ACook84

I am a single mom of a 3 year old son, and i want him to have a better life than i had. That is motivation enough! His picture is in the front cover of EACH of my textbooks! If i start slacking....i flip to the front for a reminder of what i am doing!

p.s. since we are all nursing students and we will most likely encounter patients who want more info on devices that will make their lives easier, here is a link to a site that sells all sorts (not only for the blind) of helpful aids: http://www.maxiaids.com/store/default.asp

I am a nursing student who was raised by a legally blind single parent. Over the years i have come to find out there are quite a few different assistance aids/devices for the blind/handicapped. One of the things that truly impressed me is a pocket device that when swiped over money or text will read it back to you....and there is a headphone jack which will allow the person to follow confidentiality guidelines. Another thing that they have is a device that you speak into and when it is plugged into the computer, it will transcribe everything word for word into a text document. And since it was brought up specifically, there are programs that will read what is on a computer screen. The one that my mother has is called JAWS and it reads anything that her cursor is on. So if she wants to get to a specific spot...she just needs to memorize the computer commands to tab through things. Point is....if there is a need for something....odds are they have something to help with it...or it's in the works now. Now...on that note, i agree that there would be struggles with a skin assessment/visual parts of assessments, but that doesn't mean that the person can't become a nurse in another field...or teach other people to be AMAZING nurses. Just think...if you had a blind nursing instructor, you would get all sorts of little tricks that the rest of us wouldn't get. For instance....they might pick up on a different sound that is a precursor to something else, or a smell that somebody else wouldn't notice. So i say....if you have a dream/passion for something....don't let anything stop you! :)

I too am surprised by the number of people who choose not to stop. I'm not one to judge you, but having been hit by a car traveling 55 mph on a busy road makes me recognize the relevance of stopping to make sure all involved are okay. Surprisingly, my sister who was completely unharmed was the one that needed the help. She was standing/walking around...but she wasn't able to handle the stress of seeing her sister thrown from the hood of a car. Also...even though i was alert and talking to first responders, i had blacked out, so i COULD have had other issues that should have been observed. Point is, I am still thankful for the people who stopped to assist, and this was over 10 years ago. On that note, I am still in nursing school and we learned in week 4 or 5 that in the state of MI we are required to stop if we witnessed the accident. My instructor stressed the fact that when she approaches the scene she says the following "Hi, my name is ____, i am an RN, and i am here to help under the good samaritan law." She mentioned that if somebody witnessed you driving away and they knew (somehow) that you are a nurse, you CAN be penalized for it. Just something to consider. Also....one of my favorite parts of my med first responder course (outside of NS) was the assignment to make a GOOD first aid kit to leave in the car. We were also taught how to use different things that you can find on the scene to substitute other materials. So, i would highly recommend taking a first responder course, since they are much more thorough than the basic ABC's that are taught in your CPR courses.

msrenee.....i dont' have access to the messaging part of this site yet. i only have something like 14 posts yet, and i think we need 25 to send messages to other members....unless we pay. So i would LOVE to message you back...but i can't! I am a DU student....and we were talking a few days ago in the library after study group. i am the redhead that looked like i hadn't had any sleep for days!

Hey girly!! I don't have enough posts in yet to message you back....so i hope you find this comment!! I DO go to DU....i was the redhead you were talking to in the library the other day....after study group :)

we started on August 31st. It's definitely a time consuming program! But it is doable! I can't speak for everybody but i am loving it! We had our first exam this week and that was an experience in itself! Nursing is a completely different way of thinking....so it was a bit of a shock to say the least! We managed though...and now we know what to expect. So to keep it short....it's going well! :) Have some crazy studying lined up for the next week though....all 4 classes have an exam as well as a few projects that need to be finished to get them out of the way. So there will be a LOT of time management/prioritizing going on.

Thanks! I was reading the site and couldn't find it directly. I also saw that they offer loan repayment as well....so even if i don't get accepted into the HRSA scholarship group, there is still the option of trying for that. Thanks again! And i have it set to email me when the new applications for next year are posted.

I have a question for those of you that applied. I know that i could probably find the answer in the thread somewhere, and if you want to link me to a post or a specific page, feel free. But my question is, can you apply for this if you are in your second year of a Nursing program? I didn't learn about this scholarship until after the deadline, but i am curious if i would be able to apply next year. My school is QUITE pricey, and it would be wonderful if i didn't have to take out loans for both years. Thanks to anybody that has the answer for me! :) And good luck to all of you that applied for this year!! April

I have been considering purchasing the Littman Cardiology 3, so i wouldn't have to upgrade after school, but a buddy of mine went to a uniform shop near us and she tried out a cheaper model and said it works quite well. So i am currently rethinking that idea. Also...while my friend was at that shop she mentioned a website online and told the lady about the free engraving. According to that staff member it is a BAD idea to have the head engraved. It changes the structural integrity of the stethescope. So if you want to have something engraved...buy the cheap plaque that you can put on there and have IT engraved.

they definitely use a point system. you get a certain number of points for your full GPA, your math and science GPA, your TEAS, your essay, each recommendation, and the number of prerequisites that you already have out of the way. So I know a couple students who had GPAs in the 3.5 range and a middle of the road TEAS and made it. Plus, another friend had a 4.0 GPA and a lower TEAS and didn't make it. So it DEFINITELY is more than just the GPA and TEAS. Having said that, i had a GPA of 4.0 at DU, and a math and science GPA around 3.7 Then my TEAS was 86.4

Hey Mike, i don't know if Don mentioned it to you, but a BUNCH of us are getting together for dinner on Saturday night. If you are free and like Mexican food, you should come! It'll give you a chance to meet more of your future classmates! Anyhow....I'll tell you more on Thursday, since this site doesn't like us divulging any "identifying information" lol! Later!

Okay....the Fall schedule is up!! Looks like Tuesday and Wednesday for the nursing classes, then i personally have to take medical terminology on fridays.

From what i have heard, we are required to do two. But i would email the professor in charge to double check. Woo Hoo!!! Maybe if you hang out with me long enough, some of my perfection will rub off on you! lol! jk! Also...i don't remember if i mentioned it already, but i checked out the mens board like you mentioned and it was QUITE amusing. Makes me happy that i am not one of those CRAZY drama chicks that nags and nags. hah! OH...and i read a couple complaints to my fiancee and he just laughed and said "that isn't only in the nursing field" he works with 90% women as well. He could have written it word for word. So i think overall, those are broad complaints from men, about women. hah!

awesome. congrats mike! sorry if this font is horrible, i am posting from my cell phone and it looks enormous on here. heh! glad you made it though! and congrats on beating me with the slides in micro. hahaha! i just heard from one of my buddies that one of our nursing professors (cant name names on here) works at the macomb health department and will apparently do our immunizations for free with our paperwork. so i think i am going next friday to get all of that taken care of. it just seems like so much to do in such a limited amount of time. ahh well, we'll manage!