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I went to Daytona State College and have been in the BSN program for a year. Our course numbers didn't match either. :) The only thing that had me worried was I took an "Intro to Chemistry" course, but when I called they said it was the equivalent of their required chemistry class and was acceptable.

Yay! Congratulations :) And it's no problem at all, I really just want you guys to know what's coming and how to prepare yourselves the best you can!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/244146368963976/

Other good sites I've found are valorebooks.com, half.com, textbooks.com, textbooksrus.com, and the Amazon and Barnes and Noble marketplaces. :) A good hint is to put the ISBN in google and hit the shopping tab on the left when the results pop up. Another is to google "coupon codes" for the site you're using - sometimes you can find one that works.

Check your PM's. Also, there were readings from the Med/Surge book but I can't remember if they were required readings or supplemental readings (as in, read this to understand better). :/ And unfortunately, we need that book in spring as well so you're unlikely to get it from a senior until summer at least.

Med/Surge you are going to need for third semester. Honestly, the books you are getting for the first semester are the basis of everything else you will learn (Fundamentals and Assessment, mostly). I can't tell you that I haven't looked through them in second or third semester for particular things. Assessment or technical skills I don't remember 100%, for example. You only need them for one semester technically - except for things like the nursing diagnosis book and davis's drug guide which you'll use in a bunch of classes - but I can't say it wouldn't help you to have them later on. Also, at the meet and greet you may be able to talk to some of the seniors about borrowing or buying their books. Some may not be as attached to theirs as I am to mine, or they may be looking for some money lol. So that is something to consider as well. I bought my books for under $400 online. If there's an international edition of the books, they're much cheaper. I got health assessment for much less and it was exactly the same book. Also, I didn't find the APA book helpful at all. I usually use OWL Purdue. But I obviously can't tell you not to buy it!

No, it is through the school. They choose the package through ATI and you get what they want you to get. They open up little practice exams and you get books that have practice questions and like a basic outline of different things along with it. You also take tests each semester that are proctored through the ATI package.

The kit has a BP cuff, not a stethoscope. The BP cuff gave a few people issues last year if you want to buy your own, but it's in there. Most of what is in the kit is things for lab - NG tubes, IV supplies, needles, practice insulin/ampules, catheters, wound dressing kits, etc.

The Littmann's are definitely great. I think everyone or nearly everyone has one in the program. Most people either got the Classic II SE or the Cardiology III. It depends how much you want to spend. I'd recommend getting it engraved though, they're too expensive to allow them to walk off!

You can do either one first. You'll just have to have everything together and they'll give you deadlines for specific things - make sure you meet them. And the meet and greet is just a day where you come in and meet the instructors and the seniors and we try to convince you not to run screaming That'll be in early December, but last I heard we were still working out the kinks of a date because it's our finals week.

Y'all better show up to the Meet and Greet! lol :) They'll let you know when it is sometime soonish hah. We've got lots of plans to help you guys!

Take his advice! It's for real.

rofl idk about cocoa but we've shown up in pajamas. let me tell you i own nothing but jeans. i have never even heard of the "no jeans" requirement. i'd double check just in case, but seriously. i've never heard of it. our instructors wear jeans.

You won't get the list for a while. However, I did get all of my books for about $500 online - they give you a "bundle" list with both the books and the ebook versions on them for like $1200 or something ridiculous. You don't need both versions and you won't use the textbooks again officially (except for the Medical-Surgical book) so I would save your money and buy them used online. Make use of some sites' rental features as well, it saves a ton.

No, they told us in December what classes and sections to sign up for. I'm sure you could go on MyUCF and look up the Daytona spring classes and get a feel for it (though you will not be in Care of the Adult II and Psychiatric Nursing - those are for the seniors ;] ). I believe it was M/W and then clinicals were thrown on either Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. But that is entirely up to your clinical instructor and so are the times you will be at clinical. And they may switch from week to week. Just keep M-F open for class and your weekends open to study. :)