Valencia College Spring 2015

FuturePedRN2016, CNA · Jan 28, 2014

Congrats to you!

tvleon13 · Jan 28, 2014

Hi Boragirl02, i am also starting in spring 2015. I have had friends start 1-2 semesters early though. So it is possible. But the thing about that is that they email you only a few months before program starts. I think I might just wait until spring so that way I have all my stuff in order. Kids, husband, etc... I am not sure how much uniforms cost but i heard they are pricey. The lab coat I heard you can buy your own (which I already have) and you can just buy the Valencia logo and have it sown on. I do believe you have to wear all white sneakers but not too sure.

Well congrats on getting accepted! I cant wait to start! nervous and anxious... =)

nekozuki, LPN · Jan 30, 2014

Grats, dude! I am starting the LPN to RN advanced standing track in fall 2014, but who knows, maybe clinicals overlap or we'll see each other! Good luck! And yes, I've been hearing pretty consistently that people are getting in a semester early. So many people give up on the waitlist and move on to other colleges!

boragirl02 · Feb 22, 2014

Sorry for the late reply! I'm excited to start next year, but I certainly don't mind starting earlier either! Thanks for the info you provided! Congrats to you as well and maybe we will bump into each other at school sometime.

tvleon13 · Mar 14, 2014

Just received an email asking to start in summer 2014!!! That's 2 semesters early! But...with that said..unfortunately I cannot accept it...I would have to start may 5th and I am not prepared.. Mentally nor physically... I have a family and children that I need to make sure are taken care of and two months isn't enough time.... If I didn't have those responsibilities I would jump on it so fast!!.. Well anyways ..maybe I will get another letter and can start in fall...so check your emails to see if you guys can get in early. Good luck!!!

boragirl02 · Mar 24, 2014

Ok, so now I receive an email from Valencia informing me that I will be starting Summer 2015 instead. I really do not mind but I am a bit worried since Summer semesters are usually shorter than Fall and Spring. I heard that Nursing 1 and 2 are the hardest and most challenging semesters and I am a bit concerned to start Nursing 1 on a Summer semester! Is it a disadvantage to start Nursing 1 during the Summer or does it not really matter at all?

xoxJanexoxDoexox · Mar 25, 2014

I graduated from VCC last spring and I don't think it matters which semester you start with. You'll come to find that EVERY semester is the "hardest". It never gets any easier...only more challenging. You'll get through it though because each semester you will learn to cope better. The way you study the material and how you deal with the stress will continue to improve with time. Nursing 2 is considered to be difficult because you start to apply the information you learn. That semester kicks your critical thinking skills into overdrive so that you are prepared for clinicals. Do your best to make friends the first semester. You will need them more than you know. If you can swing it try and get into the concurrent program at UCF. I know Valencia was getting ready to start a BSN program. Make sure you set yourself up so that you go straight through for the BSN. You will need it...especially if you will be looking for a job in the Orlando area. Make sure you get a tech job in the hospital system you will be doing your clinicals at. It might give you the upper hand. Unless you think you can keep a 3.2 GPA or better through the entire program I suggest you not go to FL Hospital. They have a GN program that is very competitive. Orlando Health will be more likely to hire a tech turned RN. Do ALL your clinicals through the same hospital system (preferably the one you would like to get hired to). Also, it's a good idea to volunteer at hospital where your clinicals are (helps you get to know people). I know that all seems like a lot but I'm still jobless almost a year after graduation and these are a few of the things I wish I would have done. Ps-All white sneakers

boragirl02 · Mar 26, 2014

Wow, thank you so much for the information! I will definitely keep your advice in mind. I really wish you luck on your job hunt....you will definitely find a job at just the right time!

TYoungRN7 · Mar 28, 2014

I've heard a lot of people say hospitals aren't hiring nurses with an asn. I start this summer and I'm nervous. Given that you have graduated, what advise can you offer to be successful in the program. I've heard a lot of people also say nursing ll is harder than nursing l because nursing l is like an intro to nursing.

TYoungRN7 · Mar 28, 2014

I graduated from VCC last spring and I don't think it matters which semester you start with. You'll come to find that EVERY semester is the "hardest". It never gets any easier...only more challenging. You'll get through it though because each semester you will learn to cope better. The way you study the material and how you deal with the stress will continue to improve with time. Nursing 2 is considered to be difficult because you start to apply the information you learn. That semester kicks your critical thinking skills into overdrive so that you are prepared for clinicals. Do your best to make friends the first semester. You will need them more than you know. If you can swing it try and get into the concurrent program at UCF. I know Valencia was getting ready to start a BSN program. Make sure you set yourself up so that you go straight through for the BSN. You will need it...especially if you will be looking for a job in the Orlando area. Make sure you get a tech job in the hospital system you will be doing your clinicals at. It might give you the upper hand. Unless you think you can keep a 3.2 GPA or better through the entire program I suggest you not go to FL Hospital. They have a GN program that is very competitive. Orlando Health will be more likely to hire a tech turned RN. Do ALL your clinicals through the same hospital system (preferably the one you would like to get hired to). Also, it's a good idea to volunteer at hospital where your clinicals are (helps you get to know people). I know that all seems like a lot but I'm still jobless almost a year after graduation and these are a few of the things I wish I would have done. Ps-All white sneakers

I've heard a lot of people say hospitals aren't hiring nurses with an asn. I start this summer and I'm nervous. Given that you have graduated, what advise can you offer to be successful in the program. I've heard a lot of people also say nursing ll is harder than nursing l because nursing l is like an intro to nursing.

xoxJanexoxDoexox · Mar 31, 2014

Sadly, ASN jobs at hospitals all over the US are becoming exceedingly rare. Unless you know someone on a unit that can get you in or you have a 4.0 GPA to get into a new grad program..a nursing home is probably where you'll end up. Some of the girls I graduated with started off at LTC facilities are desperate to find hospital jobs and are being turned down even with 1 year of experience. Most of my classmates who got jobs either settled for LTC facilities, got hired to a unit because they knew someone, or got into a new grad program (some had BSNs from doing the UCF concurrent program). Get your BSN as quickly as you can. If you don't work or you're the over achiever type do the concurrent program. The only real tip I can give you about getting through the program is know your learning style and STUDY. Do it in a group, do it by yourself..read the book! I had to read and highlight information I thought was important then go back and write out the information (sometimes 20 pages worth). After that I would review the notes and use them as a study guide. I had my mother or friend ask me information from the notes. If I answered correctly we put a check mark next to that piece of info, so on and so forth, until all the info was covered. It was super time consuming and I would barely get through all the material. Start to study the notes a week before the test. Different professors cover different topics so almost every exam is done by a different professor. It's rare to have two tests with questions that are written in the same style. People who did well on the professors exams usually did poorly on the standardized tests and vice versa. When it comes to the standardized tests its best to do NCLEX questions and do the HESI practice questions. Learn to read the question and think..what is this question about and how would they (test makers) want me to answer? I always made it into the 90th percentile on the standardized tests but would struggle with the professors exams. I think the best I ever did was in nursing 3, an 88% on a mother baby exam. A lot of people seemed to struggle with the skills check offs (Trach care was pretty rough). Go in and practice with friends because having a redo is really stressful. I'm not sure what other info would be helpful because everyone has a different and personal experience in nursing school. What works for one person does not always work for another. I wish all of you the best of luck and I hope that the job market improves by time you graduate!