College of DuPage

DonnaDoll · Dec 11, 2004

Hi, I'm currently a first year nursing student at College of DuPage. There will be 120 seats available for next years nursing class and I believe the last I heard there were only 100 people signed up. (Deadline for signing up is first week in January).This same time last year we had over 1000 applicants! The nursing school took 120 students with 3.7 GPA or higher and I believe that there were 100 people placed on a waiting list (GPA of 3.4 -3.69 I think) . I'm not sure how many people got in this years class from the waiting list but I've heard it was around 35. This year the school has started a new pilot program with 27 extra students from that waiting list starting in January. The only difference is that these students will be attending school in the summer but we should all graduate at the same time. I hope this information helps you.

jitters · Dec 11, 2004

Thanks Donna for replying. How do you like the program. I submitted my application in August and I'm keeping my fingers cross that I can get in. Any tips you may have for the program I would greatly appreciate it.

DonnaDoll · Dec 11, 2004

Overall, I think the program is pretty good, but we're learning at breakneck speed and I sometimes feel like we just don't have the time to absorb everything. There is a LOT of reading in Nursing 111 (first class) and I've heard from the second year students that it doubles and triples along the way. A couple of times I have fallen behind in the readings and then had to play catch up for the exams. The scary part is that 77% is a D in the ADN program and so everyone must make a 78 or higher to pass. It definitely keeps everyone on their toes! I was lucky enough to have joined a clinical group with some terrific people and we became great study buddies. We have studied together, commiserated together, encouraged each other along the way and I would say that has made the program so much more enjoyable for me. We have our own website message board where we leave each other messages, some *****ing and some inspirational and I think that has helped us bond together. The one thing about the program I found a little difficult to get used to at first was clinicals. The first day of clinical wasn't so bad because it was all orientation to the hospital so there was no patient contact but on the 2nd day of clinical we were given a patient to work with and told "go take care of them". I panicked a bit because I had not taken the required CNA course (I was exempt because of my previous military medic background - 20 years ago!) and so I felt lost the first couple of times. We had one day of practice doing patient assessments and all of a sudden, we had a patient we had to assess/give AM care to/do vitals/chart and I felt like someone had thrown me in the deep end and I was floundering! It took about 3 or 4 clinical sessions to finally feel comfortable. As the quarter went by, though, we learned new skills in lab (ie, passing oral meds, sub-Q injections, IM injections, etc....) which we then had to do on our patients if they needed it. Talk about nerve wracking. It's a lot different doing procedures on real people as opposed to the dummies we work on in lab!

I don't know if there are any other questions that I can answer for you but if you have any, just ask and I'll try to answer them for you.

Since you've already applied to the program, then you must have your pre-reqs out of the way. The only advice I would give you is to try and have EVERYTHING done before you start the program. Some of our students are finishing up their Food and Nutrition, Microbiology, Psych 237, etc.... along with the nursing class and they are finding it very difficult.

Good luck getting into the program. I think your chances of getting in are better this year than last year just because the number of applicants is so low. Write me with any other questions you have.:)

jitters · Dec 11, 2004

I'm still in the process of getting my pre-reqs finished, I only have food and nutrition, micro and one other class, but I think I can get them finished before the start of the program. I was wondering if you thought it would be better once we switch to semesters? Also, where are you doing your clinicals? Do you have a choice where you go? Is it true what everyone says here on the postings that A&P is the weed out class? Because I couldn't believe that we started out with 27 people in our class and last thrus. on our last lab practical they were only 14 people left in the class. Do you see a lot of drops to? I thought that was a great idea that your study group set up a web page, how did you guys do that? You said on your last posting that there is a lot of reading , what's the best way to study, do you take notes while reading, does the instructor give you an outline to study from? I'm taking my HESI exam next weekend. I'm a little nervous. What I understand there is some math, reading comprehension and some A&P questions. Did you take the HESI? If you did do you know what the passing score is, because when I went to the advisory session they couldn't tell us at that time. Is there critical thinking on this test too. Any help you can give me would be GREATLY appreciate it!! I'm sure I can come up with 100 more question but I better give you a break. I just want to say that I'm glad I was able to contact you. This whole process is stressful especially when I see all these posting on here about the whole nursing program process. I guess it's like the fear of the unknow, you never know what's waiting for you around the corner. You have taken the edge off the process just by answering my questions. Thanks again!!

DonnaDoll · Dec 11, 2004

Bring on the questions! I'll answer them if I can. I have a lot of info for you so hang on!

* First of all, Micro, Food and Nutrition and Psych 237 aren't pre-reqs to get INTO the nursing program but they must be done prior to beginning of 2nd year. In the worst possible case (ie, you're having difficulty getting into a class), you still have some time to try and complete them. Definitely try to get Micro under your belt before you start because it's one of the harder courses. As far I remember, don't you only need Biology, Chemistry, and A&P 1 and 2 to get accepted and your CNA completed before you start 1st year (you could take it this spring or summer following your acceptance letter).

* I'm not sure if things will be better once we start semesters. I will certainly miss quarters, though. They go fast! I noticed the start of 1st semester Fall 2005 is about 3 weeks earlier than it was under the quarter system.

* I did my clinical out at Mercy Provena in Aurora. It wasn't my first choice (I live 2 miles from Edward) but it ended up being the best place for me. My clinical instructor was very nice and patient and the other 8 members of our group were awesome to work with. We did have a choice where we went but many sites were already filled up by 9 AM on the first day of registration. I had a 2 PM sign up time on the first day and I counted 77/118 had already signed up for sites. All of the early registration occurs because COD hands out sign up times based on the number of credits you have. I would estimate that 1/3 of our class has bachelors degrees and probably an equal number have associates degrees so they have a lot of credit hours which gives them a choice sign up time. Hospitals that tend to fill early are Edward, CDH and Good Sam. We were told that it was a good idea to rotate hospital sites quarter to quarter to get a feel for other hospitals/clinical instructors but I think people get in their comfort zone and tend to stay put. I could have gone to Edward this quarter - there was one slot left- but I opted to go back to Mercy to stay with my friends. I know eventually we'll have to split up!

*A&P is definitely a weed out class but I think Micro is even more so. It's more difficult than A&P (at least in my mind it was!) What I noticed in my class was that most people dropped early in the class after a couple of exams. I'm not sure how many we lost to the final exam. Nursing 100 is also a weed out class. It was an intro course to nursing but it was our first intro into critical thinking questions which are not black/white material like in A&P. I think we lost a couple of people there and I think we may have lost a couple in Nursing 111.

* I started the web group site thru AOL (you have to be a member to do this). If you are an AOL user and you want to know how to start one, let me know. If (no, no......when) you get into the nursing program and you get into a clinical group, I think you will find it invaluable to be able to chat and post messages with others who are going through the same things as you. I found it to be my life-line on days I doubted my place in the program and in clinicals. And I think it brought our group closer together because we shared thoughts/ideas/strategies/complaints/ even family photos, etc....... that we might not have done in person.

* The readings are heavy. It started off with one chapter on physical assessment having to be read by week 3 for Exam 1 but it was a long chapter and there were 80 questions from it on the test. Then from week 3-7 we had to read 13 chapters, one of them being self study. From week 7-10, we read 11 chapters and then for the final we had six chapters plus we reread most of the earlier chapters because 40 out of 100 questions were from old material! By the end, we definitely felt overwhelmed by material! Now, maybe the readings don't seem like alot to some people but the the material at times was difficult to grasp (ie, nursing theory......yawn!) I dozed off alot! How I studied was that I started by reading the chapters (I admit I sometimes did not get this done until a few days before exams) and during lecture I added to the lecturer's notes that were given to us. You won't have to same lecturer from week to week (team taught) and some have more detailed notes than others. (By the way, each lecturer writes their own portion of the exam). In addition, the students in my clinical group each took a chapter and made a study guide for the others. I also went to a website which supported the book and went to each individual chapter and printed out glossary lists and NCLEX practice questions. The NCLEX questions were helpful in teaching me how to answer using critical thinking skills. What you will find on tests in Nursing 100 and 111 is that there are good answers and a best answer. The hard part is figuring out the rationale behind choosing the best answer! Last thought on this - never NOT read! Read a little bit every day if you have to and don't wait until test time to try and absorb the material!

* Sorry, I can't give you any info on the HESI (I don't even know what it stands for!) because that is a new test they introduced this year and thank goodness I didn't have to take it. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if they did try to test your critical thinking skills. I have a feeling that this test is yet another way to weed out those who show no aptitude for concepts needed to get thru the nursing program.

* Here are a couple more tidbits that I thought you might like to know regarding the workload in 111:

* In addition to all the readings, you will have a 7 page developmental paper (APA format) due at week 9. This will require some research (you will have a lab day in the library to show you how) as you write a developmental paper on one of your clinical patients aged 60 or older. Don't angst too much about this, it's not as hard as it sounds and it's only worth 20 points.

* There will be a medication summary (pick a med that one of your patients has been on and write about it and present it to the class) due at week 10.

*Weekly data/medication sheets on each one of your clinical patients will be turned in for evaluation.

* You will learn a new skill weekly during lab time and then during the next two weeks you practice and then get tested on it (it is called "returns"). If you pass first time you get a point for a total of 5 points at the end of the class. If you fail, then you have to sign up for a new test time and you lose the extra point. There are 3 lab instructors and they are WONDERFUL and very helpful.

* There are weekly math quizzes during lab time. We had a practice one on our very first day and then after that they counted. It was all about learning dimensional analysis (ie, converting tsp to ml or oz. to grams). By November 9th, we had to pass this 5 questions quiz with an 80% or better (which meant you could only miss one question) to continue in the program. The couple of people who struggled received help and everyone ended up passing. We've been told that next quarter we have to pass this test with a 100%!

Ok, I can't think of anything else at the moment. I know it's a lot of info and my friends laugh at me because I get very "wordy" when I'm trying to explain something. I definitely had the longest nursing progress notes in clinical. My instructor was always saying, "Donna, you have to cut them shorter" but hey, I think detail is everything!!:) Hope all this helps. Let me know if you have further questions.

One last thing - Don't read too much into some of the postings. I just joined this web site and have read some stories that might have scared me away from becoming a nurse if I weren't already in a program! Block out the negative and try to embrace the positive. A positive attitude will go a long way towards succeeding in nursing!

jitters · Dec 12, 2004

Weekly math quizzes ??? We were taught how to convert tsp to ml etc... in the CNA class. I had trouble at first until my instructor gave me a few tips. In fact that was in our final for the class. We had a mock up in our lab, she set up a patient's room and we had to do a final unit check, input & output convert everything into ml., making an occuppied bed, do range of motion on a patient etc.. Then we had another station set up for blood pressures, and other vitals. I loved that lab, and I really didn't mind the clinicals either. I did mine at Tabor Hills. There were a couple of residents that pulled on my heart, I hated to say good-bye to them. We had two resident code on us the second week we were there. We got to see a lot but I bet you see so much more than we did.

twinkles · Jan 2, 2005

Hello jitters and donnadoll

I was wondering if either one of you could advise me on some of the classes I will be taking at COD. I would like to know as to what instructors are good for the following classes.

Human Anatomy

Microbiology

Intro. to Sociology.

Human Development and Growth.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

jitters · Jan 3, 2005

I'm took my A&P I and II with Dr. Finan, she is a good teacher. As for

my Human Development and Growth I'm taking it by video course ( I start to tomorrow - I let you know how it goes). I haven't taken my Microbiology yet so if you hear of a good teacher- please pass it on. Are you done with your pre-reques? Good Luck

Hello jitters and donnadoll
I was wondering if either one of you could advise me on some of the classes I will be taking at COD. I would like to know as to what instructors are good for the following classes.
Human Anatomy
Microbiology
Intro. to Sociology.
Human Development and Growth.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.

twinkles · Jan 3, 2005

I asked Donna about some instructors and she has emailed me. I will share the names with you tomorrow. As for the pre-requisites, I thought the only pre-reqs were HESI, a Bilogoy class (BIO 101) and a chemistry class (CHEM 151). Do I need anything else?

TracyB,RN, RN · Jan 3, 2005

I didn't go to COD... but did go to JJC... we didn't take the HESI until our last semester of nursing classes... but that was in 2000. I was told that it is basically a predictor of how well you will do on state boards. My how time changes things...

As for passing grades in the actual nursing program, only 80% & above was accepted as a passing grade.

I took the harder pre-reqs like Micro, A&P, and Nutrition during the summer, so all my pre-reqs were done by the time I started the actual program, and it made it easier for me, as I had to continue working... Keep in mind, I was already an LPN, so I felt very confident, clinically. It was the care plans & IV stuff that freaked me out.

jitters · Jan 3, 2005

No, that's all you need. It is my understanding from Donna and a couple other people that the more you have done prior to entering into the program the better. Did you take your HESI Test already? I contacted Maureen Waller at school and she said there is under 300 applications so far (I just got her e-mail about a week and a half ago - her response below). I hope this helps.

" We will be using a merit evaluation tool that will combine many factors, including the HESI test and GPA. The exact numbers on the HESI have not yet been established. We do have national norms, but wanted to look at our test results as a whole. I can tell you that we will not be ranking just according to GPA like we did last year. Last I heard, there were under 300 applications. Let me know if you have any more questions; good luck! Maureen Waller. "

I asked Donna about some instructors and she has emailed me. I will share the names with you tomorrow. As for the pre-requisites, I thought the only pre-reqs were HESI, a Bilogoy class (BIO 101) and a chemistry class (CHEM 151). Do I need anything else?