Joliet and JJC former and current students

U.S.A. Illinois

Published

Hello! New member and also recently accepted into the fall JJC program (yay!):lol2:... So now that I have a summer off before I become submerged in student nurse life, I have been trying to find all the info I can possibly get! I did a search and found only a few posts related to JJC, so I thought I'd try to seek out some more info. and possibly some reciprocal support:wink2:.

Supplies: Does anybody have any input on tech. stuff? I keep reading about PDAs and Laptops being lifelines. Are they used by many, or not looked well uppon in the class? Has anyone had any experience at JJCs nursing program in regards to the usage of these tech tools, & any pros and cons? What about usage of PDAs during clinicals (Any input on St Joes versus Silver Cross' policies)? What about the textbooks and supplies? Have students hunted down deals or broken down and just gone to the bookstore?

Beyond ADN: Are there any current or former students that have or are in the middle of using one of those cooperative/bridge type programs for getting your BSN? What are or have your experiences been like? Oh, esp. mom experiences.:rolleyes:

Any and all other tips, suggestions, guidance, YOU NAME IT is greatly accepted! Thanks from an anticipating anxious one!

Specializes in NICU.

Hey, Karma and Ede! I hope my tips are not scaring you, it should only help! About the printer - yes, if your printer is acting up now - believe me..you will loose your mind later then :banghead:. I had a very fancy shmancy Lexmark that would not cooperate with school format.. so I bought very cheap HP for 70$ anf never had a problem since. So test them now, make tables 2 pgs long, 5 columns, type in those tables like 5-6 lines and then try to print... see if all your text is there when and how it transfers to the next page. It might look perfect on the computer, but printers have the mind of their own.:no: Ok, teachers... now. :yeah:Three of them were mine! I do not know Danielle so sorry. Then Ms. Sam N. - easy going, very nice and for some reason I thought her tests will be easy - my mistake.. so study. Then my first teacher and clinical instructor - Ms. Janet S. - you will think she is acting too strong at times but believe you me - she is only preparing you for the next semesters!! Take as much information from her as you can - because when you will get to the next semesters - it always shows who was Janet's students. I hope she is your clinical instructor too. She is so good! Now...! Ms. Branchaw :D. You will be so afraid of her - it's not even funny! But when you leave her - you will miss her the most! Be prepared - Ms. Branchaw's favorite question is WHY. It may seem that she is putting you on the spot - noooo...no no. She is making you THINK. It is not enough that you know the answer from the book but WHY is this happening to the patient.. you needs to know because you will get that question from patient's family about 5 times a day! When you will be a nurse - you will explain it to the patient and his family, then walk out the room and say it to yourself - Thank you Ms. Branchaw.. Who cares that you don't know the answer to the question in CLASS.. When you don't know it at the bed site 2 years later - not good! So do not stress out when she asks you something - think.. and say I do not know yet.. JJC teachers hate smart as* , anoying with detailed questions, interupting lecture students.. Listen and you will learn, read..and then if you don't understand something - then ask before the next lecture. A lot of times you will find an answer at home later. So that's all for today. I will try to give you small tip on process paper next time. Hey I just thought of something interesting.. Something that will give a good example of how detailed you will learn things. Question : We all breathe. WHY?

Well.. do you think you can tell me without looking at the book? Oh.. and once you answer it - then ask WHY again.. Not easy is it? :no: I know..it used to drive me crazy but now I get those questions EVERY DAY... :nurse:. What else would you like to know? Have a nice day!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in dreams of the future.

Oh what wonderful information verytallnurse! lol What I ment about being scared was not directed toward you or your information, just some of the personal feelings of entering into nursing school. As far as teachers, it sounds like I have some great ones that really want to prepare us to be great nurses. Wonderful! I think I will do well then. :up: I love teachers that want to make the student use their brain rather than just listen and memorize. I am begining to view this as a positive challenge ahead of me now, so thank you for helping ease my mind in this brief time of uncertainty :). Now if I understood you correctly, the teachers are not fans of many questions interrupting their lectures? And I should save my questions for after, or before the following scheduled lecture... Normally I am a ? asking type of person. But I do notice when it irritates and can control myself lol, and I undertand this will be a different learning platform than "regular" classes. So thanks for that heads up. You probably saved me from getting on a profs. bad side lol. Great example of a WHY question and delving further beyond basic answers. You're AWESOME :bowingpur, thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What time is the night program and how long is it?Thanks...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in dreams of the future.

hey cuteazz1. Classes usually start at 4. Some days it's only couple of hours, some days until 9 - one of those longer days for me is b/c I am not a CNA, so I'm getting some further instruction/class time. But the other day is our clinical day. We aren't doing clinicals yet, but when we start them, they said it will be until 9:30. And I have no idea yet what the method/plan/rules will be for clinicals when we get to having to gather patient info. When we start pharma., I'm guessing it would have been until 9 all week, but this year pharma. is online. I can't tell you for sure how consistant this general time frame is though since I don't know any prior evening NS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Does anyone know how much books cost? I know they are pretty expensive, but just tyring to get an idea. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow - this is a great site. I am an "older" student looking for a fresh start on life. I have completed all of my pre-reqs and have applied to the nursing program. Gearing up to take the TEAS later this month. Nervous as all heck at the prospect of actually "getting in" to the program! Mom of 3 very busy kids, p/t job. HORRIBLE summer; Took A&P 1 and 2 - talk about alot of work! Not really studying too much for the test, just had Math 094 2 semesters ago and breezed through that part in the study guide. English and reading comprehension come pretty easily to me, but am worried about the science part. I have heard there are questions about volcanoes - how the heck are we suppose to know that stuff????? And why?????? Good luck to everyone!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What a great thread! I have a few questions - if anyone who has "been-there-done-that" can help, I'd appreciated it! First, I was accepted into the day program for Spring 2010. Does anyone know what times I can expect to be busy? How many days will I be in class/clinicals? I'm scared of pharma... Any suggestions for study materials? Also, I don't think anyone mentioned the cost of books/supplies. I've got to student loan this endeavor and want to make sure I've prepared that properly. Oh, how exciting and scary at the same time! Thanks in advance for your help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am in first semester evening program right now. You will go 4 days a week. Theory is twice a week for two hours. You'll have clinical topics twice a week. One of those classes is two hours and the other will be your clinical day. In the beginning you go to the classroom for both days. We went for four hours on the clinical day and once we got to the hospital it is about 5 hours. If you don't have your CNA certificate I think you go for two hours before or after your other classes. I'm not quite sure on that. I believe it's only 8 weeks and that's when online pharm starts. It's a lot of work, but I got used to it after awhile. Oh and books were just under 500. We should use most of those throughout the semesters though. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Although they said we would be signing up for classes in November, when and where do we go for the drug screen, background check, etc... I am pretty sure the titers are on our own to get from our personal MD (or wherever), but are we on our own to get all this other stuff done too? And when is it all due? DON'T FORGET TO GET THAT CPR CARD!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You'll get all that info at orientation. I got a packet in the mail with the physical form.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Any of you guys know if you're a LPN already and do the transition, how long does it take to complete? Do you get into 2nd or 3rd Semester ? Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi, I am starting nursing at JJC August 25th, night classes. How about you?

:) Oops!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment