akmegs2

The trick worked for me...I took the test on the 24th at 8am and tried to re-register on the website at noon the same day and I got the popup. On friday I found out I passed!! I think that the trick has worked for enough people to say that it really works! :)

You're welcome! Hurst came to my school and did a 4 day (8hrs each day) review that was actually finished before we even graduated and I think Kaplan is 2 weeks but maybe 4 hrs each day? Those are the only 2 that I know anything about. :)

I just graduated on May 21st from AACC and I can tell you how it was for me. After grades were finalized, the school mailed our applications to the board of nursing. When I was ready to pay the NCLEX people the $200 it costs to take the test, I did so online. Then I had to wait for them to send me my authorization to test (ATT). I signed up to have all NCLEX communication sent via email so it was faster. I got my ATT maybe 2 days after I paid for the test, and was then able to select a testing date and appt anytime between june 8th (the day I paid the $200) and December 2009. I chose to take the NCLEX in Delaware because it had more appts available (you can take the test in any state you want). I took the test today (!) and am awaiting my quick results, which take about 48 hrs to get. I know some people in my class took the NCLEX as early as June 11th, 12th, 13th (about 3 weeks after graduation). I'm sure it's pretty similar at most of the schools around Maryland. I forgot to add that most people take a review class in between graduation and the test, but I elected not to. :)

Hi Lynette, You can get in touch with the recruiters by calling the main hospital number and asking to be transferred to HR or to the nurse recruiter directly if their number is not listed on the website. Hope this helps! Good luck!

St Joe's, Maryland General, Holy Cross, Howard County General and Children's National Medical Center are also hiring. I've found that since I don't have medical experience aside from nursing school, applying online is not enough. You have to call the recruiter directly. I got interviews at HCGH and St Joe's after one phone call, but it may take more than that. Be persistent! You will find a job even if it may not be in the area you are most interested in so be open to whatever comes your way.

Congratulations on getting in! That's the first big hurdle. :) As far as shoes go for the program, they didn't allow us to wear crocs but we were allowed to wear danskos (all white ones). The rule is they have to be all leather and all white, so I just wore nike tennis shoes. Most people in my class wore dickies scrub pants...in my opinion they are the most comfortable, but not the most non transparent. Urbane scrubs seem to be a little thicker but the material is not as soft. As far as tops go, you can get anything that is all white...it doesn't have to be boring and generic so if you find one you like with embroidery or lace or whatever you can wear that. I bought 3 full sets of scrubs since clinicals vary from 1 to 3 days a week and I didn't want to be doing laundry all the time. I think that transferring just prior to the final semester would be quite difficult just because all schools are different and it doesn't give you a lot of time to acclimate and catch up if need be. I transferred after the first semester and it took me a least an entire semester to figure out how things work and catch up on topics that they had covered that my school did not. I think it just depends on the school. Luckily AACC is a great school that is very thorough so chances are you would be ahead of the game. Good luck to you and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask! I can let you know which prof's clinical group is most desirable, as well as clinical sites that may be better than others etc etc. Take care! :)

I just graduated from AACC on May 21st. :) I actually did my first semester of nursing school in another state but I will say that the first semester is the worst because they are teaching you how to think like a nurse. I think this is true of every nursing program. Every semester after gets easier because you will feel more comfortable and build upon your knowledge and skills. I started at AACC in the second semester and I would definitely recommend getting more than one of the Reviews and Rationales books. Some of the professors will take test questions directly out of these books. I would suggest getting the R & R Med/Surg, Patho, and NCLEX review books at the very least. I used these to help study for every test and I got A's and B's. As someone posted previously, some of the required books won't be used until 2nd, 3rd, 4th semesters so if you wanted to wait to get them until later you could. As far as the assigned reading, I would skim through the chapters before the lecture and then go through them after the lecture with the powerpoint to review important points. If you have any other questions about the program, feel free to PM me and I'll help if I can. :)

Thanks everyone for all the great info on here. Ukstudent, I see that you are in Annapolis...is the commute bad from there to WHC? I am very interested in the hospital but am worried about spending so much time in the car!

Yes! But it's not easy. I moved from AZ to the east coast after my 1st semester of nursing school. When I found out I had to move, I immediately called the director of nursing at the school I wanted to go to, sent my transcripts, jumped through all the paperwork hoops and was admitted for the 2nd semester. The programs are not exactly the same, but I went into it knowing that. I have had to work harder to catch up but there are some things that I learned that they haven't yet, so it's been doable. I would have to say the hardest part is the social aspect because of the bonds that were already formed by my classmates now. Everyone here is really nice, but I miss my girls from my old school! Good luck to you...if you do end up moving and have questions, let me know!

We lost one to the random drug test (talk about a dumb reason to get booted!) and I think there are maybe 1 or 2 who are really struggling, but for the most part my classmates and I are doing alright. I was really stressed about starting school but I have found the material isn't hard at all, it's just VERY time consuming! Crazypremed, if you don't mind my asking, what school are you attending? akmegs2 :)

I agree with what everyone has said so far. I am in Chandler too--LOVE being close the the mall and all the restaurants in the area! I recommend Mill Avenue in Tempe as well...there are cute shops and Tempe Town Lake is right up the street and is a fun place to walk or jog. Also this weekend on Mill(starting tomorrow I think) is the Tempe Arts Festival. There are tons of booths with local artists, musicians and photographers, etc.......and FOOD! Hopefully the weather will cooperate and warm up a bit this weekend to make it a little more enjoyable. :) WELCOME!

Thank you both for responding. I appreciate the advice! I've already ordered a Littman online and I've started ordering some of the books from the book list. Boomerfriend, I'm happy to hear that the instructors are good, because that was one of the my worries (you hear all these things from people who go to other schools that they are mean and they want you to fail). I just registered for my classes, so if you don't mind, I'll PM you for more info about the specific instructors. I'm sure I'll come up with more questions, and I'll be checking these boards often (at least until school starts on January 16th and my free time will be zilch), so keep posting! Your advice is invaluable!! Thanks again! :)

....and I have questions for all of those who have gone before me! I've been addicted to this board for the last few weeks and I've gotten some great information so far. Boomerfriend, Calzonan, thrashej, ItalianRN2b, and mattsmom64 I think you all were in my position about this time last year (I apologize if I am wrong and I know there are more of you, but you are the ones I saw on here the most often). Is there anything you wish you had known before you started Block I? Is it as hard as everyone says? What kind of shoes do you have for clinicals? Does anybody still wear white pants?(odd question I know, but I am tall and the caribbean blue pants don't seem to come in tall so I think I am stuck with white!) Thanks to anyone who has any input to give. I appreciate it and I hope to hear from you! :)

I applied March 27th, so I guess technically I only had to wait a semester, but all those pre reqs took forever too. I just can't wait to get started with actual nursing school!! Thanks for the congrats. :)

I FINALLY GOT IN!! I can't even believe it.........I feel like I have been waiting forever. I got accepted to Phoenix College's traditional program....anybody else out there?? It was my 3rd choice but at this point I am happy with anything!!! Thanks for letting me share!! akmegs2 :)

Hi all, I am a pre nursing student, just waiting to get into nursing school. I spend a lot of time on this website trying to soak in all the information I can about the field. My favorite threads are the ones where many people share their real life stories. I think this has helped me have a more realistic view of the profession and I know others feel the same, so keep the stories coming! :) One thing I have come to understand over time is that a quality that is highly desirable in nursing is tactfulness. I know nurses often times find themselves in situations that may be akward for them or for the patient/patient's family, etc. I was just curious if anyone would be willing to share some of these stories and give examples of how you used tact to smooth over an uncomfortable situation. I'd imagine that many of you do this everyday and have more examples than I can imagine! Thanks all and have a great night! akmegs :) Maybe tact isn't the right word, maybe I mean compassion instead. I guess I think nurses should be tactful and compassionate, so they go hand in hand.

hey ange822s, it's great to have someone else taking it online with same book even! i wish we did labs in person but they are all online on a cd rom. i feel like i probably won't get a much out of it as i would if it were "live" so i will have to work twice as hard to learn it myself. making an outline is a great idea! i know i'm going to have to stay focused and on top of the reading every week. good luck to you! meg :)

I see the list is growing...Good luck everyone! I am taking it online (not by choice, just the only way it fits in with my work schedule) and the book we are using is Microbiology by Tortora eighth ed. I'm happy to see some of you are using the same book even if it is a different ed. :) This club thing is great idea! I think it's really going to help. Have a great weekend!

Count me in the club!! I start on Jan 9th. It's my last pre req for nursing school. FINALLY!! :) Bring on the slides!

I'm thinking about volunteering at one of the hospitals in the Phoenix area while I'm taking my pre reqs just so I feel like I have SOME kind of experience in a hospital. I've wanted to be an RN forever, but I've never really spent much time in a hospital for any reason. I want some kind of exposure to the hospital atmosphere while I'm working toward my degree. Would being a volunteer give me valuable experience when it comes to actually being a nurse? Are there hospitals that are "better" to volunteer at? Any advice would help. Thanks!

I think I must have the same instructor as you...sadly, I was not warned though. I was shocked to get a 45 out of 100 on my first essay assignment since writing has always been my strong point. Like you, I always did really well on those essays in Bio201 and now I'm completely stressed out about the one that's due this week. All I can say is that it's going to be a looong semester!! If anyone has any tips to get through this class, I would really appreciate it! Good luck to you. :)

Thanks for the recommendations! I think I'll check out glendale for patho and maybe micro too. I'm barely making it with a B right now in A & P II online and I definitely want to take as many classes as I can in person in the future. :) I really only took A & P online because it's so difficult to get in to the live class...Thanks again!

Where is everybody taking pathopys? I need to sign up for it, but I'm not sure where to take it...? :)

Nat, Good luck with BIO 205...I'll be taking that in the spring. :) On the final, there were 4 essay questions. Two of them were ones we had been assigned with the labs and the other two were straight out of the summarizing your learning in the book. I think our midterm was that way too. I'm sure that they change the essays they use on the tests from class to class, but the one on my final that I totally blanked on was about the function of the cerebellum...oops! Good luck to you! Meg

Where are you taking pathophysiology? I was considering taking it online, but like you I feel like I will retain more if I take it in person. Sometimes its just difficult to take "live" classes because I work full time.