UTA nursing student seeking advice

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I will be starting the on-campus nursing program at UTA in January. I'm so excited! I just can't wait until the orientation to learn all about the specifics of UTA's nursing school. There are a million questions bouncing around in my soon-to-be cluttered mind! :nurse:

Do they require a certain brand of scrubs, shoes, etc? I noticed that the bookstore does sell the navy scrubs. Do they have to be purchased there? Where are the nursing kits sold? The bookstore employees had no idea what I was talking about when I asked. :sarcastic:

Is UTA the best place to do the BLS certification?

What clinical settings do they send their nursing students into? What is capstone? What teachers are the best to run to for support? What teachers are best to avoid? Are there any hidden places on campus that are comfortable and quiet to study? What are the best places to get a group together to study?

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Hey! Congrats :)

1: you can buy any brand of scrubs/shoes - they just really care that your scrubs are blue, your shoes are white, and that you have your patch sewn on! I bought my scrubs and shoes online because it was cheaper that way - allheart.com! They'll email you information about nursing kits when they have it! You have to buy it online and they're shipped to the school. Also, as far as books go: bigwords.com. Don't waste your money on the packages!!!!

2: I did my BLS cert at the school just because it was more convenient for me, but it really doesn't matter. You're going to be learning the same thing anywhere you go :)

3: There are a ton of clinical sites, it kind of varies with the semester. I've been at Arlington Memorial Hospital, Parkland, Children's in Dallas, and USMD in Arlington. My cohort has also been at Methodist Dallas, Cook Children's, MCA, Baylor All-Saints... we have a lot of sites! Just keep an open mind, you'll learn something different at each clinical site!

4: Capstone is like the little internship at the end of your Senior 2 semester. You have to essentially be at the hospital for 96 hours (8 12 hours shifts) with another nurse, but you're supposed to be THE nurse and take a full patient load. I'll start it in November and I'm really excited.

5: As far as instructors go, just get to know all of them! Most of them are wonderful and just delightful :) each of them have something to share. I had Mrs. Shidler as my Foundations clinical instructor and she was amazing. Mrs. Gainer for OB was fantastic, she's so sweet. I think it's just important to get to know all of your instructors and feel free to go to any of them with your questions!

6: There's a green area over by the Architecture building with benches and fountains - if the weather is beautiful, study there! Otherwise, you can get a group together and you can reserve a room in the library.

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Thanks so much! It's all so exciting! Where all did they send you for clinicals? I really, really want to experience the OR and L&D before I graduate! Also, did you ever try to get a job as a nurse tech?

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You'll definitely get to experience L&D during your OB rotation! I went to the OR during med surg at USMD... you'll also get some OR experience during OB if you get to see a C/S. I was/am at Arlington Memorial for foundations/management/capstone, USMD for med surg, Millwood for psych, Parkland for OB & critical care, and Children's for peds.

And no, I didn't - I've been working on campus the entire time and I didn't want to stretch myself out too thin! I don't regret not getting a tech job because of all of the leadership development I've been able to experience on campus (although I might if it gets to be December and I don't have a job lined up yet, ha). I would definitely recommend trying to get a job as a tech though because it gets your foot in the door. There's a couple of people I know who are nurse techs that have already been offered an RN position after December!

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Ahh! That sounds so exciting! What's your favorite so far?? I'm entering school with L&D and OR as my favs, but who knows...I might end up liking something totally different. I'm thinking about nurse teching in the two off-summers. Sounds like a good way to gain confidence, experience, connections, and make a little $$ at the same time.

Another question, do you recommend buying the package of books at the bookstore or buying them cheaper online? I read that it's supposedly cheaper to buy the package, but that source might be inclined to advertise for the bookstore. Do the teachers require the access codes for online homework, etc? It would be a shame to spend a ton of money on something that I won't end up needing or using.

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