Anyone starting RN at Miami Dade College Fall 2009?

Thanks for the info Mommy'sGirl! Does the program only cover the Generic Track, or can it be applied to the AO as well. And Congrats on your acceptance into the program!!!!!!

Thank you, No it is not only for generic, I am in the Accelerated program. All they ask is that you make good grades and that you do not work! Great grant to have, they pay for everything; including tuition, uniforms, shoes, books, Stethoscope, secondhand watch, etc. and gas card or bus pass. They don't want you to be burdened by anything but studying! Take Care

Hi!!! I currently go to Miami Dade College Nursing School at the Homestead Campus...um I am in my second semester and if yall have ne questions feel free to ask!!! Some tips to help

1.) If you are fulltime student, try not to work if possible!! I am fulltime and I work one day a week, sat, and usually a double (i am a waitress). It sucks because i would love that day to either study or relax. But only work if you have too!

2.) Semester 1 is the hardest (at least it was for me) because everything is so new and the test taking strategies are so different!! Advice: practice nclex style questions before your first test and read for fundamentals!! Semester 2 is not as bad because it is more black and white but semester one is a gray area the whole time.

3.) GET USED TO GETTING C'S FOR GRADES!! This is something I cannot overemphasize. OK, I am very anal about my grades and I have always been and I am sure most nursing students are! But please get used to making C'S and DONT GET UPSET if you do because you just have to remember that c is passing and that is what counts! Trust me, the first C you get will hurt but just remember that grades do not determine your knowledge or personal status so dont feel stupid if you do get a C or even below a c! Nursing is hard, and Miami Dade sucks sometimes because they are craming everything in your head in just four semesters, which doesent make things easier.

4.) This is prob the hardest tip to do, but try not to compare your grades with other students!! This will either blow up your head or make you feel really stupid. I know it is human nature to compare ourselves with others but just try not too!! Trust me, I do it a lot but try not too because it either makes me feel 1.) jealous 2.) stupid or 3.) the smartest kid in the class and i hate those kinds of feelings because they can ruin friendships (which you desparately need in nursing school) or bite you in the butt.

5.) Join study groups...you and your class will become very close throughout your monthes together and it is very helpful to join study groups and see different perspectives. I used to be a loner at studying and did not believe in study groups but they have helped my grades!! and they are fun

6.) RELAX at times!! Always make time for yourself because if you dont you will go crazy!! Go exercise (really helps!!) or spend time at the pool,etc. Trust me, you will be very stressed out at times but it truly helps if you set some time out for yourself (at least an 30 min -hour a day) I know of some students who seriously study 24 hrs a day, and do they make better grades than me? Yes they do but they are always stressed out and not happy. I would rather pass with b's and c's and be happy than with a's and b's and kill myself with stress. Just remember, your RN certificate is the only thing that matters in the end!!

hope this helps!! ne other questions just ask!!

asimps13,
Thanks a bunch for the advice! What book for fundamentals should we start reading? You said that the reason first semester is so difficult is b/c the test taking strategies are different, what are the test taking strategies? In what form are the test different? Thanks in advance

ASIMPS13, thank you so much for your advice. I'm looking forward on July 21st Orientation and I'm a little bit nervous. This gives us heads up. Take care.

Um...the book for first semester is potter/perry nursing fundamentals...i believe it is the 7th edition but if there is an 8th edition available get that one.......the test questions are tricky because most or all of the answers (p.s. all the tests are multiple choice besides critical thinking and math) are correct and you have to chose the BEST answer not just the correct one...my advice would be to practice nclex style or fundamental book questions in the textbook because my very first test in nursing school was a big shocker...but this kind of test taking comes with time...i am just starting to get the hang of it and i am almost done with semester 2

Wow, I'm going to get that book, b/c I need to be prepared for these exams. No one ever gave us the heads up on all the test being multiple choice besides math and critical thinking (thanks). As far as math is concerned; what area should we practice, is it like algebra? Thanks again!

um.....the math is mainly conversions for ex. 10000mg are how many grams?....it was really easy for me actually because it is straight forward and black and white (and math is my thing) but some people have a hard time with it because it is math....honestly i was way better at the math than fundamentals but others were way better at fundamentals than me......practice and learn conversions (grams, mg, liter, ml, grains, etc.) dont worry about iv math yet because you will be taught that later on in the semester

WHAT NOT TO BUY!! (I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME THIS!!)

you will get a book list at orientation, but do not buy all the books like i did waste of money!!

1.) Nurses pocket guide (it sucks)
2.) Diagnostic and testing lab book (some title like that)
3.) if you are good at math, dont buy the intro to pharm book, because the professors give (or should mine did!!) you example sheets of test problems (best way to learn math) and you can look up conversions online, if you are good at math but still want to buy it wait a couple weeks after class starts cuz you will get it cheaper
4.) the list recommends two dictionaries, you only need one...honestly the mosbeys is way better and more detailed (more pics too!) but bigger than the tabers...if you absolutly want a dictionary you can carry around then i would get the tabers..but if not dont buy a dictionary because all of the terms are online and easier to understand that way (i hardly ever use my dictionary)
5.) nursing skills book: waste of money for me!! only opened it once and i am halfway through the program....what i do is bring my camera (video on phone works too, but need lots of mem.) and record the skills the teacher performs and put it on my comp to study later. i also put the videos on utube so my other students can view and study from them too......but ask bcuz your professor may not allow you to record....so wait to buy, go to first class, ask, if yes...then dont buy the book....if no then buy the book
6.) MDC labcoat......really expensive (i think 50 bucks) and you can buy a reagular at the UA store for 15$.....wait until your first clinical day and ask if they preferr the mdc one....most dont care because the professors know how expensive they are

YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY THESE BOOKS LATER ON BUT JUST WAIT AND SEE IF YOU REALLY NEED THEM!!

WHAT TO BUY!!!

1.) med surge handbook (best thing in the world...great for clinical and studying!!)
2.) in replacement for the nurses pocket guide buy Delmar's Medical-Surgical Nursing Care Plans (saves a lot of time and way easier....really ne care plan book other than the pocket guide is way easier)
3.) in replacement for the diagnostic and testing lab book your medical surgical textbook (which you have to buy) will do just fine

You have been a blessing, thank you so much, take care!