Level 2 @ TCC??

[mistiffy]

I was just wondering, if anyone on here has been through level 2 at TCC yet? I'm about 3 weeks away from being a level 2 student there myself, so I was wondering what I could be expecting as far as schedule-wise, what the instructors are like, etc? I know it's med/surg but that's about it. We had pre-enrollment last week and basically I was handed a card that I had to sign and that was it, no explanation, nothing, I felt like I was signing my life away! lol, of course this is all considering if I decide to stick w/ TCC and not transfer to Langston if, of course, Im accepted. Thanks!

[mistiffy]

Anyone??

[PedsNrs2B]

I know this is an old thread, but I am wondering the exact same thing? When is I&P2 and when is Med/Surg lecture, lab, clinicals? Also, do you have lab all 4 semesters?

Thank you,

Terri

[juggernaut4848]

I'm going into level 4 now, so things may have changed some, but here's how it was for me. The tests are just as difficult as level 1 and may be a little worse. I would highly suggest you start reading lewis or whatever med-surg book you have regularly:up:. Test areas people had problems with: fluid & electrolytes (1st test, know the tables they give you), cardiac (you don't need to know dysrhythmias, but read all you can about MI and HF), musculoskeletal (different tractions, casts). If you have an NCLEX book, like Saunders, do questions out of there r/t what you're studying.

Competencies: We had 3. Dosage (1st wk), performing an IV push, and inserting a foley cath. The 2nd 2 are done on the dummies in nursing lab (NSL), and you only get 2 tries/competency. I think about a quarter of our class failed one competency (usually push r/t bubbles in syringe) the 1st time, but I think everbody passed their second try. We had NSL in the morning on thursday when in med surg and in the afternoon when in interventional (see clinical area). It's good for practicing clinical skills, but the role playing gets annoying quickly.

Clinicals: are split into two groups, med-surg and interventional. One is done the 1st 6-8 weeks, and then the groups switch. Med-surg is working in a hospital using focused care plans and a teaching plan. Instructor quality and grading varies. I had evening clinicals at St john, and my instructor was awesome. However, other students said a few instructors would fail them on their 1st care plan regardless of what they wrote or treat them badly. I wont name names, but I will give intials: DM and MS. Of course, other students got along fine with these teachers. You'll have 2 days/week of clinical, but you may have to go in a 3rd day to get pt info.

The second part of clinicals is split into 3 smaller 2 week rotations. One is in the operating room at st john (where I'm externing now). You'll observe surgeries, watch what a pt goes thru from preop-surgery-paru-postop, and write a paper about it. You'll have 2 days/week of clinical from 6am-3pm Another rotation works with the needy at the homeless shelter or Bedlam clinic. I was at bedlam, and I've heard it's a lot easier than the shelter. We did VS and pt interviews. The assignment is a group teaching project. Bedlam was in the evening, shelter was in the days. The final mini-rotation is called interventional. For 1 week, you spend 2 days in two seperate areas. I was at OSU doing wound care one day, and in the cardiac cath lab the other day. You'll pick an experience, find articles, and write a 3-5 pg paper.

I&P 2: For us it was on thursdays around 11am (after morning NSL). Just show up. The only significant thing about the class is the group project, which can be difficult and time consuming. They select the groups based on your DISC styles (which show how you function in a group).

For most people, if you can make it through level 2 you can make it through the rest. I hope this helps and I wish you luck.

[mistiffy]

Hey, this is the 1st time I've been on here in a while-Thanx for the info,DAVID! lol lol lol, See ya on the 18th when LEVEL 4 starts! =) We're almost done, WOO-HOO!