OK, we got in, but now what? I am a detail orientated person and I want info! When can I start picking up things I need? What are those items?
I have really lost it! I went from thinking about getting in to wondering what to do/what to read/what to buy before class starts.
And how big of a backpack do we REALLY need?
Anybody out there from CLC have any advice? Help me before my family moves out of the house permanently (wait...maybe that would be a good thing:devil:)!
Ok, my mission tomorrow is to try to switch my flight!! I know I'll still miss one clinical and one lect/lab day, but I guess I'll have to work my butt off.
My mother in law is doing my cpr class...she teaches at LFH and said she could certify me. Thank goodness! She also said she'd come get the kids on Mon's so I don't have to wake them at like 5:00am those days. Good thing!
Thank you all for the help!! I'm sure I'll have more questions soon:wink2:
Yes, I will miss one Wed. and then the following Monday, but I moved our return flight to a Tuesday (it was on a Weds), so instead of missing two Wed's I'll only miss one. My husband doesn't understand why I needed to not miss two...ugh, men!!!
I know that somewhere within this thread it tells you where you can buy the "CLC scrub." I want to say tri-valley-something but I can't remember and can't find it. (It would take me days to read through all of the threads again ;-) Also, what kind of stethoscope would you recommend? I hear master cardiology is the best. I found one that I liked and it was double sided. Do we need one like that? Does it matter???
OK, for the CLC uniform go to Tri-County Uniforms in Libertyville. They are located on Rte. 137 across the street from the Driver's License Facility. Their phone # is 847-996-0707. The top is navy blue and is ugly. They will either already have the CLC patch sewn on, or they will do it while you wait. Give them a call first to make sure they are in stock already. The top was around $30 if I remember correctly.
Next you will need white scrub pants. I suggest getting them at the JC Penney outlet in Gurnee Mills. They should be under $10 there. You'll also want a white tank top, t-shirt or turtleneck for under the blue top. I suggest the tank top because most of the facilities are quite warm.
You also will need PLAIN white shoes. They don't have to be nurse's shoes - gymn shoes are fine. They should have VERY little color on them if any. I got mine at Kohl's for around $30 last year. Reebok's - VERY comfy!
Regarding steths... it's really a matter of personal preference. Some of us purchased the $40 kit they have in the bookstore at CLC that includes a Sprague style (two rubber tubes) steth and a B/P cuff. The cuff works well, but the steth is not the greatest. I mainly bought this kit to practice with. However, during the semester lots of us realized that steth wasn't the greatest, so we upgraded. I've heard good things about the Littman steths, but personally I went with the Ultrascope. You can look at them at www.ultrascopes.com. I purchased mine through one of Ultrascope's resellers, www.standris.com. They had super fast service, and I have been SO happy with my Ultrascope. I chose to go with the Ultrascope Duo because it comes with two interchangable heads - one for Adults and one for Pediatric patients. (You won't need the Peds head for first semster, but you will need a smaller head for Peds in second semester). The Duo is around $130, and in my opinion worth every penny! Plus it is different looking - the Littmans all look the same. Ultrascope heads are unique and VERY cool - in my opinion anyhow.
Again, you can get steths in ALL different price ranges. So maybe check around a bit. Somewhere on this site is a section dedicated to equipment and you'll find all kinds of info on steths there.
A couple more things I got for Christmas last year which I use all the time in school: a rolling backpack (you will be carrying TONS of books back and forth and they are HEAVY!), and a Palm T/X. Another forum on this site is dedicated to Mobile devices and nursing, and for me it made sense to get a drug guide, medical dictionary, etc. on a Palm rather than hauling around all the different books. It is SUPER handy for clinicals - fits right in my pocket. Diedra, Heather, Boni, Lori and I all have one, and we couldn't be happier with them.
Hi girls, You can get your scrubs at Tri-county unifoms. It is in Libertyville on Peterson Rd, right across from the DMV.
As far as your steth goes, it just depends on how much you want to spend. My first semester, I got one from the bookstore at CLC,that came with a blood pressure cuff, to practice with and that was fine for me the first semester. Now, I have an ultrascope, duo. It has interchangeable heads, so I have an adult and a peds head. I love it. It was like $140. or so. I guess its probably middle of the road as far as prices go, you can get into some serious money on steths. You can go to www.ultrascope.com to look at the ultrascopes. I hope this helps.
Heather
PS. I guess I should read the other posts before mine, instead of just relying on my notices on my email....I should have know Colleen would have answered before me!!! She is so prompt and ontop of everything.
When can I start picking up things I need? What are those items? 
AuntieL2009
22 Posts
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! :)
Lisa