Anyone starting RN at Miami Dade College Fall 2009?

[ProspectiveMDC]

Hi and Congrats to all that starting the RN Accelerated/Part time/Full time/Transitional option this August 2009 at MDC!

I have read tons of posts from prior years of former and present MDC RN students that were in our shoes not so long ago.

We have a little over two months b4 we start and our lives as we know them will not be the same. We have several hurdles left and more to come specially day of registration.

I took the liberty of bundling several posts into one for the sake of brevity. However, it's from the same helpful person.

The long and the short of "sequences" is that it makes it easier for you to register and not end up with scheduling conflicts. For instance Fundamentals of Nursing is a lecture that runs the whole semester....but Pharmacology Math, Fundamentals Clinical and Lab all have different start and stop dates. So, to keep you from picking a schedule that will end up with a conflict in the middle of the semester...they label each group of classes that are scheduled to work together as a "sequence". Just make sure you pick all your classes from the same sequence..and you will be OK>

You will be registering for your own classes. Usually, right after orientation.

During first semester, basically the class is divided into two schedules. You can choose which one you want...as long as there is space. Since they don't try and fit ALL of the generic nursing classes into one theory lecture (such as Fundamentals), they simply say make two different schedule combinations for clinical, labs and lectures. ONe is sequence one..the other is sequence two...you choose which one works for you. Also, if your in sequence one...you are NOT locked into "sequence 1" through out school. You can choose which ever sequence you want for each semester.

As for arriving early for orientation, there really is no need...other than getting a good seat. Like I said, your going to register after orientation....and usually there is a mad dash to the registrars office. If you know how to register online with "shopping cart" or "speed" registration...just pick out the reference numbers for each class in which ever sequence...and go to the library or success center and use a computer there. Each clinical group has 10-12 seats in it...pick one that you can get to easily for pre-assignment and clinical.

In Semester 2 pharmacology you will be learning the various medication as they are grouped into pharmacologic classes. For each class you will learn drug name generic(trade)/indications/dose/pharmacokinetics/mechanism of action/adverse reactions and side effects/nursing interventions and patient teaching. It sounds like a lot...but it isn't too bad. Just get to know the mechanism of action..and most of it will fall into place. I highly recommend buying a set of Mosby's Nursing Drug Cards. They are perfect for clinical and are quick..too the point and have the information you need..nothing else. Great for those times when your clinical instructor stumps you with a question as you are walking towards a patients room about to administer that drug.

Another helpful book is Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy..a great suplament to your pharm text book. Also...LEARN how to use your drug guide.

Littmann Cardiology III stethoscope, allheart.com and pick out some comfy white pants, have a copy of Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy and Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Incredibly Easy. I also love Mosby's Nursing Drug Cards. OHH Yeah...make sure you get a NCLEX review book very early in nursing school.

I really like Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination. It comes with a CD that has lots of practice questions on it...as well as a good review guide for pretty much every section of nursing school.

PDA with Taber's Cyclobedic Medical Dictionary, Thompson Clinical Xpert, and Epocrates loaded on it. Very handy, but not a necessity. A recorder for lectures is definitely handy. Heck, you might as well get a rolling bag to pack all your stuff in..unless you have a strong back.

On the success center computers...there is a program called "test taking strategies for nursing students". MAKE SURE YOU DO IT! It will help you out tremendously.

I have heard that some things have changed, for example in that 'mad dash' to the computers everyone who registers after Orientation at 3pm will have to register at 4pm for thats when you are allowed to start registration.

Also, I have compiled a list of recommended professors let me know if I should post them for all to see.

More important, I would love to compile a list of professors to avoid completely!

[asimps13]

Hi!!! I currently go to Miami Dade College Nursing School at the Homestead Campus...um I am in my second semester and if yall have ne questions feel free to ask!!! Some tips to help

1.) If you are fulltime student, try not to work if possible!! I am fulltime and I work one day a week, sat, and usually a double (i am a waitress). It sucks because i would love that day to either study or relax. But only work if you have too!

2.) Semester 1 is the hardest (at least it was for me) because everything is so new and the test taking strategies are so different!! Advice: practice nclex style questions before your first test and read for fundamentals!! Semester 2 is not as bad because it is more black and white but semester one is a gray area the whole time.

3.) GET USED TO GETTING C'S FOR GRADES!! This is something I cannot overemphasize. OK, I am very anal about my grades and I have always been and I am sure most nursing students are! But please get used to making C'S and DONT GET UPSET if you do because you just have to remember that c is passing and that is what counts! Trust me, the first C you get will hurt but just remember that grades do not determine your knowledge or personal status so dont feel stupid if you do get a C or even below a c! Nursing is hard, and Miami Dade sucks sometimes because they are craming everything in your head in just four semesters, which doesent make things easier.

4.) This is prob the hardest tip to do, but try not to compare your grades with other students!! This will either blow up your head or make you feel really stupid. I know it is human nature to compare ourselves with others but just try not too!! Trust me, I do it a lot but try not too because it either makes me feel 1.) jealous 2.) stupid or 3.) the smartest kid in the class and i hate those kinds of feelings because they can ruin friendships (which you desparately need in nursing school) or bite you in the butt.

5.) Join study groups...you and your class will become very close throughout your monthes together and it is very helpful to join study groups and see different perspectives. I used to be a loner at studying and did not believe in study groups but they have helped my grades!! and they are fun

6.) RELAX at times!! Always make time for yourself because if you dont you will go crazy!! Go exercise (really helps!!) or spend time at the pool,etc. Trust me, you will be very stressed out at times but it truly helps if you set some time out for yourself (at least an 30 min -hour a day) I know of some students who seriously study 24 hrs a day, and do they make better grades than me? Yes they do but they are always stressed out and not happy. I would rather pass with b's and c's and be happy than with a's and b's and kill myself with stress. Just remember, your RN certificate is the only thing that matters in the end!!

hope this helps!! ne other questions just ask!!

[MOMMY'SGIRL]

asimps13,

Thanks a bunch for the advice! What book for fundamentals should we start reading? You said that the reason first semester is so difficult is b/c the test taking strategies are different, what are the test taking strategies? In what form are the test different? Thanks in advance :)

[rostata]

ASIMPS13, thank you so much for your advice. I'm looking forward on July 21st Orientation and I'm a little bit nervous. This gives us heads up. Take care.

[asimps13]

Um...the book for first semester is potter/perry nursing fundamentals...i believe it is the 7th edition but if there is an 8th edition available get that one.......the test questions are tricky because most or all of the answers (p.s. all the tests are multiple choice besides critical thinking and math) are correct and you have to chose the BEST answer not just the correct one...my advice would be to practice nclex style or fundamental book questions in the textbook because my very first test in nursing school was a big shocker...but this kind of test taking comes with time...i am just starting to get the hang of it and i am almost done with semester 2

[MOMMY'SGIRL]

Wow, I'm going to get that book, b/c I need to be prepared for these exams. No one ever gave us the heads up on all the test being multiple choice besides math and critical thinking (thanks):). As far as math is concerned; what area should we practice, is it like algebra? Thanks again!

[asimps13]

um.....the math is mainly conversions for ex. 10000mg are how many grams?....it was really easy for me actually because it is straight forward and black and white (and math is my thing) but some people have a hard time with it because it is math....honestly i was way better at the math than fundamentals but others were way better at fundamentals than me......practice and learn conversions (grams, mg, liter, ml, grains, etc.) dont worry about iv math yet because you will be taught that later on in the semester

[asimps13]

WHAT NOT TO BUY!! (I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME THIS!!)

you will get a book list at orientation, but do not buy all the books like i did waste of money!!

1.) Nurses pocket guide (it sucks)

2.) Diagnostic and testing lab book (some title like that)

3.) if you are good at math, dont buy the intro to pharm book, because the professors give (or should mine did!!) you example sheets of test problems (best way to learn math) and you can look up conversions online, if you are good at math but still want to buy it wait a couple weeks after class starts cuz you will get it cheaper

4.) the list recommends two dictionaries, you only need one...honestly the mosbeys is way better and more detailed (more pics too!) but bigger than the tabers...if you absolutly want a dictionary you can carry around then i would get the tabers..but if not dont buy a dictionary because all of the terms are online and easier to understand that way (i hardly ever use my dictionary)

5.) nursing skills book: waste of money for me!! only opened it once and i am halfway through the program....what i do is bring my camera (video on phone works too, but need lots of mem.) and record the skills the teacher performs and put it on my comp to study later. i also put the videos on utube so my other students can view and study from them too......but ask bcuz your professor may not allow you to record....so wait to buy, go to first class, ask, if yes...then dont buy the book....if no then buy the book

6.) MDC labcoat......really expensive (i think 50 bucks) and you can buy a reagular at the UA store for 15$.....wait until your first clinical day and ask if they preferr the mdc one....most dont care because the professors know how expensive they are

YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY THESE BOOKS LATER ON BUT JUST WAIT AND SEE IF YOU REALLY NEED THEM!!

WHAT TO BUY!!!

1.) med surge handbook (best thing in the world...great for clinical and studying!!)

2.) in replacement for the nurses pocket guide buy Delmar's Medical-Surgical Nursing Care Plans (saves a lot of time and way easier....really ne care plan book other than the pocket guide is way easier)

3.) in replacement for the diagnostic and testing lab book your medical surgical textbook (which you have to buy) will do just fine

[MOMMY'SGIRL]

You have been a blessing, thank you so much, take care!

[rostata]

ASIMPS13, you provided us a valuable information. Thank you so much.

[asimps13]

oh yeah...and just another dissapointing heads up....making below a 77 in mdc nursing school is failing....really sucks!!! they will explain in orientation

[ProspectiveMDC]

Hey guys, I just wanted to give you all an update on my situation. Upon hours of due diligence, I have decided to defer my seat until Spring of 09. I'm happy for myself and that lucky individual who will get that late approval for the Full-Time Generic option.

Since I have most of my nursing books already, I have started studying 5 months in advance subjects like: Pharm, Physical Examinations, Fundamentals of Nursing, Nursing Math, Pathology, fluids & electrolytes, medical terminology, critical thinking and A&P. This may sound crazy to current Nursing students, but I want to get only A's in all my nursing classes. It's the only grade i've seen in College and I don't plan on anything less. Truthfully, if all I wanted was a RN Degree, I would not care and get C's with pleasure. However, I plan on going on to Grad School and with such stiff competition I'm not sure C's would get me in to a school like UF or the like.

Also, the Baptist Scholars program will be back in January and I will apply for that as well. For there are threads on this forum like Can't get a job as new RN in Florida. Most hospitals want 1 or 2 years experience in order to be hired. Apparently the demand is still there for nurses just not New Grads like they were in the past. With a program like Baptist Scholars a job is there for you upon graduation, at least that is my understanding. And, even with that they make you apply for the position.

Last, I will be attempting to spearhead the Nursing Honor Society which MDC currently does not have in addition to taking Micro in the Fall.

[brucedragon]

Hello Prospective,

Good luck on your decision !

If you ask me, I think you would do well either way--like they say, you cannot time the market--if you're good, you will be sought after no matter how bad the recession is.

Take care and hope to see meet you in the Spring !

BruceDragon