El Centro students Spring '06

AllyRN82, MSN, APRN · Sep 16, 2006

Hey Fun!

I was in the Transitional Care Unit at the VA. I thought it was a good experience for 1st semester because all of the patients know they're going to be there for a while and they've accepted it pretty well. It's very good for getting a feel of what the hospital is like. The only thing I didn't really like was the air conditioning or lack of it! It was way too hot but they said it had to be like that because of all of the older patients. I am big on having my a/c so that was literally a major downside of that unit haha. I know...I'm weird.

Finallyat40 · Sep 16, 2006

I can absolutely tell you, now that I"m on the other side of the fence that ELC/NL prepares its graduates to practice nursing.....During my last semester at ELC, I worked on a pulmonary floor at Parkland for clinical....I took 4-5 patients (depending on acuity), and the nursing students from the local BSN programs were still taking 2-3 and getting ready to graduate! The ADN program has such good NCLEX passing rates because they don't spend as much time on management per se and much more time on diseases/treatments/diagnosis, etc.....real world stuff. Yes, the instructors are hard, and sometimes seem mean, but it's SO worth it! I always lived by the mantra "what doesn't kill us, will make us stronger!". The clinical instructor I had for first semester, I thought she was so mean....always getting on to us, asking what were we thinking, etc., until I realized that the reason she would do this is to make us think....not run on auto pilot! After finishing that semester, I swore that I would NEVER choose her again! Guess who I had for fourth semester....yep, her....and I'm proud to say that she is one of my favorites from ELC.....I keep up with which days her clinical groups are at Parkland and try to visit her periodically.

As for my decision to attend ELC, primarily it was because my goal was to become an RN without acquiring any student loan debt. I accomplished that goal, as compared to my 4 year compadres who have massive debt (I'm talking between 15 and 30 thousand dollars!). I realize that for many, that goal is not attainable, however, the less you graduate owing, the more for your pocket in the long run!

Keep on trucking ladies, you're doing well....keep your chins up!

Jamie

a_clay · Sep 16, 2006

I am not in the NL / EC program yet. I have just applied and hopefully will be starting January 2007. I picked NL / EC ADN program because I have heard that it is a tough, but very good program that will prepare you for nursing in the real world. This is the foundation of my career and I want it to be a solid foundation. I wanted a program that will teach me enough to make the transition from new grad RN to competent RN as smooth as possible. I don't want to graduate and struggle with my first RN job. NL/EC has high first time NCLEX pass rates as well. One of my current classmates in Statistics this semester is a Spring 2006 EC new grad RN. She said that the NCLEX seemed easy because NL/EC over prepares you. Also, the fact that the cost of the program is reasonable didn't hurt either.

Amy

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2006

Hey Fun!
I was in the Transitional Care Unit at the VA. I thought it was a good experience for 1st semester because all of the patients know they're going to be there for a while and they've accepted it pretty well. It's very good for getting a feel of what the hospital is like. The only thing I didn't really like was the air conditioning or lack of it! It was way too hot but they said it had to be like that because of all of the older patients. I am big on having my a/c so that was literally a major downside of that unit haha. I know...I'm weird.

How did the staff/patients help/treat the students nurses? With it being a TCU, what types of 1st sem skills did you not get to do? (Tube feedings, etc) Did you do a 12 hour, 1 day a week clinical there?

AllyRN82, MSN, APRN · Sep 19, 2006

How did the staff/patients help/treat the students nurses? With it being a TCU, what types of 1st sem skills did you not get to do? (Tube feedings, etc) Did you do a 12 hour, 1 day a week clinical there?

I thought the staff was pretty nice but I was mainly working with my instructor. The patients were all wonderful because they've been there a while and they are fully aware of all of the students who will be there. You're able to do as many skills as you volunteer for. I was always on the heels of my nurses wanting to learn new things and perform my skills. Of course you can only do what you've been checked off on but they're always willing to teach you. It's all what you make of it, in my opinion. I did tube feedings, dressing changes, physical assessments, and medication administration. That was all I could really do.

I was there for a 12 hour, 1 day a week.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2006

TY :)

I thought the staff was pretty nice but I was mainly working with my instructor. The patients were all wonderful because they've been there a while and they are fully aware of all of the students who will be there. You're able to do as many skills as you volunteer for. I was always on the heels of my nurses wanting to learn new things and perform my skills. Of course you can only do what you've been checked off on but they're always willing to teach you. It's all what you make of it, in my opinion. I did tube feedings, dressing changes, physical assessments, and medication administration. That was all I could really do.
I was there for a 12 hour, 1 day a week.

AllyRN82, MSN, APRN · Sep 20, 2006

Hey Katie How was test #1? Mine is tomorrow! I had SQ checkoff today and got a 100 and so did a lot of people in my group. It was a good day for many!

LKG6 · Sep 20, 2006

Hey Katie How was test #1? Mine is tomorrow! I had SQ checkoff today and got a 100 and so did a lot of people in my group. It was a good day for many!

It was OK. We were about to take the first test on computers. But there was some problem with the program so we ended up doing on scantron. So I don't know my grade yet. I think most of the questions were easy to OK but there were some that I had to guess. Or should I say I used my nurse logic. :monkeydance:

Congrats on 100.:balloons: My checkoff is tomorrow. We have a new skill instructor this semester so nobody knows what to expect.

Good luck on the test,

Katie

BrieRN07 · Sep 20, 2006

It was OK. We were about to take the first test on computers. But there was some problem with the program so we ended up doing on scantron. So I don't know my grade yet. I think most of the questions were easy to OK but there were some that I had to guess. Or should I say I used my nurse logic. :monkeydance:
Congrats on 100.:balloons: My checkoff is tomorrow. We have a new skill instructor this semester so nobody knows what to expect.
Good luck on the test,
Katie

I took test 1 today and we had ours on scantron too.... I did terrible!!!! In fact... majority of my class did awful. I need help guys.. what should I do? I knew the material very well.. I just had a hard time narrowing down the answers. I'm very upset... I've never had this problem before. How did you guys study?

Brianna

LKG6 · Sep 20, 2006

I took test 1 today and we had ours on scantron too.... I did terrible!!!! In fact... majority of my class did awful. I need help guys.. what should I do? I knew the material very well.. I just had a hard time narrowing down the answers. I'm very upset... I've never had this problem before. How did you guys study?
Brianna

Do you know your grade already?

Did your instructor gave a blueprint?

Did you practice test questions? There are some in the textbook, in study guide and in NCLEX review book. I didn't use medspub this time because they didn't have relevant questions.

Katie

BrieRN07 · Sep 20, 2006

Do you know your grade already?
Did your instructor gave a blueprint?
Did you practice test questions? There are some in the textbook, in study guide and in NCLEX review book. I didn't use medspub this time because they didn't have relevant questions.
Katie

Yes... we got our grades today because our instructor is out of town for the rest of the week. I did about 250 practice questions, used the HESI book, and meds pub. There were alot of questions on meds pub... maybe ours is different from y'alls. I just bought a new book today that every says is really good to study from. The blueprint that we got is the same one they gave to NL and ECC.. alot of stuff has changed this semester. I'm trying to decide if I should drop and just start this semester over...

Brianna

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2006

I'm sorry Brie. I hope things turn around.