Los Angeles County of Nursing - Fall 2014

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This is for those of us that will be applying to LA county college of nursing and allied health's fall 2014 semester. I will be submitting my application for the basic RN program tomorrow... Yayyy!!! I am beyond excited, I can't believe this time has finally come!

Specializes in CVICU.
Hi! Can you tell me what your pre reg was like? Is all the requirements that you need the same as other nursing schools (vaccines, health ins, etc.)? Is your schedule going to be like the one that is posted on the website from last year?

Pre registration I mean... Anyone who went can reply :) I'm applying for spring 2015

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Hello jenn!

Sorry to hear about CSULA...

I attended preregistration with the rest of the people who decided to go to County from this thread...

In terms of the schedule, I don't remember last year's schedule from the top off my head and I'm on my phone so I can't pull it up easily so bear with me... haha.

Schedule Fall 2014:

N 112 Introduction to Professional Nursing Role: Mondays 7:00 - 10:00 (Weeks 1-8 of semester)

N 111 Nursing Pharmocology: Mondays 7:00- 10:00 (Weeks 9-16 of semester)

N 113: Intro to Medical Surgical Nursing: Thursday 7:00- 11:00 (Full Semester)

N 113L: Intro to Medical Surgical Nursing Clinical: Tuesday and Wednesday 7:00- 13:30 (Full Semester)

We were told that students usually go to their clinical site to pick up information regarding their patients on Monday after class.

There will be a few days in the semester where you will be asked to come in later or stay an extra hour and so on but they will specify on your schedule handout that you will get at preregistration so you have plenty of time to plan accordingly (months ahead).

As far as vaccinations go:

You will get your TB test and prove that you are immune to the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella... You will also need your tdap shot and complete the Hepatitis B series... The seasonal influenza vacination is completely voluntary (Everything is else is required).

They didn't mention physicals so we don't need one or proof that we've already had one this year..

They also talked about financial aid for an about an hour and how important is that you apply, regardless of whether you think you will qualify or not.

As you may know by now if you've done enough research, tuition is $2,400 per semester and the BOG waiver will NOT cover this. If you cannot pay $2,400 out of pocket each semester, you can do tuition deferment and pay only $700 per semester instead. After you graduate, there are various ways that you can pay the remaining balance, including working for County, but they will get in much more into detail about this...

As you can see, from the schedule, it's not as demanding as other school's schedules might be in terms of lecture time but as I mentioned earlier, if you've done enough research, you will know that County is notorious for having a very demanding curriculum for an ADN program and that one must put in A LOT of time if one wants to be successful. I stayed after the orientation, as I had some questions, and a girl in front of me asked M (can't post names) why most people who graduate from County get C's in the majority of their courses... M responded by saying with all sincerity that she recommends that students who are looking to graduate with honors attend another CC in Los Angeles because it doesn't happen as often at County... She then stated that getting A's and B's is totally doable but the student has to put it 45+ a week for that to occur...

We got to meet the administration and won't be meeting professors until registration is August... All in all, it seems that everyone that talked to us is MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP! Of course, you cannot slack off because they have little tolerance for that but if you're dealing with a difficult situation, it seems like they're really willing to accommodate you to their fullest extent (has to be fair to the other students too). One can only hope that the professors are the same LOL.

If I missed something, anyone else who attended should definitely add! :)

If you have any further questions, I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Wow thanks so much!' It's ok about csula if it was meant to happen it would have...

Now that csula is out of the way, I feel more excited for county than I was to attend a BSN program... I know that when I walk out of county I will be a NURSE not just someone who took classes to pass an exit exam..

So the schedule is pretty much the same, the only thing I didn't realize is that you do clinicals two days a week but I'm so okay with that!!!

The one thing I was mostly scared of at csula is the schedule... Some days id have to be there from like 7am to 8pm!!!

Did they say anything about health insurance???

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I stayed after the orientation, as I had some questions, and a girl in front of me asked M (can't post names) why most people who graduate from County get C's in the majority of their courses... M responded by saying with all sincerity that she recommends that students who are looking to graduate with honors attend another CC in Los Angeles because it doesn't happen as often at County... She then stated that getting A's and B's is totally doable but the student has to put it 45+ a week for that to occur

I know a couple of people who attend County now, who graduated already and one girl who failed. This school is very hard. One of my friend had 4.0 GPA attending and fall 2014 will be her 6th semester in County. She told me that only 15 students of 50 graduated this june. She told me if you want to become a great nurse, and get a job right after - you will after County (if you survive). But if you want continue your education and become a nurse practitioners you should go somewhere else , because your gpa will be screwed big time. In opinion, everyone's experience will be different. Even on this web site we all read how student's opinions are different. One will be proud and happy to be County's student, and another will advise to us "run away" lol. At least you, guys, already kind of know what program will be like. I will go to Valley and I don't know anything about their program. No one opinion, no one person who knows anyone from this program lol.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I think the one thing that comes as a shock is how the tests are different and your studying has to change... Maybe most of those people would have failed out of any nursing program... Well never know. I'm going into this knowing county is the hardest, but that's ok. I've also attended a cna course which will give me a leg up on a lot of skills

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I think the one thing that comes as a shock is how the tests are different and your studying has to change... Maybe most of those people would have failed out of any nursing program... Well never know. I'm going into this knowing county is the hardest, but that's ok. I've also attended a cna course which will give me a leg up on a lot of skills

That's what I thought. Some people keep studying like for prerequisites, just memorizing.

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Specializes in CVICU.
That's what I thought. Some people keep studying like for prerequisites, just memorizing.

Yeah A LOT of people think like that. I'm buying an nclex book the first day haha

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I think the one thing that comes as a shock is how the tests are different and your studying has to change... Maybe most of those people would have failed out of any nursing program... Well never know. I'm going into this knowing county is the hardest, but that's ok. I've also attended a cna course which will give me a leg up on a lot of skills

THIS THIS THIS THIS. I've talked to a couple of people who attend or have graduated from County and they tell me how many of their classmates continued to study all the new material being thrown at them just like they studied for the prerequisites. Many people fail to understand that it is no longer simple memorization; instead, it's about putting together everything you learned in the prerequisites and connecting the dots with what you're learning now... critical thinking skills must come into play.

I don't recall them talking about health insurance. The only insurance that I can recall them talking about is .

I agree with you about CSULA.. if you were really suppose to attend then things would have worked out the way you wanted them to. The bright side is that you can always work on getting your BSN after you graduate or you can do the CSULA collaboration program.

Check out these links:

http://web.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/nursing/PDF/BSN_ADN_pro/Los_Angeles_CCNAH.pdf

http://web.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/nursing/PDF/BSN_ADN_pro/ADN_BSN_Brochure.pdf

As you can see, there isn't much information out there and you probably won't find much because this program is relatively new. I'll share all the information that I've gathered that is not on those links:

- You'll be surprised but many people that attend County are not interested in it due to a variety of reasons: Not being able to keep a GPA of 3.0, Costs (You cannot apply for financial aid during your summer quarters at CSULA because technically, you are not enrolled in the school so you have to pony up $4000 for summer tuition), or they rather work full time during the summer so they can cut their hours when school resumes in the Fall. M stated that they sent off 8 students and they will be there during registration in August to talk about their experiences...

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Specializes in CVICU.
THIS THIS THIS THIS. I've talked to a couple of people who attend or have graduated from County and they tell me how many of their classmates continued to study all the new material being thrown at them just like they studied for the prerequisites. Many people fail to understand that it is no longer simple memorization; instead, it's about putting together everything you learned in the prerequisites and connecting the dots with what you're learning now... critical thinking skills must come into play.

I don't recall them talking about health insurance. The only insurance that I can recall them talking about is malpractice insurance.

I agree with you about CSULA.. if you were really suppose to attend then things would have worked out the way you wanted them to. The bright side is that you can always work on getting your BSN after you graduate or you can do the CSULA collaboration program.

Check out these links:

http://web.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/nursing/PDF/BSN_ADN_pro/Los_Angeles_CCNAH.pdf

http://web.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/nursing/PDF/BSN_ADN_pro/ADN_BSN_Brochure.pdf

As you can see, there isn't much information out there and you probably won't find much because this program is relatively new. I'll share all the information that I've gathered that is not on those links:

- You'll be surprised but many people that attend County are not interested in it due to a variety of reasons: Not being able to keep a GPA of 3.0, Costs (You cannot apply for financial aid during your summer quarters at CSULA because technically, you are not enrolled in the school so you have to pony up $4000 for summer tuition), or they rather work full time during the summer so they can cut their hours when school resumes in the Fall. M stated that they sent off 8 students and they will be there during registration in August to talk about their experiences...

I think us going in there with the knowledge that everything will be completely different than anything we've ever studied gives us a huge advantage over people who aren't aware of the nclex style questions.

I've looked into the collab but may just wait on getting my BSN. I plan on signing the contract which pretty much guarantees a job and then getting my BSN online through csudh

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I think us going in there with the knowledge that everything will be completely different than anything we've ever studied gives us a huge advantage over people who aren't aware of the nclex style questions.

I've looked into the collab but may just wait on getting my BSN. I plan on signing the contract which pretty much guarantees a job and then getting my BSN online through csudh

The administration made it pretty clear at registration that signing that contract DOES NOT guarantee a job and that the school does not guarantee you a job after graduation. If you are unable to attain a job within the County system within a certain period of time (can't remember exact time frame), decide that you want to work outside of the County system, or get hired at a facility not within Los Angeles County, then you will repay the remaining balance in monthly payments.

I cannot tell you how many times they emphasized that... especially ---------------- (can't post names).

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Specializes in CVICU.

I didn't mean that in a sense that I can go sign the contract and barely pass and still get a job.. If you do really well in clinicals as well as didactics and make good with the instructors and the floor managers in the hospital you can pretty much guarantee you'll get a job at the end whether or not you do sign the contract.... Since lac usc is where I really want to work whether or not I go to la county, I'm going to make sure I do my best to make a good impression in order to obtain a job once I'm finished

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I didn't mean that in a sense that I can go sign the contract and barely pass and still get a job.. If you do really well in clinicals as well as didactics and make good with the instructors and the floor managers in the hospital you can pretty much guarantee you'll get a job at the end whether or not you do sign the contract.... Since lac usc is where I really want to work whether or not I go to la county, I'm going to make sure I do my best to make a good impression in order to obtain a job once I'm finished

Oh okay, I'm glad you know because believe it or not, there was some people who were under the impression that getting signing that contract = job within the County system.

It also all depends on County's budget... As I mentioned, I stayed after and heard -------------- saying how they've had students with GPA's of 3.5 and above (rare at County) and were some of the best clinical students they had but were not offered a job due to budget cuts (one even had a job offered retracted).

The bright side that ------------- stated the hopefully the job market is in a better place by the time we graduate since many RN's are retiring.

One can only hope!

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