How would you rate RN school

AnnaN5 · Feb 21, 2008

I honestly haven't thought that nursing school has been so bad. I am in my last semester-a little over 10 weeks to go!! I am in an ADN program but it is in accelerated format, we will do the entire program in a little over a year. I think it hasn't seemed so hard because everything is so interesting. You feel like you are actually learning useful information unlike in non-nursing courses. It differs from the pre-req classes in that you need to see the big picture, you can't just memorize information for the test and then forget it. I have a bachelors in human biology so I didn't have to become accustomed to studying & test taking skills so I think that helps. It is important to figure out how you learn best & that makes the time you study more effective.

jen012 · Feb 26, 2008

Trauma1rn, you mentioned that you got a job as an aide before you started school and I was wondering how you went about doing this??

I am hopefully starting the program this fall and want to start working in a hospital now. I have no medical experience so I am nervous I wont be able to find a job. Also, I noticed a lot of hospitals dont post assistants/student nurses jobs on their websites....

I know this is a little off subject but I would appreciate any advice :)

Natebuckeye · Feb 26, 2008

Jen, I've noticed just about all the hospitals (Beaumont, St. Johns, Henry Ford) post CNA openings. The catch is that most want you to be certified ($800 through Red Cross), have experience as a CNA, or have already begun a Nursing program. I'm in the same situation as you are and have pretty much decided to just cut grass this summer while I hopefully get in to MCC this fall. Once you get in it sounds a lot easier to get a job in the hospitals.

MySimplePlan · Feb 28, 2008

Jen, I've noticed just about all the hospitals (Beaumont, St. Johns, Henry Ford) post CNA openings. The catch is that most want you to be certified ($800 through Red Cross), have experience as a CNA, or have already begun a Nursing program. I'm in the same situation as you are and have pretty much decided to just cut grass this summer while I hopefully get in to MCC this fall. Once you get in it sounds a lot easier to get a job in the hospitals.

Hospitals usually want nursing students to have two Med-Surg rotations behind them before they hire them into student nurse/extern/tech positions.

Having a patient care job is helpful to the new nursing student, but not critical to your success. You'll learn with the other newbies in your first clinical and will do just fine. I wouldn't spend $800 on an aide program....save that money for tuition so you won't have to work as much DURING nursing school.

Good luck to you as you progress to your goal.

MySimplePlan · Feb 28, 2008

I am finishing my last pre req at MCC and all the talk is, "Just wait til RN School, it is so much different, it so hard." Now, I know everyone is different and studying time varies., etc. Also, no offense to any RN's but a couple I know aren't rocket scientists and if they could do it I can to. I have a 4.0 and make studying a top priority. So RN students or RN's, what is your opinion. In what way is it hard? How is it different? Is it what you expected? Thanks for any info.

What is a passing score at MCC for tests, etc?

NoviceRN10 · Feb 28, 2008

What is a passing score at MCC for tests, etc?

78% is the cut-off

NoviceRN10 · Feb 28, 2008

Jen, I've noticed just about all the hospitals (Beaumont, St. Johns, Henry Ford) post CNA openings. The catch is that most want you to be certified ($800 through Red Cross), have experience as a CNA, or have already begun a Nursing program. I'm in the same situation as you are and have pretty much decided to just cut grass this summer while I hopefully get in to MCC this fall. Once you get in it sounds a lot easier to get a job in the hospitals.

I have three classmates that work at Beaumont as nurse aides, one at Grosse Pointe, one at Royal Oak, and the other at Troy. None of them had any prior experience, nor had they started the nursing program yet. One has been there for two years, the other two started a couple months before starting at Macomb in January. I think you just need to keep applying and it probably doesn't hurt to know someone that already works there.

amybethf · Mar 3, 2008

hey...im in 1720 in the mcc rn program...dont let people scare you....it isnt any harder than A&P....the information is easy to understand its just the amount of it that can be difficult....some people have a problem with the critical thinking questions....but thats the whole thing with nursing, its not just memorizing information, its knowing how to use that information and being able to put all the pieces together....im sure youll do fine...just dont listen to negative people....happy thoughts :)

Exactly! You need to study and making a study schedule and sticking to it could be the reason you pass or fail. It's not difficult material to master it is the amount of it. And getting the hang of critical thinking. Do not worry, this will come in time. You will begin to understand how to do it after taking a nursing test. Buy an NCLEX book (Saunders by Silvestri) to help guide you thru and understand the rationale of the nursing test questions. Do not allow yourself to get caught up in other's dramas, you will only have time to worry about yourself. Those who are negative will bring you down so remember to stay positive and take it day by day. You will be fine! Good Luck!

deftonez188 · Mar 5, 2008

It isn't easy that's for sure, that is if you actually want to KNOW the stuff when you are all alone with your patient and you're IT. I get the feeling this next semester that those who study to pass the test solely, won't make it through clinicals, and rightfully so.

Trauma1RN · Mar 6, 2008

Trauma1rn, you mentioned that you got a job as an aide before you started school and I was wondering how you went about doing this??
I am hopefully starting the program this fall and want to start working in a hospital now. I have no medical experience so I am nervous I wont be able to find a job. Also, I noticed a lot of hospitals dont post assistants/student nurses jobs on their websites....
I know this is a little off subject but I would appreciate any advice :)

I sent my resume out and it landed on the right desk. When you apply to a unit follow up by calling the manager, just call the hospital operator and ask for the manager of 4 south... what ever. Just try and get face time with the manager. Human resources in my experience is not the greatest pipeline. I have always landed my jobs with folow up phone calls and non-traditional pathways.

SP79 · Mar 10, 2008

I will be graduating from a second degree nursing program this May. While I am not a "rocket scientist" I am an experienced student. For me, this past year of nursing school has been one of the most challenging for me.

Since May of 2007 there has not been a week where I felt like I learned enough, or was prepared to go into the next test. I've done quite well for myself ( I even got an invite to Sigma Theta Tau), but the days of working to achieve a 4.0 were gone after the first semester. Since then I've worked extremely hard to balance learning both theory and clinical knowledge while balancing my personal life. I am happy to be leaving with my 3.65 average, I know I really worked for it.

In retrospect, when I started I was sure that nursing school was going to be easy. Throughout the program I have wondered why they had to make it so hard on us. Now, I am thankful for the challenges my instructors laid out for me and proud that I was able to achieve.

Best of luck to you as you start. I have 3 pieces of advice to offer you.

1. Stay organized, that includes making time for your friends and family outside of school.

2. Confidence is good and puts your patients at ease, cockiness will make you enemies quickly.

3. Always say thank you to the staff on the floors where you do your clinical rotations, even when they are trolls to you.

NURD · Mar 25, 2010

MSU easy academically but high wait list