HFCC Winter '09 First Semester adivce

[Briguglio]

Hey how is everybody? Im starting the program at HFCC in the winter, and i was wondering if anybody here that already started the program can give me some ideas of what im getting myself into...any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. thanks :)

[amybethf]

:twocents:My advice - plain and simple - if you want it bad enough, you will work hard enough. There will be times that you are so stressed that you will need a nursing buddy's ear to understand you and then there will be times that you will be so elated that you will hug that buddy! Remember to take it one day at a time, one test at a time. 1st semester is overwhelming and you need to get your own rhythm down. You have to prioritize your life and just let some things go - you will not be able to do everything you did before school. Make a study schedule and stick to it and take one day a week for yourself. You cannot make nursing your entire life - you need down time to ensure you are taking care of you. Your confidence will build after each successful thing you accomplish so it is okay to be nervous - it would be odd if you weren't. Use all the available resources including your staff. HFCC nursing staff wants you to be successful so use their office hours. Always review your tests - finals are cumulative - you want to understand the rationale of the 'best' answer. Cuz unlike other tests you've taken, there are always 2 right answers but one is the 'best.'

Don't be a know-it-all and don't take up class time talking about all the ppl you know that have this and that disease - we are all too busy and want to get the info we need during class! Understand the role and responsibiity of the NURSE - you are not going to be a doc so do not add more to your plate. Be nice to everyone and do not partake in gossip. You want to fly under the radar in NS - do not make yourself a target. And lastly - HAVE FUN, you made into the nursing program, :yeah:enjoy it and the ppl you meet! You might make some lifelong friends!:heartbeat

[tonyal]

Hey thanks for the advice every1. I find alot of times people go into something with the mind state that its way too hard etc.. and have no confidence. If you already think your gonna do poor..you probably are. Ok its probably very hard but its not something that cant be done..anything can be done, with the proper preparation. Does Henry Ford offer a BLSC Certification class?

I just took it, it was 2 fridays they also have 2 saturdays for the class. 1st night is watching a video and learning the BLS stuff along with it. 2nd night is you demonstrating and taking the written test. I just got my card in the mail.

[Raas4555]

I haven't gotten in the program but am hoping to start Winter '10. I plan on working through the first semester but I thought it would be a breeze looking at the course descriptions for NSG 120 and 122 and the - what is it - 8 hrs clinical a week. Is it really much harder to be working while in school? And do you get into Med Surg in the first semester?

Thanks

[CandyGyrl]

Congratulations and good luck!! I am in an accelerated pgm just as you are (winter = accelerated) Currently taking MED SURG I. I don't know about your schedule but we have pretty long days. I am in the HFCC/HFHS pgm downtown and we were in class from 6:50am-2:00 p.m (clinicals) 3:00-7:00(lecture) One thing that I think would be good to do is to get mentally prepared by taking on the belief that this is probabably one of the hardest things you will ever do in your life. If you set the bar pretty high even when you fall short you're still in the clear.

Get a Kaplan or Mosby's NCLEX comprehensive study guide... If you have time between now and Jan. go through some of those sections pertaining to The nursing process and Therapeutic communication as these are some of the first principles you will learn. IF you start answering some of the questions (right or wrong) you will get a good feel for how the exams in the nursing program are set up.

Consider your priorities. Some things will have to be given up while you are in the program so prepare yourself. I won't say that you won't have a life but then again, some people don't especially if you are working and have a family to take care of and have to study and not to mention everything else.

Get organized. An important part of nursing is organization and it starts at home... Clean your house... Organize your closets... Drawers... shelves... get rid of excess... clear off an area for all those big fat nursing books you shall receive... Buy big Binders to house all of your modules, handouts, and notes... post it tabs for your drug books and such.

Start thinking about how you will study... even if you don't know your schedule yet, you're not in school on the weekends so think about how much you think you could realistically get done during those times and then when you understand your schedule more fill in the rest. Also think about where is best for you to study. For me home had always been sufficient but when I got in the program the Library was more appropriate for those times where I needed to cover alot of ground in a short period of time.

Get your healthy habits in check... You are not going to have a lot of time to exercise and hmmm .... cook, so think about it small changes make the world of difference... Grapes vs. candy, Pretzels vs. chips... water or fruit flavor water vs. pop or juice... consider multivitamins, vitamin C (immune) and maybe even fish oil supplements (omega 3- BRAIN FOOD).

Last but not least GET SOME REST... ENJOY LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT RIGHT NOW! Your experience will be much different from others I know people who really struggle to keep their heads above water. I know people who rarely study and still do pretty great. My experience has been awesome. I still have a life but ALOT of people DON'T. I don't study nearly as much as I should and I still do well, but there are people who study lots and still miss the boat so... everyone is different just as everyones experience, study habits, grades, personality, learning style... will also vary. Just get ready for a HELLUVA ride.

[1rarejewel]

Great advice from all....

In addition, prepare for the fact that school may not be 4 days a week. That's what the schedule says, but it doesn't include time for practice lab preparing for the physical assessment or hygiene labs. For a few weeks, I was going to school 6 days a week.

Also prepare for the extras that you'll have to do that can't be done on class time. ERI test...EDGT test for pharmacology (many)....Ace passport has to be done to test you on OSHA, HIPAA and Bloodborne pathogens before clinicals and that costs $50.

You will feel under immense pressure when you find out about the pharm and math dosage tests being pass/fail...fail = out of the program. Pharm must pass with 80%, math with 90%. Use your time wisely and don't stress, but make sure you know it. They give you 2 chances on pharm, 3 on math to pass...in our class we haven't lost anyone from those.

Your life will be a big balancing act. Learn early how to make time for school and yourself/family. Chores, cooking, laundry will get put on hold. Don't get too laxed if you get days off very early in the semester...use the time to do EOs and IAs (you'll learn what those are when you start)

Buy Post-it tabs (or some other small colored sticky tabs) for your modules, drug book or other study aids for easy reference. I found myself giving some of mine to other students who realized how much easier it made looking for drugs or separating modules...or whatever else they need easy access to.

There is down time so don't feel overwhelmed just yet, I'm down to the last full month of 120/126. September was stressful in the fact that all of the outside tests were due (with the exception of math) on top of the lecture and tests for both classes and BP checkoff. October was stessful in that the biggest evaluations so far (physical appraisal, hygiene, oral meds), the math test, and research paper were due. Plus clinicals started, which means care plans and assessment guides but there was only one test each class.

Take care of YOURSELF. I'm a mother of a few and a wife and I burned myself out. By the time clinicals started I was getting migraines every other day...before school started I was down to one every few months. Eat well, get plenty of rest...otherwise your body will shut down whether you want it to or not.

Like others have stated, take one day at a time. One test, quiz, assignment, clinical....at a time. If you find you need help, don't wait. Make friends with those that have the same goals as you. Not everyone is committed to this, some are just trying to figure out what they want to do. Get close to those that want to study like you, won't blow off class and have the same drive, otherwise you'll get frustrated trying to get them on the same page. I only say that because a couple of my classmates are doing that now.

All the best to you on your journey....maybe we'll meet up in fall 09!