Anyone who attended any of the Broward County Technical Schools?

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Atlantic Tech, McFatter, Sheriden. I was just curious at everyone's experience at any of these technical schools taking the LPN program. I am going to attend Atlantic Tech in January '10 and just like an idea of what's coming ahead. I'm so excited about school but how are the classes, the teachers, the studying, clinicals? I just want to hear stories of your experience.

Also, I'm currently registering, trying to get all my paperwork completed. I asked them if having an arrest record would be a problem (something dumb I did when I was 18, don't know why I had to wait to be dumb when I was of legal age, haha), they clarified that having a conviction may be a problem but plenty of people have an arrest record and I would probably just need to provide more information after my background check comes back "Not Clear". I'm just wondering if anyone else went through this and what you had to provide or if it became an issue, I just don't want anything to get in the way of me going to school!

:D

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I attend Atlantic and am graduating in October. It's a really great school. There are 5 terms and they are about 9 to 10 weeks long. In my opinion, Term 1 was the most difficult due to the fact that there were so many tests and I wasn't used to studying at all. After that, the rest of the terms got easier because I was used to studying and dealing with the heavy workload. The teachers are all pretty nice and very well educated.

Clinicals in term 1 were terrible because we had no idea what we were doing and they sent us to some of the worst nursing homes ever. We were happy to get a break from the nursing home in term 2 because you went to the hospital only. Term 3 clinicals were at the hospital and the nursing home, but by term 3 clinicals arent scary anymore and you are a lot more confident. The nursing homes dont even bother you anymore. Term 4 clinicals are in the hospital and split between OB and Peds, you will not be on a med surge floor in term 4. Term 4 clinicals to me, were pretty fun because you get to see delivires and play with young kids. And I cant help you out with term 5 yet, Ill find that out on monday ; )

And On the arrest thing, There are a couple of people in my class who have been arrested and convicted of crimes that were borderline pretty bad, and they made it through on the background check. Its just more of pain in the butt because they send you all over town trying to get all the documents that you need. I dont think you have anything to worry about

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That's great to hear. I start Oct 26th. So here's a dumb question, but do you bring ALL of the books with you on the first day? So far, i've been really happy with all of the faculty there during the registration process.

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I brought everything with me. Although you really dont need to. I would bring everything just in case. And be in full uniform. No hair touching your collar, no crazy hair color, no jewlery except for small black, white, or silver studs in your ears and your wedding ring. And no crazy make up, they will say something to you. They are really anal about the uniforms.

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I'm a guy so I think I can handle that. Lol. What do use to lug all those books around in? Backpack? Do you think a voice recorder is helpful or not needed? I haven't been to school in 20 yrs so I'm nervous as heck!!

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LoL, Sorry! Well good news, the instructors LOVE having males in their class so you have a little bit of an edge...

I made the mistake of taking a back pack to school the first couple of weeks and I had no back left. About 90% of the people that go there use the rolling back packs. I had the hardest time trying to find them and then I reallized they sell them in the book store at school. And bring all your clinical stuff too, like your stethescope and BP cuff and pen light etc...I know its a lot to fit into the rolling backpack but alot of people bring suitcases too if you want to do that instead.

And speaking of book store, make sure you purchase a watch that has numbers 1-12 on it. They want a whole number face for some reason. They sell a great one in the bookstore that also has military time on it. Which is extreamly benificial because we only use military time in nuring and at school.

Keep throwing questions at me if you have them. I know how scared and nervous I was before I started. So Im happy to help put your nerves at ease.

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Hey, I'll take whatever edge I can get! That's great info about the backpack/watch. I'll run up there and get them. Thanks for offering to answer my questions. I am nervous but excited as well. Any tips/tricks or advice? Anything I could do now to make the first week less chaotic or any work I could do in advance? Oh, and my last question (lol), the shoes have be total white? I saw in other posts on here about the Nike Shox but I notice the only ones I could find have the Nike Swoosh in silver. You mentioned how they are strict on the uniform so I wanted to make sure

You've been GREAT! Thank You!!!!!

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Regarding shoes: TOTALLY WHITE. And white sox too. Eventually you can slack on the uniform but the first couple of weeks they are nazi's about them.

Your first going to start Core before you start term 1. They have made it completly online so your not really going to be in class that much for the first couple of weeks. In Core your going to have a "basic" math test. I don't know if math is your strong point, but if it isnt. I would suggest studying up on how to make a fraction into a decimal, decimal into a fraction, learn military time, long division with decimals, and know all your roman numerals. And practice without a calculator, because your not going to have one.

And don't freak out to much about clinicals in term 1, you only have about 4 or 5 and you dont even start going to thoes until december. That definitly changes once you reach the other terms.

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Thank you for all of the information. I thought Math would be my worst score on the Teas, but it ended up to be Science (who knew). But I'll definately use the next month or so to bone up on my Math. I'm not stressed about the clinicals, I'm actually excited about those the most. I learn better "doing".

Do you know if they offer job placement or job assistance there? I'm a little worried about the things I read about LPN's not being able to find work after school.

Anyway, thanks for the all of the information you gave! I'm not so nervous now! :)

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