Los Medanos College RN Program

titohan · Oct 8, 2005

Anyone going to Los Medanos for the LVN or the RN program? A friend and I are working on our pre reqs and would like to hear from anyone that is going to see what it is like.
Thanks so much!
Melody :Melody:

Hello melody,

I think you had responded to my post, but I've been so busy with school that i haven't had time to reply. I apologize.

Anyhoo, I decided to take a break from the books today and smell the fresh air.

Okay, I'm an RN student in my third semester.

I was accepted into the program on the first try. You probably know that they use a lottery system @ LMC, so it's a random pick.

Nursing School for me when I started out felt like boot camp, EXTREMELY HARD.

Before I started NS,I had already heard about what was involved, and I was advised to prepare myself mentally, physically,and spiritually for it. I would advise you to do the same when the time is near.

I was eating, drinking, sleeping, and even dreaming about nursing school. I still am, but to a lesser extent, I guess because I've gotten used to the madness.

The Nclex passing rate since I've been attending have been pretty good. i know that of all the nursing students that graduated this spring, only two failed the Nclex. That's not bad for a class of 50.

In a nut shell, you must be very determined and self-disciplined. You must want it really bad. You must be willing to say goodbye to your social life for the most part. Your friends and family will be upset with you because you've stopped spending time with them or you don't return their phone calls simply because you're too busy studying. There will be a tremendous amount of studying to do and nursing test questions are nothing like the questions you get in A&P.

The RN progam is 4 semesters long, while the LVN program is 3. Don't know much about the LVN program.

The first semester is just basic stuff; fundamentals of nursing; how to take vital signs, providing primary care for your patients like giving them baths, measuring their intake and output, making their beds etc. Now if you haven't had any experience working with patients,this will prove to be a challenge for you, but many have gotten through it and have done just fine. Usually the schedule has it that you go to school tues and weds and go to the hospital

(clinicals) thurs and fris.

I don't know what you guys already know, but i hope this helps. When do you plan on applying? Have you guys been to the nursing seminar? The instructors summarize what's involved and they also give some sound advise.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask. I only ask that you be patient with me, as you can imagine, I have a very tight schedule.

Goodluck!!!

bluemerle · Oct 8, 2005

WOW!!

Thanks for all the great info!! I really appreciate it! Thanks for taking the time to answer my post.

I will start the nursing seminar on the 29th of this month. I think I will get alot of answers to my questions on this day (hopefully) but I feel that I got a good idea of how intense it is from your email. If it is as intense as the fire academy was for my husband then I see why you had to give up your social life.

Well, I won't take up too much of your time as I can see you have a lot on your plate at the moment. I do want to congragulate :balloons: you on getting in on your first try. In my med term class there is a gal that has tried twice to get in and has not made it. I think this was my biggest concern.

Oh by the way, thanks for mentioning how many passed the NCLEX. That is a great passing rate (not that I know alot about it) but if only two failed then there is a good chance I could pass it (hopefully)

Thanks again and good luck to you too!!!

Melody :Melody:

Hello melody,
I think you had responded to my post, but I've been so busy with school that i haven't had time to reply. I apologize.
Anyhoo, I decided to take a break from the books today and smell the fresh air.
Okay, I'm an RN student in my third semester.
I was accepted into the program on the first try. You probably know that they use a lottery system @ LMC, so it's a random pick.
Nursing School for me when I started out felt like boot camp, EXTREMELY HARD.
Before I started NS,I had already heard about what was involved, and I was advised to prepare myself mentally, physically,and spiritually for it. I would advise you to do the same when the time is near.
I was eating, drinking, sleeping, and even dreaming about nursing school. I still am, but to a lesser extent, I guess because I've gotten used to the madness.
The Nclex passing rate since I've been attending have been pretty good. i know that of all the nursing students that graduated this spring, only two failed the Nclex. That's not bad for a class of 50.
In a nut shell, you must be very determined and self-disciplined. You must want it really bad. You must be willing to say goodbye to your social life for the most part. Your friends and family will be upset with you because you've stopped spending time with them or you don't return their phone calls simply because you're too busy studying. There will be a tremendous amount of studying to do and nursing test questions are nothing like the questions you get in A&P.
The RN progam is 4 semesters long, while the LVN program is 3. Don't know much about the LVN program.
The first semester is just basic stuff; fundamentals of nursing; how to take vital signs, providing primary care for your patients like giving them baths, measuring their intake and output, making their beds etc. Now if you haven't had any experience working with patients,this will prove to be a challenge for you, but many have gotten through it and have done just fine. Usually the schedule has it that you go to school tues and weds and go to the hospital
(clinicals) thurs and fris.
I don't know what you guys already know, but i hope this helps. When do you plan on applying? Have you guys been to the nursing seminar? The instructors summarize what's involved and they also give some sound advise.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask. I only ask that you be patient with me, as you can imagine, I have a very tight schedule.
Goodluck!!!

titohan · Oct 8, 2005

WOW!!
Thanks for all the great info!! I really appreciate it! Thanks for taking the time to answer my post.
I will start the nursing seminar on the 29th of this month. I think I will get alot of answers to my questions on this day (hopefully) but I feel that I got a good idea of how intense it is from your email. If it is as intense as the fire academy was for my husband then I see why you had to give up your social life.
Well, I won't take up too much of your time as I can see you have a lot on your plate at the moment. I do want to congragulate :balloons: you on getting in on your first try. In my med term class there is a gal that has tried twice to get in and has not made it. I think this was my biggest concern.
Oh by the way, thanks for mentioning how many passed the NCLEX. That is a great passing rate (not that I know alot about it) but if only two failed then there is a good chance I could pass it (hopefully)
Thanks again and good luck to you too!!!
Melody :Melody:

Oh, you're so welcome :wink2:. I just have one more piece of advice. Finish up all your prerequites for nursing school before applying and apply to as many nursing programs as you possibly can. There's nothing more frustrating than working your butt off to get this far and not being able to get in. Even if you have to commute, it will be so worth it in the end, at least that's what everyone tells me. I have a classmate that comes all the way from Daly city :eek: . Take care!!!