acceptance letter for elcamino college fall2009

Quienes · Dec 2, 2009

Hi

Did you start in the Fall? If so do you like the program. Is it tough? How many hours a week are you spending at school and did you take the 151 Pharm before or during your first semester. Thanks I'm scheduled to start this Spring and am really excited. I want to get the Pharm and Human Growth/Dev out of the way before durning the Winter intersession but heard that the Pharm taken durning that time only has a 50% pass rate -WHAT! Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

KarmaRene · Dec 4, 2009

hello potential classmate,

i too am starting in the spring of '10. are you in the generic or brigde program?? any other ecc students out there? has anyone taken nur 149 yet? any suggestions? any students of ecc that are still in the program but halfway through or almost done? whats your experience? any suggestions for books and stuff?? any info or tips would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!!

Quienes · Jan 5, 2010

Hi,

I am doing the regular RN program. I'm a little nervous, I heard there was only one A given out for the Fall Nursing Essentials course. That must mean the course is really challenging because the nursing students that I've met so far have really been on their game. well, at least most of them. I've had all A's in my pre-reqs etc. so it's not that I'm afraid to work hard, I just don't want to enter a program that is not set up to support you. Are there any other El Camino 2nd year students who can comment on the program?

Thanks,

dienne · Jan 5, 2010

Hi there,

I'm entering my third semester this spring. The program is a rigorous program like most nursing programs are. It's a lot of work and you do have to put in a lot of study time but it's totally doable. I got all A's so far in nursing school. First semester is actually pretty easy, try to take N151 and 152 before you start the semester, so you'll only have 150 to worry about. As I said for semester is easy, just make sure you do your readings, stay on top of your assignments and do as many NCLEX questions as you can. I would recommend to buy a couple of extra books to practice with questions: one is Success Fundamentals Success and the other one is Nursing Fundamentals reviews and rationales (Prentice Hall). These books had really helped me getting ready for the tests.

The program offers many opportunities for students who need help. They have math workshop for dosage calculations which I strongly recommend to attend especially in your first semester; and then they have workshop on test taking strategies and on NCLEX style questions.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Daniela

Hi,
I am doing the regular RN program. I'm a little nervous, I heard there was only one A given out for the Fall Nursing Essentials course. That must mean the course is really challenging because the nursing students that I've met so far have really been on their game. well, at least most of them. I've had all A's in my pre-reqs etc. so it's not that I'm afraid to work hard, I just don't want to enter a program that is not set up to support you. Are there any other El Camino 2nd year students who can comment on the program?
Thanks,

Quienes · Jan 5, 2010

Yeah, thank you for the great information. Wow, I feel much better now. I'll pick up a NClEX practice book this week and plan to attend those clinics when they come up. Feeling a bit less nervous and definately more excited.

Which semester has been the most challenging so far?

Did you work in the hospital over the summer (as a working student nurses, what are they CNAs)?

When do you usually finish your clinicals, the schedule says 3:30 is that accurate or do you often stay later?

Thanks again!!!

dienne · Jan 5, 2010

Hi,

it's normal to feel a little nervous!!!! But don't worry, as long as you study and give it your best, you will be fine. And even if it's a lot of work it can also be fun!

Second semester was definitely more challenging than first especially N153 (med-surg) but we only lost one person to that class so it wasn't that bad. I heard third semester is the hardest one and that a lot of people fail, so I'm kinda of worried....

As far as clinicals go, first semester I was done at 2pm and second at 3pm so yes the schedule they give you is pretty accurate.

To work as a CNA you have to take a class and then pass the national exam to get your license, I haven't done that. I thought about looking for a job as a nurse student (which you can apply for once you finish your second semester) but since third semester is going to be very challenging I don't think I will.

Enjoy your last weeks off, when school starts you won't have much free time. Another suggestion I can give you is to get very organized. Buy a weekly/monthly planner and also one of those big calendars you can hang on the wall and write down all your assignments, papers due, quizzes, and exam dates so you can see what's coming up and plan your study time.

Try to enjoy your time in nursing school, it's a great experience and time goes by super fast, I can't believe I'm half way done already.

Daniela

youngdawg · Jan 12, 2010

yeah only one person got an A in fall '09. According to the faculty, they purposely made that semester a little harder to see how well the students could handle it but i guess we couldn't handle it. We started out 67 and only 37 is moving on to the next semester. More people could have failed if it wasn't for some extra credits and the fairly easy final. But i hope they don't make the incoming students go through what we went through. Don't really worry about your grade because there are other things that like math pause,clinicals e.t.c that could fail you if care is not taken. Just focus on digesting the materials and persevere (dont ever think of quitting) and the grade will take care of itself. But i think dienne answered most of your questions.

@ Dienne: how was psych and med-surg?

Quienes · Jan 12, 2010

Holy Cow - That's nuts! You must be really proud you passed, wow! I don't understand the administration, they make it sooo hard to get in, and then once your in, it's like they want to kick you out.

I had considered the "LA County" program and Mount St. Mary's, but decided to go with El Camino because of cost and reputation. I wonder if I've made the wrong decision. I guess we'll see.

Are those students (the 30 that didn't pass) retaking Fundementals in the Spring? Did the administration say why they were pushing the students more this year than in previous?

Thanks

youngdawg · Jan 13, 2010

They have to go do some type of remediation to get back in. Only a few are done with it and would be coming back in spring '10. Well according to them, they found out that many students in 2nd semester who passed fundamentals don't really know the stuff, they just managed to pass. And in 2nd semester you are expected to know what you were being thought in the 1st semester because no instructor would go back on the stuff already covered in the 1st semester. But from the students' point of view, we think they raised the bar a little higher because they want students who would pass the NCLEX at their first try, so as to give the school a good name. But that is not fair!

Well just a few tip: when you study the textbook, try to focus more on the nursing aspect because that's what is usually on the exam. I mean it's good to study the pathophysiological aspect as it will help you understand the rest of the chapter but they usually wouldn't test you on that. You are not a doctor, you are a NURSE!

Quienes · Jan 13, 2010

Thanks so much for the tips, it looks like I am going to need all the help I can get. That's a good point about the nursing aspect. It's definately a mind shift after taking A/P and Chem and all the pre-reqs. From the 145 class I remember having trouble with the "nursing diagnosis" because they seem so arbitrary but when I start I will definately focus on the nursing aspect. Good advice - Thanks again!

dienne · Jan 13, 2010

Hi,

Ok so let me tell you what to expect in second semester. Psych (N154) is an easy class, there is a lot of paperwork involved but the class and the material covered are pretty easy. You will need to memorize a list of medications (psychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety, etc) but other than that it's pretty much like a psychology class.

Now intermediate med-surg (N153) it's a different story.....the class is pretty hard and intense. The nursing process is really stressed and they make you think about prioritizing your interventions. Pathophysiology is actually pretty intense in that class and it gets more and more into pathophysiology the more you go on into the program. I heard that third semester they go very heavy on pathophysiology so start to understand how different diseases work in second and that will help you.

Health assessment (N155) is a joke of a class. You're supposed to learn how to do a through physical assessment in 15 minutes or less, but all you do in lab is charting; so don't worry about that class because you won't have to really study for it.....

I hope this helps.

Yes they are raising the bar because they want El Camino to have a better NCLEX passing score.....as I already said so far I didn't think the program was hard, just very demanding and time consuming.

Third semester is supposed to be brutal so I'm sure I'll change my mind as soon as I start that in a few weeks hehe....

Daniela

yeah only one person got an A in fall '09. According to the faculty, they purposely made that semester a little harder to see how well the students could handle it but i guess we couldn't handle it. We started out 67 and only 37 is moving on to the next semester. More people could have failed if it wasn't for some extra credits and the fairly easy final. But i hope they don't make the incoming students go through what we went through. Don't really worry about your grade because there are other things that like math pause,clinicals e.t.c that could fail you if care is not taken. Just focus on digesting the materials and persevere (dont ever think of quitting) and the grade will take care of itself. But i think dienne answered most of your questions.
@ Dienne: how was psych and med-surg?