Anyone starting RN at Miami Dade College Fall 2009?

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hi and Congrats to all that starting the RN Accelerated/Part time/Full time/Transitional option this August 2009 at MDC!

I have read tons of posts from prior years of former and present MDC RN students that were in our shoes not so long ago.

We have a little over two months b4 we start and our lives as we know them will not be the same. We have several hurdles left and more to come specially day of registration.

I took the liberty of bundling several posts into one for the sake of brevity. However, it's from the same helpful person.

The long and the short of "sequences" is that it makes it easier for you to register and not end up with scheduling conflicts. For instance Fundamentals of Nursing is a lecture that runs the whole semester....but Pharmacology Math, Fundamentals Clinical and Lab all have different start and stop dates. So, to keep you from picking a schedule that will end up with a conflict in the middle of the semester...they label each group of classes that are scheduled to work together as a "sequence". Just make sure you pick all your classes from the same sequence..and you will be OK>

You will be registering for your own classes. Usually, right after orientation.

During first semester, basically the class is divided into two schedules. You can choose which one you want...as long as there is space. Since they don't try and fit ALL of the generic nursing classes into one theory lecture (such as Fundamentals), they simply say make two different schedule combinations for clinical, labs and lectures. ONe is sequence one..the other is sequence two...you choose which one works for you. Also, if your in sequence one...you are NOT locked into "sequence 1" through out school. You can choose which ever sequence you want for each semester.

As for arriving early for orientation, there really is no need...other than getting a good seat. Like I said, your going to register after orientation....and usually there is a mad dash to the registrars office. If you know how to register online with "shopping cart" or "speed" registration...just pick out the reference numbers for each class in which ever sequence...and go to the library or success center and use a computer there. Each clinical group has 10-12 seats in it...pick one that you can get to easily for pre-assignment and clinical.

In Semester 2 pharmacology you will be learning the various medication as they are grouped into pharmacologic classes. For each class you will learn drug name generic(trade)/indications/dose/pharmacokinetics/mechanism of action/adverse reactions and side effects/nursing interventions and patient teaching. It sounds like a lot...but it isn't too bad. Just get to know the mechanism of action..and most of it will fall into place. I highly recommend buying a set of Mosby's Nursing Drug Cards. They are perfect for clinical and are quick..too the point and have the information you need..nothing else. Great for those times when your clinical instructor stumps you with a question as you are walking towards a patients room about to administer that drug.

Another helpful book is Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy..a great suplament to your pharm text book. Also...LEARN how to use your drug guide.

Littmann Cardiology III stethoscope, allheart.com and pick out some comfy white pants, have a copy of Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy and Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Incredibly Easy. I also love Mosby's Nursing Drug Cards. OHH Yeah...make sure you get a NCLEX review book very early in nursing school.

I really like Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination. It comes with a CD that has lots of practice questions on it...as well as a good review guide for pretty much every section of nursing school.

PDA with Taber's Cyclobedic Medical Dictionary, Thompson Clinical Xpert, and Epocrates loaded on it. Very handy, but not a necessity. A recorder for lectures is definitely handy. Heck, you might as well get a rolling bag to pack all your stuff in..unless you have a strong back.

On the success center computers...there is a program called "test taking strategies for nursing students". MAKE SURE YOU DO IT! It will help you out tremendously.

I have heard that some things have changed, for example in that 'mad dash' to the computers everyone who registers after Orientation at 3pm will have to register at 4pm for thats when you are allowed to start registration.

Also, I have compiled a list of recommended professors let me know if I should post them for all to see.

More important, I would love to compile a list of professors to avoid completely!

I paid my 100 deposit today too and was also told by the lady at the window in the Nursing Dept. that I don't need to have everything done by orientaion.

Do any of you know if the program is also held on the Homestead Campus?

Also, just curious-- What are your educational backgrounds?

i got a bs in biology. i just graduated from fiu and applied to the accelerated program. i am 21.

Hi guys, I'm a little confused about the immunizations required for the Generic option ( I don't know if the accelerated and bridge options require same type and amount of vaccines), in the first page of the vaccines/immunization record it says two immunizations are required for Varicella, but when I turn the page, it says only one vaccine is necessary. So, how many immunizations are really required for Varicella, and if you know a place where I can get them at a cheap price.

Prospective, can you PM me the list of must take/avoid professors...thanks :)

Thanks to all.

Guys,

Do you have an inkling of how long will the orientation be ? 9 am to ?

Thanks,

Prospective, when you can pm me with the names to avoid? thanks :nurse:

As of now, I don't have any. I am in search of them myself. Like others, I have heard recommendations but at times it's more important to know who to avoid. I'm guessing we could PM some current MDC students from year old threads and ask them. I was just getting the ball rolling and hope others would join me in the search of who to avoid,

prospective what major are you coming in from? you are doing the accelerated right?

prospective what major are you coming in from? you are doing the accelerated right?
No, I am Generic. I have an AA in Biology, so I don't qualify for the accelerated.

o ok i thought you were going to start the accelerated. that's great and if you hear anything pm me with the names and i will let you also. I got a bs in biology

ProspectiveMDC, thank you for your PM's

Yesterday, I went to see my doctor and ask her about the MDC medical requirement. I told her that I will be needing several items and she said that my insurance would not cover it, so it will cost just for the Hepatitis alone about $480.00 and just only this, and nothing else. I told her to hold on, let me find if I could get it cheaper somewhere else. Right now, I have been calling doctor's office to see how much they charge. No Luck so far.

Rostata call 305-635-1445 Occupational Medical Center. They are very good, and the price is fair!

Good Luck!

Yeah, Occupational Med Ctr. is a good place. Very clean and nice there! They charge only $35 for the drug test and $25 for the TB test, but I'm unsure about the Hep B test. The physical I think they charge 20, but you still can't get the immunizations there. Ultimately that is what costs the most. The Varicella alone is $92 at the health dept. and that is where it shouldn't cost that much. I have medicaid and I wish I would've just paid for it out of pocket the things that I had to deal with.

Yeah Occupational Med Ctr. is a good place. Very clean and nice there! They charge only $35 for the drug test and $25 for the TB test, but I'm unsure about the Hep B test. The physical I think they charge 20, but you still can't get the immunizations there. Ultimately that is what costs the most. The Varicella alone is $92 at the health dept. and that is where it shouldn't cost that much. I have medicaid and I wish I would've just paid for it out of pocket the things that I had to deal with.[/quote']

Hi Mommy's Girl, do you know how many immunizations are required for Varicella?

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