Bellevue College 2012 hopefuls

Bandaide, ASN · Jun 27, 2012

Our class (we just graduated) had higher attrition first quarter. By the end of second quarter, you know if nursing is really something you want to do or not. Second quarter clinicals expose you to a lot more stuff, so the really squeemish make their decisions to opt out. By about half way through 2nd quarter, you've figured out how you need to study most efficiently and also start to believe that you will survive, and the stress goes down a couple notches.

A couple things I wish I had known:

You won't have your reading assignments over the summer, but it sure wouldn't hurt to read as much as you are able from your Nursing Fundamentals text. Everything from your CNA class will be just a tiny blip of info - they assume you already know it and they will be teaching you nursing assessment skills and lots of other stuff.

When you do care plans, make a spread sheet or data base of each medication. Then when you come across it for the next patient, the work is already mostly done. Just make sure that it is being given for the same reason - if not, copy/paste/edit and save both versions. Then cut and paste them into your new care plan when needed.

If you will be taking the ATI subject tests at the end of each quarter, do use the ATI book to study. Since Med-Surg is both second and third quarters, your ATI will come at the end of third quarter. You will need to review what you studied second quarter to do well on the subject test.

Make sure to download/print the outlines or power points before you go to lecture. There is just too much to keep up with writing everything down, and you will miss stuff. You can use a laptop for notes if that works for you and you're a fast typist. I found that taking notes on the power point worked best for me. You can print some stuff on campus up to a point, but you have to go to the computer center across campus so it isn't very convenient.

Plan to get enough excercise. Don't gain a bunch of study weight like most of us did!

And I don't know if it was something in the water, or what, but there were 9 babies born or conceived during our time in nursing school, and they were all boys! I don't think I would want to increase the stress by being pregnant if I could avoid it. The timing with clinicals worked out for everyone, but it could cause you to repeat a quater if you had to miss clinicals.

Have a good summer. Get lots of sleep - you'll miss it!

hereshoping · Jun 27, 2012

Bandaide, thank you for all the information! As far as assignments over the summer, I'm just repeating what Lisa said - due to the fact that there is a new program (to replace the Vista learning system), we won't be able to get to our material until the first day of classes. Therefore, Lisa is going to be emailing us the first few modules later in the summer. I'll echo what you said about pregnancy too - she said that in this past year, she had a couple people who couldn't continue due to complicated pregnancies; getting back into the program after that is very difficult as it's on a space-available basis.

Thanks again for all your info and tips!

downton · Jun 27, 2012

For real, what's in the water??? 9 babies?? That's about a third of the students!

margritamix · Jun 28, 2012

Thanks Bandaide for all the info!

By the way, I hope you are enjoying your vacation time before you start looking for your first nursing job!

Well guys, it seems like we have our work cut out for us in nursing school :nurse:

rnjenn14 · Jun 28, 2012

Wow...thanks for all that insight Bandaide! It is great to hear from someone who has been through the program! Do you know what kind of position you are hoping to find or do you have something already lined up? Do you know if people are having a hard time finding work after graduating or are things looking promising? Best of luck to you!

Bandaide, ASN · Jun 29, 2012

To my knowledge, only two in our class have jobs. My experience so far has been that recruiters don't really want to hear from us until we pass NCLEX. Some of my classmates have been harrassing HR until they get a first interview, but they haven't gotten jobs yet.

I have a trip planned this fall (once-in-a-lifetime, family thing) so I won't be applying anywhere until I get back. There are so many areas I'm interested in, that I think I can be happy in many different situations. So where ever I end up, I don't thing I'll feel like I'm "settling". In a perfect world, I'd like to be in the ED, but not many take new grads.

hereshoping · Jun 29, 2012

Bandaide, how long until you take the NCLEX? Also, did you find that a lot of students had their state cert. for CNA, or did they just have their CNA class without taking the state test? I'm debating whether or not to take the state test, as it's not required, and wondering what, if any, benefits there would be to taking it....

Enjoy the vacation - you've earned it!!

Bandaide, ASN · Jun 29, 2012

I took the state test. You may need it if you decide to work as a tech in a hospital during school. And it looks better on your resume, since you followed through with it and didn't just do the bare minimum required to get into the program.

hereshoping · Jun 29, 2012

Thanks for the quick response - I'll probably just go ahead and take it, just to get it out of the way.

FYI for those entering fall quarter, and if you don't check your BC email often, there's one from Chie about the student success class..... :specs:

margritamix · Jun 29, 2012

Hereshoping, is the student success class like a study techniques class?

Hopeful2b · Jun 29, 2012

Hello! I'm still taking pre reqs to hopefully apply in 2014. I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if the Anatomy and Phsyiology grades play a bigger role than other classes grades? I know I need at least a 3.0 to apply to the program and a good score on the TEAS but I'm curious a out class grades? Does anyone have any information? Good luck to all of you that start this year!

hereshoping · Jun 29, 2012

Hi Hopeful2b and good luck on the pre-reqs!!! As of right now, the most important thing for Bellevue is the TEAS score. The classes are all about getting them done, nothing less than a 2.0 and average of 3.0. The GPA is only used in the case of a tie on the TEAS score. I will caution you though, that the application requirements seem to be modified often, so keep an eye on that information. I'm sure other schools take GPA into account, but not Bellevue currently.