Anyone in Maricopa CEP Program that take/took NUR104AB class?

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Anyone? I am not sure wether I want to take this class or not. Supposedly it reviews the content and is good for when you have questions.

I have two concerns:

1. I have test anxiety. Does this 1-credit class have exams/quizzes too?

2. Inconvenient time. Our classes goes from 8am-12pm. Then we have a three hours break before this class starts from 3pm-4pm. It's a rather long wait for the one-hour class if you don't live nearby.

A little background, this is for block I. For prereq classes I usually get A/B's so I feel fine-ish. Just not sure how really beneficial this class is. Does it really prepare you for the N-CLEX like it said it wouls? Because everyone I know say they feel unprepared after graduation anyways. Going home at noon rather than 4pm, even though only once a week, seems nice.

Any opinions from current / prev students or in general? Thank you ?

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Specializes in Neuro.

Eh, I took it for some of the blocks. Honestly it depends on your instructor whether it is worthwhile. I had 1 instructor it definitely was, we reviewed things more heavily and then 2 instructors where I really did not feel I got anything from it & it was a waste of my time & $.

We didn't get a letter grade, just a P ("Pass") for showing up & we did not have tests or assignments.

It is however usually a good time to ask the instructor to review something you didn't understand and can ask questions.

Kinda hit & miss in my opinion whether or not it's worth it.

I do not feel like it prepared me for NCLEX, the regular nursing exams/quizzes in the main class did, but not 104AB.

And yes, after graduation and NCLEX it's a whole different world and it's normal to feel like you know nothing. You do know more than you think, but nowhere near what you will learn on the floor. Nursing school only gives you a very basic foundation, your real final year of "nursing school" is when you first hit the floor on your unit.

Congrats on getting in & good luck.

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Specializes in Neuro.

Also kinda weird such a time gap, wonder if your instructor is teaching another class during that time? All our 104AB's were either right before or right after lecture.

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7 hours ago, MiladyMalarkey said:

All our 104AB's were either right before or right after lecture.

Thank you for your input Milady! If it was right before/after class it would definitely be a better time. I read some topics that said the extra class for block 1 isn't as useful as compared to block 2, 3, and 4. But I guess I'll see. I can perhaps take the first extra class and then drop out if the wait really is 3-hours.

Good to know it doesn't have exams and that it's passing/no-passing. Thank you for the information ??

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HI -

This class does not have exams/tests other than review tests (non-graded). It is a review class, and is also in block 2, 3 and 4.

For me, some days it was really useful, others not so much.

The timing sounds a bit crappy though. Ours ran immediately before a class, so it was just like an additional hour before class.

One thing is though - if you do have to wait it is a great opportunity to study in the library?

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Thank you Apple-core. I thought about studying too in the meantime, but I like to use e-books rather than the physical one, so I'll have to worry about chargers and plugs which aren't in abundance at all. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it! ?

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On ‎8‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 10:08 PM, potatoz said:

Thank you Apple-core. I thought about studying too in the meantime, but I like to use e-books rather than the physical one, so I'll have to worry about chargers and plugs which aren't in abundance at all. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it! ?

Which school are you planning to attend? There should be a library that has a gazillion computer terminals to work from. Your e-books are likely to be available via ThePoint website (unless your school doesn't use that)? That's the same place where you take the PrepU quizzes.

In terms of having your e-books downloaded onto a flash-drive, you can just plug it into an available computer.

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1 hour ago, Apple-Core said:

Your e-books are likely to be available via ThePoint website (unless your school doesn't use that)? That's the same place where you take the PrepU quizzes.

Thank you Apple-Core. I go to Paradise Valley CC. I downloaded the books into my tablet, but you're right I can just use the computer's usb port as charger if other plugs are used.

Oh that also brings me to another question. You mentioned PrepU quizzes. I assume you can only access that through buying the book bundle/having the access codes. Would you know if buying the access codes for all classes are absolutely necessary?

Were the quizzes on prepU mandatory or only a suggestion for exercise?

From my previous pre-req classes, even though teachers told me the access codes were mandatory, we did not use them at all. Every semester I wasted $$$ on them. So this time I actually didn't get the bundle. I bought pdf versions of the books separately. I'll have to buy the access codes separately too. But I wanted to wait and know I actually need them before buying them.

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Hi Potatoz -

For us, the PrepU quizzes were mandatory because we earned points for completing them. I guess you could not take the quizzes and forego the points, but since every point counts, so I wouldn't suggest that. You have to achieve 76% overall to pass, and believe me when I say that is a strict cut-off: we lost one classmate because she scored 75.99%...no joke!

However, whether they will be mandatory or not is down to your individual professor(s). The PrepUs are part of the e-book bundle, yes. They are pretty expensive. I would wait and find out if the PrepU quizzes will be part of your final score. Do you start next week? You should have heard something from your instructor by now. Have they sent a syllabus?

Personally, had it not been for the PrepU quizzes being mandatory, I wouldn't have bought the e-books. I much prefer the hard-copies, and I could find them much cheaper that way.

Having said that, the PrepUs are a really good learning tool!

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On 8/12/2019 at 7:43 AM, Apple-Core said:

We lost one classmate because she scored 75.99%...no joke!

Do you start next week? You should have heard something from your instructor by now. Have they sent a syllabus?

Wow that is super harsh to fail a student with a 75.99%! I understand that it's the logical and "fair" solution, but this is when some compassion can come in, especially when the student only needs an extra 0.01.

I do start next week yes. My Canvas registered me under the wrong school and I have been contacting multiple authorities on this with no resolvement. So I don't know if my teachers posted anything or if I can even receive it. But I did receive an emal from the school with a list of books to buy.

Oh hey, were you asked to buy this thing called "Lippincott DocuCare"? I'm buying my books without a bundle (found cheaper ways) but can't find much about DocuCare. I'm assuming it's a program. There are 6, 12, 18, 24-month subscriptions.

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Hi Potatoz -

Yeah, I know the 95.99% seems harsh, but they have to have a cut off somewhere I guess. Otherwise, if you let one person slide by, then others could argue they deserve it too. Painful to be soooo close though! Anyway - it's a reminder how every point is valuable. The scoring system is quite unique: you HAVE to achieve 76% average on your proctored exams. Then, and only then, will they add your non-proctored points. So - you may have 100% in your non-proctored stuff, but it will all be for nothing if you don't reach 76% on the exams. Not trying to scare you - (they'll go over all this at the start of school anyway) - but it's worth being aware of it so that you keep on top of your points. To get an A, you have to get 92% and above overall (proctored + non proctored), B= 84% and up, and C = 76% and up. Same rules apply there - you get 83.99%, you get a C.

I thinking the DocuCare is a new program by Lippencott, so we didn't have to buy it, no. Sorry - I can't help much there.

Good luck next week!

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Specializes in Neuro.

Apple-Core is right about the points. I'm sure you are already a great student, just keep in mind as the semester nears an end, 1 point very often as A-C said makes a difference between pass & fail.

We had to purchase DocuCare in our 3rd semester which was somewhat annoying. Just another expense, we were kinda Guinea pigs with it. In a nut shell, it is supposed to mirror live electronic charting and schools are considering going to this versus the old handwritten (or typed out) care plans they have you do for clinicals. People liked it cause it essentially was less work in some ways, but I didnt personally because I learned nothing when I used it. I despised the long care plans we did, but man do you learn a good deal doing them. So if they are pressuring you to get DocuCare, chances are good those may replace your care plans and you have to get it to do your assignment for clinical. Your clinical instructors will grade off it directly. I would of course look into it, but you may have to break down and buy that dang program as it is basically required to pass clinical?

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