UTHSC SON Accepted into accelerated

Published

Hello-

If you have been accepted into the UT Health Science Center School of Nursing Accelerated program and have questions/comments about the whole process-post here! We can all get through these hoops together:yeah:

You should be able to get them at any scrubs store. I got mine at Scrubs, etc which is in The Woodlands and Conroe. Don't forget to mention you are a student, some stores give discounts to students! Not sure about the book thingy you're talking about, but whatever works for you - do it. I like having a textbook in front of me, just personal preference. Some books you'll be able to sell back if you don't want them, others you might keep for when you get a job.

Oh, I remember reading on an earlier post about the Apple laptop dilemma - you can use an Apple laptop on campus. I know several people who own one and use it on campus with no problems. You might have to download an extra program or two, but it will work. I think the only reason the stress PCs is the techs only "really" know how to work with PCs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for the advice. Did you start the program last year and not complete, or were you in the generic? Just wondered. The only issue I see with the books is that I would like to get started reading, as I'm going on a trip right after orientation, so it would be useful to know exactly which books I'll need first. Any suggestions? Email the instructors? I was planning on getting the books soon.

Another tech question: The tech requirements for the school say you must have a dual core processor. My laptop is older and doesn't have that, but it works fine. I have a desktop at home with a dual core and all that speedy stuff. Do you think I'll be OK with that at home and bring the laptop to school with me?

Also, do you live in the Woodlands/Conroe area, cause I do. Do you plan on taking the bus? Maybe we can ride together!

Looking forward to working with you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

RN houston you are so helpful!! How do you like the program?! you are almost done! How many clinicals a week do/did you have? I am excited to hear what you had to say about mac computers because ever since working at my job, that's what I've had my heart set on and I have a dell pc at home, do you know what programs they had to download to make it compatible on campus.. i figure since all the classes are online, when do we need our laptop on campus really? a lot, would you say?

I have everything done in terms of requirements, just not buying the uniform stuff, books or taking care of tuition but that can all be done either once we get our package or once we've had orientation right? I figure those things are not really a rush although when I go on the facebook group , people are freaking out about it and it makes me freak out lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh also, what was orientation like and in terms of being on campus, what all do we do on campus and how many times a week would you say we're on campus?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'll try not to freak out and scare you any more! LOL :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ok, let's see if I can get the answers to all your questions in here.......Javagabby - I'm in the accelerated program now, we graduate in May, so carpooling wouldn't be an option L I can't remember when we got a list of books, it may have been during orientation. So if you want to buy the books before you go out of town, you may try calling the school to see if they can tell you who the professors are going to be for your first set of classes, then try emailing them. Not sure I can answer your tech question. You may try contacting technical support (you should be able to find their number on the website) and see why they require those things. Basically your classes are going to be under Blackboard. If you've ever had an online class in the past, you may have used this system before. You may look into taking the bus, I did when we first started but the time it takes was just not worth it to me. I ended up carpooling with someone else that lived close by and we saved a bunch of time and money doing it that way.

August121984- I love the program, I'm sooo glad it's over with in a year, plus I think we get a better clinical experience since the majority of our hours were precepted (working one on one with an assigned nurse). Our clinicals didn't start until mid-July. You will only have 6-7 during the summer, during the fall you'll have more and the spring is busy J I really don't know what the people had to do to get their apple computers to work but I know that it IS possible to use them on campus. But like you said, all of your classes are online so you won't really need them on campus too much. Tuition is probably not due until the first week of school and the books/uniform you can wait until closer to orientation if needed. We had orientation last year about a week before we started the program so you'll have time after orientation if you need to buy other stuff. Don't freak out about stuff now, you'll have plenty of time to stress about school once it starts J Orientation was helpful for me only because I had NO idea what to expect. I didn't know anyone in the program or who attended the school prior so it was a whole new experience. For us - they taught us about the school and resources available, then we had an orientation for the classes, met the profs and met former BAC2 students. In terms of being on campus, during the summer we were only on campus 2-3 days a week because of one class but once it was complete we didn't have to go as much. The fall semester is less because you start the bulk of your clinical hours so you'll work with your nurse's schedule to schedule you're hours. Sorry this is so long, I'm a "wordy" person J Hope it helps!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks so much for this info and congrats for being almost done! I have one other question and that i about whether or not you actually get a break when the calendar says you do. I am supposed to be the moh in my sister's wedding in Italy -very luckily she scheduled it right when we have a break between summer and fall according to the academic calendar. So is it true that we actually get a week off? I off course would love to go but i am not willing to jeopardize my nursing education ! Good luck to you on your NCLEX!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

All this information is so helpful! I'm looking forward to orientation and meeting everyone! I wasn't going to buy that package but I was going to look around..anyone have any suggestions for comfortable shoes?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have heard Nike shocks and this seems to be confirmed after visiting the forums on here-but I think it is prob. a personal preference. I am having a hard time finding them in all white with no other coloring/designs. Well-I can't wait to get all of this stuff and start:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

RNHouston09,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have helped so much. Yes, I've worked with blackboard a lot; taken a lot of courses in it and have taught in it for 3 years, so if anyone needs help with it who isn't as familiar, I would be glad to be a resource. All my machines work with it just fine, and only the desktop is a dual core, so I won't worry any more about that. I don't know a thing about mac's so I'm afraid I can't be of help to anyone with mac's. Don't know if they interface well with Blackboard. I know my students who have had macs and had to turn papers in to me haven't had good luck unless they had the dual operating system that can do Windows, and therefore Office.

I had planned on contacting the professors by email in a week or so. There seem to be several listed for each of our classes on the online schedule. The one on top would be the lead teacher, right?

Thanks for the advise on bus vs carpooling, too. And knowing how often we go to campus is very helpful too. I'm like you were; I have absolutely no idea what to expect, so every bit of advise is a bonus. Thanks so much for taking your precious spare time to answer our questions!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey guys when and where can I sign up for next CPR class at UT-campus? Also, I think all I need to get is another TB immuno as well as a physical exam, and was thinking of doing it at UT-Health Clinic as well on campus. Any idea how much the vaccine and physical exam will cost? Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

HI Seven-

I am doing the CPR class online for the academic part and then meeting with a lady who will demonstrate and check skills this Friday. I am sure you can call the school and find out when they have one but what I did was to go to the American Heart Association and then type in my zip code and the type of class that I wanted and then they displayed a whole page of different providers. The lady I am taking it with and I primarily chose her because she is an RN who has been teaching the class for many years and also lives just down the road from me. The combined total for online and her is $40. Basically you go to onlineaha.org and then register for the BLS HCP class. You can complete all of the academic portion online-take a test which should not be too hard from what I have seen so far-and then print out a certificate. You bring your certificate to the "live" skill checker where you practice with a dummy together.

The vaccines at UT seem to run more than at other places. I got some there but I am going to get another DTap and get it at Personal labs b/c it is much cheaper. The physical I had a hard time scheduling as I work 7am-5pm daily-they close too early! I am going to get the physical at another place. They were fast and friendly, however. You can just walk in for the vacc, which could be around $60 which is what the HebB was, you must schedule the physical which they said was anywhere from $75-$300 yikes! Most health plans should cover it, just check as to providers covered. Hope this helps!

Javagabby-where do you see your list of profs, pelase? I want to look!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion