Brookhaven Nursing Program

I shouldn't have been so harsh about the cell phone thing- you may not be asked to leave, but instructors have no problem calling you out on it and humiliting you in front of the class. One instructor I had called a student out without even pausing her lecture content- it took me a minute to realize that she had shifted her focus to him. She asked him what was so important that he couldn't wait, and asked him to share his conversation. She told him to bring the phone to the front of the class, or turn it off and put it away! Then she continued on with her lecture, lol.

Wow, thank you for going into so much detail on my questions!!! Yes I am very technical, I love gagets. I stay organized on my computer and normaly dont bring anything to class exept my laptop and phone where I take pictures and upload them through bluetooth. I also use my nook for reading lol because it is so little, and I can search words and I even read faster on it. However if you think the teachers may have a problem with it I wont bring them and will focus on doing things the way that makes them happy. I can do it the pen paper way :) So this brings me to more questions:

1. How do you take all those books with you to class every day? Does all that fit in a backpack? O.o

2. Are there lots of group projects?

3. What are some MAJOR dont do's that you have seen?

4. What do u think the key points are to passing with as high a grade possible?

5. What time does class normaly start and whats the parking like?

6. How come I NEVER saw a Brookhaven RN student in green the entire time I was taking classes there!?!? lol Do they hide you?

Whew, you have many questions! I will be abit shorter with these; I am working on a major project, and want to leave some mystery for you!

1. You won't have to take all those books with you each day, but many people did invest in rolling backpacks or used a carry on suitcase, lol. I ended up having different backpacks/bags for each class so I didn't have to lug more than I needed to. I bought one of these baskets ( http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=359&ProductCategory=191&section=1 ) to keep in my trunk with all my extra textbooks and supplies, just in case I needed them, which occasionally happens.

2. I have not had one group project, but two major projects that are done individually- most recently a Major Care Plan which is like a 25-40 page research paper.

3. Some major don'ts are: DON'T come unprepared for class or clinical. Have your assignments and reading done- there are quizzes frequently, and if you come unprepared for clinical you will be sent home. You also drag the rest of the group down and make some instructors mad. Being "unprepared" doesn't mean coming perfect- you will grow and perfect your work each week, but if you don't try or put in an effort, it is obvious. Also, don't bring drama into the classroom- one of my classmates was actually dismissed from the program for it.

4. The key points to passing with a high grade are prepare, and STUDY STUDY STUDY. Utilize all your resources- not just straight reading from the book. You will have access to case studies, and those are the key to doing well on the foundations test. Also, practice your skills and get them right. I never really had to study before now- I could skim content and put it off to the last minute, because I absorbed info in lecture. This is different- you have to learn how to answer these kinds of questions.

5. Classes start between 8 and 9 am, some are at 1 pm. Parking is a big problem all of those times. If you arrive around 7:30 you should have a spot near the door. By 8:15 you have to park all the way down by the field, and by 8:45 you won't find a spot to park by the X building. You will have to go to another lot and walk. If you leave for lunch which is an hour, you will have to come back early to find a spot or have time to walk. Consider carpooling.

6. You never saw us in green because green is camouflaging! Well seriously, it's probably because on the days we are required to wear green, we are checking off on a skill, and they shut the doors to the skills lab wing. We are usually tucked back there, or you were too late in the day. But I bet if you look for us again, you will see us!

sweetpea has it right, the tests are rough, they told us in success camp, "you are all probably A students to have even got accepted, but get it settled right now that you probably won't be anymore". I was thinking, yeah right, I'll be the first one then. But they were serious...... I have never in my life had to use six books to study for one test. For example, this week we have test 4, to prepare I used the foundations book, the patho book, the pharm book, a nursing drug book, a care plan book and a med-surg book. This doesn't include the extra books I have to practice the NCLEX style questions (which are a bear) and the online case studies sweetpea talked about. I will probably make a B and be happy that I didn't fail! haha, it's a total change in thinking and you never really know how the information is going to be thrown at you. But we have a saying... "a C is still a degree" and that is the important thing to remember!

Ktosch, have you finished your MCP?

sweetpea- sure have, turned it in two weeks ago. (I wanted to get it out of the way) I still need to do the teaching plan though, I present that on Monday. Eek.

Thanks again Sweetpea and ktosch for your very helpful info. I know I am asking a lot, and I can not express how thankful I am that you are spending your time to help us. I'm so scared, I am not a great test taker the only reason I got an A on the Hesi was cause I studied for 3 weeks. I did learn how to study to do well in A&P and I am getting better but RN school... wow. My friend thats in the BSRN program at UTA said that its soo hard, she is almost failing every semester but some how is able to get by. That much stress... *sigh* but I guess it has to be this way because peoples lives will be in our hands. My goal is to not be at the point where a few points wont fail me, I am hoping for a B or whatever I need so I can sleep without constant fear of failure.

Tell me what you think of this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Livescribe+-+Livescribe+4GB+Echo+SmartPen/9985845.p?id=1218205764398&skuId=9985845

Its old school and yet I can go home and upload my notes and work from my computer to study which would really help me a lot since I am so digital. I read some awesome reviews about it and was written by an actual nursing student who said it did give her a better way to stay organized. I am worried the teachers may not like it, but I dont always have to use the recorder if they say no.

*Questions* (I know Im asking a lot, Ill try to tone it down )

1. Will there be enough time to prepare for exams with class, clinicals, and papers due all the time?

2. How much of that basement/cave thing is dedicated to the nursing program? Seems like it's all under lock and key.

3. Im not sure how long the program is or when we graduate. Do you know when? We start Aug/Sep? 2011.

Thanks again Sweetpea and ktosch for your very helpful info. I know I am asking a lot, and I can not express how thankful I am that you are spending your time to help us. I'm so scared, I am not a great test taker the only reason I got an A on the Hesi was cause I studied for 3 weeks. I did learn how to study to do well in A&P and I am getting better but RN school... wow. My friend thats in the BSRN program at UTA said that its soo hard, she is almost failing every semester but some how is able to get by. That much stress... *sigh* but I guess it has to be this way because peoples lives will be in our hands. My goal is to not be at the point where a few points wont fail me, I am hoping for a B or whatever I need so I can sleep without constant fear of failure.

Tell me what you think of this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Livescribe+-+Livescribe+4GB+Echo+SmartPen/9985845.p?id=1218205764398&skuId=9985845

Its old school and yet I can go home and upload my notes and work from my computer to study which would really help me a lot since I am so digital. I read some awesome reviews about it and was written by an actual nursing student who said it did give her a better way to stay organized. I am worried the teachers may not like it, but I dont always have to use the recorder if they say no.

*Questions* (I know Im asking a lot, Ill try to tone it down )

1. Will there be enough time to prepare for exams with class, clinicals, and papers due all the time?

2. How much of that basement/cave thing is dedicated to the nursing program? Seems like it's all under lock and key.

3. Im not sure how long the program is or when we graduate. Do you know when? We start Aug/Sep? 2011.

That pen looks like a great alternative to a laptop for you! I don't see the faculty having any issues.

Don't be worried about making bad grades. You may have to adjust your goals for yourself once you start the program- don't hold yourself to anything right now, until you get into the class and know how it runs. Some people have a harder time and feel the content is harder than others do, which could be the case for your friend. I have a friend in the same position and sometimes I don't see where she has trouble. Other times, she breezes through the stuff that I am stuck on. You will have enough time to do everything, if you organize well. Understand what you are doing so you are not stuck spending all your time on one thing. There will be a few nights where you go to bed extra late to finish studying for something, and your social life will slowly go out the window, because where you used to go out to eat, you will chose to stay home and have a "working dinner" . As for the basement/cave thing, not sure what you mean. The building is kindof split level, so I think you are referring to the first floor. If so, about half of it is for Nursing, half is for EMS/Paramedic. You will see them a lot in the halls. Our labs are completely separate though. The other floors of the building are for chem, radiology, etc. And the program is 16 months- your third semester will be jam packed into next summer, and you will graduate December of 2012! Less than two years from now!

Hobbits, thank you for asking such informative questions! I feel like I am learning already!! And Sweatpea...you are truly an angel from heaven! Thank you, thank you:redpinkhe for all the detailed answers to all of our questions. Everyone has been so generous with sharing there personal experiences and giving advice. Hope to meet you all in the Fall! Now, how in the world do you have time to post all of your lengthy wonderful answers?

Have a wonderful day everyone and keep doing a rain dance so we can get the wildfires under control! Of course, this rain has cut into my tennis playing!!

Thanks again sweetpea! I can take a deep breath for now. I am currently in A&P 2 at collin college because scit A&P didnt transfer and I needed a backup school. I will finish and start studying for Pharm and Patho because I am very rusty. I had some classes in the X building and always wondered what part was for nursing. I didnt go down stairs much.

Questions:

1. What subjects are most challenging for your class and what class takes up most of your studying time?

2. During clinicals what is most challenging? (I am afraid of knowing all the drugs)

3. How involved are you during clinicals, do you watch mostly or actualy help with drugs/shots and charting?

Wow so much amazing questions (even some that I was curious about!)!! Thanks Sweetpea and ktosch for answering these questions for Hobbit and for all of us too :)

I walk through the 1st floor everyday and I always see you nursing students running around and I am so envious! I can't wait to be in the program :)

For me, there isn't one class that I have to study more for. But what I do is focus on different things, like one week I focus on lecture stuff because there is a test, then my focus shifts to the upcoming check off, then it will be clinicals, etc. etc. you will learn to become efficient with your time!

For clinicals, I think it really depends on you. For example, I really struggle with walking into peoples rooms and being comfortable, but I am decent at doing care plans. Another girl in my group is really good at talking to people but struggles with care plans. So it can really vary. As far as the drugs go, you will be looking up the drugs that your patient takes the day before your clinical so there won't be any surprises in what you are expected to know.

You do stuff during clinicals! Basically the first semester you are doing nurse tech stuff, baths, ambulating, wiping behinds, vital signs, etc. We did give medications, but only when the instructor is with you, and you can do anything that you have checked off in skills lab as long as the first time you do it the instructor is with you. Oh, and you always do an assessment on your patient! I think the most interesting thing I have done is take out an IV (it was so cool!). Which brings me to another thing, first semester there are NO needles, that means no shots, no inserting IVs, that comes second semester. Charting I think depends on your instructor, where I was we had minimal charting to do and we didn't have access to input stuff on the computers, but I know others have had to do extensive charting. Maybe sweetpea can field that answer!