bearhugs1981

Well, at one point after I got the original acceptance letter I went on WISE just to see if I could register, and if I remember correctly, WISE would not let me register because I needed prior authorization or something to that effect. And, I don't have the letter in front of me, but I think I recall the cover letter of our "welcome" packet said something about registering the day of orientation. You can't pay if you can't register; so, I have been going under the assumption that we must wait until orientation. Since we pulled our own FDLE background, I'm sure they will want to OK that before allowing someone to register, also. If you find out otherwise, let us know. My husband went through the Paramedic program a few years back (The admittance process is similar for both programs.), but I can't recall how we paid for his classes? I purposely forgot so much of that "year-of-hell", and now here I am subjecting my own self to it! Aaaaahhh! I must be a glutton for punishment! LOL Liz

Quite honestly, I haven't a clue. I think someone on here said they live in Pinellas and were chosen as an alternate (maybe for the RN program, I'm not sure)?? But, my neighbor also applied to the program and didn't get in; I was a little upset to hear that, when I thought back about the alternate mentioned earlier in the threads somewhere. Plus, I don't know if they totally abide by the "NET scores is all that is considered" motto. Who's to say? I say it doesn't hurt to try; what's the worst that could happen? Liz

I found out we have to do the background check ourselves. I did mine and it was way too easy. $24 was way too much to pay for one sheet of paper, IMO. As far as the health check/ vaccines, I am seeing our family doctor, thank God for insurance. But for those without insurance, I think the best way to go would be either the health dept. or a walk-in clinic. I think anyplace that does school physicals for school age children would be able to do one for an adult also. Sometimes places runs "specials" for school physicals at the beginning of the school year; so, BOLO for those in the newspaper. Liz

Why not talk to somebody with the RN program at PHCC about sponorship with a local hospital. You may not need the education funding, but it could be a good way to get an "in". Just a suggestion. Liz

I got my orientation packet and was wondering if maybe you guys might know somthing. Re: the FDLE background... are we supposed to do it ourselves or are we suppose to pay the school to do it? I emailed someone with the nursing dept., but I haven't gotten a reply yet. The "Check-Off List" says we need to bring a copy of it to orientation; so, I assume we have to do it, but that sounds really "off" to me. Also, I have found myself in a pickle re: the cpr cert. The soonest available class at the college begins the day of orientation. I also emailed about that, but I was wondering if I am the only one with this issue or what. Or are all you guys are taking up the class space, LOL. Peace, Liz

Oh, sorry, I got Gummy and AngelP mixed up as far as the childcare question went. Quick Poll: how many of us will be working and going to school, and what will you do for work? I will be just going to school, and I did previously work for a year as a paralegal, hence my other degree. I realized the job wasn't for me, and needed something with more opportunity for employment, advancement, retirement, healthcare, etc. So, that's my story. Liz

I'm sure you can buy them at the bookstore, but sometimes things are more expensive there. I thought $6 was pretty good. I'm pretty sure white scrubs are required along with all white shoes, but I'll have to talk to a friend of mine who went through the LPN program a couple years back. I definitely know that ages ago the RN program required white all over. The RT program gets to wear tan scrubs; lucky ducks. (White shows EVERYthing; if ya know what I mean! LOL) BTW, out of curiosity, how are you getting childcare covered until 10 or 11 pm? My mother and hubby will be covering me; hubby is sorta freaked, LOL. But he's done it before; I just cringe at the thought of what my house will look like, eek! I'm trying to catch up on stuff now; even though it won't stay clean or neat. Liz

Um, 1 school year for each sounds about right, not including the prereq.'s for the RN program, but it sounds like you already have those out of the way. But, don't hold me to that 7 months, now. That is just what she heard from someone at student services, and they aren't always the most credible or informative. BTW, I have been searching for scrubs, all white of course, and found some at Big Lots, none white of course. But I thought some of us on a tight budget would want to BOLO for them there; they were just $6. If anyone else knows of some dirt cheap deals on them, please share. Liz

Gummy, just thought I might add that a friend of mine will be bridging over, and she found out the bridge program only runs 7 months! That must be severely intense, but of course, my hubby says, "No, way! The paramedic program is WAY harder, and you're responsible for pushing WAY more meds!" Whatever! 7 Months still seems so short to me, but what do I know. I will be at NPR campus, too. I hope I won't be going broke for school, but I gotta suck it up. Liz

In response to Remrimsgems, you may find by looking at some of the ads in your local paper or at some of your local hospital websites that some hospitals or surgical centers will train an LPN to become a surg. tech, just like Greenie discovered in her newspaper. It seems to depend on what the hospitals/centers are willing to accept. And the local rules and trends will govern, also. Liz

It's so funny you would ask this, because I had the same thing on my mind a few months back. I really want to work in surgery, and a friend of mine was a surgical RN and loved it. He would have never left if it wasn't for his brittle diabetes, but the stress of the OR really aggravated his health. So, that being said,the first thing I would expect is stress in the OR. I was just accepted into a local CC LPN program and plan on running with it. The only Surg. Tech. program in our area is about an hour away, and with rising COL and fuel it would not be feasible. The other thing that swayed my opinion is the "wide open" aspect of the nursing field. I don't have to go on the get my RN if I don't want to, but then again I can. And the employment is so much more varied, if by chance I hate the OR. (I got stuck in that kind of predicament with my AS in Paralegal Studies. Got the degree; hated the job.) So, with my LPN I can work as a surg. tech. or in any other area of health service. This way I won't feel trapped. This is just an opinion of someone who has no experience in the health field but was where you are now until I was accepted into the LPN program (woo-hoo! :beer:) LOL! Liz

It is June 30th for LPN also. It seems like such a short time to decide, but it probably wouldn't seem so short if I had the fin. aid and the $$ thing figured out. Liz

Hey, I was just wondering, for those of you who are fin. aid candidates, what does Career Central offer? Do they offer anything over and above or different from the Pell Grant, FSAG, etc.? A friend of mine used Career Central a few years ago when she was in the LPN program, but she can't really explain it to me. I am currently waiting for fin. aid to send me a confirmation of my application and the rest, but I think there may be some issue going on that I am unaware of because it is taking way too long. Anyway, I don't think I will get full fin. aid, and I am wondering what other options there are out there. Thanx in advance, Liz

Oh, yes, I meant North campus; maybe the RN (I applied to PN) applications are different, but you should, if you can, apply for all applicable campuses. I caught on to that when I first applied to West and fully read the packet. I then went back and put in an app for North. Do NOT trust those people in Student Services; if it was up to them I would have never graduated the first time. They like to keep you enrolled as long as possible; more $$. At first, I thought one application was inclusive of all campuses for the semester, but that is not the case. Liz

Well, I see there really are more locals out there! I received my acceptance letter today for the PN program; now, I just need to choose between East or West Campus which is a no brainer considering I live in NPR. I think I may be having an issue with fin. aid., but I will have to give them a call on Monday. I'm gonna have to figure out how to make up for what fin. aid doesn't cover; that stinks! What does Career Central offer exactly? So, glad to see others in the area are on these boards. I'm going on my second major and third year of college which has been a little daunting, but cheers to eventual success! LOL Congrats to all of you! Hope more of us show up and start strategizing how to help each other get through all the upcoming ups and downs. :) Liz