RDW13

TO: icunrse I was wondering why you moved from Cath Lab to EP Lab? I have the opportunity to move from the ER to either the Cath Lab or EP Lab and I am not sure which one to pick.

I bought the all-white Brooks Addiction Walker for my clinicals. I have been very happy with them.

Our class required ambulance ride alongs with at least 5 transports to the hospital, and we also had to do clinicals in the ER for three 8-hour days. I think it would be beneficial to have more clinical time/ride alongs, but our area is swamped with requests for student clinicals that they just cannot accommodate any more.

I can only speak to South Florida (I'm assuming USF in Tampa). The 2.5 GPA is the lowest to apply, but with so many applicants, you really need a GPA of 3.4 or higher. I was in the same boat as you with a lower GPA and I had a BS degree in Business at USF, but still could not get in at USF. My best option was to get an AA in Nursing at a local community college first, then go back to USF for the RN to BSN program and then on to a Masters for ARNP. I'm half way done with the RN, so I hope to be back at USF in a year or so to continue on with the BSN.

I took the EMT-B class just before starting the Nursing program. I had to wait one semester before Nursing school started after I was accepted, so I figured it would be a good thing to do. It helped me in a few ways. One, it confirmed that I really wanted to do patient care. Nursing is a second career goal (I have been a computer geek for 20 years), so it was a way for me to know for sure this is what I wanted to do. Also, it helped my confidence level in getting back into school. I did really well in the EMT class and really enjoyed the class. It also helped me work on my study skills that I use very successfully now that I am half way through Nursing school. I also feel it gave me a head start on some of the basic skills, assessment, conditions, etc. that I have been learning as a nursing student. I never did work as an EMT, but I volunteer some at local events as a first responder/first aid. I've kept my old computer job while I am in school (more money), but I also hope it will be an advantage later when applying for ED jobs and maybe one day becoming a flight nurse. I also plan to take the Paramedic exam after I finish nursing, as I can challenge the exam as an RN, without having to take the Paramedic courses, which is another year of school if I remember correctly. I don't see any disadvantages in taking the EMT course - the more experience you get, the better you will be able to help those that need it. Best of luck!

Also, if you have homeowner's insurance, you may be able to get better coverage for less money by adding it to your existing home policy. Check with your insurance agent to see if that is an option.

The two main books you will use are the Perry and Potter package and the Lewis Med Surg book. All of the other books are optional, but you will need a nursing diagnosis book, drug book and other reference books, but you can use whichever ones you like best - you don't have to get the specific ones they list. It is hard to find the Perry and Potter package cheaper than the bookstore is offering, unless you find the books and CDs used. If you can get them used or if you can get the Lewis Med Surg book on-line you will save some money. You may or may not want the study guide that goes with the Lewis book, but it is not required. For the first couple of weeks you only need the Perry and Potter book. Then that will give you time to see what else you need after class starts. Best of luck to you!

I tried them on and loved them for the short time I walked around the store. I needed an all-white pair for school, and I was afraid to spend the money and be told I could not wear them because of the color. I plan on getting a pair after graduation or sooner if they come out with an all-white pair that would be acceptable for clinicals for my school.

Cari: They will tell you at orientation the day and time you can register. You need to be logged in and ready to register for the class you want at the exact moment they tell you the class will be open for registration. This is specific to Nursing and the NP1 class. They have it listed now as closed, but they will flip the switch at whatever time they tell you and everyone rushes on-line to register for the class they want (mornings or afternoons). They are not too picky about the shoes. You should be fine with the ones you mentioned. The want all-white shoes or as close to all-white as you can get. For the nose ring, they repeated several times that anything but a small stud (no hoops or dangles) in the ears is unacceptable. No visible tattoos and no other visible body piercings, including nose rings, tongue, etc. You are right that it won't stop you from being a great nurse, but "them are the rules" for the school at least. Best of luck!

Cari: You won't get the syllabus until the first day of class. The bookstore should have all the books you need to buy there, so you can go there and get the ISBN numbers and then check them out on eBay or any used bookstore online to get better deals. During orientation they may mention a couple of books to buy before class starts that you can begin reading, but usually the first day of class is when you find out which books they really want you to buy and which ones are optional or nice to have as reference. Clinicals will start on the 5th week of the first semester. They have you work in the school nursing lab the first 4 weeks to teach you some skills on the "dummies". Then it is off to the hospital. I'm in the night program so my clinicals are on Saturday. With the day program, they offer two classes and two clinicals. It is first come, first serve on which day your classes are on and then which day your clinical will be. You have to be ready to register on-line the moment the classes are open to you to register. For some reason the morning classes are the ones people want most. Those who register late get stuck with the afternoon classes. There are separate "Lab" hours you have to do on campus on your own time. There are lab hours posted and you have to go to lab 10 hours in the skills lab to practice techniques and 5 hours in the computer lab. It is totally separate time from lecture and clinicals. Just another thing to add to your long list of things to get done in a short period of time :) I'm the breadwinner of the house and the wife stays home to take care of the 2 kids that are in elementary school. I have to work 40 hours during the day, go to class two nights a week, and then clinicals all day Saturday. Very busy schedule, but I try to make some time for the family when I can. It is doable, but you have to manage your time very well, and remember to take breaks when you can. Good luck to you as you start. August will be here very, very soon.

Congrats Cari! I am at the Dale Mabry campus - the overall program should be the same, but the instructors are different. Your orientation will more than likely be at Dale Mabry. The requirements are the same, but I believe the syllabus is different between the 2 campuses. The program is fine so far. It is harder than I expected. Only one has dropped so far due to grades, but most are only barely making it at the cutoff point of 80%. You have 9 tests, so there is a test about every other week. And there are lots of little projects to keep you very busy in addition to your studies, class time and clinicals. Only one more week to go until I finish NP1. Enjoy the summer then be ready to focus on nothing but Nursing!

Come on in...the water is fine! In my class of 33, at least 6 are over forty, and a few more real close to it. One is over 50 and I am 42, and there have been no issues with age so far. We all just have a desire to help others, regardless of how old we are. Just started NP1 at HCC 5 weeks ago. Get good grades on those pre-reqs! Those are the only grades that count toward you GPA to get into the program.

I have the new 4th edition, but I don't have any of the older ones, so it is hard to compare. The CD has 4,214 questions in the pool that you can individualize. I'm not sure how many there were in the 3rd edition, but I do think someone said there were more in the 4th vs the 3rd. I've just started using it as a student, and so far so good. I like it a lot, especially the rationales as to why the answer is the BEST answer.

Has anyone actually had to use the insurance they bought from NSO? Did they live up to their word about what they cover? How hard is it to convince them that you really need an attorney when something when wrong? I see in the policy that they get to decide if you need one --- "when we find it necessary". NSO sounds like they are a good company, but these days I just don't trust the "insurance" companies anymore. Whenever you file a claim, they find some loop pole to get out of paying it. I still feel I need to have it. I just don't know if I should use NSO, or get additional coverage from my homeowners insurance.

gaijingal Do you have a specific make/model number for the Shox's that are all white with the leather tongue? I looked at the Nike web site and could not find them.

my understanding is that rn program evening classes run from 5-8 pm two nights a week for 3 out of 4 semesters plus a 10-12 hour clinical on saturdays. the third semester adds an additional evening. on the dale mabry campus, the nights are tuesday and wednesday with monday as the additional for semester 3. on plant city campus, the nights are monday and wednesday with tuesday added. the dale mabry program only start each january, with 4 semesters of nursing classes in the (spring, fall, spring and fall - no summer classes), so it takes a full 2 years to complete the nursing program once you have finished your pre-reqs. i'm not sure how the plant city campus program is structured. best of luck! i can't wait to start.

I was just accepted to the evening/weekend program that starts in January 2008 at the Dale Mabry campus. Good luck to everyone. Current students, let us know what to expect!

compassionate1: the acceptance into the hcc nursing program is only based on your gpa of the prerequisites for their program - nothing else matters. the higher your prerequisite gpa, the better your chances. mine was a 3.67 (all as and one c). i applied on june 1, 2007 for the first time and was accepted this week. from what i understand based on past groups there, a 3.5 or above will pretty much assure you a position in your first choice (dale mabry or plant city campus). with a 3.0 or higher you should get in with your second choice or at least be on the waiting list in case those they accepted do not attend and a spot opens up at the last minute. my advise would be first, to make sure you follow the instructions for applying exactly, and make sure that hcc is in possession of all your transcripts, etc. by hand-delivering everything. do not mail anything to them - it just gets lost in the shuffle. also, please go see vicki, the counselor at student services. she is great at taking the time to review what you have already taken and she will tell you what you need to do with the rest of your outstanding prerequisites. study hard and get a's, and you will get in. good luck to you!

My understanding is it is 4 terms without the summer terms. For the evening program it is Spring 08, Fall 08, Spring 09 and Fall 09 with a grad date of December 2009. They suggest using the summer terms inbetween for any additional general requirements courses, like Humanities, English II, or your chosen elective of 3 credits. I'm not positive if it is the same for the day program, but I'm pretty sure it is. Best of luck and see you at the orientation!

Yeah! I just received my acceptance letter to start the ASN program at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa (Dale Mabry campus) starting in January 2008. Orientation is Nov 7 and 8. I will be attending the evenings/weekend program. They told me not to expect to hear anything until September, so this was a nice early surprise! Good luck to others that may be waiting to hear from HCC.

I finished my pre-reqs in May, applied in June and hope to start an ADN program in January 2008. I will be 42 in a few weeks. I am married to a wonder gal and have 2 adopted kids 9 and 6. I am the sole provider of income for the family so it will be hard, as the program is evenings/weekends, so that I can work full time during the day. I have a B.S. degree in Business and have been working in the IT field for 19 years, but ready for a change and nursing it is! School is much different this time around. I would not say easier, just that I approach it differently than I did in my teens. So far I have all A's with my pre-reqs versus the Cs and Ds the first time around. Life is a balance - you make time for what is important to you. Age for me has only made it better the second time around. Thanks to all that contribute to this board. It is a great source of information and encouragement.

I started mine last month. I went to my county health department. It was not easy, as they only have one office where they do adults, all the other offices immunize children only. Plus, there are no appointments, so it is first come, first serve, and once they reach the limit for the day, they stop letting you in the door. Be sure and call first and find out all the details before you waste a trip. I opted for the combo Hep A and B. It is $53 per shot - 3 shot series over 6 months. Best of luck!