Concorde

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2010

ME ME ME I go!!!!! I have nothing but good things to say about my program. Ok well I could find a few things I would improve, but they are pretty minimal. That said, the type of person YOU are will be the biggest determining factor. I know a few classmates that have never heard of personal responsibility and therefore have lots of complaints with our school when exceptions aren't being made for them and they aren't being spoon fed.

Heart of Glass · Feb 22, 2010

Thanks, ladies, I really appreciate the input! No worries for me on personal responsibility. I got my BA from CU 20 years ago & have worked hard at something or another ever since. My biggest concerns are about balancing a family with the demands of school. I have 9 & 12 year old boys and I just don't want to feel as if I am abandoning them to do this. I don't have to work, outside school, so that should help. Mi Vida Loca, would you mind telling me what type of clinical hours/ school hours you are having to put in? Thanks so much.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 22, 2010

If you go to the front range nursing page website for larimer campus you will get a good idea of the schedule for the different semesters. The difference will be spring or fall semesters. But the schedule is pretty much the same no matter what semester you take it, in fall you get thanksgiving week off and spring spring break and so on, so the days off and hours are pretty equal for each semester if that makes sense. Second semester has been a lot more time consuming then first was ironically, even though second semester we have one class at a time and first semester we had 3 at a time.

As far as clinicals,

First semester it was once a week for 8 weeks from 6-2:30, was on mondays for us and at the nursing home.

This semester I am evening clinicals which I prefer and it's twice a week from 1:45-11:15 The schedule says 2-11:30 but our CI tweaked it a little. This semester it is on Wendesday and Thursdays primarily for 6 weeks, with 3 days on the last week. The lady though that sorts them out due to feed back from us is going to look into doing them Thursday and Fridays. So we have the weekend free after clinicals. I do my patient research the day of my Clinical since I start in the afternoon. So I go in about 10 on Wednesday and research my 2 patients, go down to cafeteria and have lunch and am then ready at 1:45.

I can USUALLY get a lot done during my shift to because it's USUALLY pretty slow (granted my last shift I had to pt's crash within the last 2 hours of shift :| so wasn't slow that night.

From my understanding from those on day clinicals they get a lot less spare time during shift and spend a lot more time doing pt. research I guess.

I am only second semester and it's split in half, we finish up med/surge and clinicals for that next week, after that we go to Peds/OB and will have clincals for that and it will be different, will have them less.

Clinical wise it hasn't been bad at all.

I do not have to work outside the home but I do have 4 kids, my husband works out of town from end of November to May which is why I have to do Evening clinicals, my oldest son babysits the other kids clinical nights, my daughters day care doesn't open until 6:30 and day shift has to be there at 6:45 so it doesn't give me enough time to get to clinicals, park and get be prepared. I am doing mine at PVH

Heart of Glass · Feb 22, 2010

Wow, I am impressed with you doing this with 4 kids & on your own some of the time - that's great! Are your kids handling it OK? Sounds like you have quite an age range with them.

That's nice to hear that you have had some choice with your clinical shifts, I was wondering about that. Have you had choices on locations at all?

And, if you don't mind - one more question: Is your second semester a harder one b/c you are taking patho, or did you take it b-4 you started? I am in nutrition right now, to get it out of the way & thought I would do patho this summer or fall, depending on my start date. Anything I can do ahead of time to make the actual nursing school part easier would be a good thing for me, I think.

thanks again,

elise

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2010

For SURE do patho before, I can't stress that enough, it will come pack a lot while in the program to help you. It's to much to take on during the program. I did mine before.

My oldest is almost 14 and then 10, 8 and my daughter will be 3 in March.

I guess they used to have you put your first 2 choices for clinicals, this last semester we had to pick either time or place. So either PVH, MCR, NCMC or McKee or you could chose day shift of night shift. I wanted PVH evenings and only PVH had evenings this semester so I put "Evenings" for my choice to ensure both. I believe 90% of the people got their first choice. All the sites other then PVH were days this semester.

Not everyone felt the same, but for me, First semester was a breeze, also our classes were broken apart a lot. We had Math 2x a week for like 1.5 hours, Fundamentals I can't remember but it was the class we had the most and Pharm was SAID to be a 2credit hr class but it was more then that, but it wasn't as often either. Thursdays were usually lab and math.

Anyway, we often had a minimum 2 hr lapse between classes as well, sometimes more. So that time could be used for studying and stuff.

This semester with Clinicals twice a week, our lecture for just ONE class is often ALL day with a 1 hr break. It is just so draining and often times after lunch you just can't focus anymore. I have a lot less free time.

My kids are handling it ok. It was an adjustment for them since I was just at home, but since they are older it isn't to bad. My daughter is having a harder time with the night clinicals with me being gone but if her dad was here I know it wouldn't be an issue either. I mean she does fine but I can tell she misses me.

They know what is going on and what I am doing so they have been great.

Heart of Glass · Feb 23, 2010

Cool, very glad to hear that we should have a choice of placement. That's a relief. I will plan on getting that patho in before I get started. Really nice to hear your first semester was a breeze, I sure hope I feel the same - at least it gives me a reason to quite stressing over it! :eek:

Thanks for taking the time to answer my ???s; I know you are so busy, it must not be easy to find the time. Hope you hang in there & keep enjoying the ride!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2010

No problem and you're very welcome. Don't hold me to the first semester being a breeze though, (in case you don't agree LOL) because we did lose 7 people I think it was and a lot of people came very close. For myself, I did much better that semester then now. I am just hoping I pass this class and don't have to retake it :|

cmbrown07 · Feb 25, 2010

Anybody hear back from Regis yet after the Jan 15th, 2010 deadline. It's been 6 weeks, and I logged on to the "check application status" website and its just blank.... what does that mean? It used to say "Committee Review." I'm guessing it means letters went out? But what kind of letter? Very anxious.

IrishMama · Feb 25, 2010

The website on Monday was updated and the admissions counselor said letters were sent out yesterday. I'm an 'accepted alternate' but am still anxious for my letter just to get more info. I started another thread regarding the alternate process and another person said they were also an alternate for this cohort. Is the whole screen blank or just the status box? Maybe it's a technical error. If you live in the Metro area you should probably get it in the mail tomorrow. Let us know if you made it. Good luck!

jess~n~kids · Feb 27, 2010

Hi! I'm in my first semester at FRCC and am loving it! I have 3 children ages 7, 4 and 1 and I do work outside of the home on Saturdays and Sundays. Clinicals are still on Mondays from 6-2:30 and they offered an evening one this semester as well. Definitely take patho before you start if you can, I will be taking it this summer before the 2nd semester begins. I wish I had taken it already though.

So far so good! Let me know if you have any questions I can answer for you. I really like the schedule. Some weeks have longer days than others. Like the other poster said we go to math 2x a week. Pharm every now and again. Mostly once a week but not every week. Fundamentals is the main class with the most content.

Best of luck!

Heart of Glass · Feb 27, 2010

Thanks! It's great to hear from people who are enjoying the program!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2010

That is so awesome that they offer clinicals in the evening now for first semester!!!!

Well if I don't end up passing this class I might end up in yours LOL I will never ever get hooked in a series of 9 books again right when the semester starts, that or I will learn self control.