Chamberlain college question

nicden · Apr 13, 2009

Don't think you can mix up classes. If you go in the evening, the gen ed courses are only offered online through Devry (taking my first one and don't like it). If you need fin aid assistance, they do not help. School is small and personable. Staff is pleasant.

MissE0813 · Apr 13, 2009

I'm in the middle of my second semester on campus for the ASN program. I have had a few good experiences, but there are a lot of frustrations along the way. The school is expensive - I understood that it would be, but I guess I expected organization and communication between faculty members (especially between a class coordinator who makes the tests and an instructor), and I have several classmates who have had bad experiences with some of the people higher up in our campus, because they have gone to them with some problems.

I'm in pharm right now, and I fully expected a hard class, but it's been ridiculous as far as who is instructing us, and who is making the test questions. We have had no less than 3 different instructors in 6 weeks, 6 quizzes and one test, and we have gotten 2 study guides (one for the test - the midterm, and one for a quiz). Most of the quiz material (if not all) has been created by the "coordinator" of the class, who doesn't even listen in on the classes, and is never there to hear what we are actually learning in class. Combine that with a lack of study guides, and it's a miracle that we have gotten this far. Oh, and who to complain to? The assistant dean is the coordinator of the class, and the dean we had is no longer with the school. The people who have tried to present any issues have been met with accusations that the problem was with them, NOT the class. So, either they have a class of 30 stupid people, or there's an issue along the way, because I haven't talked to one of my classmates who doesn't feel like this class is ridiculous. Yeah, we can pass most of the tests (barely), but really, I think I'm probably SO unprepared for the NCLEX and nursing practice as far as pharmacology goes.

My clinicals...oh where to start. This is our first rotation, and we have one more clinical day left in this session. So far, less than half of the group have actually cared for a patient in any capacity. I haven't even taken vitals on a patient.

I have 3 friends who are about a semester behind me, and I feel bad for telling them this school was so great. I have encountered a few people who seem to truly care about the students and who have a desire to teach us and help us to really LEARN how to be good and competent nurses. The rest, however, seem to be there for other reasons, and it's really discouraging to a lot of the students in my class.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Apr 14, 2009

I would suggest you look in to the community colleges. You can mix up your prereqs and coreqs all over the place until you actually start the nursing program. You can attend Meramec, South County, West County, Flo Valley, or Forest Park as it fits your schedule.

Once you actually start the program, you are tied to their schedule, but it's like 2 or 3 hours/day except on clinical days which are about 4 or 5 hours. The rest of the time is yours to figure out when to study, which is unlike some programs that require like 8 hours of campus time.

I understand in the long run it may take an extra semester or more to get admitted and complete a program, but you will NO WHERE near have the problems mentioned above. And cost? Minimal compared to those mentioned above. Support? Exemplary. Quality of education? Ask around in the community....

nicden · Apr 15, 2009

Once you actually start the program, you are tied to their schedule, but it's like 2 or 3 hours/day except on clinical days which are about 4 or 5 hours. The rest of the time is yours to figure out when to study, which is unlike some programs that require like 8 hours of campus time.

WDW, I was just accept to Flo Vally for Fall 09. What can I expect in my first semster (if you can remember that stressful period of time?) Are classes 3 or 4 days per week? Weren't they offering some evening courses this past year? Do you immediately attend a clinical in the first semester and what exactly does that clinical consist of? Bed-making, vitals?....

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Apr 15, 2009

nicden:

I didn't attend FV; I was @ Meramec, but we attended classes 3 days/week and had a lab on one other day. We started with clinicals a couple of days in to the semester and they were one day a week from 6:30 a.m. - about noon.

Clinicals will consist of vitals, assessments, and baths/bed-making initially. You will soon progress to handing out oral meds under the close supervision of your instructor. I don't think we began IV fluids until second semester and we definitely didn't do IV meds or injections until that time (as I recall anyway).

I don't have a clue about evening classes in the nursing program at FV; that's a question for the nursing program or to look up online in the Fall semester class schedule.

What can I expect in my first semster?

What can you expect? Expect to feel overwhelmed, excited, petrified, beat up, lifted up, and finally, at the end of the semester, so very proud of yourself and amazed at your accomplishments and learning! Take it just one day/week/month at a time. If you look at that syllabus that first day and try to take it all in at once you'll go slightly nuts. It looks like SO MUCH, but remember, hundreds (thousands?) have gone before you there, and you can too!!

Your instructors may seem tough and gruff and so very scary, but honestly, they will be there to ensure you're the best, safest nurse your patients can have. Listen closely to what they tell you is expected and what you HAVE to do (not what you might need to do or what you think you need to do) and then DO it just like they tell you. This is not a time in your life to be overly creative except when it comes to time management outside of school.

Which reminds me -- take some time for you! Whether it's daily exercise or a weekly outing with friends/family or a short trip over break, don't forget that if you aren't taking some time to BREATHE, you will be miserable. I highly recommend it!

Best wishes!!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Apr 15, 2009

Also -- if they're still offering that "class" this summer before classes begin -- something about Success in Nursing School, it's something else I highly recommend. (I think it was over a couple of weekends when I took it) If you haven't been on these boards diligently so you know so much information already that your head's going to bust, it's a great introduction to some of the instructors and support staff and they'll give you some great insights in to study tips and resources to help you do well in the nursing program!!

MrsIndependent · Apr 15, 2009

In addition, you do not have clinicals at Forest Park Hospital (probably wouldn't want to). Why? I don't know but I have asked. Honestly, they aren't worth the money, IMO :)

WDWpixieRN, RN · Apr 15, 2009

Clinicals for the STLCC campuses are held are various places; again, I cannot speak to FV specifically, but St. John's, St. Luke's, Missouri Baptist, Children's, DePaul, St. Anthony's, the old St. Joe's Kirkwood, etc., were all used as facilities for their clinicals. I'm sure FV uses similar, if not the same, facilities for their clinicals.

Your clinical experiences will vary from facility to facility and floor to floor. We ran across nurses that made us want to run for the hills, and nurses that were so helpful it was phenomenal! Read through some of the Student Nurse threads to get tips on how to get along in both situations. The main thing I will stress is to try early on to determine which issues with your patients you will take to your instructor and which you will take to the patient's actual RN -- and then leave that RN alone for anything else unless they tell you to "ask me anything". Some nurses just have the time and energy to deal with students; some do not. Be conscientious of this fact and you won't have many problems.