OCC - for Fall 2012 or Jan 2012 prospective students!

U.S.A. Michigan

Published

Hi everyone! Okay so I decided to make a seperate thread for those of us seeing what our options are because we got the dreaded letter from OCC. It was getting hard to filter out the information pertinent to us in the general OCC thread.

I just want to tell everyone not to give up.

I had a meeting with a counselor yesterday, who basically assured me that any drastic changes made to OCC nursing admission policy could NOT be implemented in the very next admission cycle. He said that he had been a counselor for over 16 years, and the last time they made a drastic change (like from waitlist to gpa based) they grandfathered in everybody who would have been 'caught up' in the transition.

I had a 3.824 gpa. I had three classes that were not straight A's (An A- in both american government and english composition two, as well as the dreaded B in A&P 1). I am retaking all three and am going to seriousely aim for all A's. The gpa cutoff is gonna be a 3.9 something and I don't want to have to worry about not getting in again. I am going to do my best to get all A's.

I met with the counselor to discuss my options and see what to do at this point. I was considering going LPN but I don't think i'm going to do that anymore because my biggest aim is to get my RN as soon as possible. The LPN to RN transition program is only offerred every even year. What this means for us? If I were, for example to start the LPN program in January of 2012, it would be over in like March of 2013. Then I couldn't start the transition program until like July of 2014. Then I wouldn't be done with the transition program and have my RN until December of 2015! This versus the ADN RN program, which would start in the Fall of 2012 and finish in like early May of 2014.

Good luck to all of those still trying! We can't give up!!!!!

kizeemimi

dont worry there are probably a lot more cna's or pca's in your class that just arent saying anything.

most instructors are cool, but yes there are some that like to just terrorize students. as long as you dont go around acting like you know every thing they will leave you alone. sorry it took me 10 days to get back to you but ive been very busy. the funny thing is that everyone said once you get a job more will come your way. since starting my new job ive already got an offer to work at a hospital downtown. just waiting for the hospital to contact me to come in and do my paperwork and get a physical.

thanks for the best wishes

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Hello All, I need some words of encouragement. I am doing well on what I would call the "book aspect" of 141; did well on my first theory exam, great on my first two lab quizzes. But I am really sucking in the lab, itself. I didn't pass the VS GAS first try (bp only) and yesterday I failed to pass on my 2nd try. I went in today and practiced, practiced, practiced -- started out great but didn't leave the lab feeling super confident (lord, will I ever leave that room feeling super confident?). I can get the bp dead on when I'm just practicing, but I apparently don't perform as well under pressure. I am absolutely miserable and am seconding guessing myself non-stop now about everything -- and not just bp, but nursing as a whole. I know I need to relax, I know I need to trust myself, but I've been taking down twice now. I'm now getting nervous that even when I do pass the bp, all the instructors will be out for my blood. I swear, they smell fear, they really do.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, dementia, hospice.

Hi brodygirl!

Getting a manual BP correct can be difficult, especially in a noisy, busy atmosphere (like the lab) because you have to concentrate as to not lose track of the systolic and diastolic readings. When I do manual BPs, I have to absolutely zone out EVERYTHING around me. Is there any way you can take the GAS without a lot of people around (perhaps early or late, just when open lab opens or closes)?

During a MNC my first year, there was a 2nd year student who had forgotten how to do a manual BP. The reality is that after you pass the GAS, you won't do many manual BPs in the clinical setting. (Of course, that's not to say that you'll never do them, so we must know how to when the need arises.)

It almost seems as if getting comfortable being uncomfortable is a part of nursing school. I don't think there's ever a time I'll feel like I'm "safe." Whenever someone asks me when I'll finish nursing school, I say, "April 2013, God willing." That's how I truly feel. Still, I keep telling myself that I WILL make it to the finish line. You have to keep telling yourself this. It's easy to crack under the pressure. Seriously, I was soooooooo burnt out after the first year that I came back this year nearly kicking and screaming. I'm FINALLY back into the swing of things now, though.

Brodygirl, you WILL pass the GAS! Take it one day at a time ... literally. Take pride in every single pebble you leap to reach the milestone!

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Wendyyvonne,

Thank you. Thank you so much! Your words of encouragement mean the world to me. Thanks for taking the time to talk me off the proverbial cliff. I know that my frame of mind is my downfall and it's so good of you to help build me up. Thanks! I test tomorrow afternoon and darn it, I WILL be posting here that I PASSED!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, dementia, hospice.

You're welcome! Awesome! Looking forward to reading that post.

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brodygirl

god your so right about the instructors smelling fear. honestly nursing school is nothing but feeling like instructors are looking for any little thing wrong cause they are. its unfortunate but you have to learn to live with it like wendyyvonne said, you will never feel comfortable. i always felt from the day i started to the day i finished i was 1 minute from failing. its not till transitions class that i finally felt comfortable that i was going to pass. Just starting out like you are in foundations you really need to find something or some place or someone that helps you relax. mine was always my friends in class. i loved being able to talk to my friends just about every day and being able to vent about the stress with them really helped. I wish there was something i could tell you that would really make things better for you, but honestly you cant doubt yourself, once you start doubting if you want to be a nurse you wont make it. everyone doubts at some point in time if they are going to fail, thats just nursing school. but everyone i know that said i dont know if nursing school is for me didnt make it. I hate to be that person who gives out the doom and gloom but i try to just be honest. Brodygirl just remember what it took to get where you are now. im sure through 11 prereq courses you had some down times and still you made it through and remember that you will be a great nurse 1 day.

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hey wendy,

clear your inbox please.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

brody, they do smell fear, I legit felt at times in the lab they wanted to run you right into the mental hospital. The way they suddenly "chilled out" a bit during 2nd semester was very telling with regard to the GAS.

Even as a second year, it's not really easier, you're just over it (the b.s.) and know it's all a part of the nature of the game. LOL

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Specializes in Geriatrics, dementia, hospice.

Inbox cleared!

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I passed!!!! Thank you, each of you for your advice. Whosurdaddy, thank you as well. When I first read your reply, I got a little wounded for like 2 seconds, then I got angry for about 30 seconds, then I got determined. I found my certainty and I found my fight. Maybe you're brilliant and knew that reverse psychology would work on me. Maybe not. Regardless, I don't care. It's alot easier to turn anger into something than self-doubt and despair. So thank you, for helping me find my motivation! And now for the hard stuff....... :yes:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, dementia, hospice.

Awesome! Congrats, brodygirl! That's the way to do it! :)

As you've now discovered, succeeding in nursing school is as much a psychological battle as it is an academic one, if not more so. Keep trudging on!

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brodygirl

never trying to discourage anyone. sooooooo glad you passed and now you know you can do it. NEVER doubt yourself. everyone has setbacks. the important thing is that you motivated yourself to pass. remember that moment the next time your doubting yourself, cause believe me once you start clinicals there will be instructors that will try to put doubt back into your head. Congrats again ;)

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