ashleyj2011

My CNA license is expired, and when I called to ask about it, was told I didn't need to renew because we aren't required to have the license-the main thing is that we have acquired the skills/knowledge from taking the course

Okay Dallas peeps! I created a Facebook group, "Texas Tech Accelerated BSN 2018 - Dallas" Should be able to copy and paste the group name and find it. If not, let me know and I can send emailed invitations to join!

I haven't heard of one. I can start a page, unless someone else wants to!

Accepted to Dallas--my first (only) choice! Congrats, everyone! =)

Is everyone excited for Tuesday?!? :)

Good to know! I have records for everything except tdap, but I am pretty certain that I got it this past summer for work... I'll also need a second tb test as I have only had one in the last year

Oh wow, jlg- that is awesome! Thank you for letting me know!

Thanks for the encouragement!! That's so awesome that we have mentors. It's nice to have someone there to give tips and guide us newbies

Thank you both for your input on working and time management. This is much needed advice as I will be working full time, at least for the first semester. It's nice to hear from others that it CAN be done! I'll definitely jump on the med term and math assignments asap and get them out of the way! Who are our mentors? Are they upper level nursing students? professors? preceptors? Just curious! Also-I've heard of students using nclex practice books to study for class exams... do you guys do this as well? Any other study/organization/time management tips are greatly appreciated!

Gotcha. Well I am certainly excited for orientation and to meet you and my fellow classmates! Enjoy your break from classes! I will try to do the same, as I know my days of free time and sleeping in on weekends are quickly coming to a close :) Thanks again for all your help!

Good deal... How much money should we expect to need for extras at orientation?

Wonderful! Anything else that is on the orientation list that I should be prepared for? I think I saw another post that you mentioned about a lab coat but I might wait on buying that until after orientation..

OH! Pen lights! I think I saw somewhere that we will need one?

Congrats on being finished!!! Sounds like you have a good job, and it's SO nice to have a boss who is supportive. I think that I might end up having to work full-time or close to it, at least for the first semester. Hubby is in his last semester of school, so he should have a good job by the time I start second sem so I shouldn't have to keep up the work schedule for too long. Yeah I am not sure on the box of books... I just got on nctc bookstore's website and it had those three options, which I thought was strange also. I will definitely drive up there though so I can make sure I get everything and do it in person. HUGE relief to have some of these questions answered! I am a planner and tend to make an attempt to plan every detail of my life (impossible, I know! ha!) so this is certainly helpful. I'm so excited to start and excited about the nursing kit and clinical. Glad that I have the CNA license so at least the first little bit of clinical will be things I already know, but sooo excited to start learning new things :)

Thank you, Thank you!! Also-I hope finals are going/went well for you!! =) Okay, so I am a little worried now about the Blue Card thing... I have already done the Group One Background check thing and been fingerprinted. How long does it usually take, and is there anything I can do at this point to speed things up on that? I did call around and found a place where I can get a physical for $54, so that seems MUCH closer to what I was expecting on that. The only shot I'm not sure of is the Tdap, but I am pretty certain I received that one last summer when I started working at the nursing home..going to call them today to find out on that.. Also I will have to get the TB tests because I only have had one of those in the last year. Which book kit did you order? I saw that there's three different options, one said 'access' one was 'electronic' and I don't remember the other, but it was three different price tiers. I was thinking I'd get the second one which is around $850 or so, but I can get more info from the bookstore on those options.. Okay, on to my long list of questions.. 1. Extra books: Will we have assignments come directly from the books? Reason I ask.. I have a pharm book that I used this summer for a DCCCD pharm class. Also, I have the 9th ed. of the same dose calc book (we are supposed to have 10th ed. for Sp'14). If I could get away with using the books I already have-- that'd be wonderful! If not-I will definitely check out AbeBooks, I have never even heard of them. I am not toooo terribly concerned with the book kit at the store, as my fin aid will cover that one.. 2. Printers: I have seen a lot of discussion on AN about how much nusring students print. Is this true with nctc? I believe that nctc does allow a certain amount of pages to be printed each semester that is included as part of our fees, correct? If so-do the printers on campus print in color? The printer I currently have at home is not so great, so I might need to look at buying new one if we can't print on campus. 3. Stethoscope: I have one that I received as part of my kit from my CNA course. Would this suffice for first semester? 4. BP cuff: I already have one that I purchased at walmart. Is this good enough or should I look at something better? 5. Scissors: I thought I saw something about this on one of the older nctc forums... do we still need these? If so, what should I be looking for? I will probably purchase online if possible. 6. Kit: might I just ask what all comes in this nursing kit that costs $190 ?!?! LOL. 7: Other random questions: Sooo how was your first semester? What are clinicals like in 1st sem? I think I was told that they're mostly at a nursing home? What all skills will we be learning in first sem? As you can see I'm pretty excited! Also, I saw that you live in Lewisville and wanted to mention that I do too! :) Is the drive terrible? Hoping I can find a group to carpool with! Can I ask where you work? Are they flexible with your school schedule? I am looking for a place to work at the beginning of the year... my current job is a temp position that probably isn't going to renew after Dec 31. I have my CNA so I can def try to find work using that... And also have CPhT...I do have a PRN spot at a nursing home right now as a CNA, but I would really like to get a pharm spot since it pays more than CNA... gotta pay those bills somehow! Thanks again for all of your help and advice!!! I really do appreciate it!

You might regret saying that once I'm finished asking alllllllll of my questions! Haha. I'm working on a list so I can just ask you all at once :) BUT-my big issue now is paying for all of these things! I totaled between the kits, supplies, background checks, etc we're looking at $600+ and that is before books! So-what is the most important things to pay and get done first? I've already been fingerprinted. So I am thinking the background check and setting up immunitrax are going to be the next most important things. Background said results would be in 2-4 business days but I want to get it done quick just In case... And immuni from what I've seen in past threads seems like it can take a while.. Is that correct? How much should I expect to pay for a physical? I called the office where my husband and I usually go, and they said it'd be $140+ Which seemed pretty high to me. I'm going to call around some more on that.. The packet seemed like I could wait until probably early January to order the nursing kit.. And I'm now asking for scrubs & supplies for Christmas, lol.... Sending in some old texts for amazon trade-in credits and going to list some things on eBay... Hahah. Gotta do what's necessary I suppose! :)

Okay, I know I've had a million questions it seems! Organization with my class materials is HUGE to me. I've found some good ideas here on AN that seem like they'll work out great for me. So I am just curious-for clinical will there be papers, notes, etc that I would need a binder, etc for? Also-would you say that the notes/materials for the three courses would all fit into one large binder? I'm thinking about 2" or so-one or two of those, I guess depending on how it goes throughout the semester! Lol. As far as prepping for the classes..... is there anything we should be reviewing? I feel a little nervous because I took A&P in 2012 and micro in 2010. I'm afraid that I have forgotten a good majority of these subjects-especially the micro. Also-on the shoes. I've noticed some of the leather shoes have the tiny holes on the top of the foot. Is that acceptable or no? (I tried to post a pic of what I'm talking about below.. but I'm not sure if it's going to show up) Another thing-some of the Nike ones I've seen have a very light silver outline for the Nike swoosh... will they allow this or is it pretty strict on the total solid white?

I think this may have been answered somewhere already but I don't remember! Will we ever wear our own "street clothes" to class? Or did I hear that the red scrubs are always worn to class? Also-do most people bring books to class or just note taking items? Trying to figure out if I need to get a large book bag and what other supplies I'll need! Thanks!

jls- Thanks so much!!

Thank you! I made 87% overall, but A&P was by far my worst section. The website says the cutoff score this semester is 69% (I believe) so I am just waiting on the official acceptance letter now! So excited and nervous!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to check in and get your opinions/advice/etc on first semester ADN at nctc! I just took the Kaplan rest yesterday and feel like I have a pretty good chance of acceptance, so I'm trying to go ahead and get myself prepared. Thanks in advance. :)

Faithnwilliam21 - how did you do on the test?? I was at the 1:00 section.. Wondering if we were both there at the same time?!

I tested yesterday!

Zweielles, thank you so much for the response! I know you have to be extremely busy, so I appreciate you taking the time to tell about your nursing school experience :)