Ashtinp

Oh, congrats!!

If it's any consolation, this is sooner than I found out 2 years ago! Our alternate acceptance decisions came out November 20th.

Edited to add that this was supposed to be in reply to Germangirl93 and the above comment was supposed to be in reply to dmgr3y :) Just know that a lot of it is going with the flow. I feel like most of us going through nursing school are somewhat the type-A personalities. We like everything planned out and organized, and SPC just doesn't meet those expectations in a lot of respects. They will change deadlines and plans and you have to be prepared to deal with it. That said, it's a really good program in my opinion. It's just really intense, and a lot of people get caught off guard by that. My mom went to nursing school 20+ years ago and it wasn't nearly as cut-throat and challenging as this program. The tests are a lot different than what we're used to from our prereqs. They're not as straightforward with asking you facts and testing your memorization; they're more about testing how well you can apply those facts to a full understanding of a nurse's job and how they need to think. Anyways, I digress... So for background, everyone refers to each semester as levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. I started out in the day program in level 1. In level 2 and 3, I did nights because I wanted to go through the summer and it worked better for my family. If you end up wanting to switch like I did, you have to give them a good reason and request well in advance. I went to Morton Plant Rehab for level 1- everyone goes to a more long term care or rehab setting for level 1. Then level 2 and 3 I was at Mease Countryside. I loved Mease Countryside. I was supposed to be in level 4 this semester but I got really sick the first week and I dropped because we're only allowed one absence in the final semester. Because of my aforementioned cancer treatment, I have a wonky immune system so I didn't want to take any chances and I decided to let my body rest. I'm going back for level 4 in the Spring. Just so everyone knows, if you pick a Baycare hospital, you'll be going to Baycare facilities throughout your nursing school experience. If you pick the VA, you'll be going to the VA throughout. Same with HCA, so do your research and figure out your preferences now. I personally love Baycare but I know a lot of people are happy at the VA too.

My experience might actually be a bit different because I ended up not attending until fall due to a cancer diagnosis and going through treatment and stuff, so I attended orientation the following fall with the non-alternates. You get a sheet with a list of available clinical sites along with their corresponding schedule- days or nights. Then you number them according to preference. We were told the same thing about the "top students" getting their preferences first, but from what I heard, everybody got their first choice, including alternates at their orientation as well.

Hey guys! I'm the one who ended up getting in as alternate #25 in 2014. I got the acceptance email November 20, even though they said it would be Nov 21. If you guys have any questions about orientation or anything else about the process, feel free to message me or ask on this thread. SPC is pretty commonly known to the students as being vague and everyone sort of runs around like chickens with their heads cut off for the entirety of the program.

I have read and heard that it's possible to get the Book Line of Credit increased to cover the cost of books, but I called this morning and they emailed me back saying that it cannot be increased over $800. Has anybody done this, or am I the only one using financial aid for books? Kind of rough to find this out a week before classes (the dean just called me last Thursday to let me know I can still attend despite the imms issue)

Is anyone able to access the syllabus yet? Can't really find it.

@TheOMPRN - Try your local health dept!

Just wanted to update, my titers all came back positive, except for mumps, even though my transplant doctor said they wouldn't. So my vaccinations (for the most part) still are there. Plans for school are most likely back on. Thanks everyone.

This doesn't apply because I'm not still getting treatment. I have two kids, 2 and 8 months, and my baby gets live vaccines, as approved by my oncologist.

My schedule says the same, but we're also not starting clinicals until Sept 22nd, according to what the Dean told me. Maybe all that time on Tues and Wed will use the books for the first few weeks. I've been going through a crazy mad dash to get everything done while going back and forth with the Dean. I got my titers back and everything was actually unexpectedly positive, except for Mumps so I'm a little worried there. My doctor is being ridiculously difficult about filling out the physical form because of my cancer history, and I'm getting really frustrated with this whole complicated process.

Yes! My feelings exactly, you summed them up perfectly. They posted the clinical assignments today, and I got my first choice, which is a huge tease. It all is. The Dean seemed to be optimistic, and she said she worked at the cancer center I went to so it seemed like she was on my side. The pediatrician I worked for as a receptionist said he would write a letter for me, but I don't think it would help. We will see. In the meantime I'm not going to let myself even think about it because worrying about it isn't going to do a thing for me.

You can also go to print schedule and fees under the register for classes tab (again, click on the appropriate semester)

As soon as you log in to myspc, scroll down to schedule and make sure you change the semester to the fall dates. It's on summer as default.

Yes, I have an AA so I'm good there, I have everything my school requires. Thank you so much for your helpful answer! You've helped me understand the laws a lot better now with your examples in the beginning. I AM on an antiviral, not sure if that would help at all but it seems like the outcome is pretty much clear anyway.

Everyone, I do appreciate your advice so thank you very much for your input. You all made really good points and gave me information that I hadn't considered, like every department having some kind of communicable disease. You're all right, I'm simply disappointed, and making sure there isn't some loophole around it. If there isn't, I will obviously have to accept it and figure out what to do for the next 2 years.

"Lets to say that my mom didn't believe in vaccinations (which is not the case) and I wasn't vaccinated as a child. No school anywhere would be able to admit me because of my risk of contracting an illness." That would be a choice. It's not my choice that I am not up-to-date. I WAS up-to-date until I got my transplant. You can't compare someone choosing not to be vaccinated to my unwanted result of my unwanted disease. What accommodations am I looking for? Simply to be offered the opportunity to complete my clinicals, like everybody else. It IS about my bone marrow transplant because that's the only reason I don't have vaccinations. There's also no vaccination for TB but nurses come into contact with patients with TB just the same, putting themselves at risk. Nurses put themselves at risk everyday. And thank you for the ADA benefit education. I have no knowledge whatsoever concerning ADA benefits and/or laws, that's why I was asking. Thanks for your help, though some tact would have been appreciated. Also, FYI, no it's not really a huge risk to me being out in public. My transplant doctor told me it wasn't necessary to limit my activities any longer starting back in May, including being in crowds, doctor's offices, etc. I trust my doctor's advice, who also told me that I was fine to go to nursing school, including clinicals.

Why is it that you guys say my situation is not covered under the ADA? I receive disability. If I am willing to sign a waiver of liability or something of the sort, why should I not be provided the same opportunity as everyone else?

I got Morton Plant my first choice as well. I'm nervous though because my cancer treatment erased all my titers and I have to get my vaccines all over again on a delayed schedule. So the dean said she would have to talk to the clinical sites to see if they're ok with taking me Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

I'm 23. Yes I'm done with all prerequisite classes. I just don't want to sit around and feel like I'm wasting my time the next 2 years, but unfortunately it looks like that's what I will likely have to do, despite shelling out plenty of money and time toward going now. I understand what you all are saying, but having had cancer makes me want to dive in and just go, and I'm really tired of working entry-level jobs when I have the mental capacity to do so much more.

I signed up for the CPR class Saturday in St Pete. I feel you on the daycare thing, I just had to sign up my 2 year old and 7 month old and I feel bad too. It will all totally be worth it when we are able to support them with a nurse's salary.

I was diagnosed with a very aggressive lymphoma 11/18/14, then I received my admission two days later to start nursing school in the Spring. I originally planned to accept and go to school, even through chemotherapy, because I'm an extremely determined person, and my oncologist told me stories of older patients who still go on with their normal lives through chemo treatment. However, I notified my school of these plans, and they called me to offer to postpone my admission to Fall, after treatment would be completed. I ended up getting an autologous (meaning not donor, my own cells) stem cell/bone marrow transplant in March to prevent the cancer from coming back. Stem cell transplants essentially include wiping out the entire immune system to then rebuild it from the ground up. So I'm essentially like a new baby even now, and I am on a schedule to get all of my childhood vaccinations all over again. I'm not permitted to get the MMR vaccine until 2 years post-transplant since it is a live vaccine. This is where nursing school becomes an issue, since vaccinations and/or titers are required for clinicals. Today I had my nursing school orientation, and I spoke with the Dean of Nursing. I provided her with a letter from my bone marrow transplant doctor, wherein he explained the situation and gave his approval for me to be in nursing school/clinicals. The Dean said it is out of their hands and they have to contact the various clinical sites to see if anyone will even take me. What does everyone think about this? I understand why the rules are in place, but at the same time, I have wanted to be a nurse practitioner so badly, for such a long time. Thinking toward nursing school was one of the things that got me through all of this. I have already racked up $25K in student loans being wishy washy in the past, so I can't exactly afford a new change of career plans, and I don't want to wait 2 years to start nursing school either because I have little ones to support so I want to get started on my career. Couldn't the hospitals/clinical sites just make accommodations for me since I am considered to be disabled? Couldn't I be put on a floor/department that doesn't have much communicable disease, such as Labor/Delivery, psych, or something similar? Or do you all think I'm pretty much just out of luck?

I will likely be joining you, Trivine. I'll know my husband's schedule Monday (my birthday!) and will find out then. It's really far for me but I can't find anything closer for that low of a price, so I think it would be worth it.

Let me know if you find out. I am probably just going to wait until orientation to find out, since all that needs to be done by that point is the drug test & background check.

Not yet. Trying to figure out how/where to sign up. I looked it up on the AHA website, is that what you did?