Anyone attending or planning on attending pjc:?

Jacs7284 · Jun 20, 2009

im in my 2nd semester there and i wish i never started to be honest. the lectures have been pretty rough, its basically a self study, about half my class is failing. i think the teachers who are the coordinators are probably your best bet though...their tests seem to be a bit more fair from what i hear. im so discouraged right now.

Mikey 0-0 · Jun 21, 2009

Im sorry to hear that, I heard that it is tough...is it that the teachers don't teach well? Or is just extremely overwhelming? thnx for your post!

sleepdeprivedmomma · Jun 23, 2009

My advice, Mikey 0-0, would be to always read ahead in your courses, utilize every resource you can get your hands on (don't expect the instructors to provide printed powerpoints for you after intro), don't fall in with the "it's all their fault" attitude (cause regardless, you'll always have ineffective co-workers/bosses/collegues to work around anyway), and do your best. The program at PJC is better than it's ever been, but it certainly could use better instructors and some changes in the the way summer semester, especially, is handled (too little resources for students to access, too few hours to get it all done, too little preparation on the instructors/coordinators parts). That said, there is NO other 2 year degree you can achieve in THIS area that will offer the future Nursing will, which is why I'm sticking my nose to the grindstone and just trying to soldier through the CRAP! Get your financial aid/resources in order, get a plan to stay organized and stick to it, set aside adequate study time (per DAY), and Good Luck.

Mikey 0-0 · Jun 23, 2009

Thank you MAM! I appreciate it! I figure I will be studying a lot while in that school. I am very accustom to studying a ton for a class, and plus I already finished all non nursing related class from my ADN to my BSN and I only have 2 classes left for my CRNA requirements. So all I need is those darn NURSING classes from ADN and up! Whats your schedule like? Or rather how many days are you in pensacola? I will be traveling from FWB everyday haha. Crazy I know :).

sleepdeprivedmomma · Jun 23, 2009

First semester is typically 2 days of lecture in the AM (unless you're nights and weekends) and 1 day of clinicals (start at school then onto the hospital), plus six simulation labs (2 hours long) approximately every 2 weeks throughout the semester (but you should be able to schedule them for days you're already there)

Second semester (at least during the summer) is 1 day of lecture (ALL DAY LONG, pack your lunch) in Adults Health I and Mental Health, 2 days of clinicals for Adults I and 1 day of clinicals for Mental Health (in the summer, the class is split with half doing Mental Health clinicals the first half of summer and then the rest the second half). and almost the ONLY simulation Lab time available through the summer is on Fridays (about every other week). There are 5 simulations you'll have to take part in for Adults I and they'll be scheduled throughout the semester, so you can plan on being in P'cola EVERY day at some point during your summer semester.

Third Semester - if I can scrape through this one, I'll let ya know.

As far as commuting . . . we've got students that drive from Holley-Navarre, Fort Walton, North Santa Rosa, North Escambia County and even over in Foley, Fairhope and Lillian, AL. I'd recommend saving money by bringing your lunch (the roach wagon on campus is responsible for many a missed lecture).

Mikey 0-0 · Jun 23, 2009

Wow sounds like the first semester isnt that bad, but the following semesters look like they are getting worse . I may plan on rooming with some people just for the days that I am in pensacola, but I may just drive back and forth. Thank you for all your input, it is greatly appreciated. I was going to attend OWC, but its longer than your PJC program. Do a lot of people car pool? And how is your ratio with males and females? Also, how many student per class room? How are your mentors for clinicals? Thank you! My name is mike by the way, whats yours? :)

sleepdeprivedmomma · Jun 23, 2009

Mike, the male to female ratio is pretty small but it's on the rise. I'd apply for ALL Non-Traditional Student Programs ($$$$) because guys in the program are eligible for all that. As far as students per class, Intro started with 40 in my class, now I think my class has 35-37. Mentors???? I'll say this, there are some great Sim Lab instructors that will fill you full of great info and little things to help you learn but your actual clinical instructor is going to have 10 other students to supervise (and he/she MUST be in the room during medication pass, dressing changes, etc) and NOT a lot of time to spend one on one. Be nice to the nurses on the floor at the hospital because drops of wisdom can be squeezed from the batty soulless ones and the rest will drown you in it if they have the chance. Most good nurses want to help student nurses become good nurses. Remember too, you can learn from EVERY situation, even if it's WHAT NOT TO DO!!!! The instructors in the Learning lab (where you'll practice a LOT your intro year, if you're smart) are also great go-to resources. Just familiarize yourself with where everything is and don't get discouraged. As for a name, since I'm currently in the program and my name isn't as "everyday" as Mike, I'll just keep going by sleepdeprivedmomma, but you can call me SDM for short. :lol2:

Mikey 0-0 · Jun 24, 2009

Hehe ok, so dont wanna be singled out :), I can dig it :coollook: . Thnx for the info again, I have done quite a bit of shadowing and observing at FWB hospital and up at the military hospital also, your right about learning from things your not supposed to do . I have recently learned that the military will pay for my school, and I am very grateful for that :bowingpur. Is there any way to get in contact with people that are starting in janurary? Also, how well does PJC prepare you for your NCLEX? Thnx a bunch mam!

Jacs7284 · Jul 14, 2009

its really tough, prepare to basically self study. intro really isnt bad, but yes, the summer semester, and 2nd semester are pretty bad, this last test we took, the class average was a 62 i was told. JD offers associates in nursing. i would consider weighing your options wth both schools. ive had great experience clinical wise though, its just the lecture part of it all that is pretty bad. it doesnt matter how mjuch you study, its how well you can TEST. the testing style is very different the second, 3rd semester etc... in intro, its all pretty much knowledge base. the 2nd semester is application, and so even if you read one thing in the book, you could have that exact question on the test, but still get the answer wrong even if the situation is similar. also, weve had problems getting books in on time for several semesters. and with the military, if you dont pass a class, and you withdraw, you have to pay for that out of pocket. i know this because my friend who just dropped is in that boat right now. just be careful if you do go to pjc, i wish i knew what i know now about the school and the people who work there. ms young is a great instructer for intro, and dr thomas in the nursing department office is also great to talk to.

Mikey 0-0 · Jul 14, 2009

Hey Jacs, thnx for you info. I have also heard about the book situation. I did consider Jefferson Davis, but I am in FWB, and that drive is about 2 hours one way haha, so thats a bit of a drive :). What semester are you in? What were your hours of lecture and clinicals for your previous semesters? Thank you very much Jacs :)

Jacs7284 · Sep 14, 2009

i was in my second semester. REALLY consider your options. if you fail out of intro, you can not get back into pjc for 3 years. if you fail any other semester, you wait 6 months, which, most likely, you will fail out of one of your semesters. the class starts with about 140 students. after our first semester, about 40 fialed, and about that same number after the second semester as well. do your research very carefully. also, if you take classes at pjc ten transfer to JD lets say, the classes in the RN program can not transfer. its such a mess for me right now. i seriously seriously wish someone had told me all the things i am learning for myself. I have had several people email me with similar horror stories i have had and seen others go through. Also, if you do decide to go to PJC, i strongly recommend you take pharmacology before getting into the program. Theres a lot of drugs on the tests, or things you need to know about drugs to answer a question, so you have basically pharmacology, nursing, and clinicals, plus sim labs all rolled into 1... if you fail the class you fail clinicals and vice verca. email me if you have any other questions. i dont get on here all that often.

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