepted to Portland it probably won't make a difference for Monmouth alternates) Good luck on your decision!