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Another smurfette here Our retention specialist refers to new nursing students as "baby smurfs." In class/ on campus uniform is royal blue scrub top and scrub pants, both with the school's name printed on them. Clinical uniform is royal blue pants with a button up white blouse and white lab coat. I'm okay with it, except I wish it wasn't a button up top.

I start NS (2 year ADN) tomorrow, and we have eight week semesters. (summer semester is 10wks.) We don't have clinicals until the second 8 weeks, and then we change clinicals and classes every 8 week semester after that. I'm looking forward to this set up! I'd be terrified if I had to start clinicals right away. I'm glad we have a little time to adjust to "being a nursing student" before adding in clinicals.

Juliannehola- nice study space! Is that a digital photo frame thing? I've always wanted one lol. As for the images, I upload mine to a server (TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing Video Hosting, then click on the "upload" tab, then "choose file" etc.) After you upload it, an code will be generated for you to copy and paste into the thread. Hope this helps :)

Thanks, ErinRN2B. :) I got it at a store called King Dollar, it's one of those dollar stores where everything is actually $1.00. I don't know if it's a chain. I love it too because it gives me more workspace than those paper organizers that sit on the desk.

Here's the little "nook" I set up in the corner of my bedroom. I love having all of my stuff really close by so I don't even have to get up if I need to grab a book or supplies. (If I get up to do something, I usually start doing something else lol.) Also, it helps me that I'm facing a wall. Not sure why, but I seem to stay more focused this way than when I'm facing an open space.

Thanks. My boyfriend gave them to me from when he used them in a pharm tech program. Glad to hear that they may be of some use. :)

I ordered MS Office for starting nursing school. (I start Monday! ) And was so excited once I started playing around in OneNote. I made a binder for each class and set up tabs and etc. Then I e-mailed my teacher and she said they weren't going to allow laptops in the classroom :smackingf: I still think it will be a good resource to use though, that way I can type up my notes in greater detail after class and keep them organized. One thing that I really love is that if I copy and paste something from a website, it will link it to the web address if you need to go back to the site later. I also ordered the $30 RCA recorder from wal-mart. Haven't gotten it in yet but I hope it works well. Had pretty good reviews!

I got the Cherokee Rocker in Robin Amazon.com: Cherokees Robin SR Shoe: Shoes There's a store in the med center called Scrubs and Beyond where I went to try on several different nursing shoes. They have Danskos, Sketchers, Nursemates, and others. I think I tried on every shoe I could find in my size. These were the most comfortable for me. PharmLUV- Will having an older edition of some of the books be a big problem? Like the Publication Manual for the APA? And just to let everyone know they've updated the book list and revised the schedule on blackboard.

i'm so excited!!!

I checked out the book "Test Success for Beginning Nursing Students" from my library and it had a great bit about procrastination. It made a list of common reasons/excuses people procrastinate, and a response to each one. It may sound silly but I typed them up and made myself a little poster for my wall. (These are all altered a little bit from the book) "This is boring" This is not boring. This is in preparation to become a nurse. I have to get it done. "This is too hard" It is hard but I can do it. I have come very far in my education and I know I can do what it takes to finish this. "I don't know where to start" Make a list of requirements for the assignment and make a timeline of what needs to get done. I will focus on a small part of the assignment for now. "I'm too tired" Well, I'm just going to get tireder. Break down the task into small parts and do the parts I can tonight. "I am upset/angry that I have to do this." _________________is affecting my emotions, BUT my feelings are standing in the way of completing a task. "I have more important things to do." Really? Make a list of things to do and rank in order of importance. What can be eliminated, what can be delegated? "I will do it tomorrow" No, i will have new items to add to my to-do list tomorrow, I will not let my assignments pile up. "I have plenty of time' I never have plenty of time. I need to do this NOW, at this time. "I work better under pressure." I work faster under pressure. I can do a better job if I start now and give myself an appropriate amount of time. hope these helped! I think they are really going to help me when I start nursing school because thoughts like these often cross my mind. Helps to have a mental statement to combat them.

At nursing orientation (15 days! so excited!) Littmann Classic II SE and Lightweight II will be sold. However, I'm considering getting a cardiology III. Cheapest I have found is $115. Would you recommend springing for this product? How long has your Cardiology III lasted you? Littmann's website rates the Cardiology III as a 9/10, The Lightweight II a 6/10 and the Classic II SE a 7/10 Thoughts? Thanks.

CPR for $15!! It almost seems to good to be true!! Done by the LaPorte EMS. Saturday, August 7th. 8:30 AM. Seven spots left.. get calling!! There is someone there right now, I just registered not too long ago (all you need to give is name & phone number.) 281-471-9244 It is AHA Certified, and this is the class for healthcare providers. Hope this helps y'all out!!!

it says on his recording that he is certified to do AHA CPR for the healthcare provider, however he hasn't called me back yet. Oh well, if he doesn't call back I guess it could be for the better. I'd hate to get scammed. I really just don't want to pay $85 when I could have gotten it for free in high school!

I just went to Hobby Lobby and got a scrapbook tote. I love that it has room for tons of pens because I love to use different colored pens & highlighters to take notes. http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/rolling-scrapbook-tote-830745/ There was an in-store half off sale so I got it for $35. Great deal and I think it will be perfect for NS with lots of room and several pockets. Thanks so much for the tip CBsMommy!! I would have never thought of looking into a scrapbook bag if I hadn't read this thread. :[anb]:

I found a guy who will come to your house or desired location and CPR certify you. (AHA for Healthcare providers) where can I get CPR certified in houston? - Google Maps (Click on "CPR CLASSES" (A) and hit "more info" when the box comes up and it will go to their page.) His answering machine said they have scheduled classes at 9AM on Saturdays. (At his house, I'm assuming, which is waaay on the other side of Houston.) I think I might call and see if he would do a class if I could reserve a room at the public library or community center. Would anyone else be interested? Let me know! The recording says the price is $50 for the Saturday classes. Not sure if the price is higher when he comes out on location. Even if they are, there's a good chance it's cheaper than the $85 san jac wants. I left a message for him to call me back so I could set up an appointment. :)

Thanks so much PharmLUV! I called the continuing education dept. today and they told me the next CPR Class isn't until August 6. I'm looking around to find something cheaper and sooner, has anyone else found anything?

congrats alluring_square!! I'm so excited for orientation!

I am looking at getting a Zuca "business backpack" ZCA It doesn't roll, but it looks like it does have a lot of space. With all the pockets and things, I think I wouldn't even need to carry a purse. However students who are in the program I'm about to start have suggested a rolling one, so I really don't know what I'm going to get yet.

I can do all things- I have read that 80 have been accepted for the regular program and 20 for the hybrid; out of around 500 applicants. I figure they do go by Option B as well because I got accepted and used option B only. Ive also read on this thread that in past years they were sending out acceptances for like a week. Good luck. (:

mkhoaja & PharmLUV, I have a few questions if you've got the time to answer them. -As far as the shoes go, I have read that they must be all white, but do they have to be a certain kind (i.e. tennis shoe, clog, etc.) ? -Do we have to buy the steths they'll be selling at orientation? Would you recommend buying a better one? Would a steth name tag be useful? -Would it be wise to invest in a rolling back pack, or do you leave the majority of books at home and only tote a few back and forth. -Do the instructors allow you to record them? Thanks so much! I just want to go buy everything right now I am so excited! I have made myself a list of items I'd like to get before school starts. To all of my future classmates, this is a great thread if you haven't checked it out: Nursing School Must Haves?? - Nursing for Nurses Lots of advice.

Thanks to everyone who has posted advice. Great thread, thanks for making it! I have read all the posts and made a list for myself. Just got my acceptance a few days ago and I'm so excited! GL with nursing school to all!

Has anyone used Sigler's Prescription Drug cards while in Nursing School? I have read that a lot of y'all recommend Taber's. I was just wondering because I already own these and I'm not sure if I need to buy Taber's drug book. It says it has Thoughts? I really like the idea of these because they are all on Notecards in a neat little binder. Thanks for any input! I start NS in August and can't wait. (:

Congrats to everyone!! :) As said before if you're still waiting don't lose hope!! Has anyone been able to get the forms off of blackboard? I tried last night but didn't see it, and blackboard is having an outage right now.

i got accepted too!! around 6:30 but i just checked the e-mail I am STOKED!!! I hope all of y'alls come in too to those who haven't gotten them. :redbeathe

I loved A&P- I had a great instructor. We did not use a textbook ($ saver!), all of our lecture material was in powerpoints that we could download and print off. Many of the people in this thread have left great advice. You just have to study study study- and study smart. Find out what works best for you- flashcards, coloring, typing up your notes. I liked to type up my notes and make it a "fill in the blank" type thing. Also, when studying slides I would print out pictures and then label them. I did very well on tests when I devoted the time to do that- and it does take a lot of time as there is a lot of material. From what you've described your school's grading system is the same as mine. In A&P we had 7 grades total: 3 lab tests and 4 lecture tests, all equally weighted. I've never had a teacher who discouraged recording, but I would ask first just to be sure. And pictures, take looooooooots of pictures in lab if it's allowed! But make sure you make note of what the picture is of, and important structures to go back and label. I would really recommend to be very hands on, as others have suggested! Spend as much time as you can with materials like slides, bone models, brains etc. If there is an open lab GO! Many times we'd have a lab available and the instructor would come in at a random time and review with us. Good luck, sounds like you will be well prepared.