lemonlimeEMT

I would brush up on your math skills if it has been a little while for you. And definately brush up on your english/grammar skills. The science stuff was pretty broad, and with the prereqs required, you should be fine. For me, and a lot of other people I talked to, the test wasn't a big deal. I did a little math brush up, but pretty much just walked in to the take the exam without studying and I did fine.

I agree, get a good care plan book!! Your life will be so much easier. Ideally, they want you to be able to come up with appropriate interventions on your own, but as a new student, sometimes it is very hard to get started. A good care plan book will help guide you in the right direction. For coming up with a goal, I like to think, okay what is wrong with the patient and if it was right, what "evidence" would I see? So for impaired gas exchange, a good marker of this is SpO2 level. So a patient with a "normal" or "good" SpO2 level would be more like 95% or better. So your goal could be SpO2 level of 95% by a certain time. Then for the interventions, think about what you can do to make your goal happen. What are ways you make you patient breathe easier and better? How about raising the head of the bed? Simple action, but can make a world of difference.

where whatever you want! If they require any kind of dress code or uniform, they will let you know ahead of time. Otherwise, wear whatever clothes you like, as long as they are appropriate (i.e. no excessive cleavage, no midrifs showing, etc.). They'll discuss things that apply to the school overall, not the specifics about each class. They'll probably have officers from any clubs/organizations come talk to you. Often there'll be seniors there to give you a few words of wisdom. They'll talk about general "housekeeping" issues such as the basic rules of the school. Orientation is great. It'll give you a nice chance to meet your fellow classmates and will leave you pumped for school to start. Enjoy it!!

As far as "is the program good"? Well UT-Houston has one of the top programs in the nation. It's Doctorate and Masters programs are ranked in the (I believe) top 10%. As far as the BSN programs, it feeds right in to the renowned Texas Medical Center. The NCLEX first time pass rates are pretty high (98% I believe) and almost every senior had a job before graduation. If you finish all of your prerequisites in a timely manner, have good grades (particularly in the science courses), and do well on the NET test, it isn't super hard to get in to. Really, it just comes down to finding some way to impress the admissions committee. I think this past year they had somewhere around 1500 applicants, and 150 got in to the generic BSN program. The school also offers a RN-BSN program, an accelerated BSN program for those who already have a college degree, as well as a whole host of masters and doctoral programs. I'm a little biased, but I love this school. I have truly enjoyed my experience thus far and am looking forward to my final year of NS with them. As far as clinical hours, I can't remember exactly how many we had to do, but they really do pile it on. They try to give us the best clinical experience they can offer. Part of that experience is getting to work in some of the wonderful Texas Medical Center hospitals. You get to do rotations through various med-surg units, the OR, ICU, ER, pediatric units, psychiatric units/hospitals, and OB. They really try to give you a chance to see everything. Your final semester at UT-Houston is high acuity, and they try really hard to place you in a hospital/unit that fits you; especially if you want to go in to a high acuity field. A friend of mine who just graduated was interested in NICU nursing, so she did her high acuity clinical at Texas Children's Hospital in the NICU. Before she even graduated she got a job offer from them (and two other hospitals in the NICU). The entire final semester is all precepted. You get paired with a RN on that unit, and you work when they work. Similar, I think, to that "internship" thing you mentioned the other program has. Over all, I really do think it is a great program. A lot of the recent graduates (and past graduates) have said that they felt the program was excellent and they felt much more prepared for joining the workforce than they thought they would. I know I'm fairly biased about the school, after all it is my school; and I know I seem to be just gushing about the program, but I really do love it. For the record though, the school isn't without it's flaws. The SimLab could use a little work. However, it is fairly new, and they are working extremely hard to make it better. Some of the faculty aren't perfect, but for the most part they are all extremely intelligble and knowledgeable about their area of expertise. And for the most part, they really are a great resource to the students. Like I said, for the most part, I love this school. And compared to the other nursing programs in the area, I definately believe it is the best. It will give you the best education, prepare you the best for the NCLEX and joining the workforce, and will give you an excellent stepping stone to future graduate school, if you so choose.

Where are you trying to go? Do you want to do an ADN program at one of the community colleges (HCC, Lone Star College, San Jac, etc)? Or are you trying to get in to the BSN programs in the area (TWU-houston, UT-Houston, PVAMU)? I don't know that much about the ADN programs, so I really have no idea if they have waiting lists or what. I do know though, that they require a few different things than the BSN programs, so you just have to be on top of everything. As far as the BSN programs, I could help you out there, since I'm going to UT-Houston right now, I know a bit about the process. The pre-reqs for the BSN programs differ slightly from each of the schools, but for the most part they all require A&P, chemistry, microbiology, sociology, psychology, history, english, etc. It takes about 2 years to finish it all, and you may have to take a few some courses to get them done in the two years. As far as applying to the actual nursing schools, I believe all the BSN programs have January 15 (or so) deadlines for applications for the Fall semester. TWU and PVAMU offer twice a year admitance; but I'm not sure what the application deadline is for the spring semesters (september probably). You have to have the majority of your pre-reqs done by then. You also have to take the NET exam. If you are applying for fall admissions, I'd do the NET test the fall before that (admissions 2010, then fall 2009 take the NET). Then you just send in your application and wait. Some of them ask for recommendations, others don't. Some schools do interviews, others don't. It's pretty straightforward from there. Each school will tell you exactly what you need to do. But if you stay on track, you can have your BSN in 4 years. Oh, but at TWU-houston, first you have to apply to TWU in Denton (like the actual college), then once you are accepted, you can apply to the nursing school. In the BSN programs, if your grades and NET scores are good, then you shouldn't have to apply mutliple times (although to be safe I'd apply to multiple schools). Most of the people I go to school with got in on their first application to the school. And there was no wait list.

Hey, some of the best medics I've worked with are older. They picked up the EMT/paramedic thing as something to do after retirement. As long as you are phsyically capable of doing the job, then I say go for it!! Especially if ED nursing is what you want to go into. I got in to nursing because I worked as EMT and I have loved [almost] every second I've spent on an ambulance. It can be a great job!

We do that a lot too!! or when we are doing a SimLab type thing, the [good] instructors speak for the "patient."

well, I'm not a RN yet, but hopefully this time next year I will be!! But yes, we did practice bathing each other in NS. Okay, so we only did this for a few hours one day, but we did do it. My instructor gave us this huge speech about maintaining the patient's privacy and comfort, while trying to bathe them; and to make us get a feel for what the patient goes through, we had to gown up and bathe each other.

when you use phrases like "as evidenced by" in everyday conversation... when you make nursing diagnosis jokes on a regular basis (like "altered level of conciousness r/t studying for exams AEB laying head on desk during said exam, eyes drooping, slurred speech, and inappropriate conversation")... when you think the ONE WEEK of summer vacation you get is the most magical thing in the world...

From what I've seen, it seems to me that the interview and NET scores were the saving grace with a lot of people. Besides, in my opinion, GPA isn't the best measure of who will survive nursing school and make a great nurse. Don't get me wrong, GPA is important, but I also think that the interview is a big part of it.

Well for the record, I'm in the general BSN program at UT Houston. That being said, I don't know that much about the bacc-2 program. But from what I've heard, it seems like most of the people who have failed where the ones who didn't seek out help until it was too late. There is this lady, Dr. Selz, who's job is to help students out who are getting behind or in over their head. I forget what her job title is, but she is pretty amazing. If you are just feeling overwhelmed, she is great to go talk to. Or if you failed a test, she can help give you study tips and find you resources such as a tutor, if that becomes necessary. The other pitfall is not leaning on the seniors. Get to know someone who has gone through the program before you and get their advice. Call them up when you feel lost or overwhelmed. Get their advice on how to make it through the bacc-2 program. and then there is the obvious: don't miss clinical, don't skip class, don't cheat, don't cram for exams.

Shoes depend on your clinical instructor. For the most part, they're all pretty much okay with anything as long as the shoes are mostly white and aren't canvass. As far as clogs go, the only objections I've heard are that you can't have backless and can't have holes in the tops of the foot part. As long as you buy the kind with the little back strap and they don't have holes across the top, most of the UT clinical instructors don't care that much.

Congrats!! Well I don't really know that much about the accelerated program except that I have mad respect for everyone in it! If you get the chance, get involved at school with the organizations. There's UTSNA and student goverment. And if you don't really have time for all the meetings, at least try to come out to some of the events. UTHSC hosts several events throughout the year, as well as SON events. Come to as many as you can. Free food is always great! I'm not entirely sure where the bacc-2 students go for clinicals, but I'm assuming it's most of the same med center places we go. MD Anderson nurses tend to be great with students. St. Luke's is okay if you seek out learning opportunities. I haven't been anywhere else in the med center, so I don't know. Just try to make the most out of your clinical experiences. Get to know the faculty. Or at least find one faculty member whom you can go to for advice and what not. Most of the faculty members are pretty great, although they all have their off days. At orientation next friday, there'll be some seniors from SGO and UTSNA there, and I'm sure they'll be glad to answer any questions. The SGO treasurer used to be a bacc-2 student before she switched over to the regular program; she'd be great to talk to. I wish I could offer you more pearls of wisdom. But if you think of anything you need, you can always send me a message.

It's really not that simple. You may not be in classes all day long, every day, but NS still takes up a whole lot of time. You also have clinicals to go to, which are always at least 8 hours a day, if not 12. Not to mention all the paperwork that goes along with clinicals. Then you add on all the time spent studying, writing papers, and doing other things for school. NS ends up being a full time job. I'm not saying you can't work part time in NS, plenty of people do. I'm just saying it will be difficult. You may want to consider taking the first few months of NS off of work so that you have time to adjust to school. NS is unlike anything you've been through before, and it does take a bit of adjustment. Many of the people I go to school with didn't start working part time again until second semester. Additionally, many who worked first semester wished they hadn't. Just some food for thought.

since you didn't say, i'm just guessing by your location that you are going to ut-houston in the fall? if this is the case, the scrubs are navy blue. but i'd wait until after orientation to buy your scrubs and lab coats. many of the graduating seniors have donated their scrubs and lab coats and we will be selling them at orientation for like $10, i think. granted, our supply is limited, but if you can find some scrubs in your size, have at it! otherwise, navy blue scrubs. there aren't any restrictions on cargo pants vs. flare; it's all personal preference. i would recommend that you get a scrub top with pockets in the front (not the breast pocket, but the ones down by bottom of the shirt). trust me, you'll wish you had those. also, you will need a stethoscope (no restrictions there, just one you like and can use; mine is neon green), pen light, and bandage scissors. and yes, you have to buy a patch for your scrub tops and lab coats at the bookstore. but i think they have some that are pre-sewn. oh, and unless you just really want to buy your books online or have some amazing coupon at amazon.com or something, buy your books from the book store. the book store works hard to keep prices low and competative to online stores. besides, with shipping and handling, you usually negate what savings you get online. anything else you need to know, just ask me.