Is it just me?

[1_fit_male_nurse2b]

Why is it that getting information for the nursing/CNA programs is like pulling teeth.

Everyone, with the exception of here (this website) are very tight lipped?

I really don't want to wait till the orientation. I have a lot going on.

I have a father dying of cancer, a mother at her wits end, 2 kids, and a very strict routine to BALANCE it all as too not miss or drop the ball.

I ask questions. A lot of questions and the vague the answers I get, are well to say the least of no info what so ever.

I am a worker bee, and I like to STAY ON top of everything as to not fall behind. But when you talk to educators, other nurses, granted I am not one yet, students, it's like a "wait and see," or, "you'll see," kind of attitude.

I'm not looking for vagaries, but just want to stay a heard of the curve.

Maybe it is just me? But, being former military, you have to be able to shoot, chew gum, march, eat, write letters home, and keep your wits all at the same time. That's why I want to be a nurse.

[mrsboots87]

Goose - on that note. Now with the science behind, what is your retention of learned knowledge? Jeez, I don't even recall all the bones, let alone the "Krebs Cycle!??!?!"

You will not be tested on basic anatomy and physiology. Since they are pre reqs it is expected that you already have at least a basic understanding. But, the instructors usually have a short blip on physiology of certain things in the beginning of lecture so that it jogs your memory of things you already learned. Then you are tested on how diseases or injuries affect the body and how you, as a nurse, would care for them.

[AZBlueBell]

Sometimes I feel like I've lost my knowledge on some of the topics as well but if I do a search for something like "anatomy quiz practice" I actually remember more than I think I do

[canigraduate]

Nursing is a lot about adjusting. So, there are often last minute changes to schedules, class numbers, clinical sites, even professors.

Because the info is so often in flux, they don't like to give it out ahead of time. I have had the start dates of the terms change on me before.

Now, for program basics, you can usually get answers from the dean or admissions office.

So, if there is specific information that you want to have, there may not be an answer yet. Just be patient.

[on_the_path]

First off, I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through right now. That said, one of the things they are CONSTANTLY telling us at SCC is to "BE FLEXIBLE!". At first us students joked about it, but it does get old after a while. It refers to the way things in the program can constantly change. Dates, times, clinical sites, mornings vs evenings, all of these things have changed for students at one time or another. This is all much easier for those that don't have to work, but I have been blessed with an employer that is very understanding and just happy to have me work when I can. I think you will need to just learn to go with the punches, a constantly changing environment reflects what life is like as an RN! Try not to stress about the uncertainty. I have seen some students stress so much about things like this that it affected their exam scores and they ended up not moving on the the next Block.

[suec_83]

It's not just you. I worked for a police department for 8 years with strict schedules and tons of planning for them before every shift bid. It drove me nuts that I couldn't get much info about nursing school. LMK if I can help. I am in Block 2 at a Maricopa Community College. I'm sorry to hear about your dad.

Which College are you with? If you are with MCC, could you tell us which book/s you used mainly for Block 1? Thank s

[1_fit_male_nurse2b]

First off, I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through right now. That said, one of the things they are CONSTANTLY telling us at SCC is to "BE FLEXIBLE!". At first us students joked about it, but it does get old after a while. It refers to the way things in the program can constantly change. Dates, times, clinical sites, mornings vs evenings, all of these things have changed for students at one time or another. This is all much easier for those that don't have to work, but I have been blessed with an employer that is very understanding and just happy to have me work when I can. I think you will need to just learn to go with the punches, a constantly changing environment reflects what life is like as an RN! Try not to stress about the uncertainty. I have seen some students stress so much about things like this that it affected their exam scores and they ended up not moving on the the next Block.

Thanks for the thoughts and the advice.

Kind of reminds me of that the always said in the military, "Hurry up and Wait!" I hated that. LOL

OTP - do you have a large copy of your Avatar? I love that, would make a cool tattoo!

Thanks again. I am truly excited, it has been a long journey to get to this...

[on_the_path]

Here you go. I don't own the image, if you search "male nurse symbol" in Google images, it's the third image that pops up. I've always thought it was pretty cool.