Clackamas Community Program

I got in, too!!! I only applied at CCC, so I'm thrilled :-)

I am in also. I applied to Clark, but really wanted to go to Clackamas. Congrats and see you at orientation!

I am on the alt list for CCC, but I am in at Mt. Hood and happy.

Congrats all for getting into Clackamas. It is a great school and you will learn so much. Enjoy your summer off before school starts because it's a wild ride once it does start. But dont be too worried. They ease you into it. 1st term wasn't too much work and then slowly things start to pick up. I am sure you will do fine and just know they have a wonderful group of staff who are there for everyone.

CCCRN2b, et al. - Given that you're pretty much done with the program at CCC, I thought you'd be a good person to give me a little guidance/advice on a question I have. I'm wondering if you think that having a laptop computer provides much value during the program. Personally I've always been a desktop guy but whenever I've been at the Harmony campus it seems as if I see a lot of nursing students with laptops. Any thoughts you have on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Also, I'd be interested in your comments about any other tools (like a PDA) that you've found to be helpful (either to you or which you believe have helped others in your cohort).

To everyone that was accepted at CCC, congrats, and if you get a chance, please introduce yourselves at orientation as I'd love to put faces to our screen names. I'm really easy to spot. Just look for the short bald guy with a salt & pepper beard. Looking forward to meeting you all and to two years of what I think will be a lot of fun (despite all the work).

Congrats for getting in. First, you dont need a laptop. Some people use them to take notes in class but I only recently started bringing mine to class to do this. It is helpful but you will NOT be at a huge disadvantage if you dont have one. I just recently bought a PDA. Mine has my drug guide and a program called 5min clinical consult. It provides me the ability to look up many drugs quickly and disease processes. I just got this last term and it has been a lifesaver. I am, though, the only one in my class who has one and they have been fine. It cost about $100 for the PDA and about $60 for the programs. If you do get one, get it at the beginning. 1st year you go to clinicals the night before to get info about your patients and then spend time looking up their meds and stuff. Second year you just go that am but you still need to look up their meds prior to giving them. You can bring your drug guide in paper but it takes forever to look up the meds. The PDA has made my life easier but you would also be fine without one of these. Most students, in fact, do not have one. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask anyother questions

Thank you! I think I'll just stick with my home desktop.

I'm curious which drug guide you chose (e.g. Davis, Lippincott's, etc.) as well as which PDA your using (e.g. Palm, Iphone, Blackberry, etc.). Also, if you had it do it all again, would you have still chosen the PDA you did or do you wish you would have chosen a different one now?

Thank you again for your comments. They were extremely helpful.

Are you off to OHSU next year?

hello, i am a ccc 2nd year, graduating in a week.

first:congratulations to all that got in!

second: i love my laptop and would say if i were faced with having to buy a new computer i would get a laptop, for its convenience. i would not suggest buying one just for nursing school if you already have a desktop that's working just fine.

third: i also have a pda, have had it since the beginning and have found it to be priceless...for me. not all are comfortable with the idea, but if you are tech friendly you will most likely love it. having a fully searchable drug guide and taber's in your pocket at all times is very handy. you can look up anything very quickly, bedside, in class, while charting (spelling)...whatever. keeping all your due dates, class times, clinical times straight can be a challenge, using ms outlook works well for me. it synchs to the pda and you will have your entire schedule and due dates, test dates...and so on in your pocket as well. i love mine and have used it much and will continue to use it in practice.

biggest tip for nursing school:

do not get behind!!

We use Davis at CCC. If I had it to do over again I would have still gotten my PDA just gotten it sooner. I love my PDA and it works well for me it's easy to use and I am not a "techy" type of person. You just have to decide which brand or type works best for you. I second Outdoorsy's post that my biggest suggestion is do not get behind as well. You do and you will sink and fast. You dont and you will succeed. And outdoorsy-congrats on graduating-that is a super big accomplishment.

I am waiting on the OHSU thing!

Thanks for the replies from current students - any and all tips are helpful! I have a laptop and it's been a lifesaver for me in finishing up pre-reqs. I have a family and there isn't really a quiet place to study at home, so I can take my laptop anywhere with wifi and go through A&P and Micro to my heart's content. I have been condidering getting a PDA as well.

For those who just got in, I'm not hard to find, either. I'm short, blonde, and 40. My name's Kathy, and I can't wait!

Thanks to the nursing students for all the advice very much appreciated! I am super excited to get started but was wondering if someone could throw out the types of PDA's and maybe a good place to look for one, I am not educated on PDAS at all but really want to invest in one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Oh and I will be the one at the orientation with blond hair probably in a pony tail and I look alot younger then I am hahaha usually mistaken for 19 however I am way older then that : )

thanks cccrn2b - it was a looooong road, but well worth it.

pda - i have a palm t/x and love it, rechargeable, wifi, easy to use, big screen, and it synchs to the computer easily. i bought a 2 gb sd card to expand the memory and that was plenty with room to spare. i use skyscape nursing constellation plus and have davis's drug guide, rnotes, davis's laboratory and diagnostic tests, diseases and disorders, and taber's. i love this combination, not cheap but works really well. i like how they are all together and linked. it is so fast when looking stuff up and there are hyperlinks from one thing to another, they really are awesome. i bought my pda at circuit city and an aluminum case that is lined with foam from an online accessory store. the case keeps the screen from being scratched and softens the blow when you drop it or it slides out of your scrub pant cargo pocket while you are diligently charting. mine has worked flawlessly for two years now. it also synchs to outlook, copying your entire schedule and all your contacts, if you use outlook. and much more.

any more questions...feel free.