I know that it's early, but I really wanted to get a jump on this. I have read the past two years' threads from start to finish and have seen the amazing support given by everyone involved. Considering how competitive it is for nursing school admission, it is extremely informative and heart-warming. I will be applying to all the schools in the Portland/Salem area to which I will qualify. This next year is going to be rough, but ever since I started on this journey I have loved every moment.
A little about me:
I am 33, married, no kids.
I live in Salem and have taken the bulk of my prerequisites at Chemeketa.
I have been working as a Dental Assistant for 2 years and feel that it is supremely unfair that many of the OCNE schools do not count dental assisting towards their "direct patient care" discretionary points. (I went to school for a year to become a dental assistant. I have dealt with medical emergencies, bodily fluids and have had my fingers in mouths on a daily basis! I'm grumbling, I know.)
I have a 4.0 GPA (so far) for all of the OCNE prerequisites (My single B in one of three Chemistry classes will haunt me when I apply to Linfield)
I am still one term away from finishing my prerequisites for the majority of the schools to which I plan on applying
I don't really think that I will be lucky enough to be accepted to any of the Portland-area community colleges due to my lack of necessary discretionary points (if any of you CURRENT students have found otherwise, I would be very interested to find out what you know!)
I will be applying anyway, because I know that I should at least make it onto a waiting list or two and as I have seen in previous threads - they do go through their waiting lists!
I sincerely hope that all my hard work will pay off and that I will be accepted SOMEWHERE
Again, I know this is early, but I look forward to seeing the responses from everyone!
I have an iPad that I use for some things. I think it is a dandy tool and cannot imagine not having it--well worth the investment.
I find that I have difficulty accessing evolve-elsevier content on it and need to use a regular computer when doing activities on that platform.
It is irreplaceable when it comes to reading what would have been a huge book. Do you remember A & P? I sure did have a tough time trying to read that book in any other situation than sitting at a desk.
There are also apps for taking notes with a stylus on the iPad. I think that I read somewhere that the physical activity of writing something down imprints it in your brain in a more "re-callable" way. One thing about typing notes is that it is so darn fast...faster than writing...so it is 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of another...
Before I got the iPad I did haul my laptop around--Nerd extraodinaire--but now I use the tablet when I want to travel "light" and then I can transfer anything over to the laptop later.
Looking forward to reading ALL of that year one nursing school content on a variety of media :)
I will be seeing some of you all in the CCC 2016 cohort very shortly!!!
I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard good things about the Evernote app. If you have it on all your devices it's supposed to sync up. I found a LiveScribe pen and notebooks on eBay that I'm going to try out, as well. It audio records while you take notes. If you use their paper, and go back and touch the pen to a certain note, it will play back the audio that recorded when you took that note. Seems pretty nifty as long as the professor allows recording.
I think if you are going to take notes with a stylus- go for the bigger ipad. I also use pages on my ipad and macbook and phone if I need a file- its already synced up on icloud. Kind of like google drive. Works the same way.
Just sent in my deposit for OHSU!!!!! I'm happy as a clam!
I do not use my iPad for notes - I prefer to write mine out as the action of writing and highlighting helps me learn - however, I use the iPad for all my textbooks (I used it in undergrad and now grad school) that are available in digital format. Not only are they more portable, but they are text searchable, highlightable, and depending on the publisher, have collaboration and sharing features. I intend to use mine for the nursing textbooks as well. I highly, highly recommend it. (However, a word of caution. If a textbook is only available in Kindle format, get the paper book and run away from the kindle textbook.)
I use good notes for note taking on my iPad for stats this term. I am loving it. I can DL his notes then highlight and mark it up however I want. I have also used Evernote for downloading a&p powerpoints to also then I could access them anytime without wifi.
I am also in the 2015 cohort at PCC, and am about to finish up my first year. I wanted to come on here and allay any fears that those who have chosen PCC may have, if possible.
First off, the Bad:
-Yes, this year has had it's share of difficulties. We have had a hard time interacting with some of our instructors when we don't understand concepts in class, and there have been points of contention on several different exam questions.
-There is also a moderate amount of disorganization (in one of our classes in particular), which can sometimes make it hard to be proactive and get work done ahead of time.
-Just like in most programs, there are a few instructors who are rude, inconsiderate, and unhelpful.
Fortunately, there is good too!
-We have been trying very hard as a class to bring our concerns to the staff and administration, which we are hoping will start paving a road toward some positive changes.
-While there are some "difficult" instructors, there are also some really amazing, intelligent, and kind instructors. Many of them have years and years of experience in teaching as well as in many different fields of nursing.
-I personally have been placed at some wonderful clinical sites this year, and have had great clinical instructors. I've learned an incredible amount in the last nine months, and am really excited to see where I end up for next years placements.
-The majority of the staff issues seem to revolve around a select few who all teach first year classes. The bad news in this regard, is that you are going to have to deal with these individuals during your first, already very hectic year of school. The good news, is that as soon as you move on to second year, you get an almost entirely new set of instructors, all of whom seem really invested and kind so far.
-We have a pretty cool mentor program, where first years are matched up with second years, so that you always have someone in your peer group to lean on if you're having a hard time.
I know that many of you have already made your decisions, so I really just wanted to put this out there for the people who have decided to go with PCC, or who are going to PCC because that it the school that they were able to get in to. I am not denying that there are problems, but I think that it's important to know that there are definite upsides to this program, and that you will have a support system that includes many of the soon to be second year students (like myself!) who have just been through everything you're about to go through, and made it out alive.
I wish you all the best of luck, and look forward to meeting the incoming class of 2016 at PCC in the fall!
Thanks for the insight herminegranger! It means a lot. I will be attending PCC's Nursing program this Fall and I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about this after hearing some negative input from current students. I was wondering if you could give me an idea of what one's schedule may look like? Is it a M-F gig? Are there any days off? I realize it all depends on where your clinical sites are too. I have to keep my Saturday work shift, so I was just curious of what I can expect. Also, if you don't mind me asking, where about were some of your clinical site placements? I was wondering who PCC may be affiliated with. Sorry for all of the questions. There is just so much I am curious about being a newbie and all.
I can speak also as a current member of the cohort and in hermionegranger's place. The schedule for first year, each quarter will be Mon-Wed. You will have lectures and labs during those days, whether it be morning or afternoon class or lab. Fall is one class, nursing foundation, with lectures split up into sections through the day(s) and lab stuck in there somewhere. You either had one clinical day or two (though honestly I can't remember if they had 2 day clinicals in fall - so long ago!) So either Th or F.
Totally doable to work Saturdays the whole year, it is the one perfect day to work because you will have Sunday to cram for class for the week - unless in winter or spring you get a Saturday clinical. Personally I never had a Saturday clinical, but I know many that did, and many students that worked part-time and believe it or not full-time through the year! Those people are crazy and I do not advise that unless you have uber time-management skills and are good on little sleep. I am not and know my limits. I also worked one day a week for the first term but winter and spring I felt was a little too hard to work even just that one day, it is doable but Saturdays would be the optimal day to work imo.
So, that means you will have all evenings available (unless you have an evening clinical for that one day or you get stuck in the evening lab - it is a smaller lab so you get a lot of 1:1 time with the instructor and the materials). You also will have either Th or F off with the weekend. But time off does not mean "free time".. especially come winter or spring term. FYI spring break does not exist it is a week of prep for spring term. Also, if you were smart you would get a little ahead in Christmas break but that is something to talk to your mentor about once in the program- we have lots of tips and experience for you to learn from our mistakes we will make your life easier IF* you listen. (I did not listen to mine, and I totally should have, I was naive)
Fall almost everyone is in a long-term care or SNIF, like avameres around town and the like.
Winter and Spring the groups are split between hospitals like meridian park, st. v, peace health and SNIF/long term care but this includes Vibra now (more acute), if you are in a hospital one term you will likely be placed in the opposite the following term. They try and place everyone in an acute setting at least once in the first year in W/S term.
It is tough, tough like they tell you it will be, but you don't realize til you get into it how tough. Like 8+ chapters for one lecture, and they want and expect you to have prepped before class. Often self-taught a lot of it from your own reading because lectures can only say so much. They start you with one class in the fall to ease you in, and then W/S you will get 3 separate classes: pathophysiology, pharmacology and nursing with the lab- still m/w with lab, but you will see 2 day clinicals, one day with a long 10 hr shift either on Th, F, or Sat. Same for Spring term. Highly recommend making friends- be proactive and find a study buddy- studying this stuff on your own with no one to bounce ideas off with, even if it is just to say you are right and confirm your thoughts- it makes a HUGE difference. I personally spend the night with my buddy so we can cram all night together- the one night I didn't due to the snow storm... I "failed" the test. For me it makes all the difference. I need a person and I can tell you from other students most of them do to, maybe not to the extent of a sleepover but you find what works.
"failed" -- you must pass each class with a cumulative 75%, so if you get an 80 on one and a 70 on another you balance out to 75ish or something. don't make me do the math. But "failing" means going under the 75% on a test and needing to kill it on the next test to make up for it, which may or may not be possible or likely depending on the situation. It is hard but totally doable, I average B on all tests for the most part. If you want into a masters program or some top dog speciality though might want to get better grades like As, which are possible. Those are the crazy students though, idk how they do it.
Firstly, thank you danzta and hermionegranger for your insights about your program. I think that most of us are used to academic success and when we are challenged, our response can be laced with confusion and doubt. Everyone responds to those emotions differently. We have invested so much to make it this far and the prospect of not succeeding is unbearable. Your positive, yet realistic perspective really made my day.
VivaLaVespaGirl, would you mind sharing why you don't care for the kindle platform? Choosing kindle could be a mistake that I would make.
missjordie the deadline to send in acceptance is May 16th at ccc.
Hi there. I am just joining this thread and saw your comment about applicants needing to accept their seat by 5/16 @ CCC. Is that confirmed? I am on the waitlist there and just like everyone else, I have no idea where I am on the list. If people had to accept or decline by Friday, I wonder if that means we'll see a lot of movement on the list this week...aka people on the waitlist getting phone calls this week?
In the email I got from CCC they didn't ask us to confirm our spot on the waitlist...they didn't really say anything except that they can't tell us where were are on the list and not to call about it. Oh, and that all seats are final 10/6/14.
It sounds like from what I've read, most of the people who've gotten accepted at CCC (on this thread) are going to go there, which, for me kind of sucks because that means I won't get a call! Crossing my fingers that I hear something soon.
we will make your life easier IF* you listen. (I did not listen to mine, and I totally should have, I was naive)
Althaea
7 Posts
I have an iPad that I use for some things. I think it is a dandy tool and cannot imagine not having it--well worth the investment.
I find that I have difficulty accessing evolve-elsevier content on it and need to use a regular computer when doing activities on that platform.
It is irreplaceable when it comes to reading what would have been a huge book. Do you remember A & P? I sure did have a tough time trying to read that book in any other situation than sitting at a desk.
There are also apps for taking notes with a stylus on the iPad. I think that I read somewhere that the physical activity of writing something down imprints it in your brain in a more "re-callable" way. One thing about typing notes is that it is so darn fast...faster than writing...so it is 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of another...
Before I got the iPad I did haul my laptop around--Nerd extraodinaire--but now I use the tablet when I want to travel "light" and then I can transfer anything over to the laptop later.
Looking forward to reading ALL of that year one nursing school content on a variety of media :)
I will be seeing some of you all in the CCC 2016 cohort very shortly!!!