Bellevue College 2012 hopefuls

margritamix · Jun 22, 2012

So guys, how did your Wednesday orientation go? :specs:

margritamix · Jun 23, 2012

Thanks hereshoping!

Wow, those averages seem higher to me than they have been from previous years' cohorts.

What did you guys find out during your fall orientation? I'm just curious because I would like to know if they are going to talk about our schedules during school. I've had to say "I don't know" to so many people regarding my schedule for next year because I don't know when we would do clinicals and have class time and I don't want to commit to a trip or vacation without knowing that I will truly be able to attend.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

BeeDub · Jun 23, 2012

I'd love to hear any info that anyone wants to share about the orientation. It's going to be so hard to have to wait all the way until November for the Winter orientation. So many unanswered questions!!

downton · Jun 24, 2012

They gave us our schedule, for classes and clinicals. You don't get to pick if you want day or evening; that's all pre-assigned. That took up a large portion of the time. Looking at the schedule is really intimidating, but it covers all classes and clinical hours, and each individual will obviously not attend all clinical hours. We also got the list of textbooks, talked about appropriate attire for clinicals. For the most part, lots of things went over my head. It was really early, and it was a lot of info to take in haha. But we got print outs of everything, so I'm going to look over it all again. The last chunk of time, they had reps from the uniform store come and everyone got to try on labcoats and scrubs and order what we needed. Pretty convenient; saved me a trip to the store.

margritamix · Jun 24, 2012

Thanks downton!

Did they also give out assigned summer readings for you guys?

downton · Jun 25, 2012

No summer readings, but we have assignments to complete by the first day of class (if I'm not mistaken). But we'll be emailed the details of that stuff later on.

hereshoping · Jun 25, 2012

Sorry for the late response (was camping to celebrate the end of quarter!!!); Downton covered it pretty well; hope this isn't repetitive. Due to the fact that our classes/material won't be officially available to us until the first day of the quarter, Lisa will be emailing us our first learning modules sometime "later this summer". So I guess, yes, there will be some late-summer work. Also, we were given our list of textbooks, most required, a few suggested but not required. Adding up the prices from the publishers' websites, you need to be prepared for about $650 in textbooks for the first quarter. (and then there's the cost of scrubs, lab coat, stethoscope, nurse pack, watch, shoes, etc.) Looking the books up at Amazon, you can save a little money but still a good chunk of change. There was one on the suggested but not required that would be a good one to review, especially if it's been awhile since you took your CNA class, to brush up on skills. I don't have it in front of me right now, but can give you that info if you want it. As for uniforms, I didn't stay for the fittings as I had another meeting to get to, but I went to Acorn Uniforms in Bellevue the next day and they gave me a 10% discount. You need to order the lab coat asap, as it has to be embroidered, but can wait on the scrubs for a bit.

Clinicals - 2 days a week, some are evening shifts, some are days. For first quarter, you are looking at 4 hours on the floor and one hour post for conference. Mine is a Thurs/Fri evening; I think most of the others were days or day/evenings. After first quarter, they will be 8 hours for a clinical day.

It seems like, if you can get through 2nd quarter (med-surg), you will be on a good path to completing nursing school. Most people attrition out during 2nd.

As Downton said, LOTS of information. I went in thinking what could we possibly cover for 3 hours, but came out with more information than I could imagine!

Feel free to PM me with questions, if you'd like!!

Bandaide, ASN · Jun 25, 2012

Get two sets of scrubs if you can afford it. You will be too busy doing your care plan to wash scrubs after you get home from clinical. Care plans usually take 6-8 hours.

downton · Jun 25, 2012

Yeah, I ordered two sets of scrubs and a lab coat after the orientation and it came out to $100-$110.

hereshoping · Jun 25, 2012

Ouch, 6-8 hours? I already told my husband that life as I know it is done until nursing school is done!!! LOL!!! All worth it in the end though!

margritamix · Jun 26, 2012

wow. Thanks for the reply hereshoping!I am wondering though why med-surf seems to be the weed out course for nursing students. It's making me nervous now to take it

hereshoping · Jun 26, 2012

Margritamix, my pleasure. I'm under the impression that first quarter is a lot of basic and/or review type of material, but second quarter, the sheer volume of new material you learn, coupled with longer clinical days, plus care plans, is just an overwhelming amount of work. Just a guess, but that's what I'm thinking....