FCCJ nights/weekends 2008

Heatherp77 · Nov 29, 2007

I've pretty much gotten everything done! I'm getting really excited!!!

sugah-dumplin · Nov 29, 2007

What is the full name of the school?? And where is it located???

Never mind, I looked it up!!! :idea:

Florida Community College a Jacksonville

kertz81 · Dec 3, 2007

Here was the schedule for the 1st semester:

Monday: test(s) from 6-8 (if you have 2), only until 7 if one test

Thursday: class from 6-9

Friday: the 1st weeks, you have nothing on Friday's, but once you start clinical on the 8th week, you have to go to your hospital and pick up your patient info to write your care plan. Getting the info will take about 45 minutes at first because you're not really sure what you're looking for, so you write everything, and writing the care plan will take several hours. It gets easier as time goes on, though.

Saturday: 1st 8 weeks - class from 7-2:30; 2nd 8 weeks - clinical at your hospital from 6:45-2:30 (maybe 3pm)

Sunday: class from 9-12pm, then an hour break, and class again from 1-4pm.

There is some outside of class time required as well. You'll have to do 15 hours of outside lab practice before you do your techniques simulation in your 7th week. Without passing that, you cannot go to clinical (don't worry....you'll be ready by then).

Also, there may be some group projects....I've had several.

As far as your studying, you need to aim to study at a bare minimum 2-3 hours every night! I'm not kidding about that! If you don't study, you won't make it. There's a lot of info packed into a very short amount of time (especially pharm). If you study anything at all, let me preach pharm, pharm, pharm!!!!!

If you have any other questions, just let me know. I was in your spot not too long ago, so I totally understand your apprehension.

np_wannabe · Dec 3, 2007

Here was the schedule for the 1st semester:
Monday: test(s) from 6-8 (if you have 2), only until 7 if one test
Thursday: class from 6-9
Friday: the 1st weeks, you have nothing on Friday's, but once you start clinical on the 8th week, you have to go to your hospital and pick up your patient info to write your care plan. Getting the info will take about 45 minutes at first because you're not really sure what you're looking for, so you write everything, and writing the care plan will take several hours. It gets easier as time goes on, though.
Saturday: 1st 8 weeks - class from 7-2:30; 2nd 8 weeks - clinical at your hospital from 6:45-2:30 (maybe 3pm)
Sunday: class from 9-12pm, then an hour break, and class again from 1-4pm.
There is some outside of class time required as well. You'll have to do 15 hours of outside lab practice before you do your techniques simulation in your 7th week. Without passing that, you cannot go to clinical (don't worry....you'll be ready by then).
Also, there may be some group projects....I've had several.
As far as your studying, you need to aim to study at a bare minimum 2-3 hours every night! I'm not kidding about that! If you don't study, you won't make it. There's a lot of info packed into a very short amount of time (especially pharm). If you study anything at all, let me preach pharm, pharm, pharm!!!!!
If you have any other questions, just let me know. I was in your spot not too long ago, so I totally understand your apprehension.

Thank you Kertz. That was really helpful. I, for one, am getting nervous about juggling everything that I'mgoing to have to do. I appreciate the advice and information.

jsd42277 · Dec 3, 2007

Kertz,

Since you are in the night program already, I thought maybe you could give me heads up on orientation. What is discussed and are there any books we should have prior to or at orientation? Do they sign you up for the classes at orientation. What hospital are you doing your clinicals and do all 24 night students have the same schedule/hospital? I know they recommend you to bring cash to orientation but I just wanted to check if I needed more than the amount to cover the kit and the polo shirts.

Thanks so much for your help!!!!

kertz81 · Dec 3, 2007

For orientation, you don't need any books. They will give you your assignment though (yes, you will have homework before school even starts). You'll need to study dosage calc and medical terminology on your own before the term starts. Those will be the first two tests, I think the 2nd week of school. You'll get independent study packets for them. I would recommend you buy your books that day. The book store will probably have them all boxed up together (they did for us). It's expensive! The only money you need to orientation though is for your shirts and techniques bag.

The night/weekend group has 24 students, divided into two sections of 12. You will draw numbers for the lottery and that's how you will pick your section. Both sections have the exact same schedule, they just go to different hospitals for clinical the last 1/2 of the semester. So, with my group, the same 24 of us will always have class together, but when we do clinical, that's where it depends on your lottery number and what you pick. This term for me, they offered Memorial and OPMC. I chose Memorial. 2nd term for my group is either Shands or Baptist Nassau. I chose Shands.

Orientation isn't bad, it's just long. Oh, and make sure you get yourself a day planner...it will be your life! I have everything in there, and if it's not there, I can't remember it.

This will be a very hard 16 months....but it's only 16 months of your life, and you can do it. Just stay dedicated and focused. It will require a lot of sacrifices on your time, but it does get easier as time goes. The stress level doesn't subside though. :)

But, it's a good sort of stress. I'll put it to you this way, I was in tears my first two weeks of school thinking there was no way I would be able to do school and work full time, but I'm here now, getting ready for 2nd term, and I've got all A's and B's, and I'm still working!

jsd42277 · Dec 3, 2007

Thanks so much for all the info! I am sure you get a lot of questions and I do greatly appreciate you taking the time to answer them for me. It is good to hear that it can be done while working full time. I guess it all comes down to time management and just how bad you want it!! I have been so nervous about everything!! I didn't think I was going to get in this time and I did so I don't think I was mentally prepared for it!!

Thanks again for all your help!!!

kertz81 · Dec 3, 2007

It's no problem answering questions. Like I said before, I know where you all are coming from because I was on here asking the same questions when I got accepted. It's very nerve racking! :)

It's hard....I know I've said it before, and I'll say it again....but it is do-able. You are right, the whole thing is about time management, and it will take you a good three to four weeks to get it down, but then you'll start getting the hang of how the program works, and it will go more smoothly.

Good luck to you, and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

jsd42277 · Dec 3, 2007

Thanks again!!!

np_wannabe · Dec 3, 2007

But, it's a good sort of stress. I'll put it to you this way, I was in tears my first two weeks of school thinking there was no way I would be able to do school and work full time, but I'm here now, getting ready for 2nd term, and I've got all A's and B's, and I'm still working!

WOW! You work full time?!? AND maintain A's and B's?!? :bowingpur:bowingpur:bowingpur

np_wannabe · Dec 3, 2007

kertz81~

I just thought of a question. Since you work full-time and I'm at home with littles all day, I imagine that neither of us will do/did a lot of studying during the daytime hours. So, if you work during the day, and are in school nights & weekends, during what hours do you study? Before work? after school/clinicals?

And, how many hours per week do you spend studying outside of class?

Thanks so much.

kjl221 · Dec 11, 2007

I know this may be off subject, but I was wondering if anyone could help me with this question.

If you graduate with an AS in Nursing from FCCJ - can you then go on to get your BS or do you have to get those additional classes to get your AA before, say UNF will take you? I'm getting conflicting info - plan on talking to counselor @ FCCJ, but with the Fall semester just ending for me, I don't plan on going until Spring term begins.

F.Y.I. - Applying for Fall '08 Nursing (taking last 3 pre-reqs in Spring)

Thanks for any input & good luck to all!

Kim