Long Beach City College Nursing Program

U.S.A. California

Published

If anyone has graduated from here or is currently going there please respond ASAP. Need some info.

robin -

thank you so much for the feed back. it was just what i needed to hear. i am willing to work hard and take the ups and downs because i want to be in a program that will help me succeed. i have a strong support system, so i'm in!!! thank you again. good luck to you and maybe we will meet on campus next semester. :yeah:

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Hello Grumpygs -

I hope you are doing well in school and can give me more advice. I started the program at LBCC and I am having difficulty figuring out the best way to study. I believe I am spending all my time looking up the bo's and not enough time re-listening to the lectures, looking over flashcards, and spending time in the lab. Can you offer any advice?

Thanks -

Char1932

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Hey Char,

So, how did you do on the first test? It's been a long time and I don't recall what subjects were tested during first semester... Also, who do you have for your clinical instructor?

You mention the lab, but are there specific skills that you are having problems with? Maybe we can meet in the lab one day (I'm moving to weekend clinicals on Valentines day so my 'free' days would be Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) and I can help you with the skills. Though I prefer the weekends for lab time because it seems to be less crowded...

Do you have a study group? The instructors will ALWAYS ask this - and depending on how you study, it may or may not help. But keep this in mind - if you can talk out loud (talking to yourself does NOT count...) about a concept to someone who does NOT necessarily know what you are studying and if they 'understand' what you are trying to explain, it makes it stick better in your mind. Though talking out loud with a fellow student (you can commiserate with...) so that they also get the concept helps too.

My suggestions for studying are to skim the BOs along with the index for the text book(s) and mark the page numbers on the BOs that correlate to the text book. This takes some time but you want to be able to find the information without having to flip back to the index every time you need to look something up.

DO NOT READ THE ENTIRE SECTION in the book!!!! Only read the pieces that correspond with the BOs. Basically, you are skimming the chapter for the information but often, there is much more in the text that is beyond the point where you are at the moment. (Does that make sense - if not let me know).

Make index/flash cards on the items that you are having difficulty remembering or that you need/want to commit to memory. Take these with you EVERYWHERE! I took a hole puncher and put holes in one of the upper corners then used a binder ring to hook the cards together. That way you have them 'contained' without having to deal with a rubber band that may break.

After you tape the lectures, play the recording whenever you are in the car, exercising, walking off some stress, waiting for the kids to get out of school - basically any time you have a few free minutes. Keep a small notebook (or index cards) handy to jot down stuff that the instructors emphasize when they are talking.

If you are eligible to go to quiz review (ONLY for 1st and 2nd semester though, it's a waste of time after that - I can explain privately) go to the quiz review. Also, meet with the instructors to clarify subjects/concepts that you are fuzzy on. Most of them are pretty good about explaining things, but a few are not...

I always tried to re-listen to the tapes from lecture prior to taking the tests just to refresh my memory. If you have an iPod or if your recorder has an earphone connection, and you have a cassette tape player, you can buy an adapter to listen to this on the car radio or your home stereo - which is more comfortable (for me) than using ear phones.

Let me know how this works out for you - please, please, please, do not wait too long to get help from the instructors if you are struggling... Remember, this is a TOUGH program!

Good luck! Keep me posted and let me know if you want to meet in the lab for a quick review of specific skills.

Robin

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Long Beach City College has a really good LVN program which I graduated from. However for some reason many instructors of the LVN program does not recommend this school for the RN program.

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Specializes in ER.

Hello!

I recently applied to the RN/ASN program at LBCC. I was wondering if you applied once and got accepted? I have completed all my pre-reqs for the program, I am taking 1 class this term to full-fill an "optional" course (health). I earned a 4.0 in all of my science courses and all but 1 of my general ed. I guess I'm a little nervous as to whether or not I will be accepted. Can you give any insight? also have you completed the program yet? How was it? Have you found a job easily? Thanks for your help, I truly appreciate it! I am soooo looking forward to starting this program!

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Hey Char,

So, how did you do on the first test? It's been a long time and I don't recall what subjects were tested during first semester... Also, who do you have for your clinical instructor?

You mention the lab, but are there specific skills that you are having problems with? Maybe we can meet in the lab one day (I'm moving to weekend clinicals on Valentines day so my 'free' days would be Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) and I can help you with the skills. Though I prefer the weekends for lab time because it seems to be less crowded...

Do you have a study group? The instructors will ALWAYS ask this - and depending on how you study, it may or may not help. But keep this in mind - if you can talk out loud (talking to yourself does NOT count...) about a concept to someone who does NOT necessarily know what you are studying and if they 'understand' what you are trying to explain, it makes it stick better in your mind. Though talking out loud with a fellow student (you can commiserate with...) so that they also get the concept helps too.

My suggestions for studying are to skim the BOs along with the index for the text book(s) and mark the page numbers on the BOs that correlate to the text book. This takes some time but you want to be able to find the information without having to flip back to the index every time you need to look something up.

DO NOT READ THE ENTIRE SECTION in the book!!!! Only read the pieces that correspond with the BOs. Basically, you are skimming the chapter for the information but often, there is much more in the text that is beyond the point where you are at the moment. (Does that make sense - if not let me know).

Make index/flash cards on the items that you are having difficulty remembering or that you need/want to commit to memory. Take these with you EVERYWHERE! I took a hole puncher and put holes in one of the upper corners then used a binder ring to hook the cards together. That way you have them 'contained' without having to deal with a rubber band that may break.

After you tape the lectures, play the recording whenever you are in the car, exercising, walking off some stress, waiting for the kids to get out of school - basically any time you have a few free minutes. Keep a small notebook (or index cards) handy to jot down stuff that the instructors emphasize when they are talking.

If you are eligible to go to quiz review (ONLY for 1st and 2nd semester though, it's a waste of time after that - I can explain privately) go to the quiz review. Also, meet with the instructors to clarify subjects/concepts that you are fuzzy on. Most of them are pretty good about explaining things, but a few are not...

I always tried to re-listen to the tapes from lecture prior to taking the tests just to refresh my memory. If you have an iPod or if your recorder has an earphone connection, and you have a cassette tape player, you can buy an adapter to listen to this on the car radio or your home stereo - which is more comfortable (for me) than using ear phones.

Let me know how this works out for you - please, please, please, do not wait too long to get help from the instructors if you are struggling... Remember, this is a TOUGH program!

Good luck! Keep me posted and let me know if you want to meet in the lab for a quick review of specific skills.

Robin

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the great advice. We took our test on Monday. I actually scored really well. I am going to take your advise on the bo's. It will save me a tremendous amount of time and reading. I also discovered youtube last night. There are so many skill demonstations and I am a visual learner and know they will help me. Thank you for offering to help me. If I start slipping, I will email you. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated. My nerves are much less now that I look at my scores. Thank you again.

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Just started the program in Jan 2010. With your grades and all courses completed, I'm sure you'll get in first time around. Start learning your medical terminology. It will help a lot. Good luck. I hope to see you next semester.

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Specializes in ER.
Just started the program in Jan 2010. With your grades and all courses completed, I'm sure you'll get in first time around. Start learning your medical terminology. It will help a lot. Good luck. I hope to see you next semester.

Hey! SO I'm getting REALLY nervous! The letter can come any day now! I desperately hope I get in! Do you know if anyone has heard a response back yet? I heard a rumor that acceptance letters get sent out first and then the rest go out later, also I heard that LVNs find out first if they were accepted to the program. I'm just curios how the acceptance process went for you? And if you are enjoying the program?

Thanks!

anxiously waiting,

Jamie

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Hello Jamie -

My letter wasn't sent out until May. I have not heard if letters were sent out. Once you receive your letter, you will need to take the TEAS test, pass a background check, get CPR certified, and all vacinations. While doing all of that, I would suggest taking a medical terminology class or getting a book/cd and also learn nursing abbreviations. You are required to learn these on your own and are tested in the first few weeks. You must pass with a 92%. Also, you must pass a math test each semester. If you have not taken math for meds, I would suggest taking it in summer school. The program is tough but I am learning alot, made great study partners, and am generally enjoying it. I hope this information is helpful to you. Take care.

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Specializes in ER.

Thank you! That was very helpful! Hopefully I'll receive a letter before May, I might go crazy if I have to wait that long :). I took a medical terminology class, but it was a few years ago so I think I'll take it again. Now math with meds, this is a class you can take before entering into the program? I definitely will sign up for that class! Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions!

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Specializes in ER.

I got accepted to LBCC!!! soooooo HAPPY!

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Hi Jamie,

Congrats on being accepted!!! I was just wondering what your letter said. I got a letter from LBCC that said to attend the advisement session on 3/25 but it doesn't say I'm officially in... did yours say you're definitely in?? I'm so nervous!!!! hehe.

Thanks!!!

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