How is the FCCJ/FSCJ RN program?

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Planning to apply for this summer term. I dont know much about what actually goes on.

Just wondering for the people who are in it or who have taken it already, what did you do and learn semester by semester? Also, how difficult is it?

What is the schedule like?

I hear the first semester is a lot of book work and preparation and the second semester is when you start to do the clinicals and stuff.

I also heard from somebody that you to go to a psych ward or something and work with the crazy people

I dont really know anything about the day to day stuff, so thanks to anybody that answers.

st because it becomes so ordinary? What was the 'first time' experience like?

Ohhh I was so green my first semester, it was crazy. My teacher volunteered me for a blood draw and I just stared at her like she was crazy and I refused to do it. I suggest you let your professor know that you are fearful and start out by taking blood sugars and subq injections so you can get over that fear. Your confidence is what keeps a patient calm. Subq injections are so easy and the patient is probably already used to getting them. Most people are willing to let students give them a shot, because they themselves give themselves shots all the time. IM injections were different for me. I gave one in OB and then gave them practically every week in last term. I started my first IV my last term in nursing, and it was with another nurse, not my instructor and she talked me through it and calmed both me and the patient down, acting like I had done it before. You really get used to it. I stick someone every day I work and its like nothing now.

You have clinicals all 4 semesters. The first term is challenging because of the sheer volume of information you need to learn. Also, when you walk out of your first test you will be thinking, "what the heck was THAT!?!"...and that is because nursing is not just learning the data, you need to apply it with the nursing process. The questions will be formulated to check your application of your knowledge. You will take 4 courses all term long. At the end of the term there is a HESI you will have to pass as well.

First term you will have clinicals for the second half of your techniques course. You will spend most of your time giving bed baths, performing assessments, and giving injections. There will be many care plans to write.

Second term is broken up into 8 week sections. For me, I did Psych first 8 weeks. Yes, you will have to go to a psych ward and do clinicals. The second 8 weeks is Adult Health I. Depending upon which hospital you get, you can do little more than what you did during 1st term or you may get the opportunity to do dressing changes (PICC lines, decubitus wounds, etc.), IV insertion, Foleys, NG tube insertion, IV med administration, IV piggybacks, etc.

I am waiting to register today for term III. The first 8 weeks will be OB (Care of Women and Infants) and the second 8 weeks will be Peds (Care of Children).

Term IV is Adult Health II for the vast majority of the term and shortly before you graduate you spend a few weeks in "Role Transformation" doing 12 hr shifts.

I can't tell you what the schedule is like for the day students because I am a EVE/WE student.

I can tell you that it can be overwhelming at times. Imagine having a test that covers 16 - 18 chapters!

The grading is different in nursing as well. 80% is a passing grade. 79.99% is an F. It takes a 93 to get an A.

That is the most insight I have seen on the FSCJ program! Thanks so much. I am so bored with all this book work for the pre-req's. Now I have something to look forward to! It's great to hear that there are a variety of clinicals in every semester. I have no idea what area I want to work in as an RN but I am very excited to start getting exposure to the many options out there.

It seems so secretive and it shouldn't be!

I graduate in Aug! YEAH!!!!! I am ready to be done!

As far as being fearful of sticking someone with a needle...it didn't bother me until my first IV. That worried me the most. My first clinical WE in AH II, I was in the ER. I got to start 6 IVs that weekend! Too cool. I loved the ER, but I hear that it is recommended that you start on the Med/Surg floor first. I am doing this term at St. Vincent's and I love the nurses there.

Good luck with the program!:nurse:

I know there are four semesters, but are they back to back? I am applying for the fall... would it be Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall.. or do we have the option of taking the summer off? Thanks!

The terms are back to back. No breaks, except for Christmas and spring break. And I am talking about breaks in between semesters. My first term ended on a Thursday and second term started on a Monday.

I would suggest you take Adult health I first, then psych 2nd term and then Peds first, then OB 3rd term, as those first classes will take up a lot of your time, while the second ones are less time consuming, giving you a little bit of a break. The best part about starting in the fall is you get Christmas break after first semester.

Wow! Sounds intense...thanks!

Thanks misswhitney and FLmomof5! I am most nervous about the IV's for sure, only because it seems so difficult. Both times when I was having my babies, it took the nurses several attempts and a couple different nurses to get one to stick in my veins, I just don't want to be giving the same experience that I unfortunately had. Its hard enough being in labor and getting stuck 6 times just for an IV!

Personally, I am a phlebotomist's dream. I have huge veins and I am an easy stick!

This past weekend, we had a couple of LOLs (little old ladies) with transparent skin and the world's smallest veins. Given the vast amount of bruising they had already suffered through multiple attempts by other nurses, I left these patients for the experts (and THE expert on the floor took 6 sticks to get one of them! :eek: ) You can't help what veins they were born with....but if you really have compassion for the hard sticks, you CAN leave them to a more experienced nurse. You will have lots of chances to do others.

I had one gent that you could not SEE his veins, but you could FEEL them. I stuck him on the first try! :yeah:

Don't worry. You will adjust as you gain experience!

So how long does it actually take to complete the nights and weekend RN program once you are accepted and start classes? How long for the day program? (maybe I should switch to a night job) I am considering having my cousin come live with me to help out with the household duties while I attend school and work a FT job. Will I be away from home a lot? I know it will be tough on us (my boys and myself) but I know in the end it will be so worth it!

It takes the same amount of time whether you take days or take nights. It is 4 back to back terms. NO summers off. When you finish is determined by when you start.

Will you be away from home a lot? Depends on how you define a lot!

I work 40 hours per week +. My YOUNGEST is 17.5 yo. My hubby is in Afghanistan, so I don't get help from him! LOL. But during first term (eve/we program) you will spend 1 hr @ north campus on Mondays for your weekly test....then T-Th in class from 6 - 9 PM, Sat 8 - 3 (I think) in techniques and then clinicals. The remaining terms, it is 1 night per week from 6 - 10 PM (Tuesday or Thurs) with occasional Monday for a test and then SOME weekends are taking up with clinicals....until the fourth term where nearly ALL weekends (Sat and Sun) are clinicals.

If your children are young, I would encourage you to accept whatever help you can get from whomever you can get it from. Just remember to do something special for them when you graduate!!!!

Good Luck!

Again, FLmomof5, your insight is invaluable! :yeah:Thanks so much for breaking it down. I am def taking notes!

I would say that is a lot of time away from home. My children are ages 10 & 14 right now. They know mommy needs to do this for our future and have been very understanding and cooperative with me.

-NJ

Hey ladies congratulations to all of you on your acceptance into the RN program!

I had a question about the NAT. I am shooting for the summer or fall of 2011.

I wanted to know if any of you brought a book or study material to help you prep for the test that actually helped.

Thanks!

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