rls927

That's what I was thinking, about a month! Applying as soon as possible and trying to get it done and out of the way ASAP. Thanks for the feedback!

I know it really depends on each individual person and their study habits, but I'm curious how long after graduation did you take the NCLEX? Pass/fail? Pros/cons? (We are trying to plan a post graduation/pre Nursing job trip, and I'm trying to figure out a general time frame)

Aka pretty much everything Katie said :)

1. First semester clinicals (for our group) were all either in Bel Air/Havre de Grace/Elkton, second semester are all at either Perry Point/Harford Memorial (HDG) or Bel Air. I currently live right outside of White Marsh- it's not too far of a trip! 2. 3pm is early for an evening weekend program, but luckily it's just because of lab, so it's really only for that first semester. 3. Once you successfully complete your first semester you are eligible to apply for you CNA!

Most hospitals (at least in this area) when they hire you want you to sign something saying you will start on your BSN within a year. I plan on going to either UMD/Stevenson (online courses) or Towson for convenience....that being said, if you aren't looking into working at a hospital right away, you may have some time before needing to start on it.

It's just over 12 weeks (5/19- 8/5)...we have just about a month break (8/6-9/4) before fall semester starts. We go in the fall from 9/4-12/15ish (not sure the exact date), then have about another month long break until spring semester which is from End of Jan-Mid May, then Summer session (our last session) starts end of May until mid Aug. A&P (I and II) is good just for knowing basic body parts/functions....I took Micro right before starting the nursing program (literally finished like 3 days before)...and the only thing we really talk about that's micro related is spores haha.

About 2/3 of the class is 24+, who either already have a degree in something else or are doing through a career change. You learn/do a lot first semester- it's Fundamentals, so it's pretty much the basics of everything. It's definitely intense learning (like 2 chapters a day sometimes, and a test every other week), but it's pretty interesting. In lab you learn the basic skills- giving meds, physical assessment, vitals, catheters, injections, PEG/NG tubes, wound care, etc.

Yes, I did get in the first time. I got a 77.3% on the TEAS but I have my Bachelor's already so I got an extra point for that. There were 24 people in our class...but one person dropped so we only have 23. Lab for us was either Monday or Tuesday (1/2 each day) from 3-6, and then lecture is from 6:30-9:30 on Monday and Tuesday. Second semester there aren't any big labs like that, so it's a 1 credit class (contemporary issues in nursing), and 2 4 credit classes (MedSurg 1 and Mental Health). For clinical (at least for first semester) there are 3 clinical groups (with 8 students in each and one clinical instructor). Each group is assigned to a different facility or floor, and you have different assignments for each day! Don't apologize- I had a million plus questions before I started

We are just finishing up our first semester. It's crazy how fast the program goes! After this we will be 1/4 done! We have class two days a week (Monday and Tuesday); one day is from 3-9:30 and the other is 6:30-9:30, then we have clinical on Saturday and Sunday (8 hour days). First semester is intense because you have a lab portion, so essentially it's like 3 different classes: lab, theory, and clinical. I work full-time and am doing just fine! Clinical for the first semester is assisted living/long term care/acute care- you kind of get eased into everything. Next semester we will have class Monday/Thursday, and then our clinical will be alternating between Mental Health and MedSurg. We have been told (still waiting on the schedule though) that clinical next semester will be 12 hours on just Saturday (sometimes Sunday). I really like the program- you definitely get close to those in the program with you since yuo spend so much time with them. The biggest thing I remember them telling us is that the compeition is over (for now), so no need to compete with your classmates, use each other as resources- and it's so true! I think most of us bring a different way of thinking to the table and it really helps! Also you will have to learn to be flexible. The only real downside of the program is that they will sometimes throw stuff at you (lab hours, papers, change in schedules, etc) with minimal notice, and you just have to learn to deal, but flexibility is good to learn now anyways! Good luck!

Ah the joys of care plans! I too recommend this book- in fact it was a required text for us, but I have definitely used it A LOT already (first semester)

I know each school is different, but for our school they only look at certain things (your grades in your pre-reqs, your GPA in your classes that count towards nursing school, etc.) so any of your grades in "other, previous" classes wouldn't necessarily count.

You can totally do it! I don't have any children myself, but I am still working 40+ hours a week because, bills. One of my good friends in my nursing program is a single mom to 2 young children (10 & 8) and works probably 60+ hours a week. Her advice is "yuo don't think about it, you just do it"- you find a way to make it work. You are doing this (most likely) to provide a better future for yourself and your children, so you will 100000% make it work, I guarantee it! Have confidence in yourself!

Wonderful tips! I love posts like these- thank you!

We have this as well. At our orientation, they opened up multiple (10 I believe) practice tests for us, and although we had to score a 100% on the dosage exam, you were allowed multiple attempts. I was really worried- because I don't really like math, at all (and haven't had a math course in quite some time) but once you know the basic conversions you're fine. I honestly think the practice problems were much harder then our dosage exam. I scored 100% the first time, but one piece of advice that almost tripped me up- READ the entire question over slowly. Often they will put other information in there that isn't necessary (just to try to trip you up)

We have a dosage exam too- you have to get 100% as well, but it does not count towards your grade. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be (at least the first one)