Cerritos College: Getting into Nursing Program

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 6, 2010

yep, parking stinks. but after the first drop date it gets much easier to find parking. i don't park in the corner lot by the health occupations building but in the lot that is near the police department building, which is across from the skills lab.

fyi, you'll have nutrition all along so i'm not sure it will help you any better than the focused nutrition you get according to the systems you're covering.

mariatere · Sep 7, 2010

Hi Apgar10,

I have a question in regards to the nursing program. I know you said that you are assigned a Mentor and to work with him/her. My question is once in the nursing program do you get assigned a number of units/ classes and do you go to school fulltime all day only or evening classes? How does it work?

Thanks

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 7, 2010

I have a group of six students to mentor through their first semester. We meet once a week and keep in touch by text/email on other days. We are a full-time program and the classes and clinicals are on weekdays in the first semester but after that we have daytime lectures and clinicals that are on AM or PM shifts and even weekends. Your classes are assigned and all who enter the semester together take the same classes together, but clinicals are pared down to groups of about 10 to 1 instructor.

Addf8765 · Oct 27, 2010

Hi, Apgar! I found the parking where you told me yesterday :) I didn't know there was that huge space behind:lol2:

My first semester of nursing program starts in January !!! Im so nervous:uhoh3:

I have a stupid question... I know it all depends on how i do in the program, but im already worried about

failing program because I heared that people fail a lot on 2nd semester.. do you also see many students

failing in the program at Cerritos ? always thank you so much:p

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 29, 2010

...im already worried about
failing program because I heared that people fail a lot on 2nd semester.. do you also see many students
failing in the program at Cerritos ? always thank you so much:p

I think we lost 7 and 3 more took leave for personal reasons. All but one has the option of returning if there is space available. Don't worry about what's going to happen in your second semester. Make sure you make it through the first semester. That is where you get transitioned into the program, learn the foundation, get used to lectures and tests, deal with no sleep, patient prep, long clinicals, and a lot of instructors. We lost 5 there and I think the current first semesters lost the same. One step at a time :clown:

chikashi · Dec 11, 2010

@june

I got accepted for spring '11 too in nursing program at cerritos! I guess i will see you there! :)

I'm excited but really really nervous and scared because i don't have any nursing experience and i might have trouble knowing the meaning of the terminology and i might not be able to know to take care of the patient. i kind of forgot wat i learn in most of my science core classes. :uhoh3:

chikashi · Dec 11, 2010

also, does anyone know what's the address of the health science division skills lab since i am taking my TEAS test there on thursday? thank you very much!

any advice too for the TEAS test?

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 11, 2010

There isn't really an address for the Skills Lab building. When you turn into the parking lot from Studebaker to NEW Falcon Way (as opposed to the OLD Falcon Way street), you will see a new rectangular building that is on your left as you go over the speed bumps. Good luck! The TEAS is just a comprehensive general study exam that covers pretty much everything you've learned since 3rd grade... no biggie

chikashi · Dec 11, 2010

thank you! hopefully i don't get lost...

also, i wasn't able to attend the orientation, i was wondering if someone could tell me what you guys talk about and is there anything i have to bring for all the paperworks i have to for the program?

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 11, 2011

sooooooooo how was the first day? :yeah:

NkyNurse95 · Jan 28, 2011

Hello and congrats on getting into Cerritos:yeah:Having recently graduated from there I can tell you first hand that its A LOT of work but if its what you want than it will pay off!! I would recommend Nrsg 5 it will provide a small picture of whats to come however it is my true opinion that you really dont know what your in for until your in it. This program will definitely consume your life and challenge you in ways you can not imagine especially if you have (husband and children) Time management is HUGE! The hardest semester is 3rd the second 9 weeks. My best advice is to take it week by week and test by test. Always go to clinical knowing the ins and outs of your patient be proactive in their care and ask questions whenever you are unclear of something. Practice good communication skills with all members of the HC Team and always keep your team leader/Instructor informed. You want to establish a good trusting relationship with not only your patient and nurses but also your instructor! Like with many things in life what you put in is what you will get out of it....Ensure that you have a great support system at home it is CRUCIAL to your success. Lots of luck to you all :clown:

mariatere · Feb 12, 2011

Hello and congrats on getting into Cerritos:yeah:Having recently graduated from there I can tell you first hand that its A LOT of work but if its what you want than it will pay off!! I would recommend Nrsg 5 it will provide a small picture of whats to come however it is my true opinion that you really dont know what your in for until your in it. This program will definitely consume your life and challenge you in ways you can not imagine especially if you have (husband and children) Time management is HUGE! The hardest semester is 3rd the second 9 weeks. My best advice is to take it week by week and test by test. Always go to clinical knowing the ins and outs of your patient be proactive in their care and ask questions whenever you are unclear of something. Practice good communication skills with all members of the HC Team and always keep your team leader/Instructor informed. You want to establish a good trusting relationship with not only your patient and nurses but also your instructor! Like with many things in life what you put in is what you will get out of it....Ensure that you have a great support system at home it is CRUCIAL to your success. Lots of luck to you all

Hi NkyNurse95,

I am lost in this world of nursing. I want to tell you alittle about myself before asking my question. I have been a paralegal for the last 11 years (im 32 years old) I am married but no kids. I tell my husband that nursing has always been appealing to me, but the only 3 things that stops me is my fear of 1)vomit

2)smell of poop(I have no children and when my nieces diaper had to be changed, i gagged like there was no tommorow), 3) I have a hearing problem on my right ear (i use no hearing aid, I can hear, as long as u dont wisper or you are not so soft spoken when standing on my right side). I have done some research and know that there are some stetoscopes for the hard hearing folks out there.

I am schedule to start volunteering in a local hospital in downey,ca (im hoping this will help me with some of my fears) I am also enrolling myself in a cna course so that i can gain some experience and hopefully a part time job that will allow me to train as im in school.

This semester, I should be finised with my science pre requisites to enter the nursing program.

My question is that I have the chance of applying for the ADN program in Cerritos and also the BSN program in Cal State Fullerton, since im a student at both schools.

What route do i take? BSN or ADN?

I want to start a family, hoping that by my 35th birthday, I can start working on that. My husband is very supportive. He tells me that if I really want to do this, now is the time. He is willing to take full responsability for our support so that i can quit my job, and I can conquer my dream.

Please, any advise from any of you would be greatly appreciated.

Mariatere