Hey all VCC Nursing students starting in Fall

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My Wife and I start in Spring '09 .... How was your first two days in the nursing program guys !?!? Feel Free to tell all :)

We cant wait to start !!!

.....should i still be this excited ? lol :bluecry1:

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hey,

the 1st week was intense!!! The program is no joke and they are strict with the dress code...just be preparded to have no life outside of school. Just know that you have to be committed to the program...i am nervous and excited all at the same time. The school offers lots of help, they seem to want you to do good so there is support. I am learning to do critical thinking as a nurse and its different from what I am use too. The pre-reqs seem easier in retrospect now that I am in the program.

Good luck 2 u guys

coco

ps enjoy your free time :D

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wow, thanks so much coco... it seems everyones impression changes when they start. A friend of mine in Nursing 5 said it was cute to see all the beginning nursing students with big smiles on their faces because they didnt know what to expect. lol

Thanks for the help Coco ... We will enjoy our time before it starts :rolleyes:

Good Luck

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Hey guys,

I'm in nursing II at VCC. Let me just say WOW! I thought the first semester was hard. But they pack a lot more reading and work on us this semester. you have to start memorizing everything about all the drugs while learning all the normal textbook stuff that they give. It is more interesting than Nursing I, but a lot more time consuming. I have doubled my study time. But I'm still excited to be doing it.

Good luck to everyone.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Peds, LDRP.

just want to tell all you generic students that you will get thru it. I went thru their fast track program and it was no joke. Spring, Summer, Fall, graduation. We had to go thru the same material you all do, but at a faster pace because we were expected to have an existing knowledge base. My class was full of LPNs, Respiratory therapists, and Paramedics, almost all of which had much more experience than I did. Ive always been book smart but clinicals were a challenge because I felt like those who had been in the setting for several years has a much stronger base. I felt like the clinical instructors (one in particular) picked on me and singled me out. I had only just graduated LPN school the year before and had never worked in a hospital setting yet. I only had LPN clinicals as experience, when most of the others in my class were in their late 30's, and 40s and had been in their careers for many years, so they knew so much more, especially the paramedics. Anyway, if I could get through the fast track program with my little experience as an LPN, I know you can get through the much more reasonable paced generic track. Just make the affirmation now that you will get through it. Claim it!

My advice:

study on a schedule, listen to you instructors and identify their testing style (the test is what is important when it comes to getting thru the program). Don't act like you "already know" this or that in class or in clinical. Listen anyway and consider it a review, they hate it when u act like a know it all. Look busy in clinicals even if you arent. Don't argue with them even if you are right, you will not win lol. This is just what I observed from a couple of trouble makers in my class who almost didnt make it because of their attitude. Make friends and study partners...I had a great support system in LPN school and it was a breeze, and found the bridge program more of a challenge because I was a loner this time around. I had noone to call up when I had a question or study with,etc. It is much more bearable when you are going thru it together! Last, but not least, don't get frustrated because I promise you what they say is true "The real learning becomes when you become a nurse". I learned more during my 6 week hospital orientation than in the past 2 years of LPN and RN school combined. Go thru the motions and pass, when you get out there you will learn the rest.

Best of luck!

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Luv4nurising,

thank you so much! that is exactly what I needed to hear. And I agree with everything you said. You described my first semester. I saw the same exact things that you did. But I have been very stressed and not feeling like I really know anything that I have already learned. Good to hear we will feel more confidant when we are actually in a nursing unit.

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Hi All,

I have a question for current nursing students in Valencia. I'm wondering how much study time the average student should plan on dedicating for the nursing courses. For bio and micro I was able to pull A's by just putting in 2 - 3 hours of study time for every hour of class time. For both A&P classes I definitely put in 3 hours for every hour of class time. I'm sure the nursing classes will be harder but what would be a reasonable amount of study time for the nursing classes.

Sorry mrandmrsRN for hijacking this thread.

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hey contaveras,

Everyone has different study habits...the pre-reqs were pure memorization...nursing school is not like that! i study everyday for at least 3-4 hrs, make note cards, do lots of quizzes, and a study grp. When you realize the amt. of info you have to cover you will be able to judge how much time you study or need to study.

good luck and enjoy your time before school starts

coco

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Thanks Cococure,

I'm currently taking A&P 1 and 2 this semester (and 2 more pre-reqs) at Valencia and these classes have really challenged me in terms of content being covered and time invested needed to do well. These classes seem to have started as pure memorization but as the classes progress the material is becoming more based on understanding about the entire body. My teacher keeps saying how much harder the nursing classes will be so that has me concerned and somewhat nervous about what I'm getting myself into.

One thing that has been working for me is recording my classes so I can listen to them again and make sure I'm not missing anything. Not all my professors are open to their students recording their lectures so I'm wondering if the nursing professors are okay with their students bringing in digital voice recorders.

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hey contaveras,

As I am sure you know every professor is different but for nursing I I don't think the profs had any problem with the students recording their lectures. Yes A&P is no push over for sure but your teacher is right it only gets harder. The program takes commitment above all...you will remember your A&P stuff...it comes back to you (don't get ride of your A&P book). Just take it one day at a time and get through your pre-reqs and relax. Yes you will need to understand how the body works in order to answer the questions, just be confident to your decision about pursuing nursing.

good luck

Coco

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Specializes in Hospice.

The time has come! Good luck and have fun!

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Hi mrandmrsrn! I was just wondering what to expect out of the nursing program at Valencia. I start the program next semester and I am starting to become very nervous:bluecry1: Please provide as much info as possible thanks in advance:yeah:

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