xc31

I've wore crocs throughout nursing school and they were pretty durable.

There's a new Lacharity 2nd edition so make sure to get that one.

As I just graduated last week from WSCN, I can say that the school is doing better.

As for books, buy the obvious essentials for the course. I bought the Saunders Pharmacology, and it's only good for the NCLEX questions and review. The Drugs and Calculations was a waste since I barely use it. However, I highly recommend Saunders 4th NCLEX review. It's a good review after reading the assigned readings. It will get you in the mode of critical thinking NCLEX style. To study for Patho, I highly recommend Hurst's Review. Patho just clicked after reading through that. As for clinicals, I would worry more about who the instructor is than the location. There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. Choose wisely. In any case, I'd go to Saint Francis in Evanston since that is near Niles if an instructor is there.

So all the answers can't be found in the book? I'd have to read supplementary material?

This thread is #1 in Illinois! Ok, as for loans, when you get your little booklet catalog detailing the rules and stuff of the school, there's a section on what loans they give out. Check your school email as well since they sometimes give info out on loans. You start with a brand, new slate of G.P.A. When you apply for Loan Forgiveness, make sure your G.P.A is at least 3.0 or 3.5 to maintain the loan. So that means no C's. If you're really a headstrong overachiever, try getting on the Dean's List each semester. For everybody though, I think the new "A" is a "C". Knowing that you pass is enough.

Any tips? Are the questions similar to the one in book and Practice Assessment?

If it wasn't for these forums, I would be in shock of the way how nursing schools run. I expected the worst, so I prepared myself to keep up with the pace and never lose track of the goal. You only get 2 strikes, and then you're out of the school. If that doesn't motivate you, check your blood pressure to make sure you're not going crazy. I assure you, trying to keep sane in nursing school is an abnormal value. I agree with sn216. Since you don't know what to expect, always be on top of your game. Nursing school is the real deal. You've made it. However, the first semester is also the hardest because of the 2 dreaded subjects that students usually fail on: Patho and Pharm. It's one or the other. If you can tackle these, the rest of courses shouldn't be as bad...I hope.

Time management is the key to survival. Work hard and work smart. Clinicals can be on Tues or Wed. and are usually from 7 am-1:30pm. You might be taking Pathophysiology from 12-3pm on M and Th, Health Assessment lecture on Monday from 3-5pm with a Lab any day at a designated time, and Fundamentals from 9:30-12 Th and Fri. That's just for the first 8 weeks. The other 8 weeks you might be taking Health Assessment II, Clients with Disruption (CDH), and Pharmacology Online class. Keep in mind that you now have to study for 2 ATI exams in order to pass for both Fundamentals and Pharm. With the enormous amount of reading you will have to do, you'll soon be asking 'what did you just get yourself into.'

To preserve academic integrity, I think all the ATI being administered are proctored from now on. If you fail, you must try again without the books. As for the Daytime, their schedule is a swamped schedule. Be prepared to be stressed out in addition to passing the ATI. The ATI is an exit exam. No matter what grade you get for the class, the ATI is the one that will determine whether you pass or fail. They are styled like the NCLEX so it's pretty tough. With so much information overload in just 7 week blocks, be prepared to eat, drink, and sleep nursing everyday. If you plan on working, I heartily recommend the Evening/Weekend program. With clinicals, projects, papers, quizzes, exams, and study time, you'll be hard-pressed to find time for work and do well in your courses. In fact...if I were you, I'd switch over to the E/W program. The pace is slower since you take fewer courses, but you still graduate the same time. The only sacrifice is taking summer school. Good luck...

I'm just about to start nursing school this fall, and this field of specialty has intrigued my interests. I've bought the recommended books from here, joined ANIA, and subscribed to CIN to learn all that I can about this field. Needless to say, it is my motivation to get through nursing school. To enter Nursing Informatics, does one need to apply for a Masters program? Is there a bachelor degrees as well? After I finish nursing school, how does one move into the area of Nursing Informatics?