Update on Suzette’s nursing school applications
I want to thank everyone for your hopes and prayers on our trip down south to Columbia. We spoke with a number of people down there and were very please with the staff and the campus. Unfortunately they would not budge on allowing Suzette to submit her application for the spring semester one day late. She is planning on applying for the fall semester of ‘08 at both Columbia and Vol State.
We have been happy with the folks at Vol State. They have been kind and courteous though out the past year and half she’s been attending classes there. The big problem is that the nursing program at Vol State is administered through TSU. The folks at TSU have been nothing but difficult and rude through the process of Suzette trying to apply for the nursing program. Between the stories we have and the stories told by her friends at Vol State who are trying to get into the nursing program, I also wonder if finding out about Columbia State wasn’t a double blessing.
My only fear is that Columbia State is pretty far away. Even the Franklin campus is pretty far. We might have to move again. I really love Gallatin, but if it’s best for Suzette, we will do it.
September 8th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Yes we were praying for this intention. But God’s Will be done and it is clearly seen here. I would look deeply into the nursing program and make sure it is not forcing the students to assist at abortions or any other attack on human life! May the Lord and Our Lady continue to bless both of you
Deacon John
September 8th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I’m sorry that the CSU plan didn’t work out the way you hoped, but I know God has the full intention of His will behind it, so the right outcome will be revealed in time.
That said…
I’m not meaning to be glib here, but I do come from an extended family of doctors and nurses.
The folks at TSU have been nothing but difficult and rude through the process of Suzette trying to apply for the nursing program.
I think it’s terrible that they’re rude and difficult. BUT if you’re planning on training to work around many doctors (and some nurses) it can be a good idea to learn NOW how to handle difficult, rude, bureaucratic and superior-acting people.
Some of the hardest parts of being a nurse is working around some of the other nurses and working for some of the doctors.
September 8th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I know where you’re coming from Kat. I grew up around hospitals as my mom was in “patient access services” for all of my childhood. She is now a nurse. I also worked in nursing myself for five years before going into IT, so I know well the attitude of some doctors. On the other hand, I know many doctors who are easy going and easy to work with. On the other hand, no doctor is expecting me to pay them tuition money either. When determining where we would get our money’s worth in paying for Suzette’s education, customer service plays a big role.
As far as the “difficult” part, that might have been too weak a word. By “difficult”, I meant in getting things done. I’ve heard stories about difficulty getting transcripts (necessary not only for transfers, bu tot sit for the licensing exam), lost paperwork and even one story of a young lady being told she was accepted to the program, only to find out later a mistake was made and she would need to reapply next year. To be honest, this all makes us feel that maybe our money should be going somewhere else. That’s where i am coming from.
So no, someone acting rude to Suzette is not to her the “end of the world”. Someone being rude to her when they expect us to pay them money is also not the end of the world, but it might be the end of the money flowing from our pocket into their offices.
Keep in mind too that we are paying for her tuition “out of pocket”. No scholarships, no grants and no loans. So the customer service experience for might be a little more important to us that it is to most college students.
September 10th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
You know, if you’re prepared to move for Suzette’s sake, you could always consider applying to nursing school back here in Memphis. It would be good to see you two again.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Mark - That might be an option if there were any good nursing schools in Memphis. Well, good ones that we woudln’t have to go in hock for her to go to that is.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Careful, there. My sister’s a product of UT’s nursing school. Don’t make me drive up there and uphold her honor on you.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Mark - I wasn’t really counting UT, which is a great school. Two things though. First we are looking for a two year program. Second I don’t think we could pay the tuition at UT “out of pocket”. So UT was sort of outside the set of the schools I had in mind when I made the comment.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Sometime, an alternative is to get a lesser degree. With waiting lists that are 2 and 3 years long, I might argue that you’d be getting alot of experience in a great field and get you nursing degree at the same time. Some top rated, fully accredited nursings schools that have secondary accreditation from National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Not so bad for online nursing schools. I personally started with a CNA and work my way up from there.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Thanks Jeff. Suzette is actually trying to get into an associate degree program. Hopefully something will happen this coming year. In the meantime she is trying to put her credits together to see if she qualifies for some other degree.