Austin Community College ADN Spring 2018

I choose EVC as my first campus then CEC RRC. I heard RRC was really hard compared to EVC and the experience in general was better at EVC. It'll be a little harder for me since I live in NW Austin, close to Cedar Park, but I figured it would be worth it. Right now only thing I'm stressing about is child care arrangements in january lol. I really can't wait. It's been a long road.

Sorry to bother everyone but Im having a hard time preparing for the 1st master check off because I have no idea what the scenario will look like and the teachers didn't really explain it. Could someone help me by giving me an example of a scenario or something, Im just so worried, I have everything down except for the " Explain the procedure to the patient and why this intervention is needed ". Again we only meet 1 day out of the week, I feel like Im going crazy.

I don't remember the scenario for the first skills checkoff but it was probably something like handwashing, donning PPE, and something like repositioning a patient in bed/or moving them to a chair.

So for the "explain procedure and why its needed" I would just say "Hi Mr. Smith, Im here to help change your linens so we can prevent problems with skin breakdown or we can help with infection control"

"Im here to help you to the bathroom to make sure you are safe while getting out of bed"

"Im here to help you to the bedside chair to help with ROM and prevent skin breakdown"... something to that effect.

In check-offs ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS perform hand hygiene entering and exiting a room (some profs are ok if you just verbalize you are doing hand hygiene), provide privacy (if you dont shut the curtain or verbalize you are providing privacy they can fail you for that one thing), verfiy pts identity, explain what you are doing, upon exiting address the 4 P's (pain, position, potty, posessions including the call bell), and ALWAYS lower the bed and raise the side rails. Safety is a HUGE issue and they will fail you for forgetting to do that.

After the first couple of times all of that just becomes second nature to you but I know how nerve-wracking it is especially the first check-off.

Don't stress about the scenarios. The first check off since you haven't learned any other skill yet, so just make sure you properly do entry measures, correctly don PPE and know full hand washing techniques (ie. how long the process is, how your supposed to wash your hands how much soap, etc ), taking off PPE then exit measures. At most extra from that you may give the patient a blanket or some water. Verbalize that your verify HCP order, no exp dates, giving privacy. The rest of the check offs your given simple scenarios that reflect what you need to demonstrate. In those cases they are literally real life like scenes. So don't stress over scenarios, focus on mastering all the skills. Everything else just falls into place! Good luck!

In terms of "explain to the patient", it's really what your in the room to do and sometimes why. So if your just going in to give a blanket, that's what you say. Later when you do ROM, changing bed or vitals, hygiene etc, then that's what you'll say more and why. "Right now I'm going to help you walk around, give a bath and do some joint health movements and then change the linens for you. Do you have any questions or concerns?" Just imagine a real hospital scene and you'll be just fine!

Thank you all so much! I feel less stress, I just regret not asking the professors questions, I felt rushed at the end of class and plus they seemed tired, its a late night class! But thank you all again for the advice and examples! Sometimes I feel intimidated because Im the youngest and less experienced in the health field, in my class compared to other students. But asking for help on here really calms my nerves . THANKS EVERYONE

Also what are clinicals like? And how were they decided, as in how were students assigned to their clinical site?

Did you take any courses at multiple campuses?

I'm hearing to stay away from rr. Any experience with this or ever heard of anything?

Hey guys! Recent ACC grad here! Just wanted to send a little encouragement to everybody and a congratulations to those who have their acceptance letters! It's a tough 2 years but you can do it! It's still hard for me to believe that I am an RN now with almost 5 months of experience under my belt! If you have any questions feel free to ask! I was at RRC and loved all of my professors. Was also an officer with the ADNSA (student nurse association) so I know a few of the professors at other campuses!

The campus you get is the campus all your nursing classes will be at.

I'm so glad I found this forum! Is there anyone that hasn't gotten an acceptance letter yet? Most of my friends have gotten their acceptance emails and I'm getting a little nervous. I know I'll get my ranking placement email Thursday, but it's a little nerve-wracking not knowing.

You only take classes at your home campus. What things have you heard about the RRC?

Did you take any courses at multiple campuses?

I'm hearing to stay away from rr. Any experience with this or ever heard of anything?

I think that for Level 1 they tried to assign clinical sites geographically. But all other levels it was just luck of the draw for what site you got. I live in Leander and my Level 4 clinical was at St. Davids South Austin. But generally speaking if you attend CEC/EVC you will have clinicals down south, RRC you have clinicals up North/Central Austin. I think CEC does clinicals for some levels out in Kyle.

Also what are clinicals like? And how were they decided, as in how were students assigned to their clinical site?