maccully

cjcsoon...dows that mean you have heard already??

anyone hear yet????!!!!!

my PM isnt working since i changed my email address here...you can email me if you wanna chat privately:) Kristin

and walking into the room the first time was embarrassing cause you feel like you have no business being in there cause you feel like you have nothing to offer them. AND you HAVE to ask them a million horrible questions for your insanely stupid careplan- like "what are your food preferences?" you suck it up and recognize that its your "job" to just do it. just remember that for some people any human interaction is a gift- especially the older patients. they are grateful for anything you can do for them- tissue retrieval or a glass of water. and they dont care who it is- just to talk is enjoyable.

Clinicals are basically whatever your instructor thinks they are. I like to shadow the nurse on her assignment and help out when I can. Some people will "take a patient" and just focus on that one all day- eating, cleaning up, meds, dressings, whatever needs doing. It truly depends on the expectations of your instructor. Each semester you get more permission though: last weekend I was giving IV meds and working a trauma in the ER. My first day I was filling up water pitchers and taking vital signs. I had a rotation at an elementary school this semester and we measured heights and weights and looked at sore throats. Another group got all bundled up and scoured alleys and bushes for IV drug users to provide health care to them. During psych rotation we had "therapeutic communiation" and played rummi. Clinical activities are diverse.

Hey guys, My name is Kristin and I am in the 2nd bach program at amherst right now. sounds like you have lots of questions and i know orientation is next week- but just wanted to throw my name out there if you needed answer sooner than later. I used this website last year when i was applying to school and I provided me a lot of support. wanna pay it forward. I am 33. Have a science background. I lived just off-campus first semester which was super convenient but annoying cause we had to get up at 5am and the students all around me were just going to bed then. I live in deerfield right now- about 15 minutes drive from campus. I bought this paper card at the parking office for $ 7.50- some "occasional parking" situation. you can park up to 20 times or so on one card- way cheaper than getting a sticker. i payed 535/month to live walking distance to campus and 450 now to live quietly :) I would recommend NOT living with someone you dont love or with an non-nursing person/early morning person. The hours are crazy and sometimes you need to be in bed at 8PM to get up at 4AM to get to clinical. made it really tough for me first semester. i think there are 65 people in your class. my class had a big range of ages- 20 to 65 maybe. 10 or so people with kids. majority from around western ma surprisingly. I am from boston and find the area beautiful and fun and way cheaper! i am happy to answer any questions! congrats to all those that got in and good luck to all those still trying. There are about 5 to 10 people in my class that got in last minute from the wait list, so dont give up hope. i think 1 even got in the week before the program started! Kristin

I am currently in the Umass amherst 2nd bach program. i think I am gonna have a total of 50K for the whole thing (all 16 months) as I have no job. I know that our class (2010) had to pay way more than carol's cause of a credit increase. we pay per credit through continuing ed- not tuition by the semester. half of my loans are federal loans and half are a health professions private loans through wells fargo. it gets a bit hairy as financial aid through a year ends in june and since we go straight through the summer you have to cover the summer, fall and spring in one federal year. if you have a willing parent co-signer person it is no big deal. the health professions loans are alot easier to get though. i moved from cambridge to do the program and was surprised how much cheaper it is to live here. i also realized that this area has been very affected by the downturn of the economy. i have been trying for over a year to get a nursing aide type job- but everyone basically is either in a hiring freeze or laying people off. GREAT time to be in school though. it is HARD to work in this program. its not intellectually hard so much as draining. i am glad i never got a job. i had more reserves than some of my classmates. I would be happy to answer anymore questions! and if anyone has already been accepted to the new class i will be at the lunch next wednesday!

riley- i think its awesome that you have choices! I only had the chance to apply to UMass so far and bc it is sooo inexpensive i am not applying anywhere else. are you doing the worcester mcphs program??? the school itself i think has a more serious reputation than amherst, but the program in my guess is kinda new right??? isnt it a two or three year program??? and VT- thanks for the scoop. it is really annoying to think about all that travel time. anyone receive their financial aid letter??? anyone have any luck looking for apartments???? craigslist is barren!!

I got it!!! and I am going!!! yeah!!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!! Hope to see you all there in 2 1/2 months!!!

nothing for me either. i called and they are sticking with the story about all letters (acceptance, rejection et al) being in a mail room somewhere on campus on monday. hopefully tomorrow!

thanks for the update! bahh..nothing in my mail today:( i think i am gonna need a nurse to treat my ulcer:) congrats again VT and thanks for the support!

Eggg-cellent question!!!

am sooooo jealous!! congrats!!!!!

am in boston and not in todays mail..

god!! the suspense is killing me!!!! good luck everyone! i hope to see you all in january!