sweet_lime

Hi, so far it is going great. We started clinicals two weeks ago and it is really great. I have learned so much from the patients. I will admit that at times I have been very overwhelmed and stressed... but I can handle it. Everyone is very supportive and caring. We only have 6 weeks left in the semester and we registered this morning for next semester! Pneumothorax - what I have experienced this semester is that all the instructors have their strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are great at teaching and some not so much, but they might be better at the clinical experience in the lab. So if you happen to get a teacher that you don't click with then look for their good qualities. I am very impressed by the overall caring of them. And you also have classmates that you can comiserate with :)

Hey, just wanted to update you... I started classes this week. So far so good! Lots of paperwork, assignments and stuff to do right away, but everyone is very encouraging and helpful. In 8 weeks we will be on the floor doing clinicals! :) Let me know if you have any more questions!

Hi! Yeah, its exciting, but I'm pretty overwhelmed getting all the paperwork in. Since it has been so quick, I've decided that we are going to stay here (about 1.5 hours away) and I'm going to commute and get a study room for this year and then we will reevaluate for next year. I'll pm you with some specifics :)

Yay! I'm so glad that you decided to come to IL! St Francis offered me a seat this fall since I had all my prereqs done, so I'm starting in August! I'll definitely be there, whether you come to the meet and greet or when you start in Jan.

I would do it... I've got six months until my core classes start. My program told me they wouldn't release the book list until 3-4 weeks prior to the first day of class, because they wanted to make sure you had the newest versions of the books and if any of the instructors wanted to make changes In a way that's a good thing, but I'm sad I can't read ahead. Instead I've been borrowing books off of nurses that recently graduated

I think that Peoria Heights is a nice neighborhood and that they have a good school district. I have also heard that the north of War Memorial Drive in general is pretty nice. Otherwise outside of Peoria, there are quite a few smaller communities, it depends on how far that you would be willing to commute & if you need to take school districts into consideration. Dunlap is a good school district, Washington is a good community. I go through Kickapoo on my way into town and have liked the looks of it. Stay away from the South side of Peoria, though.

I decided to go! girly8208 what did you decide?

Hi! I've been accepted for the Spring at SFMCCON, too! I'm likewise trying to decide between Saint Francis or my local state university that is just starting their nursing program. So I'm looking for more info, too! I'm from IL about 1 1/2 hour away from Peoria. They are a magnet hospital, so they get trauma transports from this region. I know lots of people who have been treated there, including family (my husband has been there with trauma and I got to be at my sister's most recent birth). All the nurses that I have had contact with from OSF are awesome.

Awesome! Congratulations!

We have to turn in those kinds of things with our application at my school. To apply you have to have CPR training, updated Vaxes including Hep B and Tb skin test, background and some other thing done. But they accept pretty much everyone, too.

yay! I'm still waiting....

One of my friends taught me this: (RA, RV, LA, LV) Run Away! get an RV head to Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas! I thought it was cute and it has helped :)

Those are really interesting studies :) Of course I was just giving a quick generalization for an ex. on how to apply it to things you know or think you know already

Flashcards help me immensely! Try to concentrate on definitions and processes. In the first few chapters, different cell parts, action energy, different stages of protein structures, enzymes, carbs, lipids, etc. Its fun stuff... try to apply it to your life if possible. ei Vit C acts as an enzyme in your body and you take it to help your body get over colds. Enzymes help your body work. After the first test you'll be able to gauge how to study for the next test even better. Try to do as well as you can, but don't beat yourself up about it.

Nope, not crazy! Yes its possible. I'm doing the exact same thing - 29yo, graphic designer/nursing student, with young children at home. Do what your hearts leading you to do! :) Good luck!