Anyone starting HACC clinicals in January?

MisMatch, LPN · Dec 18, 2007

HI!

I'm starting my LPN clinicals at the Gettysburg campus of HACC. All my prerequisites were done at HACC York; wish they had clinicals there also.

Best of luck to you!

trinellipe · Dec 19, 2007

Hi, I am pre-Nursing at the HACC York Campus. I just applied for summer clinicals this past month. I hate waiting to find out if I made it in or not. I can't wait to get started! Good luck to you.

annaedRN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

Hello. Good luck to all of you! I graduated in May with my RN from HACC-Gettysburg. ( Got my LPN 1st at Hanover LPN program). The program is hard but well worth all of the study time, labs, clinicals, etc when you are through! I am so glad that I got my LPN first...I am so much better prepared and feel I am a better RN since I had a very solid foundation in nursing with my LPN. Let me know if you have any questions. One you "get the hang" of things and adjust a little bit, it gets easier...not less time invested mind you, but smoother. Once again, Congratulations and good luck!!!

justwannabanurse · Dec 30, 2007

Hello, I start LPN clinicals this January at the Lancaster campus. I have been attending hacc lebanon for the past 3 years.....can't wait to get done. Also, did you have to order your uniforms from that flagstaff uniform company? Ugghhh....I am so disgusted with those unisex pants they fit me good as far as size goes but I am left with all this extra material in the crotch.....Don't they know that men and women's waist are a little different I have to roll mine up at the waist like 3 times for them to fit. My fiance tried the pants on and he said these are definetly mens pants. Anyway good luck to you!

imenid37 · Dec 30, 2007

Hey Everyone! Best of luck. I may get to work w/ some of you when you graduate as I am in the area. The HACC students are generally great. I have worked w/ them at two different faciilties and work w/ a number of HACC grads.

MisMatch, LPN · Dec 30, 2007

Let me know if you have any questions.
How are the instructors at the Gettysburg campus? I'll be going through LPN in '08, then hope to bridge in summer'09, then finish the RN program. All my prereqs were done in York, so I'm not familiar with any Gettysburg professors.

annaedRN, RN · Dec 30, 2007

I did not have any problems with any of them, and of course I had my favorites. I think that there has been some turnover with the instructors even since last spring. The key to being successful ( I believe) is being organized and thorough, Make sure that you correlate class teachings with the syllabus so that there are no surprises on the tests! Often people did not do the readings and were very upset that the questions on tests were NOT covered in class...but everything on readings, syllabus IS fair game. Most of the instructors will do a quick review and emphasize testable material...but just be prepared!

Be sure to practice and schedule your labs before the due date. Susan in the lab is a wonderful resource! Be prepared to answer your own questions...it is the instructors way of showing you how to put your knowledge into practice. I found out if you truly put your best effort forth and it is a legit question, they are very helpful.

Just remember that there is ALOT of info to be learned/covered in a year...and alot of your personal time has to be invested for you to be successful. The instructors are there to help you accomplish that and most of them at Gettysburg did just that if you asked them sincerely. It is a hard program, but if you stay focused it is definitely doable and rewarding!! Best of luck to you!

MisMatch, LPN · Dec 30, 2007

dhyser,

Thank you for your suggestions.

I'll only be working occasional at an ALF this year so I can focus on my studies. Since I work night shift, I can get a lot of reading done while at work.

Now I just need to find a good way to get reading/studying done while driving, as I have a 1 hour comute each way from home to the campus. I was hoping to record lectures & listen to them, but recorders are banned. Maybe I'll record my own study info and listen to that.

Looking forward to getting started! Thanks again!

justwannabanurse · Dec 30, 2007

Mismatch, I had no idea that tape recorders were banned I will be going to hacc lancaster....I wonder if they all have the same policy. I too will be driving an hour to and from school I live in Lebanon. There goes my idea also I was hoping to tape lectures, to be on top of my game! Good luck

neci

annaedRN, RN · Dec 31, 2007

mismatch and neci23 -Yes, taping is prohibited at all campuses. But, if you print out the powerpoints (some instructors still give them to you, but they have a HUGE paper issue there and usually make you print them out yourself) and take notes on the pertinent "stuff" it helps get the main ideas. I think that even if taping lectures were allowed it would be more beneficial to just read, reread, rewrite, etc the info to learn it. I did read from the text books often to help pull all the ideas together. I know that doesn't help utilize driving time..but hope it helps anyway! You'll have to let me know who your instructors are! Are you geting excited?

MrsBradyMom · Dec 31, 2007

I think the uniforms are itchy and horrible. I feel like the Pillsbury dough girl. My crotch in the pants also comes down to my knees.

For those of you that have been through this program....does a PDA help? I am seriously considering this purchase along with the sofware they gave us a list of. It's a huge investment (Palm T/X = $300) but I hear others on the boards talk of how invaluable they are.