UTHSC at San Antonio fall 09

Published

Anyone????? besides me waiting on that interview letter for nursing school to come already?????????????? :plsebeg: Have you completed all your pre-reqs? what cha got left? care to share your GPA?

I am in the works of completeing my last pre-req...Physiology sooo far its been my fav. class its better than anatomy. GPA 3.5 microbio and physio not inlcuded. (I wish I didn't suck at comp. 1 I got a C in that class you guys!)

I emailed Debbie (she's the head hancho of the program. They are very good at replying like a minute later to your emails :typing and also very good at answering all phone calls) I asked about how I should go about registering for the TEAS entrance exam...she said on the same day you do your interview you also take the TEAS exam!

WHAT??? :banghead: is what I thought to myself sooo...I basically have till the month of April to study for that sucker!

Specializes in ED.

I got my packet from the school last week, and am now registered for classes!! I have a question for any of the current students at UTHSCSA - how important is it to buy the recommended books? I was looking at the textbook list, and there's a ton that are listed, and I was just curious what you have ended up actually using or not using. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Hmm, I'm not entirely sure but if you want to type out the booklist I might be able to help if not im doing this off the top of my head.

I don't think you need to buy any of the recommended books.. (I bought the APA book though it helps with writing papers and stuff)

The book i used most was the nursing diagnosis book and the fundamentals to nursing book...

Honestly I didn't read much if at all first semester.. Go to class take awesome notes and study the power pts and you should do well...

Your first semester books cost A LOT because you will use them throughout our four semesters so they aren't a waste just super expensive because your buying so many!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:o Ah, slight panic! I don't know if anyone can help, but getting it off my chest may help me, so here it goes:

I took my fingerprints for my background check on May 1 at L-1 Identity Solutions on Hines in SA. I have heard nothing, not a thing about them. I've emailed the school regarding their whereabouts and the school has been great. They suggested I call the BON and see if they have the results. On June 16, when I called the BON the first time, they had not heard anything back yet. I gave them my TCN # from the receipt of my prints done by L-1 and the BON was going to do a search on them. The BON was supposed to call me back within 3-5 business days. So today, June 29, I call the BON back because I haven't heard anything back about my background check. Here's the good part...today the BON said they don't have any information on me, they think I may not even be on UTHSCSA's school roster! I emailed the school back asking what do I do next. I'm pretty sure I'm on the school's roster, since I received my email login information and my big registration packet already (the big packet came in Saturday).

I'm trying not to panic, but the background check missing in action worries me. I can't register until that's clear. I know I still have until Aug. to register, but at this rate, it may take until Aug. to get the background check straightened out.

I've just worked so hard to get into nursing school, I don't want this to delay me.

Ok, feeling a little better getting that out. Thanks for letting me panic just a little.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Your almost there!

IMO if worst comes to worst just pay for another one (I know how much that sucks but it's better to be in school than wasting another several months! At least that's how I felt)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Miranda, I also had my background check done on May 1st at the Region 20 location...

I've been reading the posts here and am not happy to say I still haven't been cleared either.

I went to the school last Monday and turned in my Immunization form to the health clinic as well as my insurance info. I went the Undergraduate Office for Nursing and the lady at the desk told me to wait a couple more weeks because 'May was all backed up' in regards to the background checks. She mentioned contacting another woman in the office named Debbie if I still hadn't heard anything... My guess is that she's in charge of handling the checks?

It's been a week since and I have been cleared of my other hold and received the same information and packets in the mail as everyone else has. Just waiting on the background check! Like you, I don't even have a traffic ticket to my name.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Isn't it frustrating? I've been emailing Debbie regarding all of this background check fun. Here is her contact information:

Debbie Koehne

Academic Coordinator-Undergraduate

School of Nursing,

UTHSCSA-MSC 7944

7703 Floyd Curl Drive

San Antonio, TX 78229-3900

Phone (210) 567-5810

FAX: (210) 567-3813

KOEHNED@uthscsa.edu

She seems very nice and gets back to my emails pretty quickly. I'm more than willing to redo my background check if I need to. I just want to be cleared so I can register.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello,

I'm new here and wanted to ask if anyone has received a letter from UTHSCSA about being assigned to one of their clinical sites. I was assigned to the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. My problem is that the date and time that they assigned me for their background check conflicts with one of my lab classes. I called the number in the letter to ask them if I could reschedule my apointment but they said they wouldn't be able to and if I can't make it then they could assign me to another clinical site. I wasn't sure so I told the lady I would call back and confirm later. Before changing my clinical sites, I just wanted to know if anyone has done their clinicals at the VA Hospital and how their experience was there. I'm thinking of just keeping to my assigned clinical. But, I wanted to know what other places they offer to do clinicals?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Hmm,

I didn't do my clinicals at the VA so I couldn't tell you. Lets see I think our class separated into the VA, University, Methodist (I think), Santa Rosa, I dunno about baptist haha...

In my opinion you do the same thing at all the hospitals. Really what separates the clinicals apart is your instructor. Some are more laid back and some are more strict, it's just the luck of the draw. Otherwise if you want the experience go and grab it, ask the instructor and I'm sure she/he is willing to let you do it for more experience.

Most of us 1st semesters kind of walked out of clinicals thinking we didn't really learn much... just my 2 cents :-p

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you miranda... I think I will call her tomorrow. The line about just 'May' being backed up doesn't make sense. I suppose the people being contacted about their clinical assignments have already registered?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

AZN,

Thanks for the reply.. I figured those were probably the locations where clinicals would be held since they are very close to the school. I just want to make sure in what I decide because in the letter it said that if assigned to the VA Hospital for the 1st semester, you will more than likely continue clinical rotations with them througout the program. But I agree that your experience in clinicals has a lot to do with the instructor involved rather than the location. But, hmm, that's strange that you didn't really learn much in the 1st semester.. I thought the 1st sem is always the hardest. But I guess you learn more along the way.

Tula,

I have not been able to register because I have a hold from Student services saying that I have a course deficiency which I am completing this summer. It sucks though because I don't finish classes till mid-Aug so I'm going to be registering very late. I hope I can get into all the classes. :/

Up Vote Up Vote ×

sim236,

I'm also taking classes this summer and I won't be finished until mid-August either. I worried about the transcripts not being in on time to register. Doesn't everyone take all the same classes? I don't think they have a cut-off limit because we all have to take the same classes each semester if we're doing the full-time program, so they should have enough openings for every student to register. I did talk to Dr. Yarbrough and she said that if we don't get registered before registration closes on August 18th, the school can register us after the first official day of class, so I'm thinking there is enough openings in each class.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I called Debbie about the background check and she couldn't help me. I asked her if she could see if my name was on the list/roster of checks to get from the BON and she didn't look it up, just said the BON has all the names...

So I called the BON, they have my info/fingerprints... could tell I had my check done at the beginning of May... The representative said the hold up may be because the FBI/DPS was hit with a virus in April but after two months I'd think they should be caught back up. He said he would request the final report to be resent to the BON and took my phone number.

Said when they got the report I would be sent a blue card confirming it, and that he thought it should take maybe a week to hear back from DPS...

This all just seems weird. They can tell I had it done, but just don't have all the information...

Thanks for answering me sim236, I guess they aren't being discriminating about who to contact about the clinical... Maybe it's just the VA hospital that's being particular in wanting more info about the students being assigned there.

I wonder when we'll know what color our clinical scrubs need to be? I know they have been all white in the past but there was rumor last semester that it was changing soon?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion