Kel3

We have 1-2 patients. Good luck with your move! When do you begin orientation? You'll start on days, so we'll meet each other at shift change. Be sure to introduce yourself!

I'm a new grad--just graduated in December. All the classes have been good, but the program (between being in the unit, taking classes, and working on ECCO) takes most all of my time right now. But to be honest, I'm fine with it--I'm learning a lot and there is definitely A LOT to learn! I'll also be moving to nights--I agree, it's also what I prefer. It'll be a good shift to learn on, since it's usually a little less hectic. And differentials are always a plus. ;-) We wear navy scrubs. I actually don't know all the ins and outs of the scheduling requirements yet, to be honest. For the time being I am working my preceptor's schedule and this will continue for several more weeks.

And yes, I started Feb. 25.

Cool--I'm a CCU nurse as well. :-) CCU is just CCU--we don't have a color. ;-) Are you experienced or a new grad?

Congrats to you!! Which unit will you be working in? I'm currently a critical care resident there--tough, but I love it, and Piedmont is great. If you are wanting to avoid traffic all together, I'd suggest getting as close to the hospital as possible. I've lived in Atlanta all my life and I still want to pull my hair out most days. ;-)

Guys, ignore this person. When deciding which school(s) to apply to, take a look at what fits best into your lifestyle, what you can afford, where you feel comfortable, and what the school's NCLEX pass rates are. If GSU is where you want to go, then definitely apply there knowing that it's a good school, a respected school, has good NCLEX pass rates, and that you will have a good shot at getting hired after graduation. Oh, and just so you know, as a recent GSU grad, I was hired into a critical care unit at a major hospital here in Atlanta. Had I graduated from "a top ranked program" you know how much more money I would be making right now? Not. One. Penny. More. This is an exciting and nerve wracking time for you guys--don't let anyone take away from your excitement. I truly wish you all the best of luck!! Warmly, Kelly PS--For NCLEX pass rates throughout the state, go here: http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/rn/NCLEXSCORES.pdf (OMG--I just checked out University of Maryland...looks like they are comparable! ;-) )

Yep, that's our uniform. You'll have med/surg and psych clinicals over the summer. You'll want to talk to the professors as soon as you can about needing to miss a week. I would imagine they'd be willing to work with you, but summer is definitely a trickier semester to miss a week.

PS--Congrats on your acceptance!!

It's possible, but it won't be pleasant. You can always give it a shot, and if it feels like too much you can drop the psych class. There is no way that I could/would have taken another class during A1 (or A-anything, to be honest), but that doesn't mean that someone else can't. Just make sure that if you feel yourself struggling early on to go ahead and pull the trigger on the drop...you don't want to dig yourself a hole too deep to get out of--especially with pharm. If you have any other questions about the program, just let me know! Kelly (A4)

Hopefully I am understanding your question--if not, just let me know and I'll try again. :-) Not only do you have to have all the nursing school prereqs done, but you must also have all the college-required core courses (which is what the course you are referring to is) complete prior to beginning the ACE program. When you run an Academic Evaluation (in PAWS) you want to make sure that all areas are "Met" except for area G and a couple of the area H classes that you must take in nursing school. Use that Academic Eval tool--it's your friend! As an aside...if there is anyway that you can take the Nutrition class prior to beginning the program, do it!! You will be so thankful that you did so when you begin A1. (Nutr 3300 satisfies Nutr 3200) If you have any other questions, just let me know! Kelly (current A4)

If I still had mine, I'd give it to you, but I gave it away after receiving my test score early last year. I understand what you are saying--there is nothing cheap about any of this. Just wait until you get accepted. The cost of books, uniforms, lab pack, and all the other stuff that you need prior to A1 is outrageous. Thankfully you never have to cough up nearly that much money again for the remainder of the program. Kelly

jenbrewington--Get the study guide that ATI offers. I used their study guide and then purchased the two online practice assessments that are offered. Using nothing else, I was able to make a 94. Best of luck to you!!! Kelly

What are you using for a study guide? Kelly

jenbrewington: I'm sure you are fine, since those are higher level courses than 1151 and 1152. You can always call the nursing office to make sure, but I would be beyond shocked if you were told any different. Best of luck to you!! Kelly (current A4 student)

yuna_cry: I am an ACE student at Georgia State, so obviously my knowledge is based on my experience there, but here's my take. :-) I personally think that GPC is a great option for knocking out prereqs because it's cheap--I knocked out many of mine there. I did end up transfering to GSU for chem 2, both A&Ps, micro, and the couple of prereqs that they require to be taken at GSU. I did this thinking that if I went to GSU for a few semesters before applying for nursing school that I would somehow have a leg-up...which I don't think makes any difference whatsoever. I have a friend who completed all prereqs at GPC and was then accepted into Emory's SON. We took the same chemistries, so my guess is that the difference between their gen chem and GPC's or GSU's survey of chem is in name only. However, I am no expert on Emory, nor will I pretend to be, so I'll leave it at that. If you do your prereqs at GPC, the only prereq for A&P is the first chem--no other bio is needed. A&P and micro at GSU have no prereqs. If you have any other questions that I might be able to help with, just let me know. Kelly

troop949, HUGE CONGRATS to you!!!! Best of luck as you complete the PINS requirements and get going in the fall. :-) Kelly

troop949: I'm a current GSU nursing student (A2) and a member of Nursing Students of Georgia State (NSGS). Let me know if you have questions. Kelly

Yep, there are definitely some people who have part-time gigs...but nothing too heavy, and you have to schedule around class and clinical time. I know that I couldn't do it and maintain decent grades (plus, I'm a mom...between the ACE program and work hours, I'd have no time at all for my poor son) but others seem to make it work. Let me know if you have any other questions. :-) Kelly

monica427: I would *personally* avoid doing prereqs at a tech school if you are wanting to transfer to a university, but others might chime in with their success stories of doing just that. What I would/did do is knock out prereqs at GPC. It is inexpensive, they have a few locations, and universities are happy to accept their credits. I took many classes at GPC prior to transfering to GSU, and am now in GSU's nursing school. I have a friend who took every single bit of her prereqs at GPC and is in her last semester at Emory now. If you can take some classes without shelling out a lot of money, I say do it. Best of luck to you!! Kelly

troop949: Nope, you won't wait until 2nd semester--clinicals will begin A1 for you. :-) To put it bluntly, they won't care that you are driving from outside the perimeter and want to keep it closer to home. There are too many people in the program who are in your exact same boat that they just can't make adjustments based on geography for everyone. That being said, you may very well luck-up and get lots of downtown clinical sites. Thus far I have worked at DeKalb Medical in Decatur, Atlanta Medical Center, and Grady...all of which would be fairly close for you. But, there are also people in my class who live in Tyrone, Conyers, and other OTP cities who have worked at St. Joe's, which is a bit of a drive for them. The night thing might be an issue for you. I would definitely talk to them and tell them your situation, but I can't promise that it will make a difference. The clinicals in first semester are very light...they don't begin until a few weeks into the semester, are only 1 day a week, every other week, and are typically scheduled from 7a-1p. It's not a huge deal. Beginning A2, things change. While I have only worked day shifts, I have *many* friends who are working 3p-11:30p twice a week, or 7a-7p once a week...several have Saturday shifts. Things are getting worse over the summer--we just received a message letting us know that we'll be in class 2 days a week, working 2 12-hr shifts each week, and that the rest of the days must be left open for observation experiences...in other words, they own our summer. ;-) It sounds rough--I'm sure it will be--but it's the price that we are paying for getting through the program quickly. I can tell you that getting through the program with kids is tough but possible...you just needs lots and lots of support. There are many parents in my class (married and single) and we are all making it. :-) Let me know if you have any other questions, troop. Best of luck to you!! Kelly

Hi, breezy7. I'm a current A2 and can answer these questions for you. :-) For the Traditional program, clinicals begin T2 and (unless there is some huge change next year) will be either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. The only "say" that you get about when your clinicals are is if it is for military or religion. They tell you that nothing else will be considered. That being said, I would still talk to them and tell them your situation, in hopes that they will work with you. But, I want to be completely honest about what we are all told right up front, so that you are not completely blindsided if they aren't flexible. I have also known a couple of people who they refused to work with due to work schedules, but they did allow them to "trade" their clinical day with a classmate, so that's another option. No, many clinical sites are not Marta accessible, so you must tell them prior to each semester (several weeks prior!) that you need to be on the Marta line. Just a heads-up--this might be an issue for you when it comes to the community clinical, but that's late in the program, so you can cross that bridge when you get to it. Let me know if you have other questions. Good luck! Kelly

yayaccepted--I'm actually a 1st semester ACE student. :-)

Hey, guys. :-) I'm a current A1 (first semester ACE student), and just like svictor1, I know exactly what you are going through right now--I was playing this same waiting game earlier this year, and it is no fun!! For those of you who haven't yet gotten your "golden ticket", definitely don't lose faith yet. I would imagine that there are at least a couple of more acceptance letter waves before denials and wait list letters go out. I looked back at last spring's cycle, and it was mid-November before that happened. And the way that this typically seems to go is that letters are sent out once a week--I think that during our app cycle maybe letters were received one week on a weird day (like Monday, maybe) but that for the most part, letters were received on Friday or Saturday, depending upon where you lived. So, try to relax between waves, and then stalk your mailbox at the end of each week. Yeah, I know...I still stalked mine twice a day, every day, even knowing that it wouldn't be until later in the week. ;-) Also, try not to spend a lot of energy trying to figure out what they (the committee) are doing, how they are doing it, or when stuff will happen. It'll drive you mad. When I watched two waves of acceptance letters go out, without receiving one myself (4.0+ program GPA, 94 TEAS), I became convinced that I would get a denial. Not the case...I just had to wait until the 3rd wave. :-) Hang in there, guys.

Hey guys--I'm a current ACE student at GSU. Yes, you must submit a TEAS score for a complete app. Also, they'll update the test dates for the fall 2012 app season pretty soon--so if you want to wait and take it after the beginning of the year, at GSU, you'll be able to. The test dates that you see now were leading into the spring app deadline that just passed--that's why they don't seem to match. Best of luck to you all!! Kelly

But, the books for 2060 aren't there.