I have read & reread the posts on here about West Suburban but I really didn't find out enough--- I really only have a couple of options for schools to apply to & they were on my list. However, it seems like the majority of their students have had a horrible time & they're pretty expensive. Could some current or recent graduates just share a couple sentances on their experience?
Even just applying is a lot of work (TEAS test, etc.) and I don't want to even apply if all the posts on here (I know some of them are dated) are anywhere near true...
How are the other professors? Are any of them ones I should avoid?
I have quite a bit of classes with Melgaard.
Oh, and a second question. I just browsed the books we need for this first semester... do we really need to purchase all of them? there are a lot!
And a third question! Does anyone recommend clinical sites? I'd prefer Niles or the one in Chicago because I live close... but I don't know which one.
Melgaard is a professor that cares a lot about students and you can tell she really wants you to succeed. You will not have any problems with her. She is very fair.
Some students say to avoid DeWolff but you have to take her for health assessment. Her class is hard but if you study and do the questions from the book and study guide you will do fine. Personally, I did not have any problems with her but some students did.
I would say dont buy the Mosby dictionary. but all the books you will use. The Fundamentals of Nursing you really dont use that often but it is a great resource to have especially when studying for ATI. Its kind of the standard in nursing to own this book though.
The first clinical site for block A is at a nursing home to brush up your basic nursing skills so anywhere you go to is going to be the same (Bed change, Bath, Diaper change, Activities, Feeding, and maybe some other items). For Block B, I personally like to take my clinicals at West Sub because it is more convient because you will have to get your patient info and medications before going to clinical so that you are up to speed with your pt. care.
I see Cronk (or something like that) is teaching at 7am in the morning, which I think i'd like.. Do any of you guys how he/she is?
Any tips on how a good schedule would be? Like whether I should 7am classes or try to keep my schedule in the later afternoons??
Let's see.... Out of all those, I've had Regina Mahmood for CDH I and thought she was excellent! Nancy Reese lectured in that class a few times and I thought she was very nice. Dorothy Osowski taught in one of my clinicals and I liked her a lot. Veronica Cronk is a wonderful clinical instructor --you'll like her for sure. I haven't had the others.
As for your schedule, take classes when you're most alert/awake. I, myself, am NOT a morning person so evening classes work well. You also have to take into consideration your commute. I don't know how far you have to travel but you might want to take that into consideration in regards to rush hour traffic.
Oh, you might want to check out the below website for more info on what others think about various instructors:
As for books, buy the obvious essentials for the course.
I bought the Saunders Pharmacology, and it's only good for the NCLEX questions and review. The Drugs and Calculations was a waste since I barely use it. However, I highly recommend Saunders 4th NCLEX review. It's a good review after reading the assigned readings. It will get you in the mode of critical thinking NCLEX style.
To study for Patho, I highly recommend Hurst's Review. Patho just clicked after reading through that.
As for clinicals, I would worry more about who the instructor is than the location. There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. Choose wisely. In any case, I'd go to Saint Francis in Evanston since that is near Niles if an instructor is there.
Like xc31 said, the Saunders 4th NCLEX review is very good.
I also (usually) purchase the recommended study guides. Some have helped and some haven't. I guess it just depends on (1) What your instructor is focusing on and (2) how in depth they want you to know the material. Some instructors, I've had in the past, have even pulled test questions from the study guides.
Thanks for all your replies. Each and every one makes me feel a ton better with attending a new school. I have finalized my schedule and so far I am OK with it. You guys seem to have good things for lot of the instructors so I am starting to get comfortable with what to expect. My commute to West Sub is about 40min... so I hope that 6am is a good time to head on over there for my 7am classes.
I have looked over the books and what was recommended for me and I will definitely take those into consideration. I really don't want to buy expensive books that I don't even open/read... I've done that enough times in college.
Thanks again!
If I have any more questions, I will be sure to ask :nuke:
I posted on some other West Sub threads awhile back. Two years out now from graduation and my attitude has not changed much. Compared to other places, West Sub has, I feel, a very reasonable pre req list. Well, that is of course except for the computer class requirement, that is just plain stupid. As for the organic chem or nutrition classes other schools require, they aren't going to make you a better nurse.
On out unir, I have precepted one West Sub grad and several students. All have been pretty sharp students and are clearly getting something from the school. As someone else said, it is what you make of it. If you study hard and seek out the teachers who have solid work experience, you will get a decent education. If you show up and do the least required, you will struggle with boards and possibly struggle once you start to work.
When I was there, I felt that there was no one thing that West Sub did that said EXCELLENCE. This bothered me from an accountability perspective, but it hasn't hampered my career as a nurse in the slightest. It's a mid tier school and if you can accept that perspective and stay focused on getting in and getting out, then I think it's a great place to be. If you really want a more strenuous academic environment to ensure you are getting you're monies worth, there are better places to go.
Feel free to email if you have any direct questions.
Hi guys, I took all of your advice but I just have a few more little questions. I'm just starting the first round of exams now and wanted to know if you guys could offer any tips for how to study for the exams. I noticed that all the professors have been using powerpoints as their main focus. SHould I just focus on the powerpoint and read some corresponding material in the book? Or do I really have to read the book in depth (it's a lot of material, my brain can only hold so much!).
Right now i'm taking health assessment 1 with Dewolff, foundations with Melgaard, and patho with Stapleton.
I have already been stressing a little bit because I am so overwhelmed with all the material. Any tips/suggestions would be so helpful... Thank you in advanced :)
I had Dewolff for community quite awhile ago. In that class, the quizzes were very heavily based on the powerpoints from class but she was one of the few teachers who actually presented information in class that jived with what the book taught. She's a big fan of the NCLEX style of testing with distractors and what not and very much a stickler for format with papers. Overall I thought her tests were fair if you knew the material moderately well. My advice, read the power points close, skim the chapter in the book and maybe make a couple of notes from the book where power points and the text overlap.
I agree, read through the powerpoint and skim through the chapters focusing on clarifying things you "don't get" on the powerpoints. Also, look over the key points in the book. If you need additional help, see the ACE center in the library. I'm sure someone there can help. : )
Hi..just reading these posts to get an idea of WS Nursing Program. Sounds like a great flexible program. Just one question about clinical sites. Do you u choose the site of hospital? What hospitals are the clinicals sites done at? Evanston is a far commute for me so wanted to know how this clinical pick works out at this school.
Thanks and Best of luck to all in the Nursing Program!!
Hi Allycat4, you may want to contact enrollment management regarding your question. I have never picked specific hospitals. I'm not sure if that is really an option.
IlliniGuy
12 Posts
Melgaard is a professor that cares a lot about students and you can tell she really wants you to succeed. You will not have any problems with her. She is very fair.
Some students say to avoid DeWolff but you have to take her for health assessment. Her class is hard but if you study and do the questions from the book and study guide you will do fine. Personally, I did not have any problems with her but some students did.
I would say dont buy the Mosby dictionary. but all the books you will use. The Fundamentals of Nursing you really dont use that often but it is a great resource to have especially when studying for ATI. Its kind of the standard in nursing to own this book though.
The first clinical site for block A is at a nursing home to brush up your basic nursing skills so anywhere you go to is going to be the same (Bed change, Bath, Diaper change, Activities, Feeding, and maybe some other items). For Block B, I personally like to take my clinicals at West Sub because it is more convient because you will have to get your patient info and medications before going to clinical so that you are up to speed with your pt. care.