PersnickityChick

I started Fundamentals last week. They tell us to bring our book with us, and a lot of times we do go through it, or use it. I also carry a binder which holds all of the stuff for the current section (sections are divided by exam), my planner pages, and any paper that needs to be turned in. I also carry a separate binder with the NCLEX test plan in it, and a separate "scribble" book for rough draft notes. The Fundamentals book is massive, so I got a rolling bag from Amazon. It is big enough for everything that I need to carry, plus water bottles, and snacks. Olympia Deluxe Fashion Rolling Overnighter, Black/Blue, One Size: Luggage & Travel Gear: Amazon.com

Best of luck to you! We didn't get anything until Orientation, which was about 5 days before the program actually started. That day we were assigned about 8 chapters of reading before class on Tuesday, with additional chapters to be read before lecture on Thursday. Yes, it is going to be an intense program, but we can all make it.

one of my instructors did the same thing. All but one of us in the class has facebook, and that one admitted right up front that he has no desire to ever have one, not even for the class. The instructor was fine with that, and no one thought he was weird for not having a facebook.

I'm with you. The school I am going to does not do orientation in the spring/summer. So I got my letter in May, spent the last couple of months doing all of the things in the packet that followed (immunizations, drug test and background check, record retrieval, shopping). Orientation will be on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30-5:00, and then classes begin the following Monday. I have not been given a syllabus, or any indication of what is to come. Since I am the type of person that likes to plan ahead, and always needs to be working on something, this has been very difficult for me.

I SO needed to read this. I am feeling exactly the same thing. Even the little flutters in the tummy. I purchased the last of my books yesterday (a bundle that the campus bookstore doesn't post ISBN numbers for), and they are HUGE. Unfortunately, I don't get the benefit of having a syllabus, or really any information about the program until next Tuesday and Wednesday, when we have orientation. Classes start the following Monday. I think not knowing is increasing my anxiety.

I stared in horror at myself in the mirror at the scrub shop. White was required. And lets face it. White pants aren't flattering on any but the slenderest. It took 8 tries to find a pair that wasn't completely hideous. Tops were another experience. I am so glad the shopping is finished, and now the classes and clinicals can commence!

My orientation is next week. It is 2 days, 8:30-5 each day, with a 1 hour break for lunch. I figure there is going to be some down time in there, but I do know that one of the things they do is stand up there and read the ENTIRE handbook to the students, so that later no student can say, "I never heard about that." They give an orientation session about various technology, and the library, as well. According to the schedule they sent out, there is a small section of time dedicated to paperwork, but all 40 of us were required to do the background check and drug test thing over the summer, so we won't have that to do.

Update: Yesterday while on the phone with my alleged advisor I made an appointment to meet with her today, at 1:00. So, I packed up and drove out for the meeting, arrived promptly, and waited. After a bit someone came down the hall, and asked if I needed help. I told her I was waiting for an appointment with my advisor, and she told me that my advisor hadn't been in her office all day. Fortunately, there was another advisor in the area who was able to do what I needed to have done.

Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it enormously. Unfortunately, this advisor is for the nursing program specifically. I am still not used to quite this degree of ineptitude, though this is surely not the first instance of it I have encountered within the last year. I guess I should just be patient, although the last time I was patient I missed a semester of classes because of mis- and disinformation. I don't intend to make that mistake again.

I am supposed to start nursing school this fall at the local CC. Long story short, after several attempts and four days I finally got to talk to my "Adviser" today. When I told her that I wanted to register for classes for this fall, she acted like she'd never heard of such a thing, and said that everyone registers at Orientation. Orientation is less than a week before classes start. When I expressed concerns about it, then she started saying that she wasn't even sure I was qualified, and she ran through the entire list of pre-reqs, asking if I had each one (I have). I mentioned that for people who have jobs it is important for them to be able to change schedules. She paused, and then said, "Umm...." and went on to something else. At this point, I feel completely lost, and I am wondering if I ought to turn down the seat that I supposedly already have in the program (I did get an acceptance letter), and wait until I can apply at the University I intend to transfer to anyway. I can easily find 4 classes to take this fall that will apply toward my BSN. Can anyone offer any suggestions, or perhaps share your own experience about registration?

I've had a bumper year for the garden, so I've been doing loads of canning, which is something that I really do enjoy. I took 2 classes this summer, and the last one ended a week and a half ago, so I am still feeling that "empty" feeling where the class used to be. This weekend I am going to go out of town to just relax a while, and orientation is next week. I've also been spending some time shopping online for all of the little things that I need.

I am 37, and this past academic year attended school full time while also working full time in Special Education. I LIKE to teach, most of the time. IF people are willing to make the effort on their own. I don't mind explaining things over and over, if someone is TRYING to learn. There was a girl in my Anatomy classes who treated me very much like the OP's Pest. The final straw was when she missed class 2 weeks straight (A total of 4 classes), found out there was a test, and texted me to ask me to bring my notes to her at work so she could study. This was at 11:30 at night, which is well past my bedtime. I told her that I needed my notes to study, that she had missed a lot of class material being out for two weeks, and that she needed to go talk to the teacher. Much to my relief she hasn't spoken to me since, even when I've seen her out and about. OP, don't let someone take advantage of you. Tell your personal pest that if she needs tutoring, she will have to talk to the teacher, because your time in the library is time when you need to study. Some people just can't take a hint, and it has to be stated plainly. Yes, she may never speak to you again, but is that really a bad thing?

CNA certification is one of the requirements to get into nursing school at several places here. I do think it is a great way to "Get your feet wet", and it is a good way to learn the basic skills.

Orientation for me is August 12-13, and classes for the fall semester begin the week of August 18th. I will be taking Fundamentals of Nursing, and Intro to Pharmacology. I've been scouring the internet for a planner that will work for me, and I've ordered the Uncalendar. I looked at the Erin Condren planner, and loved it, but there is no option for the academic year, and that is important to me. I have also ordered a pocket organizer that came with a penlight, pen, notepad, and bandage scissors, all of which are on the list of necessary items to buy. I've bought the textbooks for the pharmacology class, a total of $150 for 2 books and an access code (they were over $300 at the college bookstore). I've purchased a desktop calendar, and a set of highlighters. I've also done everything but the TB test as far as things that require going to the doctors office. I'm checking things off my list, little by little.

Here the CCs require 8 pre-reqs. One of the 4yrs I checked out requires 4, and another requires 14. Check and see if you can find out what the prerequisites are for your program. A lot of times they have them listed online. That might help you relieve some stress. It may also help to see if you can talk to an adviser from the nursing program, instead of someone in the general advising department. I am in kind of a similar boat, even though I am not a transfer. I am beginning the nursing program this fall. All of the nursing advisers are on vacation until August 1, which means I can't register until then, and I won't know my schedule until I register. I had to quit my job in order to go to nursing school, and I need to get a job sometime, but I don't want to get one, and then tell them that I have to take 2 days off for orientation. This slightly OCD schedule based person is a little freaked out over all of this.