First things first, do not bother consulting with the nurses here. You're better off just making an…read moreappointment. If you are a walk-in, the front desk will most likely try to direct you to them as the doctors are almost always booked with appointments, and the nurses are supposed to give you medical advice if you have any questions, concerns, or symptoms. I have made this mistake twice; the first time, a few years ago, I came in because I had been coughing up blood all morning and I was in consistent pain. The nurse (I wish I had written down her name, not sure if she still works there) who I spoke to was extremely condescending, not only telling me that I was overreacting and coughing up blood is rarely as bad as it seems, but she also did not offer any significant advice and essentially told me to wait it out and did not write me a note, so I still had to go to class. I made an appointment with a doctor here shortly after and had a chest x-ray and lab work done (that I had to pay for, which surprised me, as I was under the impression that it too would be included in tuition and they also did not accept my insurance, mind you), and it turned out I had a severe upper respiratory infection. The second time I made the same mistake was just this week, and it is the reason I am writing this review. I walked-in two days ago and opted to see a nurse since it was short notice, my symptoms were sudden, and I was once again in pain. I was greeted by a nurse named Nicki. I have sores all over my tongue, mouth, and throat, and have had a fever and muscle aches all week, and when I explained this to her, she looked inside my mouth and agreed that my throat looked "funky" and I had some "white spots that I can't quite explain" (her words). Despite this, she proceeded to tell me that it was viral, it did NOT look like strep throat, and I just needed to wait it out. Sound familiar? Hydration, rest, chicken soup. She said to ONLY come back if I developed "white fur" in my throat, which would signify strep. No note. Did not even recommend that I get a strep test just to confirm.
Here I am, two days later, only having returned to this place because I booked an appointment in advance and I did not want to have to wait hours in urgent care or go to my primary care physician. My symptoms got worse since my last visit. I saw Dr. Fassbender (who I recommend, she has helped me more than once and is very kind) and she said I should get lab work done: a throat swab and a blood test to check for both strep and mono. I did so and waited an hour for the results, and I tested positive for strep throat. Exactly what the nurse told me I did not have. You have to understand how frustrated this made me, as I could have started the antibiotics two days prior and started improving instead of feeling worse and missing more classes. Dr. Fassbender prescribed me penicillin and that was that. Speaking to the doctors isn't always perfect, however, as I have had rude ones as well.
Beyond my own experiences, one of my best friends was hunched over and crying from period cramps that were unusually bad and so I walked with her to the health center and once again the nurses were condescending and minimized her symptoms and pain, suggesting that she should just get used to it and it was part of being a woman. She saw a doctor later on and started birth control to remedy the problem. I've also had friends tell me that the psychological area is rather dismissive and unhelpful. Take from that what you will.
Overall, I'd recommend just seeking medical help off campus, if you can. If you do not have insurance, this place can be a free way to help with minor problems or illnesses, but if you suspect you have a problem that might need medication, x-rays, or something more substantial in order to fix, it's going to be a hassle and some of the staff might make things worse. Always make an appointment in advance to see one of the doctors, don't bother with the nurses. If you need to cancel the appointment, do so far in advance or they'll use it as an excuse to get some money out of you. Stay on top of them about giving you a note if you need to miss class. Good luck.