LBCC Student: Need Help With School Options

Is LBCC long beach city college in Cali? Are you only interested in ADN programs? I think doing LVN, while you wait and getting your GPA back up amy help. However, when you apply for the bridge program your grades might still be a problem. Are you guaranteed admission as an LVN? Let me know if you are in Cali, there are many more colleges you can try.

yes i am in Cali, Long Beach City College.

I have a total GPA of 3.4..but i think colleges here in california want at least a 2.5 GPA between the 3 sciences

im definetly interested in any other programs

I am 22, but i feel old..i think becuase i have high expectations of myself.

I don't mind doing the LVN...i wouldnt even mind going to ACC or Concorde, but i think im kind of ina situation where if i were to spend $$$$ on an LVN program. I am equally qualified to do it at a Community college for Dirt Cheap. My goal is to be an RN, if i can get in straight a way...or if i have to do the LVN to RN thats fine. I just like to keep the ball moving instead of hoping to get accepted

Thanks for any advice and everyones fast reply!

PS...i spoke to Judi Wisenbaker at the LBCC nursing couseling office and she said there isnt a waitlist for the LVN program. THey don't care if you have C's across the board as long as you maintain a 2.5 OVERALL. I'm well quilified for the LVN program, but im not gauranting anything..but i have a good chance to get in the LVN program ASAP.

-Neil

You have a 3.4 GPA, thats not bad. I am a senior at the CSULA nursing school and I know of one classmate that had a C in microbiology. She had A's in the other prerqus though. Anyway, if money is not a problem then maybe you can attend a private RN school. Like yourself I thought graduating at 23 was old, but it really isnt. So, if you are in a rush go for the LVN and then bridge. You can work while doing the bridge and thats a financial advanage. I hear a lot of people talking about waitlists so I can see how discouraging that could be. Have you applied to any schools other than LBCC? Good luck with whatever decision you make. If you do decide to bridge remember that your sciences have to be take within 5 years of application. So, once you get that LVN license start working on your RN applications.

Why not enter the LVN program at LBCC and then when you finish you can apply for the RN program. At least you won't have to wait to get in. There is a long waiting list at most colleges and if your GPA has lower grades in the sciences you will be at the bottom of the pile. By taking the LVN program first, you will be able to enter the RN program somewhere in the 3rd or 4th quarter depending on your testing. I have a few friends that were frustrated and went the LVN route first. They said that they gained more primary (as LVN) experience and were able to fly through the rest of the RN program without any trouble.

Good luck!!!

Long Beach City College= LBCC is in California

What about

http://www.ladhs.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hAFz8jl2AXYwN3F2dTAyMXLz9397BgIwNXQ_1wkA7cKrxNIfIGOICjgb6fR35uqn6kfpQ5TlMszfVD9Auys9NcHBUVAfgeuO8!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0lKSmdvS1VRIS9JSFNBQ0lpTXlDb3FiRURBSUEhIS9ZQTQ1NDUwLTVGMHN0eWp3LzdfUUROMkRTRDMwR0RDNTAyREpOR0dWUzIwOTcvd21TdEEzMjExMDAyOC9iZl9hY3Rpb24vZ2VuZXJhbGluZm8!/#7_QDN2DSD30GDC502DJNGGVS2097

Guys this thread is two years old, I'm sure the OP has made a decision by now.

Guys this thread is two years old, I'm sure the OP has made a decision by now.

hehe, thats funny how you mention that, i had a similar post about me entering the NORTH ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM (NOCROP LVN) in Anaheim California. I had closed that post, by saying that I got in in JUNE 2008 and just graduated July 17, 2009.

I totally forgot about this post. Thanks for the replies though..anyways to update the situation

I was ready to get into the LVN program at LBCC, but i was taking a CNA (required) course and had to take their "transition" class before entering. The problem was they rescheduled the transition class 2 hours earlier and i was unable to get into that program since i would be in Clinical at that time.

Long story short, the reps at LBCC did anything and everything to get me into other programs by writing letters of recommendation, etc etc...NOCROP accepted me a few weeks after my CNA program ended and graduated recently. I must say i talked to about 20 people who did the LVN to RN route and all said the same thing about it being much more helpful to go that route and the RN was a breeze.

I take my boards in a few weeks i assume, my ATT should be coming in anytime. I feel much mroe comfortable going into ANY RN program. I know a handful of people that suffocate in the RN programs or fail somewhere in the middle (2nd or 3rd) semester and have nothing to fall back on...

Since, I still have subpar "sciences" i probably would have a hard time getting into LBCC RN PROGRAM. other options are Cypress college, West CoaST university and Santa Ana college, since their entrance requirments arent as strict.

Thanks again for any replies

Goodluck to those in school

I will update my next journey!

Neil Puzon

NOCROP CLass A 2009

Historian

Hi Neil, could you give me some advice on the NOCROP program. I was excepted for Feb.2010 for fundamentals 1 there. I was bumped from starting CNA this summer due to the state budget and highschoolers being priority, but now am signed up for Sept 3 for long term care them going to try acute CNA. I know I need as many points as I can get. Just wondering about your experience there and level of difficulty ect. to go on to fundamentals 2. Interview tips and anything else you are willing to share would be much appriciated.

Sure no problem

Well i don't know which instructors teach the fund 1, it might be Cathy Gutneckt, Shes a nice lady, she's a bit soft spoken but she runs through the lectures pretty well. Like they always say, if she says it once, twice, 3x, its probably going to be on the test

If she is the instructor...then she probably will be your instructor for Endocrine, Neuro and GI in the LVN Program...her style of teaching doesnt change between modules so if you can pick up on her style in GI, then you can expect the same.

LVN PROGRAM

Most instrctuors have a 1 2 3 quiz format...and they go as follows

quiz 1 is A&P

quiz 2 is diagnostic studies etc

quiz 3 is the diseases

however, 2 and 3 can be interchanged depending on the instrutor

some modules, like Cardio are VERYYY long that they have it broken down in 4 quizes. However, for that FINAL EXAM. lymphatic system isnt "quized on" so its incorporated in your final. So not only do you have to know the a&P, diseases, values, from quiz 1 - 4...but you will also be asked to know the lymphatic system in your final.

Other systems like Nutrition are so short, that they may only quiz you twice before the final, so maintain the grade before the final

My method of passing each module was very simple

maintain atleast a 75% before going into the final and you have reached your safe zone #1...should something happen, and you fail a final, you can retake the final.

But...if you have a 74% and you get a 74% on the final your out of the program.

If you have a 80% in the class and you get a 74% on the final. you still FAIL, however you get to retake the final again.

That is considered a LIFE LINE. you get 2 life lines through the program.

While there are 15 modules in the LVN program, that is only part of the ordeal

There are 5 skills test

skills test #1 -

Pharmacology practicum...The instructors from pharmacology will give you a paper of about 80 drugs, and you are required to create med cards. Then you will be scheduled a time and day at the end of that module to be tested by 1 of 3 instrcutors. Questions like "what is the normal DIG level?" "Can Lantus be mixed?" "what is the onset of Regular Insulin?" "when giving Lovenox do you aspirate?" stufff like that...but you have your med cards so you can flash at them.

Skills test 2 (injection day)

AFter you pass the pharmacology practicum, you guys have a skills day which you are required to perform injections with a partner. Before you can even pass meds at clinical you have to stick and get stuck by a Insulin syringe (with Normal saline), TB syringe injection, IM INJECTION (fun fun fun) and a few other procedures i believe.

SKills test 3 (which is really called Level 1 skills)

You get a booklet of skills, NG TUBE insertion, G-TUBE MED administration, Foley Catheter insertion, Dry sterile dressing, etc etc etc and there is STEPS that you have to follow. there are perhaps 5 BOLD steps, that if you miss any of them you automatically fail, and have to retake the skills test.

On test day, you are required to do 2 skills, 1 sterile and one hands on...so say DSD and NG TUbe insertion or FC Insertion and G Tube med administration.

There is always MATH INVOLVED. you HAVE to get 100% on your math in order to pass...you cant kill a patient...hehe

skills test 4 (level 2)

this is pertaining to the Procuedure booklet. This will include the back half of this booklet. and can include anything from the first half. So other procudures like Z-track administration, Trache Care etc and INSULINS (ahh yes insulins)

But however, this test is more complex, becuase they will give you all the synringes, all the needles, a bunch of vials and you have to build your needle and syringe combo...and while that may seem easy you have to pick the right vial too..so if your math is wrong say you get 1ml of an answer when it was reallly 2 ml,.and you draw up 1ml..then..you fail...OR...if you need to draw 1.5mL and you picked the wrong vial and only 1mL is available...you fail..and you get to retake it.

As far as the insulins...they will give you a scenario ..Pt BS is 262, and then you will get a MAR and charting sheet and basically if its sliding scale then follow the sliding scale, etc pull the right insulin, administer it. Questions like, what will raise BS, what lowers BS, what is the onset peak duration of that insulin, what can it be mixed with, it...all before you can even administer it. (math too...all day everyday)

and that is just skills test level 2

the last level 3, is care planning. you will get like 4 or 5 scenarios and given a NANDA Sheet...pick the right nanda, pick a goal, 3 interventions 3 rationales etc

----

Careplans. There are 6 careplans for certain modules...Cardio example.

Go to a hospital, pick a patient that will fit well for your cardio care plan. Ex. A pt with CHF. At the end of the day your careplan may be 15 or 25 pages long. You will have adequate time to complete this. But this may be the pass or fail factor in a module. Example. If you have a 80 on quiz 1, a 92 on quiz 2 and a 78 on quiz 3 you are technically passing going into the final. If your careplan grade is 30 out of 50, if it is enough to bring your grade down below the 75% average, you are still at risk of failing the module...barring you dont pass the final..

Enjoy it, its a challenge,

Goodluck. I have been helped my others during my schooling. It is my duty to return to those who i can help..Feel free to ask me.

"Anything worth having is worth fighting for"

Wow Neil,

thank you for taking time out to answer my questions. How many were dropped in your class if any? and why? Also what can I do now to better prepare for the math portion? Anything else you could recommend I could be doing now before Feb. besides cna?