DAWR

As a Nursing student at my age, I look differently at Nursing than some of the younger students. I have the privelege of having known a few old school nurses who have taught me much, shared stories with me of their lives in Nursing and the training they received. I hope she knows that although she was tough on many, she is highly respected among students...Sister Sheila, a nurse in her 80's who has been a nurse and nun her entire life. She worked for a time on the island of Molokai (look it up) and shared with me stories of life there. There is nothing like the nurses of the past which we are losing from both the profession and life, and whom we are honored to follow into this profession.

I am 58 years old heading into my 3rd semester of an AS in Nursing program and plan on going for my BSN as soon as I pass the NCLEX. It is never too late to invest in yourself and do what feels right for you. I know an 80 year old RN/Nun who is still working and will be as it is her life's work. She has inspired me to work as long as I choose, and as long as it is safe for those I care for as patients. I spent time talking with her while at Clinicals in a Long Term Care Facility and her life story was amazing. I dare anyone to tell her she is too old!

They used to say that men couldn't/shouldn't be nurses either...they should be doctors. It is true that age can make someone less physically strong but not always, I have seen some young people who are so tiny they can't move a flea off a dog but are still nurses.

It is average of 10 extra hours for a 4 week block. The time in class doesn't count on Thursday as it is not always held in the Nursing Lab.

I lived a few towns away from Polk..different county and as I was a student I went to the Nursing office and asked since my mail came and went for 2 days past everyone else getting their letter. Coulnd't wait any longer but you are too far away for that. I would call the Nursing dept if it hasn't come by this coming week.

7 or 8 alternates for the Fall 2014 start got in at Orientaion and a day or two later. They give you the option of starting a semester later if you want...Microbiology is rough to do it while in Nursing is even harder and they want to give those in need of it to start later in Nursing. The number of alternates that get in depends on those who push off their start, as well as those who can't pass background, and believe it or not the ones who don't show up for Orientation. Congrats to all!

You will be given a number at Orientation...lottery ...for the choice of Clinical assignments but that is for Fall. I don;t know with the changes to the curriculum how they will select clinical rotation.

At orientation you will be given a number and when your turn comes up you will pick where you wish to do your clinicals from the list of hospitals, including day and time. I had 119 points at application. Good luck and let us know!

This semester AH1 is on Tuesdays 8-4 and Pharm is either Thursday from 8-12 or 9-1 with AH1 Lab in the alternate time. My clinical is Monday from 6:30 to 3. 10 hours a week in the nursing lab with one week at 12 hours. But this will change I would guess with the dropping of the Intro to Nursing class and merging it into AH1 in the Spring 2015 semester. I heard pretty fast on the acceptance into the program as you have a lot of bacckground checks and vaccine titers etc. to get done. Good luck to all! and to Flo Grown...Congrats!!! on this accomplishment, as a Nursing 1 student we may be volunteering to help with the pinning ceremony for you guys. Have a great, albeit busy 4th semester!

You cannot get a job working for the VA system if you do not graduate from an ACEN accredited school. They want you to have the ability to cross state lines with your license. That comes straight from the VA website.

I am in the Fall 2014 program and if I am not mistaken the cutoff was around 103 for the fall class. Good luck to you all!

Good luck! I would take that job when I graduate...at my age the perks of discounted face lifts would be wonderful!!

Somewhat harsh but the truth is that in a for profit situation the term "for profit" is there for a reason. I personally would never have attended a for profit school, and would stick with either a Community College or State College as they are in the business of education, not making a profit. I am sorry to hear that you got taken in... caveat emptor is the best answer in these situations.

Ok...so for some encouragement. I have a 3.57 GPA and an 84.7 on the TEAS and I got accepted into the Fall 2014 program that starts next week. You are in excellent shape (I was high on the acceptance list) as your scores and GPA are really good!!! First semester is at the Winter Haven campus and then Lakeland for 2nd and back and forth. We got a choice of when we wanted to take Pharmacology (am or pm) and then the Adult Health 1 class would be opposite that for Thursday. Adult Health is an 8-4 class on Tuesdays and Thursdays is 8-4 (see above about Pharm/AH1). You will have clinicals from 6:30am-3 pm generally; I chose Mondays at Winter Haven as it was more convenient for me timewise. t The other choices were Lakend Regional, Lake Wales, Bartow and Heart of Florida on Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays. You will have to put in 2 1/2 hours/week over and above class time in the Nursing Lab on campus and/or The AV Nusring Lab where there are recommended DVDs to watch, those hours are kept track of and they must be that, at a minimum. Regular scrubs in class any color or an approved (they sell them) T shirt. Clinical is black scrub pants and a Red Scrub top with the Polk County Nursing badge sewn on (available at a few unifrom shops near the school). Books are pricey for the first semester but I saved a lot buying from Amazon or you can rent. I chose to buy since they can be used later in the course. Any other questions feel free to ask...good luck! Get Microbilogy out of the way prior to Nusring class if possible as well as AP2..trust me the first semester in the Nursing program is going to be a lot of work and the classes to get out of the way are the two I said, unless you already have them completed. Try and take Dr. Cronan at Winter Haven for Micro. She was great.

My best friends Mom, who started her RN career as a second career later in life (like me) went into Corrections Nursing. She liked it and had a good career with a good pension and benefit package at retirement. It is not for everyone but as an older Nursing student I am willing to work a lot of places that perhaps a younger new RN would not. It is a job and it will show as experience is my thinking. Good luck!