Applying to MDC RN Generic Prgm for Fall 08

Jessica1024 · May 12, 2008

Thank you. I came here looking for some advice, and all I see are horrible comments about MDC. Afte reading your blog I feel a lot better. Especially about the NCLEX RN exams. Now I understand why the scores were a bit lower. I have been given a lot of good references about MDC and their nursing program, especially from family members. I look forward to going into the program either way, a lot of people say that even with all the hard work they really loved it.

KindredTrinity · May 12, 2008

I know exactly where your coming from....except BCC was my first choice for Nursing school because I heard they were the best and had high passing rates on the State Boards. I was waiting for 2 years to get into the BCC Nursing program, I had already moved on and found a good fulltime job, then I got my acceptance letter, and I dropped everything to make it happen. I just graduated on May 5th from BCC and I hated the drive from home to school/clinical but it was well worth it. Now I just need to pass my boards and I'll be set.

Congrats to you!! And in my opinion MDCC is so disorganized, so I wouldn't take them not accepting you to heart. You made it with out them. I'm proud of you :)

Jessica1024 · May 12, 2008

I don't understand why everyone has such a poor concept about MDC. I understand that everyone has their own opinion, yet I do not see the statistics supporting these accusations. Sure there uniforms suck, but since when does what a nurse wears affect the nurse herself? I do not believe Pat did not get accepted because MDC is disorganized. I just think it is because the entrance into MDC is almost impossible. Also as said above MDC has a lot more students graduating and passing the NCLEX, more then BCC. I think both are wonderful schools, but I find it ridicoulous to compare the two schools with their scores when the numbers of students are not equal. Each program has it's own procedures, and each has its own headaches, but I do not believe that any should be put down. The bottom line is that these programs help to make wonderful nurses every year, and that is what counts.

labrador4122, RN · May 13, 2008

also remember tha MDC graduates more students because they accept more students into their programs, they have accelerated programs for students with other health careers, as well as the year program for students with BSN degrees, they also have the scholars program from Baptist.

I don't know how the RN school is there, never been there, they didn't want me there, all I know is stories that people tell me about it.

BCC did well for me, and the drive sucks up there, it is dangerous, I could never work an hour or so away from work even if they paid me tripple time and a half.

labrador4122, RN · May 13, 2008

I know exactly where your coming from....except BCC was my first choice for Nursing school because I heard they were the best and had high passing rates on the State Boards. I was waiting for 2 years to get into the BCC Nursing program, I had already moved on and found a good fulltime job, then I got my acceptance letter, and I dropped everything to make it happen. I just graduated on May 5th from BCC and I hated the drive from home to school/clinical but it was well worth it. Now I just need to pass my boards and I'll be set.
Congrats to you!! And in my opinion MDCC is so disorganized, so I wouldn't take them not accepting you to heart. You made it with out them. I'm proud of you :)

did you go to south campus?

I waited 1 year 8 months to get accepted. Now people are not waiting anymore! no fair!

All nursing schools are tough.

I hate math with a passion. and that was another reason why I wanted to go to miami dade, they can use calculators on math tests! and at BCC-no calculators.

Jessica1024 · May 13, 2008

No calculators?.....Kill me.

Jessica1024 · May 13, 2008

Did you work while in nursing?

labrador4122, RN · May 13, 2008

I don't understand why everyone has such a poor concept about MDC. I understand that everyone has their own opinion, yet I do not see the statistics supporting these accusations. Sure there uniforms suck, but since when does what a nurse wears affect the nurse herself? I do not believe Pat did not get accepted because MDC is disorganized. I just think it is because the entrance into MDC is almost impossible. Also as said above MDC has a lot more students graduating and passing the NCLEX, more then BCC. I think both are wonderful schools, but I find it ridicoulous to compare the two schools with their scores when the numbers of students are not equal. Each program has it's own procedures, and each has its own headaches, but I do not believe that any should be put down. The bottom line is that these programs help to make wonderful nurses every year, and that is what counts.

I don't know how the MDC RNprogram works. And I think that the individual person makes a wonderful nurse.... not the school.

In nursing school there were people there who had such attitudes with other fellow students. Honestly up to now, I have no idea why they would want to be nurses.

I had a student yell at me because I was arguing with them that we shouldn't be doing a skit on abortion on our project on ethics! she appologized later, but after that happened, I had no respect for her nor the entire group at all. abortion is not an ethical decision nor opinion that she/he would tell the patient! we can only give information and resources-- and not even that, social workers do that in 'real' life. but of course, no one in the group would listen to me. what a horrible group that I ended up in, one with 4 other people besides me, who didn't have any kids, who all lived in broward area, who wanted to get together on days that we did not have class nor school. not me, I told them straight up front, get together after clinicals. and they would not have it. one of them wrote me a huge letter on the school's message boards, about how I did not act part of the group, that after a 12 hour day clinical on saturday it was not a good idea to practice after the project....... and I couldn't write back (we never stay 12 hours! go in at 7am get out by 2pm you crazy B*!) because the teacher would read that and get the clinical instructor in trouble. People in class would tell me "Oh I feel bad for you, that is horrible things what they are doing to you in that group"....after that project, I did not talk to them, they were unhappy with me as I was unhappy with them.

But i guess that could of happened at any school in any program.

Jessica1024 · May 13, 2008

This is one of the reasons I do not like to work in groups. I have two children, and my schudule is very complex. I do not have any extra time at all. In fact just to study can sometimes be a mission. That is why I chose to work on campus. It allows me to study.

I get paid scraps, but at the very least I am allowed more time to study.

Usually when I am in a group I end up doing ALL the work. I can never get together with anybody, and then people end up not doing what they have to do. GOD! GROUP WORK SUCKS. Unless you have really good people in your group that are willing to work together.

I agree with you on the abortion issue. When I was pregnant with my son I got horrific advise. With my daughter as well. I had this lady tell me it was better of to get an abortion with my daughter, because if not that I would even end up divorsed, and with no life. Good thing I did not listen to anyone and had my two children.

You can not tell people what to do, you can only apply your shoulder for when they cry, and advise on options that are avaliable. It's already hard enough to decide whether to have a baby or not.

What would you say helped you get thru nursing?

labrador4122, RN · May 13, 2008

Did you work while in nursing?

I worked part time as a CNA. After I had the baby I couldn't work anymore. It was too much for me, full time school, new born & work.... I am not super mom! LoL

I was very lucky I had my mom helping me.

I am so so happy I am done with school.

Never let anyone discourage you, you do what you need to do for you and your family.

My experiences are mine. and I like hearing horror stories so they don't happen to me.

One summer a year before I graduated, one of the students shook a vial of insulin instead of rolling it on both hands, and the student failed for that!!! at BCC!! So when I was in clinicals, I was always very aware of everything that i was doing so that wouldn't happen to me.

One teacher who hated for us to be sitting or not looking like chickens without a head- and I heard horrible stories about her- even made some of my classmates cry- I am a cryer, but I avoided that because I always made sure that I asked the RN's first before asking the teacher....and that worked for me, I never got in to trouble with that teacher.... I would keep myself so busy with her, I had a big belly during clinicals with her, and I was afraid of asking for a break- she was that bad- so I would just go to the stair case, get crackers & chocolate milk from the kitchen on the floor and just stay there for a few minutes, when I would come back I would say that I was in the bathroom. Thank GOD I never got caught, or else I would of failed with that teacher automatically. The last med-surg class I had with her, this teacher was day and night, she was actually very good to us students- she says that she treats us different because we have more knowledge about nursing, know that we are almost about to graduate. but boy was I sad when I got her for clinicals again. The last class of the semester- she was an option to take, and I took saturday clinicals instead which were awesome 7am-2pm for 4 saturdays.

after graduation, I didn't want to take my chances and fail the nclex-rn so I studied for 3 months straight. so from 8/16- to november, I took my test on a monday 10/19- got results on wed. I saw my name posted on myflorida.com (after having my healthy baby girl- that was my happiest moment of my life).

then I applied to transfer to my unit, because I had taken a part time job at the hospital where I previously worked, started in august- so I transfered to a surgical floor- so pre-op and post-op kids- and it's good, sometimes it gets overwhelming, but I think that I learned well in school, and I adapted well to the basics of the units. I ask questions like everyone else, I make mistakes, I get yelled at sometimes by the parents.... but whatever, I do the best I can!:typing

labrador4122, RN · May 13, 2008

to: butterflyyessy,

this one is directed to you!!!!!!!

you work hard, you study well, and you will do fine.

but don't be so confrontational if people have different oppinions than you!

Everyone has diffent views on the same topics.

I did not have a good experience at MDC about getting into the program, but it doesn't mean that the same thing will hapen to you. Again, everyone has different experiences.

I know a guy who failed a class, when he has no kids, not married, lives with parents, and is young 21 years old! come on, he has no excuses to not pass.

I think that it all depends on each individual person- no matter where you are, if at miami dade or BCC

If I could go back in time to the day I started going to school, I would of picked nursing as my major instead of bussiness- and started from scratch and gotten a good GPA to go to nursing school at MDC.

another reason why I wanted to go to dade was the calculators! At BCC we can't use calculators!! at MDC its 15 months and at BCC it's 18 months.

But anyways, kuddos to you for doing well in school and being 21 years young to start nursing school.

take care

Jessica1024 · May 13, 2008

I know what you mean about the confrontational part. LOL. Yeah sometimes I do carried away with the whole school thing. It's just from my past experiences with people.

I actually started later on, because I had my son when I was 19. When I was 19 I started college, and then like four months later I was prego with my daughter. Which is why I can relate to you. I had a test two days after giving birth. I had no time off with the birth of my daughter, but I guess when you want something you will walk through fire.

I had wanted to be a nurse from the get go, but my father kept urging me to pick something else. He is a nurse, and while he loves his profession he knows how tough it can get at times. He also does Hospice which I believe is perhaps even tougher, emotionally above all.

He actually went to the medical campus! In the 80's, but still. I find it strange we are doing the same thing at the same place. STRANGE.

Now I have my two children (planning on one more when I finish nursing.) I really love children. It's special. Sadly I wish I did not have to work, but I have to in order to have my children enrolled in daycare. Lucky that you have your mom, but my mother is always always busy. As for my grandmother she is 84 AND STILL WORKS as a pharmacist...STILL WORKS GOODNESS.

My only option is to have them in paid daycare which is avaliable only if I work at least 20 hours.....as for when I am in nursing school I have no idea how I am going to work that one out, but I will figure it out. I think nursing takes a lot more studying A LOT more than the pre-reqs.

Lucky you that you are finished with school and everything. It is so much easier when you are not making 7.50 an hour. I am barely able to pay anything....right now we are going through one of those shortages, so I guess in a couple of days we are not going to have any cable...but it doesn't last long, just until we can pay it again..LOL I make it seem worse then it is, but it does get bad sometimes.

My husband has a full time job, but even with that it is hard. He is planning to get on the learning boat, and do nursing as well....he has a long long way to go still.

I hope I can survive nursing school. Actually when I first started college I had no idea GPA was so important in nursing so I slacked off a bit, and started getting B's until I saw that MDC is just based on GPA!!!

Which BTW I find it in a way as a benefit, but in another way as their downfall. GPA does not serve as an indication of success for nursing school. In fact I believe there are a lot of other factors they are missing. That is why BCC has a high passing rate, and they don't have the students with the highest GPA. That scares me, it shows how tough nursing school really is.