Austin Community College (ACC) ADN Spring 2022

52 minutes ago, CK2020 said:

Congrats!! so exciting and stressful for sure! let me know if you have questions, as you can tell its all a bit confusing ? have you receieved your placement?

Thank you! I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions soon haha. I'll be over at CEC! Round Rock would have been quite the commute for me so I'm glad I wasn't placed over there.

Anyone who has already purchased their textbook bundle would you mind telling me which books exactly are in it? I’m being gifted used books and I want to make sure I have the proper editions. Thanks!!

On 12/30/2021 at 10:35 AM, Symone Guerra said:

Anyone who has already purchased their textbook bundle would you mind telling me which books exactly are in it? I’m being gifted used books and I want to make sure I have the proper editions. Thanks!!

These are the editions I have from the bundle: 

Davis's Drug Guide - 17th ED. 
Test Success - 9th ED.
Nursing Diagnosis Handbook - 12th ED. Revised reprint with 2021-2023 updates
Nursing Today Transitions and Trends - 10th ED.
Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests - 6th ED. 
Mosby's Dictionary - 11th ED.
Medical-Surgical Nursing - 11th ED. 

6 hours ago, cilantro said:

These are the editions I have from the bundle: 

Davis's Drug Guide - 17th ED. 
Test Success - 9th ED.
Nursing Diagnosis Handbook - 12th ED. Revised reprint with 2021-2023 updates
Nursing Today Transitions and Trends - 10th ED.
Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests - 6th ED. 
Mosby's Dictionary - 11th ED.
Medical-Surgical Nursing - 11th ED. 

this is what I got, I think it’s the same.

Is anyone else worried about the dosage  exam? I have forgot a good chunk of it and trying to figure it all out all over again.

Hi there.  I am heading into Level 2.  Do practice for the dosage exam but don't stress too much.  It's very basic.  There will be no apothecary.  There will be no IV stuff.  Sally - the tutor - is absolutely LOVELY.  Attend her dosage calculation review and you'll be all set!  

I also highly suggest signing up for a mentor through ADNSA.  I have a mentor who is one level ahead of me and she has been absolutely life-saving.  I wish I could be a mentor but I still feel overwhelmed myself and have too much going on in my personal life to take that on.

Everyone organizes differently and I get that.  If you're interested in what I did (recommended by my mentor to me) to get organized, here it is: 

Purchase 2 - 2" D-ring binders.  1 will be for Foundations For Nursing Practice (Class 1).  The other will be for Common Concepts of Adult Health (Class 2).

Start with your Foundations for Nursing Practice binder.

At the very front, have your printed calendar - mine is in page protectors and I tweaked mine to remove the other group so that only my Group was left on the calendar (to avoid confusion).  Do what works best for you.

Behind your calendar, place your printed Exam BluePrint and move it as you see fit.  I moved mine to the front of whichever Exam I was studying for.

Finally, have 3 tabs - Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3.  For these tabs, I use tab sheets with pockets to tuck anything extra - a scenario for lab, whatever.

Prior to lecture, print the ppt slides from blackboard to take notes on.  I'm old, blind and I can still do 6 slides per page.  I usually print ALL of the ppt slides for the entire week or exam, hole punch and place them behind the appropriate exam tab.

GO TO LECTURE.  Yes, it's recorded but going allows you to ask questions in real-time.  Take notes on your printed slides.

Then, at your earliest convenience, re-listen to the lecture.  I usually listen to the lecture at 1.25 speed and if it's Joni (Prof Sellers), 1.5.  Do what works for you.  Pause and add to your notes as needed and/or make flashcards as you listen to the lecture for a second time.

Once you've done this, then look at the objectives and search for gaps.  Refer to your textbooks as needed.

Purchase a 1/2" D-ring binder (1/2" has been big enough for me).  This will be your clinical binder.

In this notebook, you will have SIX tabs - 2 groups of 3.

First set of three tabs:  Patient Notes, Medications, SBAR.  Under patient notes, have a good supply of loose-leaf lined paper.  Look on-line at different nurse brain worksheets and find one that works for you.  I still haven't found one that is perfect because it's impossible to fit everything on one page.  It just is.  Lined paper is your friend at clinical.  Under Medications, create a medication template that works for you.  You will have a better idea once you meet your clinical instructor - for the most part they all want the same thing but there could be a few differences, so don't kill yourself making a template just yet OR create a very basic one.  If you want to make a table just as a start, lemme know.  Last of the 3 tabs in the first set of 3 tabs is SBAR.  Again, look online and find an SBAR that works for you.  Or print a few different versions to take with you to clinical until you figure out which one you like most OR your clinical instructor may have a preference.  Your instructors will also provide templates on blackboard.

Second set of 3 tabs and these will be VERY important depending on your clinical instructor.  1341, 1413, 1105 (yes, 1105).  Print ALL of the skills check off sheets for 1105 (again, mine are in page protectors) and place them behind the 1105 tab.  You might need them at some point.  We all have done much of our learning on-line but your instructors will expect you to know how to do all of these skills right out the gate should a patient offer the opportunity.  Don't get caught with your pants down.  Print ALL of the skills checkoff sheets for 1413 and place them behind that tab.  Wait until your first class is done and then add the final tab for 1341 (on top) with all of those skills check off sheets.  Hoping this makes sense.  You can put them in the opposite order if you prefer, I just like the most recent on top.  That's my preference.

Save yourself frustration and take everything you don't need out of your lab pack and place it somewhere safe.  Using Ziploc bags, organize things a bit in a way that makes sense to you.

When there is a discrepancy, go with what Potter & Perry says.  You can argue an exam question if you're following the information in Potter & Perry.  Don't get super caught up with reading every single word of every single reading assignment.  You'll never stay caught up unless you happen to be a super student (and some of you are!).  Don't freak out about the objectives - use them more as a guide to look for gaps in lecture and PowerPoint material.  ALWAYS watch videos and read the scenario before you go to lab.

If you're willing to purchase apps, I recommend the Davis Drug Guide app and My Mastery.

Sorry if I've overstepped.  If it helps one person, I'll be happy!  ?

5 minutes ago, monkeymom said:

Everyone organizes differently and I get that.  If you're interested in what I did (recommended by my mentor to me) to get organized, here it is: 

Purchase 2 - 2" D-ring binders.  1 will be for Foundations For Nursing Practice (Class 1).  The other will be for Common Concepts of Adult Health (Class 2).

Start with your Foundations for Nursing Practice binder.

At the very front, have your printed calendar - mine is in page protectors and I tweaked mine to remove the other group so that only my Group was left on the calendar (to avoid confusion).  Do what works best for you.

Behind your calendar, place your printed Exam BluePrint and move it as you see fit.  I moved mine to the front of whichever Exam I was studying for.

Finally, have 3 tabs - Exam 1, Exam 2, Exam 3.  For these tabs, I use tab sheets with pockets to tuck anything extra - a scenario for lab, whatever.

Prior to lecture, print the ppt slides from blackboard to take notes on.  I'm old, blind and I can still do 6 slides per page.  I usually print ALL of the ppt slides for the entire week or exam, hole punch and place them behind the appropriate exam tab.

GO TO LECTURE.  Yes, it's recorded but going allows you to ask questions in real-time.  Take notes on your printed slides.

Then, at your earliest convenience, re-listen to the lecture.  I usually listen to the lecture at 1.25 speed and if it's Joni (Prof Sellers), 1.5.  Do what works for you.  Pause and add to your notes as needed and/or make flashcards as you listen to the lecture for a second time.

Once you've done this, then look at the objectives and search for gaps.  Refer to your textbooks as needed.

Purchase a 1/2" D-ring binder (1/2" has been big enough for me).  This will be your clinical binder.

In this notebook, you will have SIX tabs - 2 groups of 3.

First set of three tabs:  Patient Notes, Medications, SBAR.  Under patient notes, have a good supply of loose-leaf lined paper.  Look on-line at different nurse brain worksheets and find one that works for you.  I still haven't found one that is perfect because it's impossible to fit everything on one page.  It just is.  Lined paper is your friend at clinical.  Under Medications, create a medication template that works for you.  You will have a better idea once you meet your clinical instructor - for the most part they all want the same thing but there could be a few differences, so don't kill yourself making a template just yet OR create a very basic one.  If you want to make a table just as a start, lemme know.  Last of the 3 tabs in the first set of 3 tabs is SBAR.  Again, look online and find an SBAR that works for you.  Or print a few different versions to take with you to clinical until you figure out which one you like most OR your clinical instructor may have a preference.  Your instructors will also provide templates on blackboard.

Second set of 3 tabs and these will be VERY important depending on your clinical instructor.  1341, 1413, 1105 (yes, 1105).  Print ALL of the skills check off sheets for 1105 (again, mine are in page protectors) and place them behind the 1105 tab.  You might need them at some point.  We all have done much of our learning on-line but your instructors will expect you to know how to do all of these skills right out the gate should a patient offer the opportunity.  Don't get caught with your pants down.  Print ALL of the skills checkoff sheets for 1413 and place them behind that tab.  Wait until your first class is done and then add the final tab for 1341 (on top) with all of those skills check off sheets.  Hoping this makes sense.  You can put them in the opposite order if you prefer, I just like the most recent on top.  That's my preference.

Save yourself frustration and take everything you don't need out of your lab pack and place it somewhere safe.  Using Ziploc bags, organize things a bit in a way that makes sense to you.

When there is a discrepancy, go with what Potter & Perry says.  You can argue an exam question if you're following the information in Potter & Perry.  Don't get super caught up with reading every single word of every single reading assignment.  You'll never stay caught up unless you happen to be a super student (and some of you are!).  Don't freak out about the objectives - use them more as a guide to look for gaps in lecture and PowerPoint material.  ALWAYS watch videos and read the scenario before you go to lab.

If you're willing to purchase apps, I recommend the Davis Drug Guide app and My Mastery.

Sorry if I've overstepped.  If it helps one person, I'll be happy!  ?

I’ll be heading to target with this comment tomorrow. It was extremely helpful for me to help envision how to organize myself. I appreciate you taking the time to write out what has worked for you. 

Aaaaw, thanks for letting me know.  I'm telling you, I would NOT have made it through Level 1 without my mentor.  It's all so overwhelming in the beginning.

4 minutes ago, monkeymom said:

Aaaaw, thanks for letting me know.  I'm telling you, I would NOT have made it through Level 1 without my mentor.  It's all so overwhelming in the beginning.

Will we be presented the option of a mentor at orientation? I was looking on the ADNSA website but can’t see anything about it! 

Yes.  They will talk about it.  If you haven't already, go ahead and join ADNSA now.  It's cheap.  ?