Current Portland Area Student Nurses

pomptongirl73 · Jan 18, 2009

I graduated from CCC this past summer. I say apply to the school when you can. The program is intensive and the instructors are absolutely amazing!!! I did graduate as the last on-OCNE class, so I cannot speak to parts of the curriculum. However, I can say that the actual nursing-based classes will fully prepare you for your clinicals and down the road for NCLEX. The homework load is of course quite heavy, but it is manageable. (I worked a full time job, have 2 small kids at home, and found a way to work it all in).

The director of the program is tough, but has an absolute heart of gold. The instructors primarly teach from their specialties. (i.e.... psych mental health taught by a nurse doing mental health nursing for 20 years.... cardiac by director who has primarily been a cardiac (intensive) care nurse)

Clackamas has a notoriously high passing rate for NCLEX. At least 2-3 years with 100% first time passing. Do not know numbers on my group.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck on your journey

airbender · Jan 18, 2009

Thanks so much for your reply; that's exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. It sounds like we're in a similar situation - I work, and have 2 small kids, too. Good to know it's do-able!

DarkHairedStudentCCC · Jan 19, 2009

I am a 1st year student at CCC and it is a very good program. Just look at all the "extra" points you can get and fulfill as many requirements as you possibly can. Doing that will push you above the hundreds who apply who don't have those requirements and give you better chances of getting in. The OCNE curriculum is being fine tuned with my current class so as times me and my whole class feel like guinea pigs. With that said, the program IS very intensive and I feel like I am being prepared very well. The second year students have told me the term I am taking now (winter) is the hardest because of taking patho and pharm while starting our hospital clinical experiences. I am a young student with no kids, but there are many like yourself that have a family. They seem to be organized and do well. Lots of classes are being done on blackboard and the program now is set up for people who are incredibly self motivated to learn. My Mom, who is a RN, is hearing my NS experiences and it is nothing like the rigid, memorization classes they used to have. So I would have to say you really do get out of nursing school what you put into it. Anyway, good luck in your admission journey! Hopefully by 2010 if you get in they will have a fine tuned OCNE program for you

memlz233 · Jan 19, 2009

I have been going to CCC for my pre-reqs for a while now, and I love the school in general. I have always had great instructors and I have heard great things about the nursing program as well. My sister in law trains the new nurses at one of the legacy hospitals and she says that the students who come out of the community colleges are more prepared than the ones who come out of schoools like linfield and UP. she actually went to linfield and she did not like it. she graduated several years ago, so i am sure that the program has changed, but she did not feel prepared when she left. she also told me that they weren't very good advocates for their nursing students as far as the NCLEX is concerned. I know that CCC is great, and coming from a nurse who mentors the new grads...CCC is definitely the way to go!

airbender · Jan 19, 2009

DarkHairedBoy,

I was wondering if that would be the case with PCC also, as it will be their first year of going to the OCNE curriculum when I matriculate. Interesting....The points are a little different there, so I'm thinking about taking a foreign language, as I'm already a CNA, but won't receive additional points. Thanks for your input, and good luck in your winter term!

Memlz,

It sure does sound like CCC is popular! And all of the CC's in the area are flooded with applicants; it seems like a cost-effective route that produces good nurses. I have a friend who is a new grad from Linfield and feels similar, although she attributes a lot of those feelings to stresses r/t her mountain of debt and hiring freezes at 2 major hospital systems in Portland. Thanks so much for responding!

Mexarican · Jan 19, 2009

I have been going to CCC for my pre-reqs for a while now, and I love the school in general. I have always had great instructors and I have heard great things about the nursing program as well. My sister in law trains the new nurses at one of the legacy hospitals and she says that the students who come out of the community colleges are more prepared than the ones who come out of schoools like linfield and UP. she actually went to linfield and she did not like it. she graduated several years ago, so i am sure that the program has changed, but she did not feel prepared when she left. she also told me that they weren't very good advocates for their nursing students as far as the NCLEX is concerned. I know that CCC is great, and coming from a nurse who mentors the new grads...CCC is definitely the way to go!

Well look at this way...your sis-n-law is a Linfield Grad...is now training new nurses...Bachelors i presume so she may be in management someday...i say Linfield did a fine job :up: and she took care of the rest :smokin: . I think many of us don't "feel" prepared to be nurses as we approach getting out into the "real world" of nursing. Had i stayed in Portland i would applied to PCC (actually did most of my pre-reqs there), Linfield, and OHSU...but i have also heard many many good things from CCC so most of it must be true! Good Luck to you!

Mex

airbender · Jan 21, 2009

Mex,

That's a really good point regarding Linfield! Thanks for your input, I'm in the "data gathering" phase, and very curious as to people's experiences. Thanks again!

NewNurseyGirl2009 · Jan 24, 2009

Hi, I am also a CCC student but in the cohort a class above the first year students. Let me tell you I have done second and now am in third term. Third term is way more difficult!

DarkHairedStudentCCC · Jan 24, 2009

CCCRN2b, don't cohort students have to sign a contract to work after they graduate as nurses, AND during school while you are studying? I think working would make school way more difficult during ANY term. What is making spring term way more difficult for you than winter term? For my class, during spring term (our 3rd term), we are going to stay at the same hospital (have you transitioned to a different hospital?), as well as taking the same outside/online pathophys and pharm. No additional classes for my class spring term. Please let me know the reason you are saying third term is way more difficult, I am curious.

NewNurseyGirl2009 · Jan 24, 2009

Sue expects more second term of patho. Longer postings and we didnt get to do it in partners last term. We work but I only have to work 8 hours a week. There is a big project in theory, one in pharm (another med map), a bigger professionalism project, and clinicals and lab are graded. Yes we had to transfer to kaiser and it is a different hospital than last term. We are expected to do a lot more in clinicals. Just seems like there is way more info and way more projects. I study more than twice what I did last term. Lab takes much more studying because it is stuff like IV's, Foleys, stuff like that. Not to scare you its so much fun, just so much information. After this term we are over the hump so I will be so happy. And yes we have to sign a contract to work for our hospitals (I work at WFH) My employer requires a 3 year contract but then again we are guarenteed a job. If you have any questions feel free to ask.