PDowling

Hey Brittani22 If you have taken all your prereqs you should have a good base knowledge. I studied the NLN review book for 2 weeks intensely and did very very well on the test. If I were you I'd take it and see how you do ... worst case scenario ... you don't get in and take it again for the next application period ( you can take it again after 6 months)

@smileanyway ..... YEY! Congrats to you!!!! I'm so happy for you. I know how badly you wanted it. ....and I also know how hard it is to wait ... and wait .... and wait. No more waiting for you...let the torture begin! (kidding). Congrats

@and1096 ... you are absolutely right there could be many people with the same score. @smileanyway ... Don't lose hope ... I was accepted within the last two weeks before class started. Wishing you all luck!

You will hear this many times in the program ... "Blessed are the flexible, for when they get bent out of shape they do not break." I know that the people you have been dealing with up to this point seem to care less whether you are "in" or "out" of the program.... but please believe me that that will all change once you are in class. The instructors are fabulous, caring, knowledgable women. They do not want to see ANYONE fail. So far, the ones that I have had, will bend over backwards to help you if you are working hard and ask for their guidance. Give it a chance to work. This new curriculum was not the random idea of someone in the IRSC nursing program. It is being used with great success nationwide from what I was told. IRSC was approached and asked to implement it. I would be a bit anxious myself ... but starting the program with such negativity will only work against you. Try to get back the excitement you had when you got your acceptance letter. Best of luck to all of you.

We didnt have a list of drugs to learn really. When doing our clinicals we would have to research and type up drugs info cards on all of the drugs that we would be giving to our assigned patient for the next day. Changed with every patient - usually between 6-15 medications was what my patients were on. The Davi'ss Drug Guide for Nurses 13th Edition (definately get it with the CD) is our medication bible! You get familiar that way. They stress learning the general classifications rather than the individual drugs (beta blockers, anticholinergics, analgesics, etc) and gaining general knowledge of side effects, what assessments are needed to administer, etc based on that. Its hard to say about what to read/do ahead ... I didnt do anything ahead of time. Just be prepared to hit the ground running. Also - Amazon has much better prices than the IRSC bookstore. Sign up for their Free (for students) Prime account and you will get free 2 day shipping - its worth it.

Regina ... you can have my Fundamentals success workbook if you want it. I might have done 2 chapters in it. Just let me know when you are at the school and I can try to get it to you.

Hi Allison1993 and Reg4fun.... The book list has drastically changed with the curriculum, I'm sorry to say. We used Math for Meds and Kozier and Erbs Fundamentals of Nursing as our required books. In my opinion, no matter how much it changes you will ALWAYS need The Nurses Pocket Guide. I'm sure you will still be doing nursing care plans ... that book is a savior for that. I would not spend the money on the Kozier workbooks since that is no longer the main book for the course. I bought the Kozier success book, but only because we used Kozier Fundamentals as our main text (and never had enough time to look at it). I never bought the Taber's med dictionary either ... I was waiting for the new edition ... then realized I never once wished that I had it. You guys are the pioneers for the new curriculum ... wish I could help more. Good Luck!

FYI ... Just a heads up on uniforms ... make sure you get tops with big pockets. You will need plenty of room to stuff your stethoscope, light, pens, note pad, gloves, scissors ... etc.

reg4fun ... do you need the Lilley Pharmacology book still? It was on our Fundamentls book list, not sure what they have you guys ordering for your first class. If you do ... dont buy it until you get ahold of me.

CONGRATS Allison1993 !!!

@dreamgirl823 .... FYI. There were a Total of 70 of us accepted into the program in the last class. LPN/medic's included. Congrats on your accomplishments so far!

@dreamgirl823 ... I found out 2 weeks before class started. They never would tell us how many alternates there were ... and I know 5 others in my class that were alternates ... but I dont talk to everyone so I'm not really sure how many got in. Wish I could be of more help. Keep hopeful! There will always be people who miss a mandatory meeting, fail a drug test, a background check, or just have changes in their personal or financial life that changes their mind after being accepted.

You are very welcome! Maybe one of you will pass it on to the next applying class of Spring 2014 ...

Allison ... They select from the alternate pool in order of score. I watched it happen one by one when I was an alternate. Dont loose hope... a lot of us got in that were on the list. Good luck!

@scott5989 They will give you the exact dates during the mandatory meeting that you need to have them done by. We had a choice of two or three days the week right after the meeting to get the fingerprinting done (right near the school), and I think they gave us till that Friday for the drug testing....they dont want anyone to be able to prepare for it I guess. You will have like a 10 day window for your physical - that should be about 4 weeks before your start date. They also have a specific date for your CPR so you are covered the whole 2 years you are in the program. I had 7 months left before mine expired and had to take it again anyway. They don't want to have to track who is due for renewal. @johnnyvirgo I am so darned happy to be done with Fundamentals that I dont mind passing on any info that might help. I hated all the unanswered questions. Yes, the Tote is absolutely positively necessary. We used those materials throughout fundamentals lab and still have some supplies to utilize in future labs. BTW, There is no stethescope in it.

CONGRATS johnnyvirgo .... You're in! The "provisional" terminology refers to you still needing to pass a drug test, background check, physical etc. Welcome to the ADN program!

@LBM1979 No, they guard that information like it was a classified military secret! I still dont get it.... I sure hope you make it ... I know that feeling and it stinks! After you go thru all the meetings, jump thru all the hoops ... fingerprinting, drug testing, background check (another non refundable expense - $100.00) etc and there is still no guarantee, it's a bit unnerving. But FYI they can still call you in right up to the second day of class.

CONGRATS to all those accepted to the new Fall 2013 ADN class! Get some rest now ... you'll need it!

@ LBM1979 Congrats on making the alternate list! I was an alternate too and got accepted at the last minute. Just remember to not miss ANY meeting or deadline ... you have to progress as though you are part of the program. I also suggest that you order your polo shirts at the orientation meeting with everyone else. It takes a LOT longer to get a small order made than it does for the big order for the class. Hang in there nd good luck!

@efryauff Yes, they allow a long sleeve white undershirt. .... and you are right, they don't want to see tattoos. @Allison1993 Well, I am currently working 12 hour shifts on Sat and Sun. It's making it a LOT harder to get everything done. However, I have no choice ... bills have to get paid, and I am paying for school out of pocket right now. If there is any possible way to limit your work thats what I would do. But most of my class does work part time ... so it's do-able. PS Sorry about posting the faculty names - I didnt realize that!

I STRONGLY suggest that you call or e-mail the nursing dept. We were told if you miss it you have to re-apply next semester. The sooner the better. Good Luck!

Good Luck you guys! FYI, check your irsc e-mail. We were told the letters would come traditional postal service ... then got suprised with e-mail notifications a couple of weeks early.

@jonnyvirgo ... LMAO ... What exactly did I say to terrify you? HaHaHa - Sorry. Well, we started out in a nursing home. You start out doing CNA work. That may terrify some people.... :-). You will learn to get very comfortable with other peoples bodies and bodily functions... nuff said. No worries ... it goes fast ... only there for a couple weeks. Then you move on to a hospital setting. Cant tell you much about that though - I start the hospital next week. But that is where you begin functioning as a nurse. Looking foward to it - although I am a bit anxious about the new setting and increased responsibilities...

Well guys ... The whole curriculum has been rearranged. I'm in Fundamentals now (my first class), and you won'y even HAVE a class called Fundamentals! You will be learning things in a different sequnce than we are. The first semester is tough! The information comes at you fast ... and one key thing is to NOT fall behind on the reading! There is a lot of it! I would imagine that will be the same. I was REALLY overwhelmed for about 6-7 weeks untill I got in the groove. Not sure if you guys work or not, or if you are finished with pre-reqs. I work 12 hour shifts on Sat and Sun and also had to take an evening class (Nutrition) because I unfortunately have that, and human developement to finish. So, it's different for everyone ... but I eat-drink-and-breath nursing when I'm not working. I find it all-consuming. BUT ... I wouldn't have it any other way ... guess I'm a glutton for punishment ... but it is very interesting and I love it. Right now I have class Mon and Fri 9-1:30, clinicals Tues and Wed 6:30-2:30 and off on Thurs. You may have longer days because from what I understand, you will have the whole summers off. We go for summer 1, and have only summer 2 off. So you will need to cover more during the fall and spring. But they say to schedule 20+ hours per week for homework on top of the in school time. I dont do quite that much, but some people do. Good luck to you both ... I'll check in from time to time ... if I can help-just ask.

@efryauff .... a 156 is a GREAT score on the NLN! Congrats! In the past it has been 70, but I'm not sure about anything anymore since they changed it all. I started in January ... my class is/was 70.