devlia

I'm 29 and married with two kids (11 & 9); I start my BSN program next month. I will graduate Spring 2016. :-)

Thanks so much for the advice and pharm study cards! This will help a lot. :-)

Hello, all! I start my first semester of nursing school this September, and was wondering what any current nursing students would recommend reviewing before the start of nursing school. For example, it has been a year since my A&P course, so I'm guessing it would be a good idea to refresh on that. Is there anything else it would be wise to do to better prepare myself? I appreciate any advice!

I decided the same, too. I went ahead and got hardcopies of all our texts and bought the optional texts. I figure the optional texts are something that will help me out in one way or another. On an another note, is anyone doing anything to get ready for class? I've been getting organized and trying to put things into order around the house. I think I might dive into some of our textbooks before class starts, too.

Is anyone considering getting ebooks instead of traditional textbooks? A lot of the books we need are available in that format, and I was wondering if anyone has used ebooks for their textbooks before . . . I'm so used to having a physical book to study from that I think it would be hard to work from an electronic book. I just think it would be nice to not have to lug around so many books! Also, is anyone considering getting the optional textbooks?

Me, too! We should find out by mid-July. I really hope I get in because it would be so nice to get done early!

I haven't thought about supplies yet. I wonder if they will notify us by email about what we need. I'm just curious about what I can do to help myself prepare for the courses. I'm going to be reviewing my A&P stuff over the summer, but I'm not sure if I should do anything else . . . Also, did anyone get an email about the new compressed BSN program they are rolling out this fall?

Congrats, Sarah and Dubbin! Looks like we will have two Air Force veterans this fall! I wonder if they took military service into consideration when they grouped students into fall or spring . . .

Sarah, What branch? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I'm taking my CPR class at Cascade Healthcare Services in Tacoma. They offered plenty of different dates and times that worked for me, so I just went ahead and scheduled it through them. It was close to $80 for both the required book and class. My TB testing is going to run me about $120, and I just found out I have to get a titer test done for mumps. I have documentation of immunity, but since there is no date associated with it I have to get the test done. I am starting to wonder if I can use these expenses as deductions for education. I doubt it, but I'm going to look into it later. Thanks for setting up that page!

So, I got on the ball as fast as I could. I have my CPR scheduled prior to my departure, and I will be able to complete my TB screening. I just applied for healthcare coverage that meets the program's requirements through Regence. As an Air Force veteran, I do have medical coverage through the VA; however, the coverage does not include emergency and hospitalization services. I can only hope that Regence approves my coverage and sends me documentation of such before the deadline. I did contact Ruth and was able to get an extension. I thought it was quite a short deadline, especially since it is during the summer time frame. I did look into PLU's healthcare options. From what I could find, they used to offer a buy-up option for nursing students, but that is no longer offered as PLU doesn't have a health plan anymore. It is more of a wellness plan that every student has to participate in. I had seen the buy-up option before, which was why I didn't try to find my own insurance. I have to say this is quite aggravating. Anyway, I am 100% for getting to know other students of the fall cohort before classes start. I myself looked at the facebook page and only found a general nursing school page. I am both excited and nervous about starting and would love to connect with others! So, a quick note about myself, just to begin: I am a mother of 2 (an 11 year old boy and 9 year old girl), married for 10 years this past May 31. I just completed 6 years of service as an intelligence analyst in the Air Force this past September. I began working towards a career in nursing in January of 2011 and I remain as excited and determined as I was when I began this journey!

Alright, having a mini-panic attack here. Just got an email today with the health requirements packet that has a deadline of July 10th for fall nursing students. So, I didn't get medical insurance yet (I thought I had more time for that), and I'll be traveling starting the 21st of this month and won't be back until the 14th of July. I need to get everything done and put in the mail by the 20th! That includes the CPR training and TB test, which I'm not even sure I'll be able to complete. Anyway, I'm most worried about getting insurance and proof of insurance before the 20th. Does anyone know a good insurance plan that will meet the requirements?

I will be taking it with nursing competencies. I have no other courses to take, as I have completed all the co-requisites. It is nice because I'll be able to ease my way into what will come in the spring.

Yes, I signed up for a religion class in the fall. Hmmm . . . when I registered for my classes I was told one religion course was needed, so I am signed up for American Church History. However, I was told that the diversity requirement is taken care of by one of the nursing classes so that doesn't have to be taken on its own.

Just met with an advisor yesterday, and Sarah was right. The one religion course is required even with the DTA.

I got the letter on Monday. It had a letter of confirmation to sign and send back, as well as a "Release and Hold Harmless Agreement" (promising you won't sue if you get sick or injured during the course of study) to sign and return. There is a page about what pre-requisite or co-requisite courses are still needed (if any) and a page detailing the physical and psychological expectations of nursing students. Welcome to the cohort nudgereality! It's so exciting!

I was told at one of the information sessions that if you transfer with a pre-nursing associates (direct transfer agreement), the religion requirement would be waived. I could have heard that, or be remembering it wrong, though. I'm in your cohort, AnAppleGirl! I can hardly wait to get started.

With a GPA like that it wouldn't make any sense for you to not get in. At an information session, we were told that the cumulative GPA for admitted students last year was 3.75. I think AnAppleGirl is right and it is just on a rolling basis and they are getting acceptance notifications out as soon as they can. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you, Sarah! AnAppleGirl, will you be starting in the fall?

Sarah, I received a call last night, too, but that was from a PLU student who had no idea I had applied to the nursing program. The call I got came in after 3:30p.m. today and I received an email at about 4:20p.m. The admissions offer is for this coming fall. Maybe they are knocking out the fall admissions first and then are going down the list as people accept or decline before they get started on the spring? My cumulative GPA is 4.0 I hope you hear something soon!

Wooohooo! I just got a call from admissions that I've been offered admission into the nursing program this fall! So excited! I was told I should be getting an official letter in the mail, as well as an email confirmation, soon. Has anyone else received notification?

No letter here. Here's to hoping that this week something comes in the mail . . .

Same here! As the days pass with no letter, I'm freaking out! I wonder how they go about sending out notifications. What determines the order in sending out letters? Do they wait until they have 80 decisions then send out the letters of acceptance?