Chandler Gilbert accelerated May 2013

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I was placed into the Chandler Gilbert accelerated program starting in May. Would love to hear from any future classmates!

Hello, I just wanted to say hello to everyone. I finished Blk 1 in the fall and am in the process of finishing Blk 2 at CGCC. I had advice for everyone, you have a shorter time than I did. Make good use of the time you have to get really good with your skills. Use all the open lab time that you can. Stay away from negative people that will stress you out. Find people you can trust especially your partner for your head to toe and vitals practicum. Get good healthy snacks. For lunch try to bring lunches that don't need microwaving, there is only 1 microwave.I bought all hard cover books, easier to use than the ebooks. Have fun the first week will be crazy stressful but you will eventually get into the groove. Don't forget about using the main campus library for private study rooms.

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It is so good to hear from someone at CGCC that is in the program now. How can we better prepare for the first week? What type of info is covered in block 1? How have you studied for quizzes and test? Do you recommend any nclex study materials? What books do you recommend as hard copy?

Thank you for taking time to provide some helpful info. Best of luck to you as you finish up block 2.

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Wow! Thank you for all that great information! I agree with AzOhana, if you have a few minutes, would you mind giving us some idea of how to better prepare and what your study methods are? Thank you!!

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Plan on having 3-4 hours of good quality studying.

Buy Test Success the required book for the review class even if you are not taking it.

Buy Fundamentals Success.

Use the online materials that are free with your books on the Evolve site. Don't buy Taber's or any medical terminology dictionary.

Do as many math and NCLEX type problems every day.

Buy the Davis mobile NCLEX RN app to study whenyou are standing in line, eating dinner, lunch, breakfast, a snack, walking on treadmill.

Warm up your printer for excessive printing. Print on both sides with draft quality print. Get used to watching and studying from Prezi's.

Peint everything you need for each class.

Figure out you log in for when you took the HESI A2, you will need to link your evolve online courses and takethe HESI at the end of the semester.

If you record, you may want to buy a Livescribe Echo pen. www.livescribe.com

Wilkinson is your friend, get to know both volumes. Watch the videos required before lab. Find the podcasts for the Wilkinson chapters on Itunes podcasts or on the Davis website. Be prepared to gain weight.

Find videos on youtube and watch them. Use the topic you are studying in the search string.

Buy chocolate covered coffee beans.

Download Medscape.

Buy a lunch box, pack it with quick snacks for your long lab, lecture and clinical days.

Buy scrub pants that are too big, you want to be able to squat and these scrubs don't stretch very well.

Do not overstuff your pockets during clinical, you will have the worst time bending over to pick stuff up if you drop something.

Buy comfortable white shoes.

Have an extra set of scrubs in the car just in case you get bodily fluids on you during clinical or you forget to wear scrubs on a lecture day that was actually a simulation day. Buy a storage clipboard without a calculator because chances are the calc will break but you need a place to keep your careplans and notes to use during lab and clinical. Use the railings on the walls in your clinical site to place your clipboard before you go into a patient's room especially when they are in isolation.

Go through your syllabus before school and either color/highlight important dates before you print.

Be very organized. Block 1 I had 4 3" 3 ring binders with tabs for each module covered all divided for each test. So Test 1 was one binder, Test 2 another, etc. Block 2, I ended up doing 2 pocket folders for each module. I will do the folder thing for Block 3.

Try to establish a daily schedule for studying. Study by yourself and try group studying. Figure out what works for you.

First week you will learn about the history of nursing, nursing entities( JC, Nursing Act etc) and ADPIE. ADPIE is your friend and will be with you forever. Know what it is and how it works.

Don't procrastinate.

Get adequate sleep.

Buy white tank tops to wear under your scrubs.

Comfy shoes!

Find someone you can carpool with if you go to LCCA SM and live in the EV. Make sure your carpool is not chronically late to lecture. That will give you an idea of how they are going to clinicals.

Show up 10 minutes before class. The instructor WILL lock the doors and won't let you in until th first break which is an hour after the start so you will miss lots of information. People will hate you if you constantly show up late. You become disruptive and start looking disrepectful. I have more but that is enough for now.

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Hi everyone! I am wondering about CGCC nursing program. I am applying for the CEP next month with MCC being my first choice and needing to figure out what to put as my second and third choice. I have heard horror stories about the program and was wondering if anyone has heard "good" things about it. I live in Chandler right by the campus actually and would rather choose a campus close to my home than say Scottsdale or Phoenix. Any information would be great!

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Hi wildcatchristine!

Could you give me a little insite on how the CGCC program is?! Looking to put them down as my second choice.

Thanks

Hello, I just wanted to say hello to everyone. I finished Blk 1 in the fall and am in the process of finishing Blk 2 at CGCC. I had advice for everyone, you have a shorter time than I did. Make good use of the time you have to get really good with your skills. Use all the open lab time that you can. Stay away from negative people that will stress you out. Find people you can trust especially your partner for your head to toe and vitals practicum. Get good healthy snacks. For lunch try to bring lunches that don't need microwaving, there is only 1 microwave.I bought all hard cover books, easier to use than the ebooks. Have fun the first week will be crazy stressful but you will eventually get into the groove. Don't forget about using the main campus library for private study rooms.
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Wlldcatchristie, thank you so much!! Wonderful information although some of it sounds like Greek to me right now! Thank you for all the advice on the different study aids and little things about clinicals...anytime you have additional advice, we would all love it!!

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The program is not as bad as people have reported. I think lessons have been learned by the department after a few years of trial and error. It does have one of the youngest programs in all the district. Nursing school is hard, that is the life of someone in nursing school. I like the school, it is a small campus that houses aviation, electricity something, mortuary science and nursing. I don't have anything to compare cgcc nursing to since I have not gone to the other programs. I have no major complaints that would make me transfer to another cc. At least nothing related to the teaching staff.

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That's good to know! Thank you! =)

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Okay CGCC Block 1, get to it next week! Good luck, I am finished and I passed Block 2. I might drop in every once in awhile for open lab this summer.

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Plan on having 3-4 hours of good quality studying.

Buy Test Success the required book for the review class even if you are not taking it.

Buy Fundamentals Success.

Use the online materials that are free with your books on the Evolve site. Don't buy Taber's or any medical terminology dictionary.

Do as many math and NCLEX type problems every day.

Buy the Davis mobile NCLEX RN app to study whenyou are standing in line, eating dinner, lunch, breakfast, a snack, walking on treadmill.

Warm up your printer for excessive printing. Print on both sides with draft quality print. Get used to watching and studying from Prezi's.

Peint everything you need for each class.

Figure out you log in for when you took the HESI A2, you will need to link your evolve online courses and takethe HESI at the end of the semester.

If you record, you may want to buy a Livescribe Echo pen. www.livescribe.com

Wilkinson is your friend, get to know both volumes. Watch the videos required before lab. Find the podcasts for the Wilkinson chapters on Itunes podcasts or on the Davis website. Be prepared to gain weight.

Find videos on youtube and watch them. Use the topic you are studying in the search string.

Buy chocolate covered coffee beans.

Download Medscape.

Buy a lunch box, pack it with quick snacks for your long lab, lecture and clinical days.

Buy scrub pants that are too big, you want to be able to squat and these scrubs don't stretch very well.

Do not overstuff your pockets during clinical, you will have the worst time bending over to pick stuff up if you drop something.

Buy comfortable white shoes.

Have an extra set of scrubs in the car just in case you get bodily fluids on you during clinical or you forget to wear scrubs on a lecture day that was actually a simulation day. Buy a storage clipboard without a calculator because chances are the calc will break but you need a place to keep your careplans and notes to use during lab and clinical. Use the railings on the walls in your clinical site to place your clipboard before you go into a patient's room especially when they are in isolation.

Go through your syllabus before school and either color/highlight important dates before you print.

Be very organized. Block 1 I had 4 3" 3 ring binders with tabs for each module covered all divided for each test. So Test 1 was one binder, Test 2 another, etc. Block 2, I ended up doing 2 pocket folders for each module. I will do the folder thing for Block 3.

Try to establish a daily schedule for studying. Study by yourself and try group studying. Figure out what works for you.

First week you will learn about the history of nursing, nursing entities( JC, Nursing Act etc) and ADPIE. ADPIE is your friend and will be with you forever. Know what it is and how it works.

Don't procrastinate.

Get adequate sleep.

Buy white tank tops to wear under your scrubs.

Comfy shoes!

Find someone you can carpool with if you go to LCCA SM and live in the EV. Make sure your carpool is not chronically late to lecture. That will give you an idea of how they are going to clinicals.

Show up 10 minutes before class. The instructor WILL lock the doors and won't let you in until th first break which is an hour after the start so you will miss lots of information. People will hate you if you constantly show up late. You become disruptive and start looking disrepectful. I have more but that is enough for now.

Thank you so much for your info! I'm not even applying to this school but you were so helpful & gave great advice. I will totally use lots of what you said!! Thanks again!

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