Los Angeles County School of Nursing

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Any one here graduates of the program? Or are in the program?

I'm applying for the Fall 2012 semester but wanted to know if any of you took the TEAS V before applying? Or did you wait until they sent you info to take the exam?

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Hi everybody) I got accepted to the LACCON and am very excited yet little scared because dont know how hard its going to be... I'm still waiting for the reply from PCC and in case they take me I will have a dilemma... to decide which school to go to... it is very important to make the right decision and not to regret ur choice...Students who are either at PCC or LA county collede please share ur experiences...the level of hardness if i can say so...may be some tips how not to be kicked out of the program cuz now this is going to be my number one priority ...Thank u ))

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Hi everybody) I got accepted to the LACCON and am very excited yet little scared because dont know how hard its going to be... I'm still waiting for the reply from PCC and in case they take me I will have a dilemma... to decide which school to go to... it is very important to make the right decision and not to regret ur choice...Students who are either at PCC or LA county collede please share ur experiences...the level of hardness if i can say so...may be some tips how not to be kicked out of the program cuz now this is going to be my number one priority ...Thank u ))

I'm not in the program but personally if it were my choice I would choose County. I work with nurses now and they say the best nurses come from there because of the clinical experience you get. You see things in county hospital you won't see anywhere else. However if you are not one to think on your feet, be independent, and handle pressure well go for PCC. I have heard county basically throws you into the ring of fire right off the bat in an effort to weed out those who can't handle it. If you are in any way timid about clinicals PCC may be the way to go.

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Thank u guys for ur reSponses i am getting advices from other people in the health care field and they're telling me lavc and it's just making it harder to choose :s

Like I said to the last poster it depends on what kind of a learner you are. County is an extremely tough program but also by reputation puts out the best nurses just due to clinical experience. I am attending valley next semester. County was my dream school but I lacked points for spring 2012 because I hadn't taken history or speech till this semester. The things that made valley a good choice for me was that I live in Northridge and have a 5 year old plus the fact that they actually have a county hospital for clinical sites now. County hospitals are the best learning enviorment because you get a lot of patients and you see things you generally won't see when you go to Kaiser for example. I currently work as a CNA so the thought of clinicals and actually getting hands on doesnt frighten me, plus I've been around hospitals all my life. My best advice to you is stop taking other peoples opinions, research the schools and really think about what kind of student you are and where you would benefit most. Regardless good luck, you got into two programs when some can't even get into any.

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Not trying to scare you off but I repeat what others have said: County's program is hard. We're waiting to see if it's harder than it needs to be or whether we'll be grateful for what we've been through.

Academically, most of us were A students or close to it when we got in (we had to be to get in!). Most are now just grateful to get a C and pass. (Unofficial motto: C=RN!) I'm not saying it's impossible to keep getting A's or even B's, just that it's a lot harder than it's been so far, even with nearly all multiple-choice tests. Even if you like to study on your own, plan to do at least some group study sessions. It really helps.

Clinically, yes, we see and do things that apparently others don't. We start with one patient and finish doing total patient care for 4 or 5 patients. That includes charting as well as all interventions. The only thing we don't do by the end of our 4th sem med/surg rotation is take verbal orders and have access to Pyxis. I've heard of other schools only getting their seniors to 2 patients and that some don't do foleys, IV pushes, whatever. We do everything but give chemo, just about!

There is no such thing as an "easy" patient at County: they all have multiple issues and comorbidities. You'll be dealing with isolation patients, patients with major psych issues (on the med/surg floor for medical reasons), AIDS and TB and other "big" illnesses, jail ward patients, burned patients, gunshot victims, amputees, babies, old people, dying patients, patients who can't speak English... Patients who can't afford preventative care or basic care and so don't come to the hospital until they're really very seriously ill.

The first year is pretty nice. I loved first semester. Then it got harder and harder. This is not the kind of school where you feel you know it all and can coast by the time you're a senior: each semester has a learning curve, and you may still worry about being able to pass clinicals near the end of fourth. It's a real concern: some don't. You only get to withdraw from school once and fail one class; after that you're out of the program if you don't make it through the next try.

You may do all your clinicals at LAC+USC hospital (except psych) or you may spend parts of it at Harbor-UCLA, Rancho Los Amigos, or Olive View. The experience is different at each b/c each one, although part of DHS, has different protocols and standards (for instance, they still don't all do electronic charting).

First semester you'll do all 18 weeks in med/surg rotation. In second, you'll do half med/surg (usually on either the hematology/oncology floor or the more general one) and split the other half between OB and pediatrics. In third, you do half med/surg, half ambulatory care (i.e., clinics) and psych. In fourth, you do med/surg and ICU and OR (observation, mostly) and team leading.

This is just a little more information about this one option you're considering. I haven't heard anyone say nursing school was easy for them, though, no matter where they went, so keep that in mind, too. Good luck, whereever you choose to go!

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Thank you for your comprehensive reply.. )) are you still at LACCN?

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are you still at LACCN?

Very nearly not! :D

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Congrats and good luck!))

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Specializes in Emergency.

Im about to finish second semester an i think i have a few grey hairs. Lol.

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Thank you SO much for your clear, descriptive perspective and information about the LACONAH program as it has provided me with more information prior to the start of my 1st semester, which begins in 2 weeks, I'm nervous!! Based on everything you posted, it sounds like I can kiss my social life good-bye, and just focus on passing the class, regardless of the grade. I look forward to hearing more about your experience as you get closer to graduating.

-Dezee06

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Hey guys! How many people here applied for the Fall 2012 ADN program.

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Hi everyone, I applied for fall 2012, just received invitation to take the TEAS. Did anyone else get the invitation to do so?

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