**Samuel Merritt ABSN Summer 2011**

Published

So, who applied?

Specializes in CCRN, ECMO, IABP, CRRT, LVAD.

Sure. We are allowed to have computers. I think just about everyone has one. For clinicals, they try to place you based on pref. Your pref. might be nights only, or no weekends, or close to home. So, my pref. was always "close to home." I live way south of San Jose, so the San Jose area is the closest I can hope to get for clinical. Some people live in SF, and they have clinical sites near there as well. Oakland CH, San Jose Reg., UCSF, Valley Med, Palo Alto VA, Kaiser Santa Clara, Mills, those are some of the clinical sites they used...

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@Ashlee: I am trying so hard to be patient. I am currently trying to figure out what my best option would be, obviously SM is my number one choice but I am married and have a 19mth old daughter and just want to make sure I am making the right choice... I have a back up plan with an LVN school (but this is not my first choice at all seeing that its not RN and is a certificate only) I guess my question for you would be, if your friend found out she was accepted right before orientation, when should I put an absolute deadline on getting in to SM? The LVN program starts May 1st? Oh the choices!!!!

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Ash: that is so nice of you to offer info! It is very much appreciated, as I am sure you know :). And now...for the questions!

1) Are there particular scrubs that we are supposed to wear? Just wondering if it would be worth it to start looking, or if we are to be given a uniform of sorts. Silly question, I know.

2) How many hours a week are clinicals, typically? Is 5 days a week the most that people do clinicals for?

3) thanks a ton!

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Congrats for being accepted!

The scrubs are assigned and those can be purchased at the bookstore. Don't buy anything yet though because I heard the colors will be changed. We currently wear all white scrubs.

There are 3 days of clinicals but we only go to the clinical sites for two days. The third day is spent doing projects or preparing for presentations.

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thanks a ton!

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Can you tell us realistically what the time commitment is. From in class to how much time you spend studying?

Thanks.

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Honestly, I and most of the other students spend the majority of our free time studying. There are a lot of reading to do for each class and you will need every bit of time you have to read and reread everything.

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Congrats to all that have been accepted and to those on the waitlist dont give up hope. A member of our cohort didn't get accepted until class started. SM is a great campus, you can't beat free parking.

@Kbelle19 Your first 5 weeks are "orientation" You in class M&W 8-4 for lecture and Lab will be split between days and afternoons. Days from 8-2, afternoon 2-8.

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Lab tues, thursday and friday

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Current students: do u know wen are the approximate dates for financial aid disbursements throughout the school year? And do we get our first disbursement before school starts so that we can start buying books and supplies & such considering everything in our file is complete?

I know I could have easily called the financial aid office for this one but my voice is completely gone since I've been sick! Lol. Thanks a bunch :)

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Thank you to everyone who posted such great info and insight into the program!! I have a question about orientation for the first 5 weeks? During this time is it possible to be called off the wait list? I would feel awful waiting until the last possible second only to find out that I didn't get in and miss my other windows of opportunity. I feel much more confident in my situation after hearing the stories about people getting called off the waitlist, but it still makes for one very difficult situation!

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fin aid disbursement takes place a couple of days for class starts, if you have a balance over they'll refund the difference. it takes a while to get the refund check so my recommendation is to buy books ahead of time. You will have lots of reading to do, but like I said, the first 5 weeks will feel like the teachers are holding your hand so you become oriented to being a nurse.

@Malrey: every situation is different, but honestly if they dont call you within the first week of class I wouldn't even bother. classes start pretty fast and trying to catch up will be insane. I know I said orientation, but this is also an accelerated orientation of the nursing process

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