heard something about TCC...

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

Yesterday I was at TCC in the cafeteria with a friend when a friend of hers stopped by. This girl is in the nursing program and is about to flunk out of her first year if she doesn't do really good on her next test. According to her, there are 2 lawsuits in process against TCC for them being "too hard." Supposedly they are testing on a master's level and not the associates level. I find this hard to believe, but I do know that TCC is supposed to be pretty hard. But this girl gave me an example of one of the questions she got wrong on her last test and I don't know what the problem is. Q: A nurse tech takes a patient to x-ray. the patient has a foley, where do you put the foley bag - hang on wheelchair, hang on IV pole, on footrest, or (another one I forgot). The answer is on the foot rest. I knew this from my CNA class, and I"m not even IN nursing classes yet. The girl got kind of upset that I knew this answer, but thought it was really hard. I just thought she was being a wimp. Critical thinking is part of nursing, isn't it? So you had to think through the rationale that you want the bag hanging lower than the person to let gravity take it's course. Just curious what you guys thought. This particular person is planning to transfer to Connor's in Muskogee to finish the program and said there are several other's transferring as well because it's supposed to be easier.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I just finished Fundamentals of Nursing and let me tell you there are always whiney people, who can't make it, who get into nursing school. People do flunk out. I find it very hard to believe that they are testing on a masters level, they wouldn't even be accredited if that were the case...that sounds just made up to me.

If she thinks that question is hard she doesn't need to be in nursing school IMO.

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

If she thinks that question is hard she doesn't need to be in nursing school IMO.

I happen to agree! So how are you liking the nursing program so far?

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The question was actually a little harder than that... and yes I also got it wrong. It was ...hang the foley on the IV pole in the lowest position, behind the wheelchair below the bladder, on the footrest or another possibility that was obviously wrong... I actually chose on the IV pole in the lowest position! I have never worked as a CNA (but wish every day that I had before starting nursing school) I did take the CNA course at TTC and don't remember being told that so I didn't remember this. I guess I was thinking that if it hung on the footrest it would be so close to the clients feet and the floor it could be a hazard... oh well.

A LOT of people missed this one, it was probably the most questioned among the students right after the test. Others were concerning side effects of medications, such as anticholinergics and opioid analgesics... another what to stress to an at home client with an indwelling catheter- the importance of keeping it below the bladder or the signs and symptoms of a UTI... what do you think?

I got an 88 on the test, but it's not easy for everyone. I think we have lost 20 people already this semester.

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.
The question was actually a little harder than that... and yes I also got it wrong. It was ...hang the foley on the IV pole in the lowest position, behind the wheelchair below the bladder, on the footrest or another possibility that was obviously wrong... I actually chose on the IV pole in the lowest position! I have never worked as a CNA (but wish every day that I had before starting nursing school) I did take the CNA course at TTC and don't remember being told that so I didn't remember this. I guess I was thinking that if it hung on the footrest it would be so close to the clients feet and the floor it could be a hazard... oh well.

A LOT of people missed this one, it was probably the most questioned among the students right after the test. Others were concerning side effects of medications, such as anticholinergics and opioid analgesics... another what to stress to an at home client with an indwelling catheter- the importance of keeping it below the bladder or the signs and symptoms of a UTI... what do you think?

I got an 88 on the test, but it's not easy for everyone. I think we have lost 20 people already this semester.

Sorry, I hope I didn't offend you with this! I also heard that this question was kind of out of place since it was about what to do in a hospital and you're currently doing clinicals in nursing homes.

TCC is supposed to be a very hard program, but I've hear it said that some of their graduates are more prepared than TU, and I'm pretty sure they also have a higher pass rate on NCLEX.

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another what to stress to an at home client with an indwelling catheter- the importance of keeping it below the bladder or the signs and symptoms of a UTI... what do you think?

Was it stress keeping the bag below the bladdar? I have my theory instructor's "doctor's treat the illness! nurses are best at prevention!" rant running through my head right now...

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It was teach them about and have them report s/s. The thing about TCC, and I don't know about other schools, but they word the questions supposebly in the same way as the NCLEX. They TRY to confuse you. And that really makes me feel sorry for the ESL students (English as a Second Language). It's not necessarily that the question is hard, it's just the way they word it that makes it so confusing... I'm trying to remember a question to give you an idea... OK here's one that got tossed out because more than half the class got it wrong... An obese woman says she wants to lose weight... what is the first thing a nurse is going to assess?

A. Body Mass Index and skin fold measurements

B. Her values and beliefs regaurding weight

C. How long she has been overweight

D. Her diet

They didn't tell us what the right answer was. I chose A. But everyone I talked to chose B. What would you say?

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Sorry, I hope I didn't offend you with this! I also heard that this question was kind of out of place since it was about what to do in a hospital and you're currently doing clinicals in nursing homes.

TCC is supposed to be a very hard program, but I've hear it said that some of their graduates are more prepared than TU, and I'm pretty sure they also have a higher pass rate on NCLEX.

No you didn't offend me!

Yes TCC has the highest pass rate on the NCLEX. And yes I think they give a lot of questions that are hospital based which make it even more difficult if you have no hospital experience. Yes, we are in the nsg home this semester. We read all the material that is on the test, but without actually doing it, it's hard to understand it (I think anyway). I'm just preparing myself for level 2 (med-surg). All of the instructors are scaring me! One told me about a girl that cries all the time when asked to do something, they say she didn't get the foundations down well and she was passed anyways and now she is extremely confused. there is another girl who has lost 30 lbs. And they advise not to take lab on our theory days because we have our clinical the next day and we will have to fill out a 90 page form on our patient and do the care plan. they say we will be up ALL night and to take lab on thursdays because we need that 2 and half hours to NAP!!!! That absolutely sounds nuts to me!

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I just looked at TCC for 2004 had a 92.78 NCLEX pass rate so I would say that's good! It said 97 students sat for the test so maybe you can get a better idea how many don't continue with the program based on that number.

TU for 2004 had 15 students sit for NCLEX and their pass rate was 53%...that seems rather low, some might not have taken NCLEX until later or something I would guess so that 53% is probably not very accurate. Their average is between 80-90% most years though for a better idea you might want to look at the 2005 pass rates if you are comparing the schools.

I posts a link to all the NCLEX pass rates for every nursing school in Oklahoma, I think we need it as a sticky.

And UCO tests NCLEX style as well, don't all nursing schools? It isn't easy because you really have to critically think through it all, but I have done well so far with Bs and As. We have a good NCLEX pass rate at UCO as well (91%). What makes it so stinkin hard is the grading scale is different that regular classes so you might make an 82% on a test but that is just a C in nursing school. It drives me nuts...lol

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It was teach them about and have them report s/s. The thing about TCC, and I don't know about other schools, but they word the questions supposebly in the same way as the NCLEX. They TRY to confuse you. And that really makes me feel sorry for the ESL students (English as a Second Language). It's not necessarily that the question is hard, it's just the way they word it that makes it so confusing... I'm trying to remember a question to give you an idea... OK here's one that got tossed out because more than half the class got it wrong... An obese woman says she wants to lose weight... what is the first thing a nurse is going to assess?

A. Body Mass Index and skin fold measurements

B. Her values and beliefs regaurding weight

C. How long she has been overweight

D. Her diet

They didn't tell us what the right answer was. I chose A. But everyone I talked to chose B. What would you say?

hmmm.. OK, from the question it seems like her values and beliefs regarding weight are already centered on weight loss right now... OK I'm lost so the first thing that ran through my head was, "ABC's aren't involved so you'd go with Maslow's hierarchy..." so you'd go with physiological... D? No, A! This is why I'm getting C's on tests LOL... I can't make up my mind...

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Specializes in Level III cardiac/telemetry.

Hmmm...I'm sort of leaning towards D actually. The only reason I say this is that I talked to my NP last year about losing weight and she immediately went to diet. Although at my dr's office they figure your BMI on every visist, as soon as you are weighed. So is it a nurse responsibility to get into diet issues, or is it more for the higher level providers? Makes ya think!

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Ok, I am in the Level II at TCC. While I do have some gripes about some things I would prefer TCC over other schools. I want to pass my NCLEX and I want to know what I am doing. Yes, I am tired from doing care plans (plus, I have a husband, dog, 3 fish, 9 yr old, and a 2 year old, plus my husband works and goes to school full time as well). I am unable to do my care plans until after around 8pm because that is when my husband gets off of work and he can put the kids to bed at 830.

Who said nursing school is suppose to be easy? These are peoples lives. Yes, lot of people have dropped but not everybody drops because of grades. Also, some people don't do as well a semester because of other things going on in their lives.

I have talked with nurses at the hospital and they say that most of the best new grads come out of TCC. They know what they are doing. I do plan on going on to get my BSN and beyond. I do think that some of TCC's information is on a "higher" level than just an ADN. But I don't mind because I don't have to pay as much as others for the same information.

The only difference between TCC and the 4 year degrees are not the nursing information so much but the prerequisites. If they throw in more prereqs than yest it would be a BSN.

Anyway, I haven't shuffled around here. All I know is yes, I am working but butt off and I told my husband that when I get my degree and my license to practice and am going to frame them and put a banner around them that say "blood, sweat, and tears" because I have cried over care plans, sweated over tests and put blood into my work. But in the end I will know that I can give my patients the best care possible due to my education. Hey, I sound like one of the TCC commercials!:chuckle

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