Miami Dade College (MDC) Spring 2013 Gen. FT/PT& Accelerated Nursing program

U.S.A. Florida

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You are reading page 40 of Miami Dade College (MDC) Spring 2013 Gen. FT/PT& Accelerated Nursing program

Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

PART 2....

Get involved with the Student Nurse's Association.

Dr. Yates, and Prof. Constance Miller, are awesome - they may look intimidating, but are really awesome if they see you are interested. If you have the opportunity to take Roxana Orta, you hit the jackpot, she is the MOST PRO student professor you will ever meet. Prof. Monique Roger-Walker is awesome at Peds, as well as Annette Tomlinson - she teaches both peds and OB. I have never taken Prof. Neaty, but been told she is also great. For med-surge, the best was Prof. Valdes, he is not longer there, his class was hard, but boy you learned so much with him. Saddly the professor I had for psyche is no longer there. Prof. Maria Alvarez....she loves her reputation of being mean, but she too has a soft heart, you have to dig in for it, but she is also awesome. For CLINICALS, you have Prof. Gayle Babley - she will make you work and will keep you longer, but she really prepares you, I took two clinical rotations with her, that is how great she is . Also, Adelaide Murray for Advanced Med-Surge. FOR SKILLS Prof. Dolce and Carter for skills were the sweetest professors with an interest for you to succeed.

You are now in a different league, so please behave accordingly (like an adult), may sound condescending, but I have seen first hand how some students behave like they are still in highschool. This is the major leagues, be RESPECTFUL always.

One thing I did not do, that I wished I had, is ask for a letter of recommendation after EACH clinical rotation (is best from your clinical instructor), do not wait until the end of your program after I did, I went through a lot just to get the ones I had. These professors have tons of students, and it is hard for them to remember. SHOW UP ON time, especially at clinicals.

All professor I had allowed us to tape the lectures, but still ask at the beginning of the semester and if you can, try to get a recorder that has a flash drive like I did, then pass them into your computer and then to CDs and listen to them in the car - unless your car system can play USB. Every moment that you have to study is well spent...going to change the car oil, read nursing material while waiting, going out to do your laundry, there goes the books too, you get the drift?

Be kind and supportive of each other, and this is so true. Some students even at this point are still in competition mode, you are already in, and remember, just because you are not having any issues with one class, does not mean you will not struggle the next. Is like you scratch my back I will scratch your back kind of thing...did I say it already, help each other succeed? There is nothing nicer than to start together the program and all graduate together. In my cohort not all made it :(

Try your best to stay away from drama in your private life and school. You need to stay focused. Besides you will notice how little time you will have to do the things you were able to do before nursing school, especially if you are doing the accelerated program - oh boy, do I feel for you.

Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

Part three and hopefully my last (sorry just trying to pay it forward with wisdom)

Have a positive attitude, nursing is hard, but if you make the best of it, it will not be as difficult.

If you have too much distractions at home (like children or family) I found Barnes & Nobles and Starbucks (start asking for gift cards for those stores for the coffee now), great to studying, as well as the Success Center and the library in school. Also our study group would stay meet for studying in the halls that separate the buildings in the medical campus, there are tables and chairs there, or take turns in meeting in each other's houses - the latter is great doing your Assessment class, you can assess each other, and practice with your family members too.

Understand that your house may not look like it did before - spotless, as you will find yourself short of time, remember, this goal. Your area of study must be clean though, you will need clarity and focus.

Do questions at least weekly on your ATI, each semester you will have an ATI exam that is worth 5% of your grade and trust me, some of you will need EVERY point to pass. You may like this inside information, now I am not sure if this is done every year, but at our pinning this student got a prize, cannot remember how much, for being the one that logged in the most to the ATI website. Again, it may have been a one time thing, but you never know :rolleyes:

During clinicals, get in there, get your hands dirty, if you have the opportunity to do something DO IT, the experience you will get is invaluable.

Start saving some money now, little by little, like a dollar here and there, so that after you graduate you invest in ACLS, PALS, a basic EKG course or telemetry course, it will make your resume stand out from the others - I sometimes feel it has yet to benefit me, but in all truth, is the recession that is making it hard for some of us to get hired.

If some of you can get your foot in the door NOW and work for a hosptial as a CNA or LPN, you will have an advantage to be hired after you become an RN.

DO NOT WAIT TOO LONG to take your boards, the sooner you take it, the more success you will have -- this is proven.

This is a great profession that right now is going through a recession, I will not deceive and tell you that I do not get discouraged sometimes...keep going forward. Get your BSN, try to start applying for internships before graduation if you can - this part I did not know until now that I am job hunting. Memorial hires first their students who they have given scholarships then they look for outside, but I believe they only give it Broward Community College, but if some of you can find out if you can qualify, I can tell you it will be worth it, is an awesome hospital to get in if you can.

Wishing you all much success :geek:

Maxilyn

6 Posts

Sensualblissinfl, it is so kind of you to share all this wisdom with us newbies. Thanks

Hey everyone! First time posting. I will be starting in January at the Homestead Campus.

Just in case anyone was wondering... the new scrub tops are still not available at the Medical Campus bookstore. They said they will be available by the end of the month. I am planning on calling them after Christmas to confirm that they are ready to be purchased.

I ended up trying on the scrub pants at the bookstore, but I did not purchase them there thinking I could find them cheaper somewhere else... and it is possible! They are cheaper through Amazon/Marcus Uniforms, and they apparently have $1 shipping for a little while, so take advantage if you haven't bought them yet! Amazon.com: White Swan Women's Cargo Pocket Pant White Swan Scrub Pants (Assorted Colors, Regular, Tall and Petite): Clothing (Just remember to get them in Hunter Green.)

Excited/antsy to start classes soon and meet you guys!

Blessednurse13

27 Posts

Hi. I tried to send you a pm, but your inbox is full.

Blessednurse13

27 Posts

@ab_ao I tried sending you a pm, but your inbox is full.

shuggy18

31 Posts

Hi, I just finshed my first semester and I have books to sell. I wanted to know if anyone is interested. I have the math book for sale and the fundamentals for sale. I am willing to sell for lower price than used in the bookstore. Both are like new. Message me if interested.

ab_ao

32 Posts

yjly29 now your inbox is full! lol
Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

Shuggy, just to letting you know in advance NOT to sell your Med-Surge textbook. I graduated in April, and I have been advised to hold on to that textbook as it will come handy once we get jobs. It is a great reference book to keep even after you graduated, oh and your drug guide.

Not to scare you, but with the upcoming classes in the curriculum you have to step it up a notch each time. Med-Surge is an awesome class, interesting, and from your first day you will feel as if you are in the major leagues, the amount of information you will learn is like no other class you ever taken. You may have heard that in nursing school is not about memorization but a clear understanding, so if you do not get it at first, make sure you ask until you get it.

Best wishes to all of you in your success.

Hey guys! Just a heads up... I don't know if any of you were waiting for an email to let us know that the green scrub tops are available at the bookstore. I was... and there was no email. :(

The tops are available. However, they currently only have L and XL left. I was told they will be reordering them and they should arrive on the 10th. Of course, this is after we start classes. I emailed Dr. Browne asking what we should wear the first couple of days, and she said professional clothing would be fine until the uniform is available.

There were still some white tops for clinicals left. I think I snagged the last medium, though, fyi... and the white lab coats are also available in limited sizes, although I'm not 100% sure we need those right now since our handbook says we can wear the scrubs for pre-assignment at the clinical sites.

Hope everyone has had fun during the holidays! See you guys soon...........

MiamiE

88 Posts

Does anyone in the online bridge know if anyone has dropped? I am trying to see if I am able to switch from face to face to online.

caipivodka

2 Posts

Does the nursing program at MDC accept credits from other colleges in the US? I'm talking about the prereqs.

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