KatyAtlanta

I used the text for the 2103 class, just skimmed thru and mostly paid attention to the terms and definitions. I remember how cold that room was! I always had a sweater, even in July!

Hi Eniles2, Paeonia & Constance, Congratulations to you all! Here are a few tips on the books you've mentioned. I haven't seen your list, but I expect you're to get Kozier & Erbs Fundamentals (a fat white book) and the accompanying workbook. You'll use the K&E all the way thru school; it's that important. I've heard you don't have to do the workbook anymore, but do it anyway. You'll be very surprised how many things you'll recognize on tests! Look online for books. I've had pretty good luck with half.com and amazon (both new & used). I haven't used eBay, but know some who have and they've been pleased. Second, and this is just a personal preference, I really wouldn't go the rollybag route. I lugged books in a messenger bag for a while, but then realized I didn't really need them in class. Most of the teachers use PowerPoint presentations. Some of them post either the slides or an outline (Burger) of the lecture ahead of time. I did best when I read the book at home, printed the PowerPoint to take to class to take notes on, then reviewed the parts of the book that the PowerPoint covered at home. Again, this is just my preference, but sometimes the lecture won't exactly follow the book order, so I'd be fussing over finding a place when I needed to be concentrating on the lecture. (Also, you walk a ways from the parking area sometimes. The rollybags are cumbersome & they're a pain in the rain.) Good luck with whatever way works best for you! Oh! Another thing...there is an exemption test for 2103. It isn't hard; you only have to get a 70 or 80, I forgot. But I got 12 points over the requirement, and didn't study all that long for it. It used to cost $25 to take the test, but if you pass you get a refund for the tuition for that class. Check with the learning center. What did you think of your orientation? Did the current seniors give you any good info? Take care, and best of luck to you all!

Well the bright side is that you'll likely get an A and that will help with your overall GPA later. If you test out, you only get a Pass/Fail so you don't get the points to help raise the GPA if those nursing Bs start to creep in!

Melosaur, I couldn't agree with you more! I read the chapters before lecture. I bring only my binder to class and take very good notes. My heavy books stay at home! Then I put it all together to study. It took me a whole term to realize that I wasn't gaining anything by lugging those books into lecture. I actually think I'm able to pay more attention to what is being said when I'm not busy finding it in the book. Plus, it's nice to travel light. I can't imagine pulling one of those libraries on wheels!

Are you serious? This is a television show. Frankly, I think it's one of the most entertaining shows on now. I can't see how it in anyway damages the "image" of dedicated, hardworking, professional nurses. For the record, I also love The Sopranos, The Tudors and Mad Men. Neither I nor any of my friends are so intellectually challenged that we confuse Italians, Brits or anyone from the 60s with the stereotypes portrayed therein. Another thought...Nurse Jackie caricatures the doctors even more than the nurses. Will we begin to hear whining from the AMA?

Most at my facility say, "mersa", but we always write. "M.R.S.A" (American)

Have you considered the raspberry? It'd look great with your navy scrubs, and is, in my opinion, much prettier, and a bit more subtle than the baby pink.

Of course Chemistry helps you become a good nurse! EVERYTHING we learn helps us to become better nurses. I happen to think that everything we learn helps us to become better companions, friends, mothers, fathers, spouses, neighbors, etc. Why wouldn't we want to learn everything we can? AND, why wouldn't we want to keep it up throughout our lives, long after we've passed the NCLEX???

This is only a bit off topic... I don't understand the "waiting list". At our school, you might be wait-listed only until they see if all the first round acceptances take the spots offered. If someone who gets in decides not to take the spot, then it'll pass to the next most qualified applicant. However, that only applies until classes begin, then all bets are off. If you don't get in that year you re-apply and compete again the next year. When a school is said to have a "two year waiting list" does that mean that spaces in future classes are promised to students who don't make the cut in a given year? And does this mean, for example that a 2007 applicant with a 3.25 GPA and a 75th percentile RN-PAX could possibly take a 2009 admission slot over a 2009 applicant with a 3.5 GPA and a 90th percentile RN-PAX??? That doesn't seem fair. Just asking for clarification. Thanks!

I think it looks very much like the Aeroflot stewardess uniforms from the 70s!

We are not allowed to attend our clinicals if we have worked past 11:30pm on the night before. It's a safety issue. You might be able to do the night shift while you're getting your pre-reqs, but I wouldn't count on being allowed to do it in NS.

Okay, this won't be popular...we're "supposed" to be able to do everything, but have you considered postponing school until your youngest begins kindergarten? Maybe you can get some pre-reqs done online. Then you can enjoy your children, they can enjoy their mommy and you'll get outside to see if there are children in the neighborhood. Plus, you'll be able to see your husband when he's not sleeping! Like I said, this won't be popular, but its undeniable that school will still be around whenever you decide to go, but your children won't stay little very long at all.

Congratulations! You've chosen a very, very good program! I hope you'll be very happy there. Thanks for sharing your good news!

The fact is, English doesn't give us the choice of a "neuter" gender. And if it did, we'd likely complain about it. Reading he/she, him/her, etc. is very cumbersome. I'm female, but have no problem thinking of myself as part of "mankind". There's an old saying that "it takes three generations to make a gentleman". It's just going to take some time, and all the great men in nursing, to eventually have no one assuming nurse=female. Be patient, and fight bigger battles. It's certainly happened for doctors.

You're right, but did you know you can go to Google & Whitepages.com and follow several steps to opt out of having your information displayed? Shame to need to, but nice to know we can.

I think you're definitely getting in! Those are great scores-you should be very proud! One thing to keep in mind... there are 40 spots, so you just need to be somewhere in the top 40. The person that ranks 40th will get in just like the person who ranks 1st. And honestly, you're probably in the top 10! So don't worry, keep an eye on your mailbox, and post back when you get your acceptance letter! Good luck!

Was your 95 on the pre-NLN the composite score or the percentile score? How were your COMPASS scores? And related to your GPA, how were your A/P I & II grades? Did your interview go well?

Okay, here's a naive question...what's with all these "Littmans growing legs" aphorisms??? Are some students carelessly leaving their steths around and losing them? Or are they being stolen? If stolen, are they suspecting other students, or someone on staff? Are they being "borrowed" for use (yuck) and just not put back where the owner finds them? Or are they being stolen to become the thief's personal property? These are expensive items. No need to be polite around thieves. One should either admit "I lost it" or "Someone stole it". Of course, no one should be accused without very, very good evidence, but saying it was stolen "by someone" will raise the awareness of theft on the unit, if that's the case.

Do you know the upper age limit for any/all services?

just curious...if you're in columbus already, did you look at columbus technical college's adn (rn) program? it's excellent, has a very high nclex pass rate, and is amazingly affordable. unfortunately, their admission is extraordinarily competitive. if you have great grades and npax scores, you should consider it.

The Georgia Technical College System offers ADN (RN) programs at various colleges through the state. At Columbus Technical College, if pre-reqs are completed, the nursing component only takes 6 quarters. The in-state tuition is less than $700 per quarter, AND the state lottery-funded HOPE scholarship is available, which pays tuition and gives a book allowance. The NCLEX pass rate is in the upper 90s. Of course, there are about three applicants for every space, so admission is very competitive. Look around. Other states are likely to have similar programs. Why pay more when programs of such quality are available to those who work hard and score high enough on N-PAX?

This isn't just an issue for nursing school. You'll possibly face this kind of stress every time you apply for a nursing job. Right or wrong, tattoos can have a certain stigma. Just be willing to deal with that if having a tatt is worth it to you.

This really may not be about you being black. Now maybe this doesn't apply in your case, but here's what happened with me. I'm white, and there was a girl in my lab (also white) who was always late and disorganized. After the second time I was paired with her, and spent most of lab explaining what she should have read before coming to lab, I did everything I could to avoid being paired with her again. Anyway, just do your best, and don't let someone else's actions bother you too much. You really can't know what's going on with everybody all the time.