ACC Austin community college mobility track 2017

6 minutes ago, nqb55 said:

I don't know exactly the details of the traditional track, so I can only attest to my experience with the mobility track. However, when speaking with other students in the traditional track, the mobility course work was more "hectic". The material/books were the same, but since mobility course work was more compressed, we were covering multiple body systems at once e.g. cardiac, respiratory and digestive system would be all on one test! So the hardest part was trying to "cram" enough study time for all the systems.

But I think as long as you figure out the "best way to study" and manage your time appropriately, you should do fine. Also studying/taking a nursing exam is going to be eye opening if you haven't taken an NCLEX style test before.

Big time intense is what I’m hearing. I will definitely have to ramp up my discipline but I can do it. I have to. Thank you again

1 hour ago, ATXCat said:

Big time intense is what I’m hearing. I will definitely have to ramp up my discipline but I can do it. I have to. Thank you again

No problem, just grind it out and it'll pay off in the end. Then after mobility you can apply to the ACC BSN program! (which I hear good things about)

The mobility course is accelerated. Like the previous posters stated the systems are combined and you cover multiple areas throughout the year. I believe I did labor and delivery the second semester. The idea is you possess enough knowledge from your previous healthcare experience to keep up. In traditional they start you in the second semester of traditional track if you possess an LVN from ACC. (not sure if that's still an option)

If you are an LVN you will not have as much problem as the other licenses: paramedic, RT, Xray tech and surg tech I believe. My classmates who possessed these other licenses to qualify for the program had a harder time changing their thought process to " think like a nurse". (You know like if hand washing is the answer you always pick handwashing... kinda like that. It sounds dumb but those wrong answers on the tests add up).The other side of that sword is you might rely on your LVN/LPN experience and not "answer by the book". That was one of my challenges.

If you require more structure I would go with traditional. They provide more hand holding which for some aspects is beneficial but it takes longer to finish the program. Traditional is better organized as a program. Also from my friends that were in traditional it sounded like traditional is more diplomatic and mobility is more like my way or the highway.

The reason I chose mobility was because it's three semesters in a row so you finish in a year. It was difficult but its doable. Goodbye social life, goodbye family, what are friends? ( I also worked full time nights the entire time). The traditional track does not do Summer semesters so many in that program use that time to work or finish other non nursing courses. I had everything non nursing done before I started so again I didn't care about that stuff I just wanted to finish as fast as possible.

I passed the NCLEX the first time at 75 questions. ACC is a great school in general for nursing and carries a lot of clout in the community. You will not have a problem finding a job, especially from hospitals that are aware of mobility they will snap you up, you are already experienced and they like that.

What an incredibly thoughtful response. You gave me insight that I needed. I feel like I can make a more informed decision moving forward.

Best,

Pam

Also just to clarify ... I’m not sure if I made sense. The other licenses: paramedics, RT, XRAY and surg techs... I’m not saying they didn’t have the medical or clinical knowledge -they do and many times more advanced. It’s the nursing thought process that was a challenge for them based on what my classmates shared with me. So where as they would possess the correct clinical answer they would still get the questions wrong because it wasn’t the correct nursing answer. Hope that makes sense. Just wanted to clarify for any future readers of this post.