Anyone attend RACC's (Reading Area Community College) RN program....help!!

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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I've been on their waiting list for over a year and hopefully will finally start the clinicals this coming fall. In the mean time I've been taking care of my sciences....Anatomy and Micro which I've done pretty well in. I'll be finished all other classes by May so when it's time for the clinicals it is all I have to focus on. I am anxious to begin clinicals but am very nervous as well. How are clinicals setup? How are the professors? How is the schedule? Is it possible to handle a full time job on top of the clinicals. Any tips or advice or any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

@etxyz-that's great to hear that you don't need any medical background. I've been nervous about that from the start but figured i'll just have to work that much harder.

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm getting all of my gen ed courses out of the way prior to clinicals so I can get out of my lease, get both my kids in school, and get myself ready to live on NO money while I attend school. Does anyone have any experience working as a CNA while doing their clinicals? Many girls I know are CNA's or in a similar position who work and attend school simultaneously. I think that that sort of scenario may actually be beneficial in that you're getting experience and practice on top of what you do in clinicals.

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Specializes in LDRP.

It would definitely be beneficial, especially for the first semester, because a lot of the skills you learn are CNA skills. A lot of girls in my class were CNAs and clinical was a breeze for them because they already knew how to do a lot of the things we learned. I would say, if you have the chance, become a CNA before you start NS, work as much as you can to get experience, then become per diem when NS starts, so you can have a more flexible schedule with school.

Also, just a side note- after you finish your first semester of NS, you are eligible to challenge the CNA exam and get your certification. :)

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Happy to hear RACC remains tough.

Graduated a few years back, and give the RN program high marks. Do NOT fall behind in the reading, and get your assignments in on time. Be respectful and flexible.

When school's done you'll have an excellent shot at passing the NCLEX on the first go-round. (Another 75-questions passer here.)

Good luck!

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I have just started following this blog about RACC nurisng program. I was accepted for the Fall 2013 programs class. I am very nervous about starting this program based on the comments above. I want to go to a postive school, where teachers are willing to help the students. I am skeptical to attend now because I don't want to be apart of a school that just cares about their pass rate, rather than the importance of learning the material well to be proficient in the field. Any advice from current students attending the program.

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Specializes in Emergency Department Nursing.

I graduated from RACC's RN program in 2007. It's interesting reading that nothing has really changed. One of my sisters graduated from Alvernia with a 4 year degree in nursing around the same time. We both sat for the same exam, the NCLEX, and both passed. Our experiences were vastly different. Mine at the RACC Nursing School were overwhelmingly negative. My sister's expediences, (several of her RN instructors at Alvernia at the time where the same as mine at RACC), were completely positive. I'd ask her frequently about how the instructors we had in common comported themselves and treated students at Alvernia and her comments were always the same: Courteous, helpful, genuinely interested in seeing new nurses flourish and not fail. They did not behave like that at RACC.

Another one of my sisters recently asked me how I got through the program, and what steps I took in regards to class schedules, work, prereq's etc, etc. I began telling her and then stopped and said, Don't go there. Take your prereq's there because the general college is fine, but don't apply to/go to the School of Nursing at RACC. I've said that many times over the last 7 years.

I believe that Dr. Amelia Capotosta, Rn is still the Dean or assistant dean of the Nursing program and it was my experience that she was not interested in seeing most students succeed.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

With respect, A. Must disagree totally with your statement re: medical experience.

Didn't have any and graduated cum laude.

Students are required to work hard at RACC... that I'll definitely grant you.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Department Nursing.

I also had 0 medical experience when I started the program. Never bothered working as a nurse aid during the program either. I have a strong I.T. background and maintained that type pf work part time while attending RACC. Lack of a medical background did not stop me from completing the program successfully.

I've really nothing to offer in regards to experience with being a student who also works as a NA/CNA - I didn't do it that way. All I could offer is third party anecdote and that would really be worthless to you.

Keep ahead on all of your reading. Practice your dosage calculations, (they still test prior to every semester correct?). Read the study guides that come with your nursing text books, they are actually worth reading through. Be bull headed about NOT giving up.

and this:

Students are required to work hard at RACC... that I'll definitely grant you.

Good luck!

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How was the nursing school in RACC? 

I'm about to join very soon.. I also wanted to ask if they make you do presentations?

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