Puerto Rico school feedback - thread #2

VeronicaR · Jun 25, 2012

Hi I've been following the old thread for a year and a half and now this new thread. Thanks to this thread I have decided to attend La Inter starting Aug 1st. i am really nervous about what's going on and it sounds like most people are! LIke most of you I call and call and no one answers. I already bought my flight for July 17th and have sent my app and transcripts and catalog and id info a few weeks ago. I'm going to miss the orientation and I don't even know which classes are transferring and if i am going to be in the accelerated AA programer the regular program. I don't have my bachelor's yet but I am planning on staying to complete the Bachelor's program. I am just wondering if there is any advice the new students who are dealing with registering and applying can give me, from their experiences? I'm a little worried that I am planning this move and have no idea whats going on! lol but I chose to take the leap because from most of the posts i've read, many students have done that just because it's so hard to deal with it over the phone. I am coming from California so it's a huge move!

Thanks in advance!

Cahoon BSN RN, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2012

You can't really do anything over the phone. VeronicaR, do you have a bachelors degree? If you, you're in the accelerated program. My advice is patience. You will get your little paper that lets you take the NCLEX, but the rest of the learning is pretty much up to you. Just be sure you know what you're signing up for. Do you speak Spanish?

VeronicaR · Jun 25, 2012

I speak a pretty good amount of spanish but I am not fully bilingual. Ya my expectations of the education isn't very high. I'm hoping to work with and study with my peers to pass and study for the classes. I do not currently have a bachelor's. Will it be too late to register by time I get there? I haven't heard anything about my app. I sent it certified so I know they got it. I'm just nervous that I'm not accepted yet. I have most of my generals done, I'm 2 classes away from my AA here in California. I moved July 17th and a friend of mine is also coming and applied for the program, so we are going to stay in a hostel until we find an apartment and find a car. It's just scary that we only have 2 weeks before school starts. But we couldn't leave any earlier. I have already applied for finical aid and stafford loan. But of course I can't get a hold of the finical aid office. I received a letter from the school a while ago stating what I am eligible for as far as finical aid. Are we taught what will be on the NCLEX or do we pretty much study for that on our own??

tmp25, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2012

Hello Everyone!

So I recently visited La Inter about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I registered for my classes as well as went to orientation. So let me all just give you the run down. @VeronicaR I saw your question about registration and financial aid. I don't know for sure when the deadline is for you to register, but I do know that the school wide registration date (I guess for brand new students) is June 29 (at least thats what it stated on my acceptance letter). According to the trimester calendar, registration is March 1-July 31. Late registration is August 1-7. Its good that you already sent all of your stuff in. Trust me they have it. Its just sitting in a folder in the admissions office. When I went there 2 weeks ago, all of my transcripts, immunization stuff, and catalog of classes was just chillin' in a folder. They pulled it out and was like, "Yea, we have everything here." I promise I was waiting for my acceptance letter for a whole month before I decided to make a last minute trip there. So you definitely need to go to the school. I promise they will be able to write your acceptance letter and let you know which classes didn't transfer over and stuff. As far as financial aid, I went and talked to them about what I needed to do and they just said that I needed to wait for a letter. (All I did was fill out fasfa and added the school code, so I don't think you need to worry about that)

As far as nursing classes, they fill up fast. After the assistant director signed me up for the nursing classes, she told me to go straight to the registration office and have me put them in right away (they fill up quickly). 10 students are designated to a clinical class and there is about 150 slots (if I remember correctly) for lecture---don't quote me about that number though.

Orientation, I don't think is mandatory, but it was very informative. I may do a separate post for that later tonight or tomorrow afternoon just so it can be together and that way everyone can take a look without deciphering through the miscellaneous.

As far as the NCLEX Veronica, I will PM you the book to get, but your very last class, there is a teacher who prepares you for the test. She's really good and very thorough (from what I hear). She is super sweet!

VeronicaR · Jun 25, 2012

Hello Everyone!
So I recently visited La Inter about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I registered for my classes as well as went to orientation. So let me all just give you the run down. @VeronicaR I saw your question about registration and financial aid. I don't know for sure when the deadline is for you to register, but I do know that the school wide registration date (I guess for brand new students) is June 29 (at least thats what it stated on my acceptance letter). According to the trimester calendar, registration is March 1-July 31. Late registration is August 1-7. Its good that you already sent all of your stuff in. Trust me they have it. Its just sitting in a folder in the admissions office. When I went there 2 weeks ago, all of my transcripts, immunization stuff, and catalog of classes was just chillin' in a folder. They pulled it out and was like, "Yea, we have everything here." I promise I was waiting for my acceptance letter for a whole month before I decided to make a last minute trip there. So you definitely need to go to the school. I promise they will be able to write your acceptance letter and let you know which classes didn't transfer over and stuff. As far as financial aid, I went and talked to them about what I needed to do and they just said that I needed to wait for a letter. (All I did was fill out fasfa and added the school code, so I don't think you need to worry about that)
As far as nursing classes, they fill up fast. After the assistant director signed me up for the nursing classes, she told me to go straight to the registration office and have me put them in right away (they fill up quickly). 10 students are designated to a clinical class and there is about 150 slots (if I remember correctly) for lecture---don't quote me about that number though.
Orientation, I don't think is mandatory, but it was very informative. I may do a separate post for that later tonight or tomorrow afternoon just so it can be together and that way everyone can take a look without deciphering through the miscellaneous.
As far as the NCLEX Veronica, I will PM you the book to get, but your very last class, there is a teacher who prepares you for the test. She's really good and very thorough (from what I hear). She is super sweet!

Thank you so much! Ok i'm a little more relieved. I kind of figured nothing would get done until we get there. I have so much to do before I leave! I'm getting so excited. I hope they transfer all my generals and I hope I can get into the nursing classes i need! I'm so ready to start this journey!

tmp25, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2012

Important details discussed in orientation:

These are documents that need to be handed in the second week of classes before clinical orientation. There's more stuff on the list than these items I listed, but everything else can and will be done in PR when nursing classes begin.

1. Health certificate: This has to be done in PR. This is VDRL and PPD. There is a doctor right across the street from the school that can do this for you at a low cost. (I don't know what this low cost is, I was just told this)

2. Puerto Rico Good Conduct certificate (This has to be done through PR police dept, but it can be done online. PM me if you want the address)

3. Hepatitis B Vaccine certificate (all 3 doses) and Varicella Vaccine or titers

4. Valid copy of CPR for health professionals card. (they said you want to try to get it through July 2014 if possible or end of June---you may want to get this done at home, but there is a place in PR where you can get it done, but I'm not sure if its bilingual...so jump on that asap)

5. Bring birth certificate or copy of passport

---They gave us the book list for nursing classes. If you want the list, PM me with your email address and I can email you a picture of the list of books for the first trimester. I looked them up and they were not expensive at all (well used copies that is)

----Our clinical scrubs color is: seaspray (It is a light teal color) You can buy them at the University Store down there or if you are like me, bargain shop for them at home and buy the school logo patch when you get in PR. You must wear all white shoes. Guys wear all white scrubs. There is a different set of scrubs we wear to the hospital, per the instructor, but she couldn't remember the color. I was told its the same color but with light white stripes...*shrug*.

I think I hit all the important details. If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I will see if I can help you out.

VeronicaR · Jun 27, 2012

tmp25::

perfect! thanks! Can you PM me the address for the police department also PM me the book list? I think i'm also going to get the scrubs here but I'm scared I'll get the wrong color Lol. The shoes I might as well get here too. I have copies of my shot records but I should double check them and make sure they are all there. So we start clinical's after the first 2 weeks? Did they happen to mention how soon or how late we will be getting our financial aid check?

tmp25, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2012

tmp25::
perfect! thanks! Can you PM me the address for the police department also PM me the book list? I think i'm also going to get the scrubs here but I'm scared I'll get the wrong color Lol. The shoes I might as well get here too. I have copies of my shot records but I should double check them and make sure they are all there. So we start clinical's after the first 2 weeks? Did they happen to mention how soon or how late we will be getting our financial aid check?

Yes, I will do all of that for you. Check your facebook messages:) I think they start orienting us in the beginning and then we head off to the hospital after the first 2 weeks according to the paper I got in orientation. As far as the refund...according to the academic schedule, Aug 27/28.

Jen_Jen88 · Jul 10, 2012

To those of you coming to PR in august welcome !!! I've enjoyed my time here. Just one more year!!! :)

VeronicaR · Jul 10, 2012

yaaaaay I'll be there next tuesday!! I am going with a friend of mine who is also going to start the nursing program at the same time. We are so excited but getting really nervous. It's a loooong way from Cali LOL. We are staying in a hostel until we find a place so we are hoping we can find a place ASAP. I'm undecided if I will stay for the bach program or just do the AA program. We'll see when I get there! Thank you all for all the old posts and information, that is the SOLE reason I made the decision to go to PR!!

Jen_Jen88 · Jul 10, 2012

If I were you I'd stay. Many places from what I've been told are hiring BSN only. Plus its only an extra year. One of the nurses I work with at the VA will be starting as a clinical nurse professor there at la inter for adult 2. She is amazing if you get her. If you take advantage you will learn a lot.

VeronicaR · Jul 11, 2012

I think you're right. I might as well stay. Make it well worth it! Oh good to hear! I am excited to start!!