ACC Spring 2013 hopefuls

Austin404 · Apr 19, 2013

Ruddergrl,

I'm currently in Level 2, going to Level 3 in the fall. I have to say that I absolutely love the program. ACC really does provide an excellent nursing education. It's really awesome to hear the nurses at our clinical sites say how much they love ACC students and complement on how much we know.

The program does tend to consume your life while you're in it. This is to be expected. I would say that most of the people in my class are enjoying their experience. In my opinion Level 1 has been the hardest. Probably because it is so new to everyone, and there are tons of checkoffs and tests in Level 1.

ruddergrl · Apr 19, 2013

Thanks so much for your reply!

Let me ask you something.......With the big wait we're having to get in right now, I'd like to do anything I can to at least get familiar with things beforehand. I realize that that's not entirely realistic but I still want to try. My brother.....who is an RN and about to graduate from a Nurse Practitioner program.....mentioned that there are some videos on Youtube on things that might help a bit........for example.....things like head to toe assessments, etc.

Do you have any suggestions along those lines? I feel like I need to do things on my own.....not only to try and prepare a bit......but to make sure I don't lose anything I've learned either.

Austin404 · Apr 19, 2013

ACC has the skill check off sheets posted on the ADN website. They're listed under the "Skills Lab/ Video" section. If I were you, I'd follow those, because you'll be expected to do skills the ACC way when you get into the program. The videos on Youtube are helpful, but they tend to differ from the way ACC wants us to do things. The textbook that is used for Nursing Skills and Foundations of Nursing Practice comes with a set of videos that are very helpful and are a good reference.

One issue you might run into is getting supplies. In order to do the skills, you'll need a kit. You can order those online, but half of it is shipped directly to the school, so you wouldn't be able to access it. Other than that, I don't really know what else you could do to prepare. Another option would be a get a job as a tech in a hospital to get experience working with patients and doing things like blood draws, patient hygiene, vitals, and so on. That is probably the best thing you could do to prepare.

The best advice I could give you is to take classes for your BSN before you get into the program. It will help you so much to get that out of the way now while you're waiting.

ruddergrl · May 7, 2013

I'm just now seeing your reply....thank you so much for it! ....And thank you for the pointers on what I can do!

I actually am working on my pre-req's for the Tech online RN to BSN program now. All I've got left is statistics, which I will take in the fall.

Which part of the nursing program are you in? ....By that I mean CEC or where? How do you find the instructors. Just trying to overcome my fears with this question or at least get info to prepare myself. I've heard some horror stories about how they can be pretty mean and hideous to nursing students.

Austin404 · May 7, 2013

You're very welcome. That's awesome! Stats is a very interesting class.

I go to CEC, which I cannot recommend enough. I have really enjoyed being there. I can't say enough good things about the instructors. All of them in Level 1 and Level 2 were amazing. They were helpful and really kept the best interest of the students at heart. All of Level 2 met the instructors for Level 3 at CEC a few days ago, and they all seem really awesome as well.

All of the instructors are listed in the course schedule. If you're looking for online reviews of them, there are not very many of them on the web, but there are some on myedu.com if I remember right.

I have heard in the past that there were some really tough instructors that would belittle students and so forth, but in all honestly, I haven't run into that as of yet. I can't really speak for the other instructors at other campuses, because I don't know them, but I'm sure that they are just as wonderful as the ones at CEC.

I completely understand your fears. I felt the same way when I was waiting to get in. Looking back, I really wish I hadn't worried so much. It isn't as bad as we all make it out to be. The program is designed to help the student grown from the very beginning. As long as you always keep patient safety in mind and you prepare, you'll have no problems. I know it's hard, but for right now, I would just focus on nursing skills, dosing calculations, and anatomy and physiology. Getting that stuff really cemented in your brain will help you so much when you get into the program. When you start Level 1, the instructors will teach you and guide you through everything you need to know.

Hope this helps. :)

ruddergrl · May 9, 2013

Thanks again for your feedback. You are so encouraging and kind. I really appreciate it. GOOD LUCK with the rest of the program!! I am so jealous!!

Austin404 · May 10, 2013

You're very welcome. Thank you! Good luck to you as well. You're going to do great.

pigfacetam · Jun 20, 2013

How demanding and stressful WAS the LVN program at ACC, texaslvn12? I'm asking because although I've finished all my pre-reqs for an RN and have my Hesi test tomorrow I'm thinking of just going the LVN route, because my 13 yr old's grades REALLY suffered when I was taking my RN pre-reqs, because I was simply too busy to light a fire under her butt 24/7. I need to be realistic about the kind of kid I've got and recognise that a super demanding program will just take too much time away from her. :-(. Please advise what your experience taking the LVN program was.

texasRN_14 · Jun 20, 2013

To be perfectly honest, I think the LVN program was more stressful than what I've experienced in the RN program so far. I'm sure part of that is that I've already done a lot of the same things in LVN, and worked as a nurse in a nursing home for over a year, therefore it's not completely new to me. However, they were much more strict on us in clinicals in LVN and you are required to go during the summer which means you have class and clincals 4 days a week, not to mention the time for studying and clinical homework. That was probably my most stressful semester. That said, I didn't go through the first level of the RN program and it sounds very stressful. If it were me, i would apply for both and see who offers you a spot first... From what I understand the LVN program has a semester or two wait right now as well. Either way its going to be stressful and time consuming. Though, since you have a child, it may be better to just do the ADN route and get it over with in one shot. Good luck!