Tri-C Nursing Program-Starting in Fall 2011

JenniferJuniper · May 26, 2011

Just wanted to say hi, I am starting Fall of '11 at Tri-c. I was at yesterday's orientation, yes it was boring :lol.

foreverLaur · May 27, 2011

FYI on Magnet status with the whole ADN vs BSN thing. I finally figured out what the degree requirements are for magnet status! Any nurse manager must have a BSN. 75% now and 100% by 2013. Any director of nursing type role must have at least a MSN. There are ZERO degree requirement for staff/floor nurses for magnet status. You can have BSN prepared nurse managers and every single one of your staff nurses can be diploma and ADN prepared and it will not affect magnet status at all!! I'm getting my ADN, getting a job at a local hospital, and having them pay for the RN-BSN. I get my degree faster and have far less educational debt!

carole rn · May 29, 2011

Hi ... I'm starting in the Fall 2011 Eve/Weekend program at the eastern campus. I'm presently working full time M-F and and planning on doing lec/lab on weeknights and clinicals on Sat/Sun. Is there anyone else in the program that is working full time and how doable is it? I know my life belongs to the nursing program now for 4 semesters, but I'm getting a little anxious about my schedule. I am fortunate that my husband and daughter are very supportive and helpfull and she now has her driver's license so won't be relying on me to get her to and from school activities. I have a bit of a commute, about an hour each way, so that cuts into study time as well. I don't do things half way, so I want to make sure I can get everything out of the program that I can. Any response is greatly appreciated!!

foreverLaur · May 29, 2011

If the Tri-C program is similar to the CSCC program, it is doable and if you set your mind to it. I am in the traditional program at the moment (classes/clinicals in the daytime) and I am working a full-time job. I am switching to the hybrid program (lecture/seminar online, lab evening, clinical weekend) and I have heard most everyone in that program has a full-time job.

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · May 29, 2011

It's doable depending on what type of student you are. I probably wouldn't recommend it though. Not only will you be spending time outside of class studying lecture material, but you'll also be completing various assignments for clinical (care plans, med cards, well elderly interview, and teaching plan) along with your MANDATORY one hour of lab practice each week. After the first semester it isn't as bad. First semester you are in lecture for 5 hours a week and lab for 4 hours a week in addition to 14 hours of clinical. Expect to spend another 5 to 10 hours a week completing care plans, studying, ect. After the first semester it's easier. In 1600 you are in lecture for 2 hours a week (5 weeks it is 4 hours) 2 hours of lab, 14 hours of clinical. 1701 is 1 hour each week, but only goes for 8 weeks. Anyway, check your Private Messages.

carole rn · May 30, 2011

Thanks for the feed back and the info in the message. I've been carrying 8-10 credit hours each semester and working fulltime, but I know that nursing courses are a completely different beast! I'm used to getting A's in my classes and would like to keep that up if possible!! If the lecture instructor allows recording of the lectures, I'm planning on doing that too. With an almost hour commute each way to class and/or clinicals, I'm hoping to utilize that time reviewing lecture materail as well. Thanks again and good luck on your seconds semester!

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

With the grading the scale the way it is (>91% A, >84% B, 75% C

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · May 31, 2011

We had a question like that in our 1300 class (Assessment.) I do believe combing the hair was the actual correct answer for our question too. Somehow I got it correct. :eek:

foreverLaur · May 31, 2011

I put washing your hair. Based on a personal experience with my grandmother and many years working in the hospital, it is a lot easier to comb your hair than wash your hair :). If I don't figure out the logic behind these questions, I am going to be in trouble!

rrmitch2000 · May 31, 2011

As for working fulltime while doing tri c ....good luck. I have a ba in english from OSU summa cum laude, a masters from kent and all A s in my pre reqs in tri c. I have never gotten a B in my life. With the ridiculous grading scale, the crazy questions etc and the minuscule amount of points in each class...an A is almost impossible as Scott says. Hate to be a downer, but it will be hard for you. School has always come easy to me and this semester was a nail biter to the end.

Foreverlaur...took me nearly an entire semester to get these questions down. You are like me -- overthinking. Take the questions at face value as if there are no other variables involved. In fact, you have to pretend like you are stupid for some of the questions...because they are often improperly worded etc.

Good luck and keep us posted

foreverLaur · May 31, 2011

rrmitch2000, good to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel!! My previous health care experience certainly helps in clinicals but I feel like it REALLY hurts me on the exams because it is so hard to approach things from such a simple angle. Those with no health care experience are doing far better on the exams than those of us with health care experience. Hopefully it gets better later on when we're expected to know more :).

Working full-time + nursing school is awful. Doable, but awful. Like others have said, As are nearly impossible. I am desperately trying to find enough funding to only work part-time.

I don't remember - does Tri-C have a "online" track? CSCC lets those with a bachelors degree only attend campus 1 day a week for lab and 1 day a week for clinical. Our lectures and seminars are online and we go to the testing center for our exams and have a 3 day window to do so. That's what I am switching to next quarter and I have heard it makes it MUCH easier to manage full time school + full time work when you aren't in class all the time.

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · May 31, 2011

Nope, no Online at Tri-C although you spend less and less time in lecture each semester. The key to answering NCLEX style questions is learning the rules that govern them. The answer is always going to be something a nurse can do, it's always the person who fell most recently, the person who smokes, ect. Some of my best exam scores came when I didn't study a thing and literally just showed up read the question and threw out an answer. Sometimes the answer was right in the question.