Eastern Suffolk Boces LPN Program 2017

Jnh98 · Apr 29, 2017

Ugh thank you for such an informative answer lol. I have so many questions and lot of these forums on here are so old, and also just not clear or even answered. Congrats on graduating!

imhorsemackerel, LPN · Apr 29, 2017

I just wrote a beautiful reply that got deleted when I accidentally pressed something. Well, here's try #2.

I thought the program was good. There were a couple of bumps on the way. You will be learning how to do things in Boces Land (the ideal way) versus the real world. You need to know the Boces Land way because that's what will be asked on your tests and the NCLEX. Another problem is that the instructors don't write the tests. Often times you need to find the best answer, and sometimes there are two really good answers. One may be more right, or both may be equally right. The latter is always frustrating. Any question that was deemed a bad question has a chance to get thrown out, though. The real problem is after the test. You get your grade, but you don't get the test back. You have no idea what you got wrong, so you're off remembering the questions and answers yourself (and help from your peers). But you still don't know what you need to improve on for sure.

I thought the instructors were great! They all have their own teach styles. I always look forward to their stories since they're all different kinds of nurses and have had various jobs. Some may not seem approachable at first, but they warm up to you. They just want you to be the best nurse you can be.

I feel like I understood the content, but I definitely have to go back and review a bunch of Med-Surge, OB and Peds. OB and Peds (Level 2) were my worst subjects because I always got sick after clinicals. Probably from the stress. Med-Surge is just a lot of content. But there are a lot of resources available. They make you purchase access to this website that's supplement to the book. You can do a bunch of practice questions for each chapter (includes ethics, lifespan development, nutrition, intro to pharm, a&p, etc). They also make you purchase ATI (the company that does the TEAS test), and that's even more helpful. It gives you many practice questions and rationales to the the right answer. Once you finish a practice test, it'll tell you what you have to remediate on. There are other sites that are helpful like Quizlet or nurseslabs. The Saunders PN exam book (red) is also very helpful but probably more when you're finishing with fundamentals onwards.

sdalo · Apr 30, 2017

Wow yeah thank you for taking the time that's awesome! I'm very excited, just nervous. Are you going to move forward for the RN?

emmaleeann · May 1, 2017

about how long after the interview do you find out if you were accepted? I applied to Western Suffolk Boces (Im assuming the acceptance is similar) and like someone has said above there isnt to much information on here about BOCES most of it is so old. But I got an 82% on my TEAS and I have my interview this Thursday (totally freaking out). I am hoping they let us know sooner rather than later as my interview letter states the deposit is $1,500. I hope to have enough time to get all the money together I dont want to leave myself broke! TIA :)

sdalo · May 2, 2017

Hey girl! Congrats on getting the interview! I heard from the others above that the interview isn't too crazy so don't stress out too much I'm sure you'll do great! By the TEAS do you mean the entrance exam? Or maybe it's different for the western suffolk boces? My friend said it was a lot of money in the beginning, ugh I'm gonna be paying it off for a while lol! From what I've read from the other forums some people went to the interview and got a call the next day vs. some people got a call a few weeks later! Good luck at the interview!

muggs · May 4, 2017

The real problem is after the test. You get your grade, but you don't get the test back. You have no idea what you got wrong, so you're off remembering the questions and answers yourself (and help from your peers). But you still don't know what you need to improve on for sure.

That is the biggest thing that has ticked me and many fellow students off since the beginning, especially as I sit here studying for tomorrow's med/surg final and have nothing to tell me what to concentrate on ugh

To answer the question about the manageability of full time, yeah it's a lot, classroom time and hours of homework every night. But it is doable just have to keep on top of stuff. You get information thrown at you rapid fire ,but the teachers go over the material in class so if you don't get to do all the assigned reading you will not lose out too much. You have to weigh finishing faster vs a lot of work. Though when you get to level II that doesn't much matter since it is full time only anyhow. Personally it was fine for me, but I don't have any kids or a full time job and I give a lot of credit to those who do.

sdalo · May 4, 2017

Do any of you guys plan on going onto becoming an RN?

emmaleeann · May 4, 2017

i think both schools (western and eastern) have the same entrance exam..the TEAS test. I could be wrong. But I just had my interview this morning (for western boces), I had to write a little essay on what qualities a nurse should have. The questions she asked me during the interview were pretty basic, why do you want to become a nurse, what are your strengths/weaknesses, does your family and job support this decision (for financial reasons i suppose), tell me about a time you succeed at work as an individual, what would you do if someone was cheating and what do you do to relieve stress. It was pretty basic (still nerve racking!) but i think i did well.

She said I should except to hear something at the end of the month or beginning of June. I know two of my references still weren't in (one was just mailed yesterday). So hoping for the best!! Good luck to everyone else applying either to western or eastern!!

imhorsemackerel, LPN · May 4, 2017

I'm honestly not sure what the difference between the entrance exam and the TEAS test. I remember a classmate mentioned taking the entrance exam but claimed it wasn't the TEAS. The TEAS test is what many nursing schools use. It's kind of like the SAT for health sciences, but it's much easier and shorter than the SAT. There are like 3 portions (Reading comprehension, basic algebra, science including basic a&p, chem, and I think physics). I never asked my friend what the entrance exam had, and I assumed they were the same.

muggs · May 4, 2017

One of the girls in my class said the programs are vastly different she didn't go into any specifics though.

As as far as going for an RN, I may down the line right now I'm worn out. I know esboces has something going on with Adelphi I believe it was for their bridge program.

sdalo · May 4, 2017

Hey guys yeah the TEAS exam is the entrance exam for most nursing programs, but I know for the ESB program the entrance exam is just the reading comprehension and english. There's no science on their entrance exam versus how there is on the TEAS exam. Thanks for explaining interview I'm nervous still! Yeah as far the bridge program I heard if you maintain an 85% average through the program you're eligible for the bridge program either Helene Flud program (associates RN) or Adelphi (Bachelors RN). That's just what I heard, I don't know if all of it is true.

Jnh98 · May 12, 2017

Ok so yesterday I had my interview. First they give me a clipboard with a paper that has a few question. First was asking how well you work with others or in a "team". The second question was asking how I would feel if my relief at the end of the day was always late. The clip board also came with a syllabus type book describing almost everything in the program. Rules, policies, dress code, topics we learn while in school and how long we study that group. It also had all of the clinical locations as well. I was allowed to keep the book but handed in the paper. After that I waited and one of the theory teachers called my name and we went into a classroom. Basically, they ask less than 15 questions and write all your answers down. At the end she let me see what she wrote and said if she missed anything, just add it in. The questions were along why do you want to be a nurse, what do you think nurses do, what area of nursing would you like to work in, is your schedule flexible, what do you do to relive stress, what would you do if you knew somebody was cheating, how would you describe yourself etc. I felt it was pretty comprehensive compared to what I read online about it. From there they ask me part time or full time, gives me a packet with an application, 3 reference papers and then she walks me to the financial aide office. so now I just have to mail it in and I guess that's when they'll let me know if I'm in or not