MDC Fall 2019 Nursing

fgreen28 · May 3, 2019

My score was around that with a 4.0 for the health sciences but I have met classmates with much lower scores. Advisers do not make promises and some are not as informed about the program as you would hope for. Also remember diversity is a major objective for MDC. That said, I think the scores are rather relevant to your success. So it is not your case but if you scored low on the HESI and still accepted then be mindful you will need to up your effort. The program is not easy but like anything some have an easier time than others, perspectives vary from student to student.

Manny15 · May 3, 2019

Incredibly helpful information @fgreen! Much appreciated!

fgreen28 · May 4, 2019

OK I am feeling generous and enjoying my days off before the start of the next semester. I want to impart more information. Now let me give a general warning that I am cynical, sarcastic, irreverent and always try to game the system. In others words, I think things are mostly BS and I like to march to my own tune but think some of my advice is applicable to anyone.

1. HYPE - Once you are accepted, the school generates a lot of hype and unnecessary worry. For example, they have these hard deadlines and warning to buy something only at the school bookstore. Well do not panic and do not believe the hype.

2. Only hard deadline to follow is paying the deposit for your seat and you can only hold one. So if you get accepted to Generic and Accelerated and Part Time, a Major Congrats to you but you have to choose one and once you make a deposit then your kind of stuck with that choice. Another must is Orientation, it is useless information but it will be your first nursing school event and likely when you get to register for classes. They divided it in to two days for mine by last name. They tried to deny entry to students who were tardy (I would explain more but would give my identity away). So FYI do not be tardy unless you are me.

3. No need to buy the books or the uniforms at the expensive book store. I bought scrubs online and a shirt at All Angels across from campus and had the MDC logo embroidered at the bookstore. I did not even buy books, someone sent me the PDF and I rented 2 books. This is purely your preference but do not think you must buy at bookstore. Two classes do not use books which are clinical and skills - no matter what they tell you.

4. COMPLIO. You will have to jump some personal hoops for nursing. Like get vaccines, do a background check, flu shot etc. Wait for your acceptance but know you will have only a few weeks to do it all. If you have insurance, mazel tov, felicidades, good for you because your primary will be able to do most things. The advise here is again no need to panic and it can be a work in progress even after the semester starts.

5. The NURSING BAG. They demand and warn and scare you into buying this $200, yes $200 NURSING BAG because you will need to lug this big bag the first day of classes. OK sure believe that and carry that big bag around school. Guess how many times I use the bag? Guess? No really guess how many times I used the $200 NURSING BAG? It is a trick questions because I have yet to use it. You can actually get an A in skills without every getting the bag with the exception of some psycho profs but you can share one with a friend and no one will know except the two of you.

SUMMARY: RELAX. Do you. Students will be going crazy over all these details and it is all much a do about nada. You have time, you have options and do not stress it.

Manny15 · May 4, 2019

Gonna take advantage of your good mood and generosity and ask a question.......How does class selection work? do you pick your classes based on teachers and times? Do they pick for you? still confused about this

fgreen28 · May 4, 2019

So class selection used to be the WILD WILD WEST and people would show up at like at 4 AM to avoid some profs and select some desired professors. But WILD WEST days are ancient history now. They will have an ORIENTATION (boring and useless but most of you will be sooo excited) and at the end of that orientation, you will select classes in a crazy window of time that I like to think about it like a nursing school lottery. So you sit there a few hours of blah blah blah (nursing school is hard) blah blah and then OK LETS SIGN UP FOR CLASS AND LET THE MAD DASH BEGIN.

Beautifulflower91 · May 4, 2019

35 minutes ago, fgreen28 said:
So class selection used to be the WILD WILD WEST and people would show up at like at 4 AM to avoid some profs and select some desired professors. But WILD WEST days are ancient history now. They will have an ORIENTATION (boring and useless but most of you will be sooo excited) and at the end of that orientation, you will select classes in a crazy window of time that I like to think about it like a nursing school lottery. So you sit there a few hours of blah blah blah (nursing school is hard) blah blah and then OK LETS SIGN UP FOR CLASS AND LET THE MAD DASH BEGIN.

What professor do u recommend? The ones that are good

fgreen28 · May 4, 2019

AVOID TAYLOR, I WOULD EVEN SAY STUDENTS SHOULD BOYCOTT TAYLOR. I did not have her but some friends and many victims did have her. Fundamentals is tricky for many and statistically more fail in her class and then in Stewart but I did know students who did well in her class (Stewart) and a few that failed as well. Roughly half of the students do not make it out of those classes with those two PROFS. You have a better chance with the other professors but none is easy. Most skills and clinical professors are good. Pharma is usually with Tomlinson and now a new Profs named Peralta. I prefer Peralta but a lot of people like Tomlinson, who is literally crazy, but people who are terrible at math somehow like her and people who are good at math really dislike her. Assessment is not so hard class because it is performance based like acting out nursing assessment which makes up the bulk of your grade. TAYLOR is also feared for ASSESSMENT and makes the class extremely more difficult that what it is. Unfortunately, the selection of professors is tricky because the school is making out like russian roulette. That said, if you make it past first semester, it gets better. People sadly flunk out of first semester and opens slots for the survivors.

fgreen28 · May 4, 2019

An odd thing about nursing school, you will love one professor for one class and wish you would have chosen a different one for another class with the same professor. Hanna is popular for Fundamentals but they do not like her for skills. Braide, Crevacour and Muniz are loved for clinicals or skills but disliked for lecture classes. It is just luck sometimes. They will not tell you this but you will need some luck with the scheduling and sometimes it is a mixed bag.

Beautifulflower91 · May 4, 2019

38 minutes ago, fgreen28 said:
An odd thing about nursing school, you will love one professor for one class and wish you would have chosen a different one for another class with the same professor. Hanna is popular for Fundamentals but they do not like her for skills. Braide, Crevacour and Muniz are loved for clinicals or skills but disliked for lecture classes. It is just luck sometimes. They will not tell you this but you will need some luck with the scheduling and sometimes it is a mixed bag.

Awww man your heaven sent, thank you so much for giving us so much advice and what to look forward too.

Grisso · May 6, 2019

On 5/3/2019 at 11:19 PM, fgreen28 said:
An odd thing about nursing school, you will love one professor for one class and wish you would have chosen a different one for another class with the same professor. Hanna is popular for Fundamentals but they do not like her for skills. Braide, Crevacour and Muniz are loved for clinicals or skills but disliked for lecture classes. It is just luck sometimes. They will not tell you this but you will need some luck with the scheduling and sometimes it is a mixed bag.

Caught up on all the advice. Thanks so much. This kind of inside information is vital when you're starting out. We appreciate your time, humor, and tips!

fgreen28 · May 7, 2019

Thanks, I think you need humor in nursing school because it is rough. Do not want to scare you all but do want to stress the need to take it seriously and prepare yourself. I started with a large cohort of almost 250 students. I was part of some Intro to Pharma classes that had over 50 students. In fact infamous Prof. Tomlinson taught 4 classes on a single day during the semester and each class with the exception of one had over 50 students. So she taught almost 200 students in the first pharma. Then about another 60 students took the class with another professor. Well fast forward to second pharma and only 120 students will be taking the second part. Yep a little more than half are gone. The semester was brutal and next week many seats are available. It is something that keeps me on my toes and reminds of the dedication it requires. I am about 6 days from the start of classes but me and my classmates already feel behind and we are already talking and meeting up to study. We are anxious to get a syllabus and debating what methods to use to study. So do your research early. Start reviewing the heart. Look at videos on youtube about the Head to Toe or HEENT look it up and you will find it. You need to have a script for each on of those. I said it before, practice fractions and decimals and conversion of temperatures - GET READY THIS SUMMER.

JoWthsll · May 7, 2019

Hi everyone!

I just found this thread and I’m so glad I did! I’ve been reading it for a couple of days (went through all the posts ?). It seems like I’m the only one that will be applying right before the new extended deadline. I have an overall gpa of 3.6 and a 3.5 science gpa, I will be taking the hesi tomorrow! Eeeekkk! I bought different guides and the pocket prep app and it was useful. I’m a “mature student” lol I’m 32 and decided to go back to school part time. I need to work while going to school because with two kids, money is 100% necessary. Personally, I don’t find it too challenging as I’ve always worked while going to school, I guess in part because I didn’t want to rely on student loans at all (we’re on the hook for my husband’s student loans already). I am a CNA but don’t work as one. I will also be commuting from Broward, Pembroke Pines specifically. I used to commute for work to Miami airport (for 3 years) so I’m kind of used to it.

I apologize if this thread seems all over the place, I’m trying to get ready for a meeting while getting the kids ready for school ? .

Good luck to everyone!!