Lonestar Kingwood Transition Fall 2014

Published

Specializes in Nephrology.

I had a hard time finding recent threads regarding the transition program at LSC Kingwood for fall of 2014. This thread is for current students to discuss the program and ask questions as well as prospective students to ask questions about the program. I just started this fall and am happy to answer what I can. The program is for working nurses/EMTs. Lecture is Monday and Tuesday from 17:00-19:20 with clinical rotations on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from 06:30 to 16:30. They ask your preference for clinicals, but ultimately you go where they put you. They have 40 slots, but they try to take as many students as they can. The director told me that they try to accept every qualified student who diligently shows up to the orientation meetings and fills out the required paperwork, gets the shots, etc. I'm the perfect example because my score was very low (like a 10.1 or 10.2) and they ended up taking 49 students with me being one of them! They are able to take the extra students by having 3 students from 3 of the clinical groups stay on campus during clinicals and do simulation lab instead. They rotate the sim groups so a person wouldn't alwyas be in sim. This preserves the 10:1 ratio required for clinical instructors for the 4 clinical groups. There is hope, apply and do everything they ask you to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology.

I was wondering if anyone currently in the program confirmed what books are actually required? Are we for sure using the book list that was emailed to us?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for this thread. I am really nervous ..I'm applying for fall with a score of 7.28 out of 8. I really hope I get in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology.

Did you apply for the LVN program? The RN program has a possible 12 points for the application. If that is for LVN, that score is fantastic and you shouldn't have any problem at all ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hello hope your year went well at kingwood. I am currently an alternate for 2015 fall. this gives me a little bit of hope. I am going to do all the requirements for acceptance.

How did your year go?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology.

Hi Liz87 :) I wish you the best of luck in your educational pursuits! I'm glad you asked about how the year went. It's nice to take a few minutes to reflect on how the year has gone. It has been a rough year. I worked full time as a LVN in chronic hemodialysis. My schedule was like this: Monday: study/homework, lecture in the evening. Tuesday: study/homework, lecture in the evening. Wednesday: 16 hour shift. Thursday: catch up on family responsibilities (I am married with 4 children under 8 years old), extra studying/homework if necessary, etc. Friday: clinicals. Saturday: 16 hour shift. Sunday: family, church, NO SCHOOL. It was a rough schedule. Clinicals were no problem. Since I had previous med/surg experience I was able to really hit the ground running. My instructors recognized that and, for the most part, just let me do my thing. I bought all the test prep books (nclex incredibly easy, saunders, hesi, strategies for test success, and a couple others). Each helped in its own way. I would try to read through each applicable section a couple days before the test and work through the practice questions/rationales. For lecture, I LOVED the youtube videos called "medcram". They are done by a doctor who explains concepts and principles so clearly. If I watched the applicable videos before lecture, I felt like was was more than prepared without even reading the text. He doesn't cover all of the content, though so I still had to read a little or find other videos. Khan academy is a nice resource as well. The program is really what you make of it. We have lost close to 75 of the original 150 students in the program. They claim that they are there for your success, and I agree to a certain point, but they also design the program in a way that forces the weaker students out. They NEED good pass rates on the NCLEX and can't risk letting a mediocre student attempt it. If you can pick up concepts easily and have a predisposition to do well on tests, you'll be fine. If you have test anxiety and took A&P twice because you didn't get a good grade the first time, this program isn't for you. Unless you want to take it twice because you didn't get a good grade the first time. I don't mean to scare you, just understand that nursing school is survival of the fittest. Again, best of luck and please let me know if there is anything I can help you with!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you for your response. I am currently a LVN at the hospital in Huntsville. I plan to work PRN while in school. Thank you for telling me how your schedule was during this past year. I know it may be different for me if I end up getting in. Good luck with your new career.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology.

Thanks. I can tell you what to expect for next year for the schedule since they don't change it. Monday, Tuesday lecture either 9-11:45 AM or 5:00-7:45 PM. The morning lecture class is small, but I requested it for my second semester and got in no problem. The evening class is HUGE. They don't mind if you sit in on a different class than the one you're scheduled for, but they want you to notify them in advance since they take attendance. The tests are given always on Mondays generally every other week at the same time you are scheduled for class, so that gives the evening class a bit of an advantage since they have all day Monday to study/cram. They don't like to let you switch test times, but they will do so reluctantly if you ask. Clinicals are either wed, thur, fri, or sat. You can request which day works best for you and they are pretty good about giving you what you ask for. Clinicals are 6:30-4:30.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for that information! Now I'm on the wait and see stage. Our orientation day is July 7 hopefully it goes well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion