El Centro ADN 2012 - Page 16

We had VA, Dallas Presby, Nursing home in irving, and I think one more place but im not sure. Thanks for the advice! Im nervous and excited. I just spent the past year working at an amazing doctors office where i got to experience a lot of things that i doubt i'd have learned any where else at my current level. If it werent for that job I know id feel overwhelmed in school but now i know that it just takes time to learn what i need to learn. Any other advice you have or insight you want to share about what to expect would be amazing and I know i'd be greatful.

are your shox completely black? like even the "shox" on the heel of the shoe? I love shox they really help with my arches and knees but the only ones that are completely black are too stiff. im gonna call because i cant help that i have a 90 year old body.

The only other advice I can give is make friends with each other. Your friends and family may not understand what is going on but your nursing friends will. Remember that you all are in this together and are not competing anymore. If you find something works for you, share it with your nursing buds. If you are not sure of something, ask your instructor. Do NOT be afraid of them! Another thing is to read the points at the end of the chapters first, then go through the chapters and skim reading the headings and vocab. Once you have done that, get up and stretch and come back and read. The way that questions are asked on tests are not like any other questions you have had on tests before. I HIGHLY recommend that you do the Evolve questions online and buy a book called Fundamentals Success by Nugent/Vitale. It has tons of NCLEX questions with rationales that will help you. The more NCLEX questions you do, the better! I know some of this may not make sense to you now but it will after you get started.

If you are down at the VA, you are going to see LOTS of things! Wound care was the BEST! The patients are very friendly and the staff was AWESOME! One thing though, if you are at the VA I would check with your instructor about your shoes. She is picky and will even want you to wear a black shirt underneath your scrubs. Remember, she is military and that is what she wants everyone to look the same and professional. She does not take any crap but she will make you a better nurse because of it.

Let me know if you all have any questions. Again, remember BREATHE! This will all be ok!! Just say to yourself, I am a nurse, I CAN do this!!

Ladybug, here is the all black one:
Nike Shox 3.2 Women's Running Shoes*| FinishLine.com | Black/Black

You can always use fabric or vinyl paint to cover the different colors.

Megan1217, thanks for all the pointers! Do you have any suggestions as to what to read ahead? I feel behind already and it haven't even started

this is off topic but, does anyone remember some of the vocab words on the HESI and some of the anatomy questions?

Sarah, use this site:
Hesi vocabulary flashcards | Quizlet

Some of those words are on the exam for sure. My advice is to take the vocab section last. The reasoning behind that is, when you do the reading and grammar, some words are defined for you. Write down the definition on the scrap paper if that occurs. You never know if they ask you any on those words.
When you do the math section (I would recommend that you do this first since it takes the most time and energy), write down any conversion that they give you. Write down the conversion as soon as they give you your scrap paper just in case you forget. GL!

iCme, Thanks for the link. I saw those but im not too impressed. Im gonna go look for some this friday. If i find a pair I like that isnt all black, Ill go talk to someone at the school.

I really think have the blood test done by the time admission date is due. It should be done but the first day of school. I am waiting today to get my result back, only test I havent completed. Probly will get disquailifed for not having it???

Haha, I was reading this thread and had to join. I graduated from El Centro (Northlake) in December and have a floor job at Parkland. I have to say, that after getting through that program, that I am at least just as equally prepared as all the other new nurses, and even more so, in many cases. It's only been a few months but already feels like it was so long ago. Parkland has an awesome education department; I took ACLS and the pre-req courses there while I was in school and the knowledge they gave me really helped through my last semester at Northlake. If you can get a job as a PCA while you are in school I highly recommend it. During my job search I found that Parkland and Methodist are pretty much the only hospitals in the area still hiring ADNs and it is extremely competitive. Also, some students who worked at other hospitals (Baylor, Med City) during school did not get hired by those hospitals in the end. Parkland is very loyal to their PCAs/nursing students. They are working towards magnet status currently, but I haven't seen a change in their hiring yet (ADN/BSN); they are just requiring managers to get their BSNs. Anyway, enjoy what you can while you are there (major care plans, haha!) and try to appreciate the instructors for their uniqueness. There is one in particular I HIGHLY recommend for 4th semester. I won't post her name here because I think it's against site rules, but she is a Baylor grad, ex-Baylor nurse, used to teach at Collin county, and cardiac is her love. Get her if you can (hope she's still there).