Hillsborough Community College Fall 2010

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hello! i just joined this lovely and informative site after lurking for a few weeks. i'm planning to apply for the program after this fall semester. (need to finish a&pII and college algebra).

who else?! :)

edit: can someone walk me through the application process? i know it's pretty easy, but i like knowing 100%! i'm not sure if an adviser would help me much. i know you need high school transcripts, an hcc application and a nursing application. then you just gather all the papers (including money?) in like a.... manila envelope and mail away? or can you electronically send your high school transcripts to them? thank you.

:) NewGoal RN....THANK YOU!!! It is AWESOME that you are taking the time to answer all of these questions! You obviously remember not long ago when you were getting ready to start YOUR journey!! You are obviously juggling quite a bit...you should be very proud!

I will be in the Dale Mabry DAY program...what have you heard about it in general?

I got some good advice early on, and have been studying the Math, NCLEX, and have begun P&P... I want to limit the impact of the program on my family as much as I can, so getting ahead is critical!

Thanks, again, for all the information and I know that we will have a few more questions for you soon!!

Oh You are welcome and yes, this forum was invaluable to me early on so I'm paying it back.

Regarding the day program, I haven't heard much except that one of the 'bad' teachers won't be returning. Like I said from talking to my classmates, try not to get the UH-Carrollwood clinical. St Joes has alot of records/charts on the computer so access is mor limited. Also, they seemed to be not as 'free' as UHC Fletcher in what they allowed the student nurse to do.

We emailed the instructor as soon as we knew and asked her what she will be covering the first few weeks from P&P. I had a friends syllabus from Sept 2009 and they did chpt 1-5 P&P first which I read before class(boring, boring,b oring- other chapters are better and imo, Lewis Med-Surg was easier to read). Turns out, our class started around chpt 20 or so and we didn't get to chpt 1-5 until the near middle of the semester but anyway, I just had to scan so all wasn't loss.

Just enjoy this summer- spend as much time with your family now because later your time will be limited- do as u are doing now, reviewing the math, DOING the problems, scan Fluids & Electolytes, and assessment chapters, review dvd-

Your clinicals may be a bit different as I think the day students go 2xs a week but we all do the same things. I'll be more than happy to answer quetions.

p.s I'll review my syllabus and post more info later

Specializes in Bone Marrow Transplant.

NewGoalRN,

You have just completely made my day. I've been so worried about balancing a full-time job, a family and nursing school (especially with clinicals on Saturdays as I'm doing Plant City Night and Weekend) and you make me feel like it's possible. I can't thank you enough!!!!!:bow:

Specializes in Bone Marrow Transplant.

Oh, one more question for you NewGoal (if you don't mind :)). Were you able to register for your courses immediately following orientation?

Oh, one more question for you NewGoal (if you don't mind :)). Were you able to register for your courses immediately following orientation?

Yes, we were able to register that evenig after orientation. I forgotand didn't register until the next day. They told us that their are enough seats for everyone in the class. I work fulltime, have kids/husband etc U can do it just prepare ahead of time,be organized and have your hubby help with meals etc and don't wait to study. Critical thinking and learning how to answer the test questions are the impoertant and tricky part- get a nclex review book early.

NEWGOALRN,

Thanks for posting all of this information for us "newbies". I also have a few questions I'd like to ask you, if you don't mind answering.

3. What brand of shoes did you buy?

It's great to hear from someone who has completed their first semester - thanks again for any tips you can give us.

I just checked and the name of my shoes is 'Dove' made by Nurse Mates. I purchased it at Life Uniform at University Mall in Tampa. I bought them a 1/2 size larger as I wore knee hose. The shoes have side gussets but they are very comfortable.

I just got a $5 coupon in the mail today from Life Uniforms so if you purchase anything, I believe that you can ask them to let you use their coupong.

NEWGOALRN,

Thanks so much for the name of the shoes. I've been taking notes on all of the information you have provided and am happy we have someone on here who is willing to share what they've learned. A friend and I met one December '09 graduate and she was incredibly off-putting. We tried to ask her a few questions about the program and she said that no one helped her, so she didn't feel she needed to help us in any way - we would figure it out when our time came - "if" we got in. :uhoh3: To say the least, we were quite surprised by her reaction - I can't imagine being a nurse with that kind of attitude!

Anyway, thanks again for the information. Have a great weekend!:o

NEWGOALRN,

Thanks so much for the name of the shoes. I've been taking notes on all of the information you have provided and am happy we have someone on here who is willing to share what they've learned. A friend and I met one December '09 graduate and she was incredibly off-putting. We tried to ask her a few questions about the program and she said that no one helped her, so she didn't feel she needed to help us in any way - we would figure it out when our time came - "if" we got in. :uhoh3: To say the least, we were quite surprised by her reaction - I can't imagine being a nurse with that kind of attitude!

Anyway, thanks again for the information. Have a great weekend!:o

Ugghh! That wasn't very nice or helpful of her. I spent about a year getting my pre-reqs i.e A&P I and 2, Micro, Nutrition, Pysch etc at HCC during which time I read this board and got so much info that the least I can do is pay it back. Waiting to start nursing school can be stressful because it's unlike any class you have taken before and not many people can tell you what to expect.

Ask away, I don't mind helping or providing info to you all to the best of my ability. Keeping the infomation to myself doesn't help me at all and it could help others. That nursing student had a bad attitude.

I forgot that the shoes I got had not laces/ties or velcro. It made it easy to slip off and on- a few others had shoes like mine and we were never the ones complaining about sore feet, lol. Another thing, lunch at the cafeteria in the hospital can easily run $6-$8 including a drink. Breakfast was really cheap and most Saturdays, I bought breakfast there- we're talking like $.50 for one scoop of scrabled eggs, $.80 for cornbeef potato hash, $.70 one scoop of grits, $.29 a pound for fresh fruit salad (my fav) etc. Soda- can = $.80, bottle, I think it was $1.30 same for Dasanai 20oz water. It was easier and cheaper to bring drinks from home.

Also helpful to me was a two part clipboard that closed which I used to keep my study papers, assessment handouts, pen (only black allowed to chart), candy etc. The front had a clip on it to hold papers on top. It also had a calculator affixed to the front and a ruler. I paid around $9 at Wal-mart- well worth it.

Pschy was taught for about 4 weeks past the middle of the semester by another instructor. It was not hard at all so don't worry. It incorporated relaxation techniques, more of a focus on pychopharmacy/drugs, their interactions, group activities, etc We studied Baker Act which was covered in NP 1 so it's more liek a review, restraints, cultural issues re Psych, a bit of FReud i.e ego, superego, Id. don't stress about this class.

We also had to do a group presentation on a topic decided by the teacher ie pneumonia, Kidney Stones etc at the last Saturday of the program- worth 10 pts, Well Ederly packet where you have to conduct an interview with a person over 65 3xs and fill out the packet- 5 pts- not hard but DO NOT wait for the last minute.

Good luck and feel free to ask anything.

p.s Don't waste your time getting extra/supplemental books except a good Nclex review test question book and perhaps AssessNOtes(the little small book like RN Notes, Lab NOtes) you won't have time to open it or read it. Honestly, I never opened or used my Taber's dictionary or the diagnostic lab book that they made us buy!

Another thing:

There is a lot of extra work to do besides studying and taking exams. I think we had abut 6-8 exams including the first math test. Some were worth 50pts (think 2 of them as well as math) and the remainder was worth 25pts each.

There are opportunities to get extra points (mandatory) ie. take home quizzes (10 questions - maybe worth 6 pths) other take home quizzes i.e 6 questions worth 3 pts, a respiratory quiz - fill in the blank worth about 6pts for abotu 15 questions that if you studied, it help in the respiratory big test- so lots of busy work worth few points but designed to make you feel that you are working non stop- don't blow these off as every point literally helps.

I knew of two people on the last day of class who were short 4 and 9pts each. Remember a C = 82, A=92, forgot what a B was but you want to keep that B average.

Try to do extra well on the first couple of tests so that when you come to Fluid & Electrolyts and you fail or get a low mark, you have banked some extra points or be like me, stress free Hesi- you ideally want to be in a position wher you don't have to stress about making 28 or 32 on the Hesi (which several folks were). The Hesi is worth 35pts I think and it's done on the computer. There really is no way to study for it except to practice Nclex questions and basic info- it's a cummulative test.

p.s I really can spell but i'm typing at work in a minimized window so my co-workers can't see what i'm writing, lol hence the spelling typos :)

^I meant to say strive for a B always so at worse, you end up with a C, you will still pass. Strive for a C, you will probably get some D results.

I can't stress enough the importance of banking points early and doing well early. We also had 2 care plans to do, ugghh!- hated doing them and I procrastinated- don't be like me- unecessary stress and no fun to work 6-8 hrs straight two days in a row. Next semester, I definitely plan to start early.

My Nclex book had a cd and our instructor allowed us to count time spent studying test questions on the cd towards our computer time.

MAJOR GRIP/CON ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The lab at the Dale Mabry campus is ill equipped. I've seen private Lpn/RN schools with more up to date equipment. The book collection is vast but I never needed them. There were about 6-7 beds and only 2-3 maniquins worked i.e the computerized machines that allowed the instructor to set the BP, respiration, pulse rates and then we had to manually take the vitals, tell the instructor the values and she would compare to her numbers to see if we were within 4 which was ok or way off. There were no baby simulartors etc Most of the BP machines which were two way did not work. There were a short supply of manual BP cuffs. I was glad that I had my own- I purchased at Dale Mabry Wal-Mart in a box for around $9.50 and it worked just fine and I didn't have to share or wait for the next available one.

Also, the first 3 wks when clinicals were at school on Sat- we reviewed/studied how to tie restrains, how to put on gloves and gowns the sterile way, we went over in detail decubitus i.e bed sores and how to stage them i.e I, II, III, unstageable etc These were also on the DVD skills so you can review before class starts to get a jump.

You do need a watch with a second hand, a scissors -Wal-mart or the school book store didnt have any. I got mine at the Life Uniform store at Univ Mall for around $6 for a cute pink one. A pack of scantrons, some #2 pencis for exams,

NEWGOALRN,

You're like me - if I've "been there and done that" and I can help someone else who is on their way, I am more than happy to help and provide as much information as I can. Your information is helping me to relax as well as to prepare myself mentally for what's to come. For me, it's best to be prepared for both the good and the bad. I like hearing about all aspects of the program and hope someday I can help to calm someone else's fears/nerves.

Keep the info coming - you've answered some of those nagging little questions that we forget to ask when we are so focused on things like tests, projects, grades, etc. Sometimes, knowing the answers to those little things make the bigger things a lot easier to handle.

THANKS AGAIN!! :)

Specializes in Bone Marrow Transplant.

Wow. you are a BLESSING NewGoal :)!

Wow. you are a BLESSING NewGoal :)!

Aww Thanks.

@Persgirl: Thanks

If I think of anything else or come across anything else, I will post it this weekend.

Oh, get a good pedicure,manicure, get your hair done etc especially if you are in the weekend/evening class and work. I wasn't able to get another pedicure/hair appointment until Spring break and the week after then last week of class, :uhoh3:

P.S I did use the Davis Drug guide book alot. I took it to clinicals and used it to write up my drug cards.

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