Hillsborough Community College Fall 2012

You should be able to get those copies...with plenty of time to make your June 1 deadline. :) As for certified mail...I think it says not to do that, that it may delay them receiving it or something? They suggest including a pre-paid self-addressed postcard in your application and they'll mail that back to you letting you know they've received your package. I actually dropped mine off in the drop-box at Dale Mabry, which I'll probably do again this time. I don't trust the mail system, lol.

The wait is awful, I'll admit. But I was offered an alternate seat and I think the waiting to find out about available seats is worse than just not knowing anything. Just to be safe, I'll be submitting an application for spring 2013 as well. Good luck to you!

You should be able to get those copies...with plenty of time to make your June 1 deadline. :) As for certified mail...I think it says not to do that, that it may delay them receiving it or something? They suggest including a pre-paid self-addressed postcard in your application and they'll mail that back to you letting you know they've received your package. I actually dropped mine off in the drop-box at Dale Mabry, which I'll probably do again this time. I don't trust the mail system, lol.

The wait is awful, I'll admit. But I was offered an alternate seat and I think the waiting to find out about available seats is worse than just not knowing anything. Just to be safe, I'll be submitting an application for spring 2013 as well. Good luck to you!

I live in Orlando ATM, so an in person drop off can't happen I'm afraid. Maybe I'll just do Signature Confirmation or something, I dunno, but US Mail it is. *shrug*. Best of luck to you re: your Alternate Selection, however! :)

Hi all! Congrats on getting accepted....the hardest part is the waiting, I know! I just finished Nursing Process 1, and am still new enough to remember all of the emotions you are going through. I see someone else has been answering some questions, but I wanted to offer my input as well. If anyone has any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them!

Just a couple of pointers that might have been mentioned already (I'm not sure, I haven't read all of the posts yet), but just in case:

The CPR class that HCC offers is only $25. Definitely the cheapest out there. Here is the link: CPR for HCC Allied Health Students Training Healthcare Professionals Continuing Education There is only 1 class listed right now, but there will a bunch more posted, I'm sure. The one listed is for 5/14, so if you can do it..try to get in there!

Immunizations: You must have all the ones you got in school, plus a current DTAP (within 10 years if I remember correctly) and a Varicella titer (chickenpox).

The physical exam I did through Tampa Occupational Health Services on Swann Ave. The ARNP there came to our orientation and introduced herself. She is the go to person for HCC's nursing program, and knows exactly what needs to be done to get you through everything. The cost is $45, just make sure you bring all of your immunization/titer information with you.

Uniforms: Uniform City has clearance uniforms all the time. I originally bought the Walmart ones for $15 a piece, and then ended up going to Uniform city...got pants that were way more comfy than the walmart ones for $18, and got white scrub tops for $7.

Stethoscope: I know all the hype about Littmann, I walked into a store to get a Littmann, and ended up listening with both the Littmann, and a MDF (new brand out). I heard better with the MDF. Now hearing with steths is subjective..some people hear better with one, others hear better with another. But I suggest you try the MDF and see if it works for you. It is half the price of a Littmann. In addition it has a lifetime warranty on the entire stethoscope, ear pieces and all, unlike the Littmann which only has a lifetime warranty on part of it. The only place in Tampa that I have found the MDF is at Scrubs N Stuff on North Dale Mabry Hwy at the intersection of N. DM and Ehrlich, next to Target. (My husband also needed a Steth for the EMT program and he fell in love with the MDF as well)

GET GOOD SHOES! I cannot stress how important good shoes are. Try several different pairs on. I got lucky and my parents bought me my favorite ones, Timberland Pro Renovas for $120. I know that $120 is expensive..I wouldn't of been able to afford it..we just happened to have Christmas right before we started the program :-)

If you are on a tight budget..save the jacket for last. It isn't required, only optional. I bought the jacket, and I only wore it once. It is freaking hot in those hospitals/pt rooms. 75% of the Pts had their room temp sent to "hot as an oven".

Any questions about what you learn, care plans, etc. Ask away. I was soooo curious before I started...heck, I'm still curious, albeit about NP 2 (I'm so excited to start learning IVs, tubes, and caths!).

And if anyone tells you it is almost impossible to get an A in nursing...don' listen! I got an A, and so did many of my other classmates. (I was at Dale Mabry, in the Afternoon session)

Oh..and if you need help with calculations, let me know. I can always meet with you over the summer at the Campus sometime and hold a little study group. I got 100% on the calc test, and never missed any calc questions on all the rest of the tests. (They put a few calc questions on every test).

Lastly, for those of you who are applying for spring, just in case you don't get an alt seat. I highly encourage it! Spring semester is easier to get into than Fall...less applicants equals less competitive GPAs. I think the lowest acceptance for our group was something around a 3.4....I will go back and check to make sure. Alternates stretched into the 3.2s I think.

RnNtraining, thank you so much for your information. It is always good to be inform. my question to you is, about the immunization coming from another country getting those record from high school will be a challenge, is there a test that can show if those vaccine was given?

Yes, you can have blood titer's done to confirm that you are immune. Contact Tampa Occupational Health Services (813-414-9400) regarding the titers.

Also, you might want to talk to the Dept of Health, in order to be admitted into the country, you had to have an immunization record, yes? So, I would assume the Dept of Health would have the information. Hillsborough County Health Department - Tampa, Florida - Immunizations

But, at least, if all else fails, you can definitely do the titers..it might be costly, especially if one of the titers reveals you need to get a vaccination, but at least it will get you through!

Add this to my original post..I forgot till just now: The TB test is cheapest at Tampa Occupational. You have to go in twice wherever you get it done though, so if Tampa Occupational isn't convenient, the clinics at Walgreens and CVS do them for just less than $30.

Books: You will notice that your book list has about 15 books on it. When you go to buy books at HCC, you will notice that there are a gazillion books all listed with the NUR 1213 blah blah blah on them, some will say "optional" some will say "required". IGNORE. Lol. My class ended up buying a bunch of books that either were not being used anymore, or our teacher said we didn't need. Instead do this:

Go ahead and buy the book package that they'll tell you about in Orientation, use the coupon..saves you about $50. That will contain all the books you *need*, besides two. The other two you need are a drug guide, and the mental health nursing book. HCC sells the Davis Drug Guide, which worked fine for me, but if you want to find something online for less expensive, have at it...you WILL need one though. The mental health book should be something along the lines of "Essentials of Mental Health Nursing..."

There are two packets that you will need...my teacher put them online, so we didn't have to buy them..but just in case your teacher doesn't, they are only like $1.50 a piece...so can't hurt to pick them up. One is the "Well Elderly Packet" and the other is the "HCC Care Plan". (My suggestion...buy a few of the care plans..you're required to do 2, but it might take you a few tries).

The rest of the books you most likely will not need, unless you want them. Wait on those until your first day of class. Bring the list and ask your teacher about them. Odds are, you won't need any of them, so whether to buy them or not will be a personal decision. You'll see a lot of little pocket guides...I bought them and I never used them. It seems nice, but really, it was just a waste of money for me. But again, by all means, buy them if you think you will use them.

I suggest googling the Clinical Calculations book, and possibly buying an older version of it online. After I rec'd my acceptance letter, I bought an older version of the book online for $8 including s/h. The book you need for class comes in the book package though, so by all means, feel free to wait until you get the package. But if you know the calculation test is going to be a hurdle for you, definitely look online for a used older one just to get a head start. (BTW---the calc test is nowhere near as scary as it is made out to be, even if you aren't great at math, the math itself is simple, and the thinking is common sense.)

The last book I recommend isn't sold at HCC (at least, it wasn't..go ahead and look for it while you are there, but don't be surprised if you can't find it). You'll need to look online. Get a Nursing Diagnosis guide. Any will do, but the one I like to use is Doenges Pocket Guide: Nursing Diagnosis, 12th edition. IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR CARE PLANS. I consider this a MUST HAVE IF YOU VALUE YOUR SANITY. Seriously. Nursing diagnosis, interventions, and rationale is what makes the Care plan a biotch to do. The nursing diagnosis book will give you all of the above, plus outcomes and symptoms. Everything you will need for your care plan.

So, short and sweet:

Buy: Book Package, Essentials of Mental Health Nursing, Drug Guide, Nursing Diagnosis Book

Maybe buy: Well Elderly Packet, HCC Care Plan packets, Older/Used Clinical Calc book to get a jump start on studying

Don't buy until you talk to your teacher: All the rest of the massive list that is given to you

If you want to get a head start on the reading for lecture and clinicals as well, you can buy an older version of the Potter/Perry Fundamentals book online for cheap as well. I purchased it for $13 including s/h. You'll get the new version in your package, but if you are like me and have to wait for Fin Aid to buy books, but also want to get a headstart on reading, this is a good option. Read the chapters on Vital Signs, Health Assessment (oh yes..health assessment..only about 140 pages long...ugh), Hygiene, and Infection Control.

RnNtraining,

So basically any question I've ever had, you answered. Thank you!! I'm an alternate for fall right now (crossing my fingers/toes and praying too many times a day that seats start opening up) but I'm hopping on Amazon to see if I can find these books you speak of. :)

K., make sure you let us know when you get your letter... I'm praying it comes quick!

The wait is killing me. I was hoping to get an answer today, but still nothing. They supposedly sent out letters to those of us that appealed on Tuesday. Today is Friday, it shouldn't take more than 3 days for the mail to get to us. Has anyone gotten a response today? If I don't get an answer by tomorrow, chances are I won't have anymore hair...lol

Brandee, no worries I will! :) I'm hoping it comes quick too! Though my class that starts on Monday should keep me busy enough so I'm not thinking about it! Lol, I hope!

Thanks RnNtraining, lots of heads up, really appreciate your help

Hey all! Due to some unforseen circumstances requiring a bit of extra cash that I currently do not have (aka..fuel pump) I am selling ALL of my books. These include the books that come in the book package AND books that you have to buy separately. Some are required, others are not, but they do help if you use them. If you purchase from me, the ONLY thing you will "have" to buy is ONE access code for the online stuff. The access code is available at the manu's website for $65. You can get this from them during Orientation, OR, you can purchase when your professor provides you with enrollment instructions, there is an option when you go to enroll that allows you to buy the book.The total cost of these books, should you buy them all in the bookstore, is approx $800 (how much I spent... $550 for the package, $40 for the drug guide, $20 for the pocket guide, $40 for the Mental Health, $30 for the STAT, $100 for the Kaplan, plus all the tax). I am selling for $400. Even with having to buy the one access code, you will be saving $350.

Lastly, if the book says "older version" next to it, it is the version that MY class is using, which is 1 year older than your class' version. NO difference in content, just page numbers. The only reason you guys have a new version is because the manufacturer forgot to put the Answer Key in our book for the sample questions. Everything else is the same. They did email us the Answer Key, so I'll print it out and put it in the book.

Here are the books I'm selling that are included in the book package:

Clinical Calculations, with CD Rom by Kee/Marshall

Fundamentals of Nursing, Potter/perry, with CD Rom (older version)

Fundamentals of Nursing, Potter/Perry Study Guide and Skills Performance Checklists (older version)

Fundamentals of Nursing Pottery/Perry Clinical Companion (older version)

Medical Surgical Nursing Volume 1, Lewis

Medical Surgical Nursing Voume 2, Lewis

Medical Surgical Nursing Clinical Companion, Lewis

Medical Surgical Nursing Virtual Clinical Excursions-Book/Interactive Software, Lewis

Medical Surgical Nursing Study Guide, Lewis

Medical Surgical Nursing ACCESS CODE, Lewis (I never opened it, still shrink wrapped)

Here are the books I'm selling that you NEED to have, but are NOT included in the book package:

Drug Guide for Nurses, Davis

Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Townsend (older version)

Here are the books I'm selling that you don't need to have, are not included in the book package, but help with studying and just overall:

Kaplan Study Guide: The Basics

Strategies, Techniques, & Approaches to Thinking-Critical Thinking Cases In Nursing, Castillo

RNotes Pocketguide (like a clinical companion, fits in a pocket, has a bunch of tabbed pages for different scenarios that might occur during your clinical rounds..assessment, lab values, common diseases/disorders, teaching plans, nursing interventions, etc.)

All of the above for $400. Price is firm though, I think it is a fair value.