Don't know what to do!

2bRnKim · Mar 19, 2008

Mistiffy:

That is a hard one! Well, let's see, if you finish with TCC, you will graduate with a ADN in Dec. 2009? Then 1 year at let's say OU- starting in the spring of 2010, with a graduation of spring 2011 for BSN-then off to get your masters. Or, Langston all over again statrng in the fall 2008 and graduating with a BSN 2010. Then,off to get your masters. I don't know, for me, I would go for the quickest one- but you said that your doing well now right where your at. I would definatley weigh it all out first, I mean at least if you started at Langston in the fall, you would have the advantage. I goto Langston, and there are several students in my class that came from TCC. (They just coudn't take it). Well, I hope that I haven't cinfused you. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Kim

:bugeyes:

mistiffy · Mar 19, 2008

thanks for the advice! i'm kind of leaning toward langston i think. i've talked to this lady in the nursing department several times over there though and she is very rude and has hung up on me when i wasn't done asking a question, which kind of turns me off a little bit. i just hope she only works in administration and isn't a professor! on the other hand i've talked to several level two students at tcc who have said the professors have been a nightmare for them. also langston is about 30 to 40 minutes closer to my house than the southeast tcc campus! the only thing that's really hindering me is the thought of having to take all the tests again and all the competencies over, i dont know, i'm just being silly i guess. how would you say the professors are there, what kind of schedule would i have as level one student? if you don't mind sharing.....:rcgtku:

2bRnKim · Mar 20, 2008

thanks for the advice! i'm kind of leaning toward langston i think. i've talked to this lady in the nursing department several times over there though and she is very rude and has hung up on me when i wasn't done asking a question, which kind of turns me off a little bit. i just hope she only works in administration and isn't a professor! on the other hand i've talked to several level two students at tcc who have said the professors have been a nightmare for them. also langston is about 30 to 40 minutes closer to my house than the southeast tcc campus! the only thing that's really hindering me is the thought of having to take all the tests again and all the competencies over, i dont know, i'm just being silly i guess. how would you say the professors are there, what kind of schedule would i have as level one student? if you don't mind sharing.....:rcgtku:

oooo! sorry to hear that! i know that the administrative person is extremely busy right now, but that is no excuse. i have to be honest with you and tell you that you will have good and bad professors anywhere you go. for the most part, they are good. the schedule for a level one student would be:

mon- 9-3:40

tues: 9-3:40

wed: 9-12:50

and you will have a clinical either on thurs or fri, (depends on which group you are put in) which is 7-1:30ish.

the first semester is the worst because you will have health assessment (and lab), concepts, orientation (dosage calc/pharm), community, and research. there is alot more to learn with your bsn vs your adn. your biggest hurtles for first semester is your dosage calc exam, which is divided into three exams and you have to make a 90 or above, and your head to toe assessment at the end of the semester. the rest is a few research papers (2-3), a community project, and of course you must pass your bondy.at the end of the semester, we have what we call eri testing, which is one major test that you take on the internet (it's a national test) and you must make the national average to pass. that is 1st semester in a nutshell. it is busy, but i have heard so is tcc, so you can probably handle it. also, it is customary for the upper level students to pass down study guides to the lower levels. man, has that really helped us!! i hope this helps.

kim

mistiffy · Mar 20, 2008

What's a bondy? lol So you have to take 3 dosage exams in level one? We only have to take one a semester at TCC, but we have 3 times to pass it, I passed mine with 100% :nuke:. I also just took my head to toe assessment competency last week and passed on the 1st attempt. Idk, it's something Im really going to have to think about! So what's the focus on first semester at Langston, is it older adult? Also, what kinds of skills do you learn? Sorry Im bugging you with so many questions!

babygirl1115 · Mar 20, 2008

mistiffy - do you have AIM or yahoo messenger if so what's your name i thought maybe i could chat with u about nursing i have some ?s and looks like u have some too thought we could talk! my yahoo is [email protected] and AIM is hanson7171 let me know yours

2bRnKim · Mar 20, 2008

What's a bondy? lol So you have to take 3 dosage exams in level one? We only have to take one a semester at TCC, but we have 3 times to pass it, I passed mine with 100% :nuke:. I also just took my head to toe assessment competency last week and passed on the 1st attempt. Idk, it's something Im really going to have to think about! So what's the focus on first semester at Langston, is it older adult? Also, what kinds of skills do you learn? Sorry Im bugging you with so many questions!

A bondy is basically an evaluation of how you did at your clinicals for the entire semester. You din't get grades for clinical paperwork- just a end of the semester evaluation (bondy). It's not that big of deal if you actually showed up and tried. The dosage exam is divided into two parts- sorry I told you wrong

1. Basic dosage calc and conversions.

2. IV calulations

Yes, we also have three tries on the dosage test.

As far as the first semester, there is no "focus" per say on an area other than basic physical assessment. The health assessment class will go through each body system (basic overview) and detailed assessment for each area. Our clinicals are not at the nursing home- they are at the pink hospital the entire semester. You will practice your head to toe assessments there, along with passing meds, injections, catheters, etc. It's really to get you familiar with the hospital, nursing and the whole medical field. Not every single person in nursing school has a medical background, though most do.

The second semester will focus on OB, case-management, and mental health. The clinicals will then expand to many of the area hospitals and agencies. Then, third semster is peds, minority health, and adult health. The fourth semeter is research again, critical care, and I forget what else. I am in the second semester.

It's probably is different from what you have just gone through. I mean each school does their program in different orders I guess. If you have already passed your head to toe, I can totally see why it would be a bummer to start over again. I wish I had this much info about a nursing program before I began. I like though. He he! Good luck

Kim

mistiffy · Mar 20, 2008

babygirl-I do have AIM, and my name is mistiffy (surprise, surprise! lol). Id love to chat sometime!

Kim-Thank you so much for all of your replies! At TCC we spend level one focusing on the older adult and do our clinicals in the nursing home. We have also spent most of our time in the lab learning our head to toe assessments and putting them to practice. level 2 is med/surg, level 3 is OB & peds, & level 4 is advanced med/surg (ICU). However we do not have all the community health and research that Langston does, I suppose that's how ADN and BSN differ. Our dosage competencies were parentals and non-parentals combined. I suppose if I did transfer I would have a heads up at least and know what I'm doing, I mean the stronger your foundation is the better right?

2bRnKim · Mar 21, 2008

babygirl-I do have AIM, and my name is mistiffy (surprise, surprise! lol). Id love to chat sometime!
Kim-Thank you so much for all of your replies! At TCC we spend level one focusing on the older adult and do our clinicals in the nursing home. We have also spent most of our time in the lab learning our head to toe assessments and putting them to practice. level 2 is med/surg, level 3 is OB & peds, & level 4 is advanced med/surg (ICU). However we do not have all the community health and research that Langston does, I suppose that's how ADN and BSN differ. Our dosage competencies were parentals and non-parentals combined. I suppose if I did transfer I would have a heads up at least and know what I'm doing, I mean the stronger your foundation is the better right?

What?? Your dosage calc was drugs given parentally and non-parentally? Is that all? No what the doctor ordered vs. what you have on hand or any mg to g conversions, or IV calulations? Maybe I just misunderstood. In that same class, we have exams on different drugs, abbreviations, medical terminology. The more you already know, the better you are at getting ahead and helping others!

Kim

mistiffy · Mar 21, 2008

Sorry, I should have been more specific! lol, yes our dosage calc included iv calculations, conversions, and the what we have versus the dr orders problems all on it. :) By the way, what types of floors are you on in the hospital 1st semester?

2bRnKim · Mar 21, 2008

We are only on med-surg and cardiac floors in first semester.But, basically, you are just getting used to looking at the charts, following the nurses, doing head to toe assessments, and interaction with the patients and different staff of a hospital. My first clinical day, my assigned patient was down in dialysis- so I got to go down there and spend the day. It was cool. So, if your patient has to go for testing or treatments- you get to go.(not for surgery though) in first semester, though now that I am in second semester, my first day of Ob I got to see a C-Section.

Kim