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.

For me, a co-req is anything that I would take in addition to the actual nursing classes during a semester. Eg. my school lists the curriculum in the first semester of nursing as: Intro to Pharmacology, Fundamentals of Nursing, and either Human Growth and Development, or Developmental Psychology. Because I do not want to have to take anything other than the nursing classes during the regular semester, I am taking those "extra" classes during the summer time. This summer I am taking Developmental Psych.

pmabraham, this is exactly what I am doing. I have been renting for pre-reqs and co-reqs, and I will buy my nursing school books. The schools tells students to plan to spend about $2000 on books for the first semester. The quote they get is from the college bookstore, which tends to be outrageous. When I looked up the books for my pharmacology class in the college bookstore, the total came to a bit over $317+shipping. On Amazon I got the books for $150, and free shipping. I am hoping that I will find similar savings on all the books. Also, to rent the psych book for my summer class would have been $80 on campus. I got it at bookrenter.com for $28.

I have used BookRenter since I first began classes last summer. I have had only one book that had some minor writing in it, and some wear to the cover. The rest have been very close to new. The best thing is that I have saved an enormous amount at BookRenter, compared to the college bookstore rental costs. Look at the terms that they offer, and pick one that suits your needs. Generally they offer terms that should overlap your school term on both ends by a little. **Save the box! When it comes time to ship the book back, print the return shipping information, put the packaging statement in the box with the book, and the shipping label outside, and tape it up. I love that bookrenter has an option to go back with either UPS or FEDX/USPS. Because I live in a small town I don't have access to UPS. The books arrive fairly quickly, and when they receive the book back at the end, and process it, you receive an email that your rental is complete.

What you are going through is perfectly normal. And what you choose to do about it is what will make the difference in your life. You can continue to question the what-ifs of things, and never go forward, or you can stand up, and just do it. I am 37 years old, and I start nursing school this fall. For many years this was something I wanted to do, but like you I was paralyzed by the "What Ifs". Finally I realized that I just had to go do it, and stop worrying. I began the pre-reqs last summer with one class. I can not recommend starting classes in the summer. Doing a full term in 4 weeks is rough. That said, I did fine in the class, and went on to take 2 full time semesters. I had assumed it would take me a couple of years to get through the pre-reqs. I made it in less than a year, and this summer I am working on co-reqs. One of my biggest "What Ifs" through the journey was about my job. I worked as an assistant in Special Education for 10 years. I loved my kids, and loved my job, but in order to go to nursing school I would have to quit my job, and step out into the unknown. Again, something I'm not terribly good at. But, I did it. I let the school know that I wouldn't be back.... and now I am unemployed (for the time being). To offer you a little encouragement along a more... practical line, consider this. You are older, you are wiser, you are hopefully more mature. These three things present you with an enormous advantage. Best of luck with your new adventure!

According to the program guidelines where I go ACT score and GPA are the two scores considered, and they are only considered once the other pre-reqs are complete. Supposedly the lowest ACT score they will even consider is 20, and the lowest GPA is 3.0. They do clear out the applicant pool and begin new with each admission cycle. Recently I learned that there IS a points system, and I feel fortunate to have gotten in, now, even though I scored 29 on the ACT, and have a 4.0 GPA, because I "only" had 29 credit hours when I applied, and will have 35 by the end of the summer. There are others who have taken far more classes than I have, and applied multiple times and not gotten in. I do think it is a good idea to apply elsewhere. A good starting place may be to see if there are transfer visits available at the other schools. When I went to one school I got a tour of the campus, meetings with anyone of any importance (admissions, registrations, financial aid, etc), and got to speak with an adviser who is actually in the nursing department. How you are treated on a transfer visit will give you a good feel for how the college experience will be. Good luck to you!

When I applied for nursing school it was done in a big room with the program director right there. She made it very plain that we were required to put down ALL educational experience. To leave it out would be considered dishonest, and was grounds for tossing the application.

I just registered for my background check and drug screening to the tune of $80. In 2 weeks I will take the CPR for Healthcare Providers class for $56. I have to get scrubs because I have lost weight, I need a good stethopscope, and there is a shopping list of things attached to my packet as well. Also there are immunizations, boosters, and a TB test that I have to have (again). I had to quit the job I held for 10 years in order to be able to go to nursing school, and sometime between doing all of these little piddly things I've got to manage to find a different job with more flexible hours (I was a teachers assistant in SpEd). The book total they quote is around $2000 by itself. I am taking summer classes (the extras toward my bachelors degree), and I borrowed extra money for this term in order to have the money to pay for the books somewhere besides the campus bookstore (I won't get on my soapbox about them). I am looking forward to beginning the program, and having all of these little things done.

I've just received some of the instructions about uniforms for my school, and it is pretty specific about the underwear. It says, "Undergarments are required and should not be visible through the uniform. For example, patterend underwear is visible through the material of the uniform. Wearing full cut underwear is required. If a uniform dress is worn a slip should also be worn. (And yes, the one sentence is bold and underlined, so no thongs or g-strings allowed, apparently. I have no idea if they will actually do an inspection, but at this point, that's just part of the adventure.

I agree with the above posts. There are also little changes you could make (words to add, or words to omit) that will make this sound much more professional, and put together. For example, instead of "Throughout my whole life I have been in and out of doctor offices for my condition for checkups," If you choose to include this information, perhaps it should read, "Throughout my life I have been to treatment in many doctors' offices." or, "Because of my condition I have been for treatment in many doctors' offices throughout my life." Best of Luck

My grandmother was an Army Nurse in WWII, and had amazing tales to tell. I remember listening with rapt attention to her. And I remember going to the hospital, and seeing the nurses in their whites, with the little caps... and I wanted to be like them. I ended up getting married, and putting aside that dream. My dad had to have emergency bypass surgery. They started out trying to do stents, and couldn't, and then he ended up with 5 bypasses, and they found that his LAD was 99% blocked. I spent a lot of time in the hospital with him, and got to be part of several procedures, including the removal of the drains and the vent. I loved how calm and collected the nurses were, and they were wonderful to answer any questions that I had. I had been hired as an assistant in the Special Education department, working with the lowest functioning children in the system (IQ below 50). I enjoyed my job, but it became apparent that I could not survive on $800 a month, and I NEEDED to go back to school and get some kind of degree that would allow me to make a living wage. So, at 37, and with all of these things to motivate me, I am beginning nursing school this fall. It is nice to finally be able to pursue my dream.