OCC - for Fall 2012 or Jan 2012 prospective students!

[IHeartPeds87]

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!!!!!

[QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP]

Wendy is correct. There is nothing in 1410 (or any of the program) that requires you to go out of the way to spend extra money on texts because the vocabulary is so advanced. You learn some new words as you go, just as you would in any other non-nursing class. The new lingo is very repetitious and the instructor(s) will explain what each new word means as they go along and if they don't, ask. New vocab is the least of your worries, trust me

[sv99]

Thanks Wendyyvonne!

[sv99]

Hi Quarterlife88,

I was under impression that we need to take some kind tests on medical terms. Looks like it wont be a big deal... you just learn as you go along the course. Thanks.

[QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP]

There is no test. The only exams you take are based on class theory, lab skills and corresponding content, and starting 2nd semester, in the winter and beyond, med calculation at the beginning of each course.

Again, to ease your fears: there is nothing major occurring involving medical terminology. You'll pick it up easily as you go along just as in any other course that has it's own unique words, definitions, and phrases.

[777RN, BSN, RN]

You're welcome!

[sv99]

Thanks Quarterlife88!!!!!

[Anne36, LPN]

Hi!

You will learn medical terminology as you progress through the various courses. There was no specific med-term assignment in NUR 1410 this past fall. I did not buy the med-term text or ANY of the optional/recommended texts. Any terms about which I was unsure, I would just look up online via my phone or laptop.

HTH!

You got lucky, we had to buy the medical terminology book and complete the exams at the end of the chapters, turn it in for credit in Lab. It was a pain in the butt and time consuming. It was a self study, they just wanted us to prove we did it. Is this program getting easier?

[sv99]

Hi Wendyvonne,

Can you give some info about math test that are conducted every semester. Thanks.

[777RN, BSN, RN]

Hi!

The math tests are quite basic. Just memorize (from pharmacology) your conversions (e.g., 1 t = 5 mL, 1 T = 3 t = 15 mL, 1000 g = 1 kg, 1000 mL = 1 L, etc.) and basic formulas: D/H x V and V (mL)/T (min) x D (gtt/mL).

I do not know of, nor have I ever heard of, anyone getting dropped from the program due to failing the math tests. You get three chances to pass each test with 90% or better. I only know of one person who used all three chances to pass.

As one of my nursing friends said, the math tests are likely the easiest component to the program. That said, for anyone with severe math anxiety, the best advice I can give is to NOT let the math-calc tests cause undue stress. Relax ... to conserve energy for GAS checkoffs, care plans, and the almost constant pressure that is the life of a nursing student! :)

Best wishes!

[sv99]

Thanks Wendyyvonne.

[777RN, BSN, RN]

You're welcome!

[whosurdaddy]

i do know of one person who failed 3 times and was kicked during the last semester of class. the moral of this stroy is to never take anything for granted even the math tests. she thought that she just blew the 1st chance cause she had a bad day. the 2nd she said she had things going on and didnt study for it. the 3rd she just panicked. so now she wont grad till december. i think we can all imagine how getting to the last semester and failing would feel, make sure you study at least a couple hours for each test.