NVCC Program Curriculum

[tcs26]

Yesterday I received my acceptance letter into the Momentum 2+1 Program!

First and foremost, YAY! Getting into NVCC's nursing program has been my goal for quite some time, so I'm feeling a great deal of relief in knowing that my focus has changed from becoming a nursing student to becoming a nurse.

So now I have some questions...

-The orientation exam (I think we get ours a little later because we don't start our nursing classes until next May) AND the dosage exams.

What can I use to prepare for these? I picked up the book Math for Meds at the MEC library a few weeks ago, and I've gotten through chapter 6. It covers basic math/the metric system in the early chapters, moving on to drug labels, syringes, and IV drips (how to read them) and then drug dosages themeselves. Does this sound like something that will help me on the orientation exam/dosage exams? I don't like the idea that you can't fail any of the dosage exams, so I want to start preparing now.

-The critical thinking questions

What are these? A few weeks ago, while I was waiting to drop in on a staff member of the nursing program, there was someone sitting across from me who was waiting as well. He asked me if I was in the nursing program and I told him that I was applying. He proceeded to tell me that he failed his first semester of the program and was waiting for re-entry. He told me that the reason he failed was the critical thinking questions, and that I should be worried. He also mentioned that 60% of them failed nvcc's program that semester (I'm not sure how true that is).

-How much reading is there.. really?

I have heard that there is a considerable amount of reading required. How much? Is this doable with a 4 yr old/2 yr old/husband that acts like a 2 yr old..with dinners to cook, baths to give...?

Sorry this is SOOO long. If you can't already tell, I'm a dot your i's and cross your t's kinda gal. I like to plan ahead.

[mama2_3]

Completed the program in may and just recently passed NCLEX. The first math exam is just that a basic math exam!! Ensure u go over many times the math study package. And take ur time, its not a race! people make stupid questions because the dont read the instructions! They dotn round off properly. They put a trailing zero (No 0.750) and forget a proceeding zero (0.75)

Probably less critical thinking in the first semester. More straight forward kind of questions. And one sees the biggest amount of failures/drop outs the 1st semester! Study and u will be fine! Read the req'd reading and understand, memorizing is nice, but if u actually understand the concepts, ur ahead of the game. Study the "boxes" "charts" and tables in the req'd reading, they summarize the content up very well!! As school progresses the questions get a bit more difficult, they give you more info in the question,and you have to pick out what they are asking. If you study, it will go well. make a schedule and go by that and get ur family to help you. I completed al the non-core nursing courses ahead of the program (traditional) so I had plenty of time, not working helped too,lol and my wife was super supportive.

Yes there can be a lot of reading, some weeks more than others, thats why you have to plan! And then u can worry about NCLEX,lol Most of the people i know have passed, but know a few failures as well. Nothing to be ashamed of if ur not successful! Good luck in the program

Flames,

congratulations on passing NCLEX. Sorry I am off the topic, but we all (nursing students)will have to go through it eventually, right? After graduation, did you take some sort of review class? How much time did it take you to get ready? I know everyone is different, nevertheless, any advice?

Again, congrats!

[Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I took KAPLAN classes. They offer various program choices

1) $499. 8 classroom sessions, as well comes with online study content, 1200 questions, actual content on videos and a 600 page text book. Comes with a gaurentee--if u fail the NCLEX you can either a) get ur $$$ back or B) attend a another whole sessions. One has to attend ALL classes (you can make a missed class at another facility)

2) $399 online session. Same as above, but NO classroom and NO gaurentee.

3) 1200 online question bank. No book, videos, just the questions!

Was it worth the $500? Hard to say. What I liked was the text book, fairly thorough, I read it thru 2 times. Question bank was very handy as well. Kaplans method is the "decision"tree" You look at the question and try to figure out what they are asking. then you can break it down by is it an "assessment" or implement question. if it requires more assessment, you can get rid of the implement answers! if its neither, than you think of maslow, and your ABC's! Its a very easy method. They give you other "hints" as well, ie pain is psychosocial (not a priority) in many occasions so you can wipe that out as a possible answer. As well in the class room session our instructor gave us a pile of good advice. It was a very good refresher!!

1 thing I do know, there is stuff on the NCLEX that wasn't covered at Kaplan, even though our instructor said everything was covered in the videos or text book! As well i would say a lot of the questions, one couldn't use their "decision tree" to answer the questions!

Overall, yes I would have to say it is worth it, the online videos that cover the actual content are very good and so is the text book and question bank. Is it worth the extra $100 over the online class, prob not, but that extra $100 is sort of like insurance,lol I belive if you do fail and want ur $$$ back, you have to return the text book. As well I found Saunders 4th edition NCLEX book a great resource for the NCLEX and during school. Weird on how during school, some of those answers on saunders appeared in other places!!

[Cilantrophobe]

I agree. I would feel SO much more comfortable taking the co-req's now (with two kids under 5 this would be the absolute best way to succeed later in the NUR classes). What's also strange to me is that when I called and told the department that I need 5 more credits in order to be considered a full time student, I was told to take classes of my choice that are not in the nursing curriculum, and that if I signed up for classes that are administered later in the curriculum, I would be audited and have to meet with the dean. Originally I had 6 classes chosen (all online) and I was going to take another 6 next semester leaving me with only NUR classes for my final year. I am definitely bothered.. but I don't really have a choice here.

OK, now wait a minute, that is RIDICULOUS. You need to work the chain of command dear. They are being unreasonable. Who are you talking to? The nursing department or student services? I hope you know that now that you are in the nursing program that you don't have to talk to student services anymore. I am telling you, you should be able to get approval, even if you have to work your way up to the dean. There is NO reason why you should have to fill up your schedule with nonsense classes when you could just take your coreqs.

Aside from that, why do you need to be full time? Just so you know you still get financial aid even if you aren't full time. I got every dime of my financial aid last year and I was not full time. This is a common misconception. Some girl in my NAS 162 class was taking extra classes just to put herself at full time and I tried to explain to her that it was a waste of money and time on her part. She just didn't get it. I have taken 7 credits every semester for a while now. Besides, you wouldn't be full-time if you were only taking NUR classes, except for your final semester at NOVA, it is 13 credits.

If you don't get your way, good luck no matter what. I think the school is being unreasonable but if the dean says no, I guess there's nothing you can do about it. Just don't waste your time and money taking filler classes for financial aid purposes, TRUST ME!

[Readyforthenextstep]

To get financial aid you need to be enrolled for 6 credits min...Unless the rule is different when you are in the program.

[Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Prior to starting the program, I was in direct contact with the first year dean of nursing, if I were you, I would contact her via email. I can pass along the name if you wish, just PM me.

The secretary for the 1st yr students is excellent as well, and I'm sure she could help you out.

[Cilantrophobe]

To get financial aid you need to be enrolled for 6 credits min...Unless the rule is different when you are in the program.

Right, but that is not what she said, she said she has to take extra classes to bring her up to full time status, which means she does have classes to take, probably just not enough to put her at full time status. I just want to make sure she understands that you don't have to be going full time to get financial aid. Because unless you are getting a ridiculous amount of financial aid($4,000+), it is technically a wash to take extra classes, when you calculate the cost of time, travel, tuition, and books. Especially considering they give you all the money at 3/4 time!

[tcs26]

Thanks for your responses! First off, I want to take my co req's now. Because I am not permitted to do so, I was told by the nursing department that I would have to take filler classes to reach my 12 credits to receive my financial aid. I had no idea that you can take less credits and still receive the aid.

This semester I have to take- ITE 115, HIS 101 and HLT 141 (I have already taken NAS and ENG). I cannot take any other classes listed in the nursing curriculum (according to the nursing department). Together this makes 7 credits. Again, I was told that I need 12 credits in order to receive financial aid, which is why I am signed up for 5 credits worth of random classes that I don't need.

I will email the dean and see if it is at all possible to take any co req's now. I am doubtful of this because the first document I received after being accepted states that this is not allowed (because a lot goes in to organizing these momentum only classes).

[Cilantrophobe]

If I were you I wouldn't waste my time or money on those 5 credits worth of filler classes. Especially since it is not required to receive the financial aid. I qualified for $3481 for the 08-09 school year, and ended up getting $2864. Fall '08 I took 7 credits and got $1245, Spring '09 I took 7 credits and I got $1246, and Summer 09 I took 4 credits and got $373. If I had taken an extra 5 credits during both Fall and Spring I would have paid about $1000 alone in tuition which means I would have actually lost money, especially after you factor in the books, travel, and time.

Well, it sounds like you won't be able to take any co-reqs right now. That's a bummer. It doesn't make ANY sense, unless they have specific co-req classes that are only open for enrollment for the momentum students. For example they may have a PSY 201 class that you will all take together, or something like that. Oh well, it will all pay off when you get your BSN!!! I wanted to do the momentum 2+1 but it just wasn't right for me.

[tcs26]

Actually, that is how they're doing it. All classes are offered in a special section to only momentum students. I will have to see how things go and hope for the best when it comes to the the NUR classes. Regardless of the schedule, I'm relieved to actually be in a program.

FutureNOVARN- Have you received your schedule yet?

[Cilantrophobe]

Oh yeah, we did enrollment back on August 30th, I think it was. But we got our first clinical assignments at orientation. You will probably get your clinical assignments during Spring 2010.