Lone Star Fall 2012 ADN Applicants

Stephalump · Apr 25, 2012

Gmarks, that's not too bad. My MIL did mention that they say Moco has closer to a 90% completion rate, but I'm not sure who "they" is.I think you're right about class size being the deciding factor. My MIL was telling me about a friend who transferred from NH to Moco after her first year who keeps going on and on about how much easier Montgomery is...but we should all be learning the same things, so it has to be more about the environment. My MIL's opinion is that NH accepts more students but then actively try to weed people out. She actually failed her second year a few years ago and had to start all over again. I have no clue if that's actually what they're doing, but those completion odds are scary!

But I do feel better with your third hand info :-). I've only heard good things about Moco so far, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

TxDiscoDiva · Apr 25, 2012

Hello everyone and congrats to all who have been accepted:yelclap: and for those who may have received an alternate letter, keep your hopes up because most alternates get accepted also.

I am finishing up my first year of the ADN program at NH and if anyone has questions I can try and answer some of them. We all had so many questions last year and I wanted so badly to talk with someone and ask them questions, so I'd be happy to help if I can. If your going to be in the NH program, I want to encourage you to attend Camp Wanna Win in August. It is a lot of fun and very informative with lots of tips about classes, studying, exams etc. and the balancing act between family life and the demands of nursing school. There is also a family night that helps your family have a better understanding of the challenges you will be facing over the next 2 years. Hope to see you there:)

Good luck to all of you:w00t:

4proudmommy · Apr 25, 2012

@Mckelley44 congratulations! How exciting. I know it seems scary to have a baby midsemester, but it's doable. @Stephalump, you have officially given me the hebeejeebies! Reading a lot of threads on this site has me nervous, what with the "nurses eating their young." and instructors from hell; the NH completion rate is kind of discouraging. But, I'm here now, so I can only make the best of it. @TXDiscoDiva (love that name) how was your first semester? What is it like? How does the "weeding" process work? Congrats on getting through the first year!

kalisefer · Apr 25, 2012

I am divorced with three childern. I do not currently have a job. I am hoping that I will find part-time employment and be able to balance school and home life. We all have our challenges, but I believe God will give me the tools and strength to stride forward and meet the challenges set in my path. I have made it this far and there is no turning back now.

kalisefer · Apr 25, 2012

Has anyone searched the schedule to get an idea on what your schedules will be like? I like the way the Tomball classes are lined up, looks like there will be plenty of time to STUDY and no time to sleep in

Stephalump · Apr 25, 2012

3proudmommy, Nooo! I wasnt trying to freak anyone out, just trying to get my own freaked-outness! In all reality, I'm sure NH just demands a high standard be kept - I'm sure they're not intentionally trying to fail anyone. So if you already intended on going in and giving your everything, what else can they ask?

Kalisefer, I looked at the schedule last month before I even got my letter, so it may have changed, but it looks like our lectures are offered Monday and Tuesday and we have clinicals Wednesday and Thursday, which I HATE. But hopefully I can get my lecture classes in on Tuesaday so I can have Fri-Mon off!

TxDiscoDiva · Apr 25, 2012

I think most of us just struggled adjusting to the amount of time it takes to complete all the assignments the first semester. Clinicals for a 12 hours day takes getting used to and then the 6-12 hours it takes some of us to write our nursing care plans can become exhausting. At NH you also have a out of class project going on the 1 semester, but it's more time consuming than difficult. I am not a straight A student (B's in both A&P's) and in my 40's, and I managed a B in lecture (there were no A's) and A in lab and clinical. As far as the "weeding" process goes, not everyone is cut out to be a nurse, so there will be those who re -think their choice of nursing as a career that 1st semester. I have a few friends who quit or failed. Some simply hated it and some struggle with the critical thinking aspect of the exams, when they may have been used to memorizing most material, and nursing exams ask you to apply the knowledge. I personally thought A&P 2 was much harder than most of our nursing exams, but that's just me:p They are also many other reasons people quit. Family and or personal situations that make handling our crazy schedule impossible, so they have to come back the next year. One of our classmates was diagnosed with Hodgkins at 35, but she is doing very well with her Chemo and plans to come back in the fall. Don't be afraid by all the stories you hear. The NH program has a larger number of those who fail/quit because we start out with 130 so it's expected to have more withdrawals than one of the smaller programs with only 30 or 40 that have 2 or 3 who fail/quit. One of our classmates just had her 4 baby in January:bowingpur Yes I said 4th!! and one of my good friends had her 1st baby our first semester in November. It's amazing what you can accomplish if you have the will to do it. I loved clinicals the first time I went and still do!!:redbeathe

chikzy · Apr 25, 2012

You all need to calm down and take a deep breath, I know y'all will be fine. I am also finishing my first year at NH and I believe my classmates and my instructors rock. I heard alot of bad things about the NH program and the instructors before I got in but honestly I was pleasantly surprised. I can't remember us losing anyone in the first semester because they failed, but I remember we lost some people who figured that nursing wasn't for them. I have a friend in the nursing program at montgomery and I actually think it's a little bit harder over there. I have 2 kids a 7 and 4, our instructors are there to help you suceed if you go to them. Nursing school is going to be hard no matter the program you get into, it's going to be alot of critical thinking and application questions, just memorizing the material won't work. To suceed I would advise you work full time, and manage your time effectively, lectures are mondays and tuesdays and you have one day of clinical a week which could be a wednedsay or a thursday it depends on which one you get. For NH students I would advise you attend camp wanna win so that you can get all the information you need to suceed in nursing school. Congratulations on being accepted and I believe you will be all fine.

Stephalump · Apr 25, 2012

^^I really hope Moco has the same timeframe and the schedule is some sort of mistake or something. It says our clinicals are Wednesday AND Thursday from 6:30-2:00. Shorter days but more than 12 hours , and I am sooooo not a morning person and I was already not looking forward to that one day a week haha.

On another note, is anyone thinking about getting any kind of new technology? I think my iPhone will work for portable nursing software stuff, but I was thinking of getting a tablet...

Shopping...the one part of my checklist I wouldn't even consider procrastinating on :-)

Ckfomby · Apr 25, 2012

Does anyone know if Tomball offers clinicals on Saturdays?

Stephalump · Apr 25, 2012

Ckfomby, when I looked at Tomball the choices were Wed, Thurs, and Fri.

gmarks · Apr 25, 2012

Stephalump: I'm looking into the digital recording pen. Its like $200 but its a recorder and you can down load it within seconds on the computer and email it to your classmates! I think it would help me b/c after so many hrs of teaching I can only take in so much information at once. lol If mont. is the same next year as this year, its Mon and Tues lecture and one of those days you will have lab, n A clinical day is either Wed or Thurs.. depends on which hospital you choose.

Thanks for the first year students who had great input into the program.