Austin Community College (ACC) ADN Spring 2022

19 hours ago, monkeymom said:

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

What do you do at orientation? Do you pick your clinical hours, pick up your stuff, or just sit and talk about the course? 

On 1/4/2022 at 6:51 PM, 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!  ?

this is so helpful! thanks!!

On 1/4/2022 at 5:26 PM, Purienne said:

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.

I think I'm more worried about the skills test ... its been a while!

Hi! I created a FB group for the 2022 CEC cohort if any of y’all are at that location please feel free to join ? 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/599325904502040/

Thanks for the invitation.  I am not on FB.  Sorry!

Did anyone have to apply again for Fall 2022? What was y’all’s ranking scores. I’m at 34.08 3rd time applying and haven’t got accepted. Do y’all know if they will send out more acceptance seats? 

Hey ya'll! Incoming level one student here ?

I'd love to hear about your experience with clinicals if anyone is willing to share. Were 12 hours shifts a doozy? Any sites you loved or hated? I'm not sure I can handle 12, but I'd love to knock it out in one day. So far I've signed up for the 2 day option.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

On 7/13/2022 at 1:59 PM, futurenursetracy said:

Hey ya'll! Incoming level one student here ?

I'd love to hear about your experience with clinicals if anyone is willing to share. Were 12 hours shifts a doozy? Any sites you loved or hated? I'm not sure I can handle 12, but I'd love to knock it out in one day. So far I've signed up for the 2 day option.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

First off congrats on starting your nursing journey!

I'll be honest with you in saying that clinicals can be all over the place. I had my clinical in Austin at Cornerstone hospital and I'll be brutally honest, I really didn't like it! My advice to all future students is to get out of Cornerstone as it's a giant backwards pit! They do paper charting, it was a bad experience for me. Also patients I got everyday were all different, which was interesting. Good luck finding your nurse half the time, you often run out of stuff to do and just go ask others if you can help them do something, and good luck reading the hand writing!! Personally the 12 hour shift wasn't too bad as long as you get to stay busy but when you have nothing/little to do it does tend to drag on. My clinical instructor made it interesting and help us as much as she could. Because of Covid we all had the same option of 12hr shifts and just now we are being offered the 2 day shifts. Also make sure to do all the material they tell you to before you go into clinical.

Don't want to make it sound like all gloom and doom though, make use of every opportunity and ask to see as much as you can. I got to see and participate with a few procedures and it was cool.

Our other lucky cohort members got sent to Seton or BSW I believe and now moving on the next level we no longer have to worry about Cornerstone.... thank goodness. Let me know if you have any other questions.

On 7/14/2022 at 4:43 PM, Purienne said:

First off congrats on starting your nursing journey!

I'll be honest with you in saying that clinicals can be all over the place. I had my clinical in Austin at Cornerstone hospital and I'll be brutally honest, I really didn't like it! My advice to all future students is to get out of Cornerstone as it's a giant backwards pit! They do paper charting, it was a bad experience for me. Also patients I got everyday were all different, which was interesting. Good luck finding your nurse half the time, you often run out of stuff to do and just go ask others if you can help them do something, and good luck reading the hand writing!! Personally the 12 hour shift wasn't too bad as long as you get to stay busy but when you have nothing/little to do it does tend to drag on. My clinical instructor made it interesting and help us as much as she could. Because of Covid we all had the same option of 12hr shifts and just now we are being offered the 2 day shifts. Also make sure to do all the material they tell you to before you go into clinical.

Don't want to make it sound like all gloom and doom though, make use of every opportunity and ask to see as much as you can. I got to see and participate with a few procedures and it was cool.

Our other lucky cohort members got sent to Seton or BSW I believe and now moving on the next level we no longer have to worry about Cornerstone.... thank goodness. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for your response! I based my response on my schedule preference more than anything, but also tried to avoid Cornerstone due to another friend's suggestion.

Another question for you..are facilities really concerned with tattoos and hair colors, like the handbook makes them out to be? I've currently got pink hair(that goes up in a bun easily) and 2 forearm tattoos. In nursing skills they didn't say anything about the tattoos, and I feel like a lot of nurses have them these days. I'm in the orientation check off phase right now and am currently reading the handbook and just thought I'd ask what you and your cohort's experience was with that ?

On 7/23/2022 at 11:22 AM, futurenursetracy said:

Thank you so much for your response! I based my response on my schedule preference more than anything, but also tried to avoid Cornerstone due to another friend's suggestion.

Another question for you..are facilities really concerned with tattoos and hair colors, like the handbook makes them out to be? I've currently got pink hair(that goes up in a bun easily) and 2 forearm tattoos. In nursing skills they didn't say anything about the tattoos, and I feel like a lot of nurses have them these days. I'm in the orientation check off phase right now and am currently reading the handbook and just thought I'd ask what you and your cohort's experience was with that ?

For tattoos people in my group just wore long sleeves or a arm sleeve cover. Didn’t hear really any issues with tattoos. For hair, don’t think we had anyone in my cohort with colored hair. I would listen to the book or personally message your administration at your school.