reg4fun69

My coverage was effective 08/01. My understanding is that most health insurance policies start on the first of the month, but I could be wrong about that. You have to have proof of health insurance by 08/05 and maintain it during the two year program.

Also check with your local hospitals HR departments. I got a scholarship of $8000 for the two year program with an agreement to work there for 2 years.

I read that too! Scary!

I also turned in all the paperwork today! Super excited and can't wait to meet everyone. FYI....It's not just the bookstore that you get a get a different response each time. I have had the same thing happen with advisers and financial aid. I get a different answer each time I call.....very frustrating.

FYI...I bought all three of the concept based learning books separately and only paid a total of $183.00 for all three through Amazon . They are used but in great condition. I know it's hard with financial aid, but its a HUGE savings to buy used instead of through the bookstore if you can swing it. Also the neighborhood online thing that is included with the books at the bookstore is available to purchase separately for I believe $25.00.

I am starting nursing school in August and plan to always remember that being in the hospital is a crisis to the patient and their families. Most patients and families are scared and feel helpless. My father had stage 4 lung cancer and had an aortic aneurysm. After surgery he was placed on a vent. His body started to shut down and we were told he probably wouldn’t make it. We were struggling with the news and the decision of taking him off the vent and getting hospice. I never left my father's side and one night he was struggling with the vent and had a look of panic in his eyes. (I'll never forget that look) I went to the nurses’ station and told a nurse that my father was awake and struggling and had that look of panic on his face. The nurse looked annoyed and snapped, "There isn't anything I can do. I can't give him anything else for pain, it will kill him." Her words left me feeling completely helpless to help my father. I turned and went back to his room and he was still struggling and had "that look" on his face. His vent alarm kept going off and the nurse came in to check it. As she was checking my father, she apologized to me for the way she spoke to me. She ended up calling respiratory and they changed the filter on the vent. After my father calmed down and rested peacefully the rest of the night. My point is that communication is key and it is not only the choice of words, but also your tone and body language. We need to remember that the hospital environment is not the "norm" for the patients and their families. The nurse that night may have been having a bad night, but I was having a worse night; I was losing my father. I am learning that nurses struggle with the limited time they have with their patients. I feel it is so important to take what little time there is and to communicate with kindness, compassion and empathy to your patients and their families.

Has anyone gotten their shoes yet? Looking for suggestions on brand, etc. Also where to go to buy? I am not comfortable buying shoes online...need to try on.

Also check at your local hospitals HR department. I received an $8000 scholarship for the two year program. Part of the scholarship is that I agree to work at the facility for two years. But hey....its a guaranteed job after graduation.

Brittani22...I think you can do it! A solid month of studying is good in my opinion. Most of the things that are on the NLN are things you probably already know and just need to review. Use the resources available at the school on the subjects you struggle with and get the study guide and you'll do great! Also the worse case....you can retake it in 6 months for the next class.

Allison1993 and LMB1979 I sent to the email to both of you. It's getting closer....getting excited! See you all there!

johnnyvirgo...

The mandatory health science convocation is on August 22nd at 9am. We are required to wear out blue polo and white pants. You should have received an email from instructor with revised book requirements and other information. Check your Rivermail and if you didn't receive it I can forward it to you.

JohnnyVirgo...you have to complete your physical between July 29-Aug 5th. The TB test also same dates, which will take three days to read the results. You can download the physical form from the programs website that needs to be filled out by the doctor. CPR needs to be completed between after June 1st and valid until at least June 2015. Other requirements- Copy of health insurance Copy of signed handbook forms. (they sent revised handbook via email) Student ID/Parking Decal- these are due by August 26th The checklist form also needs to be signed and turned in with all your paperwork. Provide your email address and I'll scan it and send you a copy.

I will be 45 by the time I graduate; I start the ADN program this fall. I do agree with swansonplace and 1fiestymama. I believe that our life experiences can only help us in the nursing field. I also can attest to the fact that I have a totally different perspective on learning in general than when I was younger. I really want to understand what I am learning to be able to apply that knowledge in life.

Curious about the TABE test...do we have to take it? I took it years ago.

Congrats! to smileanyway and and1096 You made it!!!

dreamgirl823....I added you to my "circle," I can try to get together with you sometime this weekend on the hangouts, if your available. I have had a crazy week, so I need to catch up with you on the math for some of the therapeutic shading your talking about...I mean if it helps.

Great @Allison1993...looking forward to it. I do think you would have to get a gmail email account in order to utilize the hangout, but that's not a biggy. So far it seems pretty neat and that it would be great for a study group. Not to say that we couldn't ever have a traditional meeting, but doing it this way saves money in gas. I am just learning about it myself and will be figuring it out as I go. Good luck on the math.

Sounds great dreamgirl823...I have also started the math and so far so good. I am going to try to get all of it complete over the summer as well. I got the main textbook through Amazon for a pretty good price. I know they said to wait, but the price was right. I did check with the publisher first to make sure a newer edition wasn't coming out, which they aren't until summer 2014. It's HUGE and checking the reading assignments there is a lot of reading, so best to get the math out of the way for sure. I am just learning about the Google Hangouts as well, but seems like it would work pretty well. You can video chat with up to 10 people at once, share documents, and screens etc. If you want to check it out email me at [email protected] and we can experiment with it. Good luck on the math.

Is anyone familiar with Google hangouts? If you’re not familiar, check it out. The reason, I was thinking it would be a cool way to form a study group. I know that many of us have other commitments and/or live in the boonies (like me) , and thought this may be an alternative to traveling somewhere for a study group. I know we have sometime before we actually need to be concerned about this, but this caught my eye. Any thoughts?

I am nervous, but excited about being the first class with the new curriculum. I know a few in the program and they have all said the same as PDowling about the instructors being very supportive in our success. I have read about the concept based approach and many colleges are changing to this curriculum because it is suppose to better prepare students with a deeper understanding of health care conditions and with competencies beyond those in traditional nursing programs (NLN.org). Change can be difficult and I am sure there will be some "bumps in the road," but I feel adapting to the adjustments and being "flexible" will only better prepare us in our career.

Thank you fubaby1 and PDowling....I am soooo excited and just can't wait to get started. Learning the general classifications is a good start. Thanks to both of you for taking the time to give us all a "heads up."

@PDowling.....They are suggesting that we wait until we register for classes to get the required books because they are trying to get a package deal from the publisher. However, they have given us the tentative reading schedule for the books. I know everyone has said to stay on top of the reading and that there is a lot of it. Do you suggest getting a head start over the summer on the reading? The other thing is pharmacology...they don't list any books. My husband who is a medic suggest that I study the drugs over the summer. Do you have a list of what drugs they had you learn in the first semester? I know they may be different for our group with the new curriculum but I figure it can't hurt.

Good Luck @smileanyway!!!

@PDowling...I would love it! Thank you so much. I am not sure when I will be over that way, but I will let you know in advance. Thanks again