HACC Nursing student

[mnmcbm]

Just thought I would take a minute to touch base with all of the incoming Lancaster nursing students. Before I started I had all sorts of questions and very few answers. Most of the posts I saw regarding the program at HACC was how hard it was, and how the instructors wanted you to fail, etc.

I just finished my first semester and yes, it is hard. It is really hard. Lots of work and you do have to be dedicated. Before starting this I had friends tell me that you have to "really want this" and they are correct. Nursing school is like nothing you have ever done before. BUT, it is doable. First of all, if you made it into the program, Congratulations! You are in the top of your class and that just goes to show you that if you can make it into HACC's nursing program, chances are you will make it through nursing school. You are a smart, dedicated student.

I have to say I was scared to death starting school but the instructors (at least in Lancaster) are fabulous. They really want you to succeed and they will do whatever it takes to help you-IF you want the help. They will not carry you. You have to work your tail off but they are available to assist you, to do whatever it takes to help you make it. You can do it! You just need to make up your mind that you are going to work your butt off and do the best you can do. And do not complain. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It is work. Hard work, but the end result will be worth it.

So what helped me? First, read as much as you can but seriously, there is no way you can read every single word of every single chapter assigned from the 5 or so text books assigned the first semester. But try to read as much as you can, follow the power points (that are provided by the school-after you buy them of course) lol, but what worked for me is, I tried to read as much as I could before class. Then I came to every single class. No, this is not regular school where you can blow it off because you are tired or it is sunny out and you want to hang with your friends. You have to go to class. Every- single- class. Take notes on the power point then go home and make flash cards. What also worked for me is I had a small study group that I met with every day before class (for 3 hours) where we compared notes, talked about what we were studying, and yea, gossiped, looked at youtube videos, etc. I digress, you can't study 100% of the time but it helps to have a few friends that you can get together with, to study with. Also, you will be getting with them to practice your skills in lab and also recording your skills. They will record you and you will record them. So make sure you trust them and respect them because you will be relying on them to do a good job when you are taping because it could be the difference between a "met" or "Not Met". And believe me, you want to be "met" or you can consider yourself "out". Ahh!!...Which just adds to the stress of it all.

So in summary, I just want to say that you can do this! It is not so difficult that only geniuses can pass. You can do it but be prepared to work hard. But, you can also still read for pleasure, go out occasionally with your family/friends or maybe even watch TV. Just not all of the time. But know that you CAN do it! It is attainable. Make up your mind to work hard, be a team player and have fun. You did not get into this program for the money after all. You are doing this because you want to help people, you want to make a difference and you can and will do that with a lot of hard work and dedication. But you do not need to sell your soul and the instructors are not lining up waiting to strike you down. They want you to do well as much (almost) as you do. So put on your big girl/boy pants and get ready to work hard and you will find that at the end, you are a NURSE! How great is that?

[John SPN]

Good luck getting into clinicals. (Main reason I didn't go to HACC)

[mnmcbm]

I am already in clinicals. Just finished my first semester. It is very competitive getting in but I think that makes sense because it is a difficult program and if it was too easy to get in, there would be a much higher fail rate.

[Crazed]

I'm not sure why HACC has the reputation that it is impossible to get into clinicals. It really makes me wonder how bad GPA's are. If you're like the girl in my micro class who never opened a book and moaned about the D's on your test then yes, it may be difficult to get in but if you know what's required, do the work, you should be able to make it. I am a mostly B student (smattering of A's here and there) with two children and I made it.

I had a conversation recently with a friend who is pushing her husband toward an RN and she complained, "But what if he takes all these classes and doesn't get in?" to which I replied, "That's not an option for someone who is truly serious about becoming a nurse."