Current or past El Centro students - I have clinicals questions.

I just got my assignment for Fall clinicals. We all met at orientation at El Centro and we were given a sheet with our five options of hospitals and professors. We were told to number them 1 to 5 in order of preference. Then we all drew a numbered poker chip from a can. Then numbers were randomly called out and you went down and stood in line to sign up for your class. As soon as a hospital reached it's maximum of ten students, then that location was closed. If your top pick was full then you went on down your list til you had an open option. The hospitals ranged from Presby Dallas, Mesquite, Lancaster VA Hospital, Dallas VA Hospital, and one more I can't remember. Clinicals don't start until maybe the 7th week of first semester and the days range. You go twice a week..either Tues/Wed...or Wed/Thur. The times are 6:45am - 3:15pm, or similar to that. Lectures are Fridays 8am-1:30pm. There are also days (which are yet to be assigned) when you will have to come up for skills lab. I believe there are maybe 7 skills to pass in first semester.

Also, in January 08, ECC is moving it's health occupations programs to a new and better building just a block away. It will have 2 human simulator models and lots of better technology in general. I visited TVCC also, but I am more impressed with ECC and it is highly regarded as the best ADN program in the area...although it's also the hardest.

Hope this info helps you out. I had a hard time choosing between ECC, TVCC, and CCCCD.

HI,
I am a 3rd semester student at EC. Clinicals are at hospitals all around Dallas. Some others that come to mind, besides the ones mentioned in the other post, are: Parkland, Methodist Central , Charlton Methodist, St. Paul, Plano Medical Center, Scottish Rite, Children's Med., and so on. The days change each semester . I actual have a Saturday clinical this semester , which was my first choice. You will not always be so lucky to get your first choice, since it is always kind of "the luck of the draw". You can have one or two clinical days a week. If it is one clinical day a week you will be there 12 hours.
Lecture days also change and can be longer than mentioned, and yes you have Skills lab the first two semester. You will be in school or clinical mostly everyday, because you might come down to practice skills or have to attend a seminar or something else. It slows down in 3rd semester.
I myself take the Dart train (EC gives free Dart passes), to avoid the expensive parking downtown. Some hospitals are free parking, some you have to buy parking passes,or you could take the Dart busses or train also.

If I were you I would apply to all three. The entrance competition here is stiff so you want all the options you can get. But thats just me