amandacam

My husband's grandfather had polio as a teen. As a result, his jaw looks misaligned and he has speech problems. It can be very difficult to understand some of the things he says.

Maybe you didn't get my point, which was that people questioning vaccines were questioning long before Jenny McCarthy started shouting from the rooftops. And they're not following McCarthy orders. My point is that there is a ridiculous misconception that she started the non-vaccinating and delayed vaccinating movement.

In nursing school, I HATED med/surg with a passion. I dreaded every single time I had to be on a med/surg floor. Then 4th semester rolled around and I was put with a preceptor on a surgical floor, on night shift. All summer before the start of that semester, I was dreading it. But then I started and shockingly, I loved it. The people were team oriented and helpful, my preceptor was amazing, and I saw conditions that I had either only read about lightly or ones that we had not learned about yet. I honestly believe being on this unit helped me pass NCLEX, too. Next week, I start my first RN job on this very same floor. I encourage you to go into the med/surg interview with an open mind. You may change it or at the very least, it will give you a solid base.

For my program, I had to take 1 semester of microbiology, 2 semesters of A&P, 1 semester of chemistry (general or health sciences version were acceptable), developmental psych, nutrition, and statistics. After entering my program, they dropped the chemistry requirement.

I just wanted to point something out. Not all non-vaccinating or delayed vaccinating parents believe there is a link between autism and vaccines. They might be in the minority, but I believe it is a common misconception. Many people I know who have delayed or have not vaccinated have done so because they question the vaccination schedule, the amount of vaccines given at one time, and the ingredients in the vaccine, not because Jenny McCarthy said, "Don't vaccinate your kids, people!"

Thank you for starting this! I start working on a surgical unit next month. In my last semester of nursing school, I was with a preceptor on this very same floor. Since I will be more "on my own", I am loving the suggestions. Do any of y'all carry a clipboard?

Hi everyone. I emailed everyone that I had an email address for to give them the link for the Facebook group for your class. Please PM me if you need the address.

Yes, you will have reading to do before hand. Traditionally, it has been the first 3 chapters of the Fundamentals book. As soon as I gather the information, I will let you know for sure.

Stevebeuke - for the generic program, you're on campus twice a week for class. You could get away with one pair of the reds, but I recommend 2 pairs. It's just easier. For the 1st semester, you only have clinical once a week, so one pair of whites work. 2nd semester, you may want to get a second pair.

I submitted mine on Immunitrax.

I also wanted to say that many of your questions will be answered at orientation. I know it's hard not to plan everything now. There's so much excitement! But try to stay calm and just go with the flow.

From my personal opinion - I would just purchase the box of books. You need online access for specific things ie SimChart, completing skills assignments, online access to your books. Purchasing everything separately might actually be more costly. The blue care like jls0459 said is something you get after completing your background check. However, from my experience, it takes forever to come in. I started class without it. I did my background check at the beginning of December. 6 weeks later when classes started, no card! I actually didn't get mine until 3 weeks into the semester. You just have to let them know that you have not received it yet. The nursing office will get notification if your background check didn't clear. With NCLEX review books, I have Saunders Comprehensive. While we are associated with Kaplan, I personally feel like it doesn't hurt to have different books. I use mine as a supplement to studying. It helps to have extra questions than the ones in the back of the chapters. And now that I am entering my 4th semester, I am using it to review content and to start prepping for NCLEX. Honestly, in nursing school, you have to figure out what works for you. Don't rush out and buy every book because someone recommends it. Go to Barnes and Noble, sit down with book, and look it over before buying it. Hope this all helps!

Everyone take a deep breath! I'm Amanda - the Student Nurses Association president. Hi to everyone and congrats! If you scored above the cutoff, you are tentatively in the program. They are not going to run out of slots. The staff specifically counts the highest scores for each spot in the program. The last person's score is the cutoff score. J has given y'all some great advice with what you need. Some books you can get ahead of time are a nurses drug guide - get one with online access. You'll thank me later. You also need a nursing care plan book. I really like the one from Ackley. It also pairs very well with the other books you will be buying in your huge box o' books. You also need a medical dictionary and a labs and diagnostic book. I use this one. Amazon.com: A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests (Manual of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests) (9780781771948): Frances Fischbach RN BSN MSN, Marshall B. Dunning III BS MS PhD: Books Class scrubs need to be Landau True Red - any style is okay as long as they are True Red. Also, at orientation, there will be a scrub store there that will have scrubs and accessories for y'all to buy. If you have any other questions, please ask away! I'll try to check in here as often as I can!

If anyone needs the link to the FB group, send me a private message.

You have to have your reading done before class starts. You'll get information about that at orientation.

Approval usually comes from the nursing director. But as longed as they were accepted, you're good.

Are y'all using Immunitrax? I faxed and uploaded...I think the faxed was just a little faster, but not that much.

All white and they can only have a tiny logo. Like the heart on Nurse Mates. Plus they cannot be a breathable material...think leather, vinyl - no mesh.

They will register you for your classes. I didn't get my blue card until 2 months after my prints. =/

I took micro in summer school so I was reading everyday. But in a normal semester, I would say a couple hours a week. Dev psych is a lot of reading, but I took it online. I though dev psych was very interesting and you do use it a lot in nursing!

I am not sure why they do not include the information. But I do know for a fact that they do not have any plans on changing the required scrubs. True Red by Landau for class days and any brand of whites for clinical - whites cannot have frilly, girly stuff, no empire waists, wrap tops, etc. They must be plain! Hope this helps.

Yes, you can buy scrubs, lab coat, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, penlights, etc at orientation. But you can save yourself a lot of money if you buy this stuff online like at Amazon or even at the student bookstore (except scrubs). You really only need a simple stethoscope and blood pressure cuff. Nothing fancy is needed at all. You can find a lot of great sales on sites that sell scrubs. I bought mine at NWscrubs.com. BTW - Landau scrubs tend to run a bit big. I would buy one size smaller. You can also go to the scrub store in Denton or in Lewisville and try on scrubs. When you buy white scrubs, looks for brands that are not see through. The Grey's Anatomy scrubs are so soft and nice, but completely see through. I like the Dickies brand and Landau.

Yes, they will send you your schedule with your acceptance letter. Clinical days are usually Wed, Thurs, or Fri from 7am - 3pm at a nursing home in Gainesville. Congrats to everyone that made it. See you at orientation!

Yes. All the books you buy for first semester are used for the entire program. Other tasks are the background check, fingerprinting, physical exam, entering your titers/immunizations into a specified program.

You'll have a lot to do when you're accepted...besides buying books. The information packet they will send has all the info and it's really important to read through all of it and get it done ASAP. Make sure to get all your titers done. And make sure to get a TB test. If you have had one in the last year, you only need 1 TB test. HOWEVER, if it has been more than a year, you need a 2 step test. It can be confusing. A 2 step test is getting a test, then getting it read. Then 7-21 days after getting it read, you get another TB test. I went to the health dept. Order your scrubs online because they are way cheaper that way. If you are short, order your scrub pants in petite. Mrs. Goodman - your first semester clinical instructor - is a real stickler for looking professional. Class scrubs are Landau True Red. Clinical scrubs are white - they need to be plain. No frills, no empire waist, no crossover tops. Get scrubs with lots of pockets! You do need a stethoscope. Don't buy an expensive one! I have an Omron stethoscope that I got on Amazon for $13. Finally - be prepared to spend around $2000 between tuition, supplies, books, etc. You spend the most money in 1st semester, but it's for stuff that you use through every semester. But you can cut a lot of costs if you buy your additional books online.