Fall 2020 Hillsborough Community College

7 minutes ago, rrodriguez212 said:

I feel like a lot of people have similar questions, so maybe by asking you’ll be helping others!! but yes! We are all assigned to a cohort. You find out what cohort at orientation. Within that cohort you take the same classes with the same people. Each cohort has 1 instructor for all their classes. But to answer your questions, if you are assigned to the morning cohort at Dale Mabry, for example, you will be taking classes in the morning. We are basically given the classes we need to sign up for. You don’t get to choose.

Okay, I’m just paranoid because ratemyprofessor can be really intimidating LOL ? especially for the instructor first semester for the morning cohort. How has your experience in the program been so far (with the exception of covid)? Do you have any study tips? I know a lot of students utilize one note or Google docs for study guides so I’m just curious!

@rrodriguez212
What skills are done for lab/skill check offs in the first semester and what are check offs like? Also for med math dosage calculation what are the tests like and do you have to make a minimum grade on dosage calculation to pass like a 90% or something? Thank you!

8 minutes ago, Oliviacrawforddd said:

Okay, I’m just paranoid because ratemyprofessor can be really intimidating LOL ? especially for the instructor first semester for the morning cohort. How has your experience in the program been so far (with the exception of covid)? Do you have any study tips? I know a lot of students utilize one note or Google docs for study guides so I’m just curious!

I had a great experience. I am in Cohort 2 which is the afternoon cohort at Dale Mabry. I had an amazing professor. As far as I know, most of the professors are pretty good for first semester! I wouldn’t worry too much about that! It was not easy, but it’s definitely worth it. I’m not sure if you all know but the grading scale is very different in nursing school- 91-100: A , 85-90: B, 80-84: C. Anything lower than an 80 is considered failing. It’s not impossible, it just takes some getting used to. It’s normal to fail your first exam. LOL. I don’t have any special study techniques other than actually reading the textbooks and taking thorough notes. Also, NCLEX style practice questions is the BEST form of studying!!

5 minutes ago, weskamo said:

@rrodriguez212
What skills are done for lab/skill check offs in the first semester and what are check offs like? Also for med math dosage calculation what are the tests like and do you have to make a minimum grade on dosage calculation to pass like a 90% or something? Thank you!

The lab/skill check offs for first semester are simple things such as taking vital signs, changing bed linen, emptying bed pans. Basically all things that a CNA can do. We also learn medication administration which includes injections and stuff like that. The only thing we got “checked off” on were hand washing, vital signs, medication administration and oxygen application at the very end of the semester. You will practice HUNDREDS of times before performing the skills. There is a “lab” at each campus where you are required to spend 10 hours over the course of the semester. The employees are super helpful. It’s a great experience!!

As far as Med Calc exams. You will take one in your first semester. You need an 80% to pass. You have 2 attempts, I believe. The math for dosage calculations is not hard at all. It’s basic math and conversions! Don’t stress.

12 hours ago, rrodriguez212 said:

The lab/skill check offs for first semester are simple things such as taking vital signs, changing bed linen, emptying bed pans. Basically all things that a CNA can do. We also learn medication administration which includes injections and stuff like that. The only thing we got “checked off” on were hand washing, vital signs, medication administration and oxygen application at the very end of the semester. You will practice HUNDREDS of times before performing the skills. There is a “lab” at each campus where you are required to spend 10 hours over the course of the semester. The employees are super helpful. It’s a great experience!!

As far as Med Calc exams. You will take one in your first semester. You need an 80% to pass. You have 2 attempts, I believe. The math for dosage calculations is not hard at all. It’s basic math and conversions! Don’t stress.

Thank you to for answering our questions. Also I appreciate the previous questions asked! It was helpful and something I was also curious about.

I was just wondering if you think we should brush up during the Summer (in the hopes that we get in to the fall 2020 cohort). And, if so, what should we focus on. Thanks so much again!!

On 5/28/2020 at 12:26 AM, Ad0219 said:

Thank you to for answering our questions. Also I appreciate the previous questions asked! It was helpful and something I was also curious about.

I was just wondering if you think we should brush up during the Summer (in the hopes that we get in to the fall 2020 cohort). And, if so, what should we focus on. Thanks so much again!!

You are very welcome!! To be completely honest with you, I did not review anything prior to nursing school. I don’t think it’s really necessary. They start from the beginning and don’t expect you to know too much. If anything, the only thing I could really think of would be to make sure you understand basic anatomy and physiology. Again, it’s not necessary, but may be helpful!

2 hours ago, rrodriguez212 said:

You are very welcome!! To be completely honest with you, I did not review anything prior to nursing school. I don’t think it’s really necessary. They start from the beginning and don’t expect you to know too much. If anything, the only thing I could really think of would be to make sure you understand basic anatomy and physiology. Again, it’s not necessary, but may be helpful!

I appreciate the feedback. I have a full load during the Summer semester and was worried about making time to review. I feel much better after reading your answer. I’ll brush up on the basics but won’t over worry (or try not to) on anything else. Thanks so much.

I had one more question- they said that you need to have health insurance once you are admitted. Do you have to supply your insurance card because I lost mine ?I can get one I’m sure. But was wondering the process for all that (like CPR certification and updated immunization)

13 minutes ago, Ad0219 said:

I appreciate the feedback. I have a full load during the Summer semester and was worried about making time to review. I feel much better after reading your answer. I’ll brush up on the basics but won’t over worry (or try not to) on anything else. Thanks so much.

I had one more question- they said that you need to have health insurance once you are admitted. Do you have to supply your insurance card because I lost mine ?I can get one I’m sure. But was wondering the process for all that (like CPR certification and updated immunization)

Yes, you will need to show proof of insurance! They have a website that they use where you will be required to submit all of your required documents. They really emphasize all that at orientation!! Since you lost your card, you may want to look into getting a replacement. Or If you have an electronic copy, that will work too!! ?

3 minutes ago, rrodriguez212 said:

Yes, you will need to show proof of insurance! They have a website that they use where you will be required to submit all of your required documents. They really emphasize all that at orientation!! Since you lost your card, you may want to look into getting a replacement. Or If you have an electronic copy, that will work too!! ?

Thanks so much! I’ll be sure to print the electronic copy. ? Hoping all is well with you!

@rrodriguez212 hey girl, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I have a question in regard to textbooks. I saw on HCC's website that students are advised to purchase the bundle that they offer for about $1100. Do suggest doing so, or is it better to rent them each semester? Do you have a picture of all your textbooks, or the list provided by HCC? My sister finished nursing school a couple years ago in Ohio, and I know a lot of programs utilize the same textbooks. I'm just curious if I could get away with her textbooks despite them possibly being different, because the information is virtually the same. Thank you!

1 hour ago, Oliviacrawforddd said:

@rrodriguez212 hey girl, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I have a question in regard to textbooks. I saw on HCC's website that students are advised to purchase the bundle that they offer for about $1100. Do suggest doing so, or is it better to rent them each semester? Do you have a picture of all your textbooks, or the list provided by HCC? My sister finished nursing school a couple years ago in Ohio, and I know a lot of programs utilize the same textbooks. I'm just curious if I could get away with her textbooks despite them possibly being different, because the information is virtually the same. Thank you!

Yes!! We were the first “class” of nursing students to use this brand new curriculum at HCC. We were basically told that it is required to buy the bundle. It comes with online access and physical textbooks. With purchasing the bundle, you spend the $1100 and don’t need to buy another textbook your entire time in nursing school. We tried searching for individual books, but the price is not worth it, especially since we are required to have online access and that cost a bunch of money in itself. That’s where they really get you.. which kind of sucks. We used Elsevier textbooks and curriculum last semester! If your sister used the same company, I can try to find my list of textbooks we needed! Let me know. ?

41 minutes ago, rrodriguez212 said:

Yes!! We were the first “class” of nursing students to use this brand new curriculum at HCC. We were basically told that it is required to buy the bundle. It comes with online access and physical textbooks. With purchasing the bundle, you spend the $1100 and don’t need to buy another textbook your entire time in nursing school. We tried searching for individual books, but the price is not worth it, especially since we are required to have online access and that cost a bunch of money in itself. That’s where they really get you.. which kind of sucks. We used Elsevier textbooks and curriculum last semester! If your sister used the same company, I can try to find my list of textbooks we needed! Let me know. ?

Okay! I attached pictures of her textbooks, so I don’t know if I can get away with them and just purchase the access codes, or if at that point it’s just worth it to buy the entire bundle. Thank you for your help!