jenniedennise

Why would you even think this is wrong? You're using the loans to get your education and, therefore, get yourself in a better position financially once you're finished. You wouldn't be able to do that without the loans...so, no, there is NOTHING wrong with getting a loan. Loans are a bummer in the fact that they eventually have to be repaid...but they have lots of repayment options and are always willing to work with you and whatever situation you're in... I WOULD encourage you to pay the interest on your unsubsidized loans as you go though. (It's an option they give you...check with your financial aid office.) This way, it's not just being added to your principle and compounding interest...making your final loan amount a lot higher when you get out.

I used http://www.bigwords.com for books. It's awesome! You type in the title/ISBN/whatever you have and it searches all the book websites and lists them by price. Such a huge help!! Even using that, I still ended up getting most of my books at Amazon or alibris.com. I bought a Littmann Classic II SE on http://www.medisave.net. They will laser engrave your name on it for FREE (most sites charge about $14 for that). I think it was around $70 with shipping and everything. I haven't purchased any of the other items yet...but based on posts here at allnurses, the website allheart.com seems to be pretty popular. Hope that helps! :)

Thank you so much for the tips!! Awesome post. :) I'm starting school next month and am SO excited!!

Congratulations on getting in! I can imagine you're feeling quite overwhelmed right now. Just take it one day at a time. You'll be fine. :)

Wow! Three full days of orientation!?! I just have one full day and I was wondering what the heck they're going to do with us all day...I can't imagine doing 3! We already had to turn in all our CPR certification, immunizations, etc. But I've been wondering the same thing. Is a notebook and pen sufficient? What happens at orientation??

Thanks for the encouraging post. I have a 2-year-old and I'm starting a 2 year ADN program in September. I get that guilty feeling every once in a while when I feel like I'm "abandoning" him or I'm a "bad mom" for doing this. (I've listened to a lot of Dr. Laura and have many SAHM friends who don't understand how you can do anything but stay home and raise your children.) It's encouraging to hear that yours have survived. :) I keep telling myself that, if anything, my little guy probably won't even remember this time period.

I did it...it's definitely do-able. :) A & P was a challenge...but Micro wasn't really that hard.

Hey Everyone! There's been a Facebook group set up for our class...if you search "Chemeketa" on Facebook, it should come up. The title of the group is: Nursing Students ~ Fall 2009 ~ Chemeketa Community College. It should be a good way to get to know each other before school starts. :)

I totally agree - I've got a 2-year-old that I've got to set up child care for, etc...so, I emailed Karen Haury (the Associate Dean's secretary) a couple times with my questions. She's been SO sweet...super helpful. She emailed me a rough-draft of the syllabus for fall term! She said things were still up for changes, but for the most part, it shows what to expect. We have class on Monday and Wednesday - it's mostly 8-Noonish...but there isn't a really definite end time every day...some days it's like 11:30, others it goes until 3. Then, we have lab for a few weeks on Thursday and Friday. That was mostly 8-3ish, if I remember right. Then, once we start clinicals, they are 6am (ack!) - 1:45pm both days. (I knew that was coming...but I'm still NOT looking forward to it. I'm so not a morning person.) Then, there are random Tuesdays that we have to go in for skills checkoffs. Those look like they're just 1/2 hour - 1 hour time blocks... Hope that helps!

Welcome to allnurses, Claudrian! I must admit, it's quite addictive. :) We couldn't turn in our acceptance letters until July 6th...and they're due (along with all the vaccines and stuff) by August 3rd. So, yes, after August 3rd, several alternates should be getting "the call." Being #6, it seems like you've got a pretty good chance. Good luck! :)

I'm starting NS in September and have started shopping for my stethoscope. I've done lots of research and someone recommended the medisave.net website on another allnurses thread. They definitely have the cheapest prices I've seen online...and they'll laser engrave your stethoscope for FREE! (Most other sites charge $14ish dollars for that!) PLUS!! I found this coupon code for 5% off any Littman Stethoscope purchase until September. It's not much...but, hey, when we're having to shell out the BIG bucks for all our back-to-school gear, any little bit helps! The (very appropriate) coupon code is: backtoschool There's a place to enter it on the order page. Just thought I'd pass it on. :)

Thank you so much for all your input. I really appreciate it!

I'm starting NS in the Fall and have begun the search for books online. One of my required texts is a Tabers. I have found a few of the 20th editions online for SO cheap! Does anyone have any opinion on how much changed between the 20th and (most recent) 21st editions? I know many textbooks throw out new editions every couple years and simply switch some chapters around and move some illustrations. Would it be possible to get by with the 20th edition? ...or is it truly worth it to cash out for the newest edition? Thanks for your input!!

What a fun idea!! I'm not starting NS until fall...but in reading various posts, I've planned on making a similar kit for myself. I was going to include a powerbar and/or some other packable-type snacks, a small thing of hand lotion that smells good, and the Purell is a good idea.

Hi! Congratulations on your little one! :) I was working on my pre-reqs and was just about to apply to some nursing programs when I found out I was pregnant. I had to do my final term of A/P and had a ROUGH time. I had horrible "all day" sickness that first trimester and I had to leave most of the labs because I was so nauseous. It didn't help that that final term of A/P was mostly about the reproductive system and pregnancy. One of the labs was dissecting [some animal, probably pig or cat] uterus that had a fetus in it. Totally walked out of that lab. Luckily, my lab instructor was VERY understanding. :bowingpur: There were 3 other pregnant girls in that class - they were all much further along than I was and they didn't seem to have any issues. I was so frustrated though because I'd had A's in all my pre-reqs up to that point and ended up missing an A in that class by a couple points. Once I got past the first trimester, I really think I would have been fine. I was no longer nauseous and had a lot more energy. I really think I would have been fine taking classes in my 3rd trimester. My baby ended up being 11 days overdue, so the finals wouldn't have been an issue either! I took a year off to just stay home with my baby...then, didn't get into a program last year...but I was accepted to a program this year and I start in September. Now, I'm nervous about doing NS with a toddler!! :uhoh21: I know many people have done it before me though. :) Good luck with whatever you decide! :)