MDC Fall 2011 - PART TIME Program

Phaint · Sep 15, 2011

hmm, but I thought your classes were on Saturdays? I'm trying to see how what shift I should put in for in my job in order to be prepared for when I apply and hopefully get into the program.

fem · Sep 16, 2011

phaint.

google mdc school of nursing or go to http://www.mdc.edu and then hunt for the school of nursing. locate the schedule of classes (yes a clinical is a type of class and a lab is a type of class... so yes we have these on saturday) for the duration of the part-time generic program. this will give you an idea of which classes are which semesters.

semester 1

t night = fundamentals lecture (scantron)

............ all 50 students in one classroom

th night = pharmacology math (lecture, math problems, pencil supplied at exam)

............. all 50 students in one classroom

saturday =

#1=fundamentals lab (demonstrate skills) 3 hour class +

...... 2 instructors with 10 students each. the 2 instructors demonstrate lecture to 20 students & demonstrate skills. but it is my understanding that 1 professor tests 10 students assigned to them. the 2nd professor tests the 10 students assigned to them.

#2=physical exam & health assessment... 3 hour class. what type of class this is depends on the professor you get. my professor shows 80% of the grade is based on "demonstrating skills". (at least that is my current understanding). while my full-time friend has a professor who is virtually 90% lecture type class with scantron tests + 10% "demonstrating skills". my part-time friend with a different professor than me believes her professor is doing mostly lecture with a little "demonstrating skills". a lot of variation here in testing styles.

.............. 10 students are in my class. i believe the same for my peers. it is my understanding that small class size is to allow for 1 professor to test 10 students demonstrating their skills. you have 20 minutes to demonstrate a skill. 20 minutes x 3 students = one hour.. so 9 students is 3 hours. hmmm... so maybe we only have 15 minutes? we were told 20 minutes!

2nd semester:

t night - fundamentals lecture continues from 1st semester!!!!

saturday - fundamentals clinical (6 hrs? 8 hrs? 12 hrs? -- i think 6 or 8 hours). this semester is a nursing home. 3rd semester or later is the hospital. we get our feet wet before running... so to speak.

hope this helps you get an idea what to expect.

Phaint · Sep 16, 2011

okay perfect, thx alot fem. There's a weekend shift at my job that you work sat,sun,mon from 7pm-7am, i think I'm going to have to switch to that one then. gives me 4 days off to study. cool beans

fem · Sep 16, 2011

Phaint,

You are welcome. So, any part-time RN students need to have Tu + Th 6-7:30p open and Saturdays from 8-3p (or later) open. This means no work scheduled during those days/times.

Most of my classmates work M-F 9a-5p. Study nights & Sundays.

Some students have a bit more of a flexible schedule.

Personally, I think working full-time and going to RN school part-time is harder than going to RN school full-time and not working.

Phaint · Oct 18, 2011

heya guys, I had another question. I am currently taking the prereqs for the nursing program (albeit very slowly) so I am trying to see how I can group up my classes so when I finish them all I can apply to the program instead of missing the deadline and having to wait say 6 months for the next application batch.

Do they only start part time classes one time a year? If so when? Should my final term be in Winter, Summer, or Fall in order to make the deadline? Thanks

fem · Oct 18, 2011

You should finish pre-requisites end of April to apply for August semester.

Typically Part-Time starts once a year in August.

However, there has been rumor that MDC is TRYING to start a part-time program starting January's too. January 2011 was cancelled. But I hear rumor MDC might try again for Jan 2012.

Phaint · Oct 18, 2011

oh hmm... according to the way I have it laid out, I will be done with the prereqs in summer of 2013, meaning I would have missed my chance for august 2013 and would have to wait until 2014. *sigh*

fem · Oct 19, 2011

well, the worse thing about "trying to gauge when you will apply for RN school" is this.... just about the time you have your best laid plans... along comes a new "rule" or "policy" that requires an "extra class" or "some other last minute requirement". This year it is HSC003 intro to healthcare. If I had not been accepted for Aug 2011, I would have had to take that extra class to apply for the next term.

What I'm saying is this... shoot for your goal, but plan for things to "change".

The only thing constant is change. And pray MDC starts doing the part-time thing twice a year instead of once, which will allow you 2 start-time opportunities each year.

GOOD LUCK.

FYI, my experiences so far lean me to believe that part-time (while working) is harder than the full-time (no working) approach. I see me & my classmates struggle. But maybe it is just that the full-timers are a smarter bunch of students?! LOL.

fem · Oct 19, 2011

And if you are all done with your pre-reqs... consider acquiring old textbooks & syllabuses and pre-study. That will make the first semester of RN school easier to digest. Just an idea. Certainly you want to do the "Test Taking Strategies for Beginning RN students" PRIOR to starting RN school. It is a book. And the MDC medical center campus has it on their computer in an "easier to do" format.

fem · Oct 19, 2011

I could have pre-studied all my pharmacology math and made this semester easier on myself.

But I was taking pre-reqs (not required at MDC, but required for other schools) right up until 2 weeks before MDC's RN school started.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Mwen · Oct 28, 2011

Hi Fem,

Regarding your "BEST TIP: Find a student "ahead" of you willing to give you some tips, advice, & guidance. And be sure when it is your turn that you help someone "behind" you.", I was just accepted in the Part Time program at MDC to start January 2012 (yes, the spring Part Time program is in fact new, starting January 2012). So, I'm reaching out to you (or anyone in the Fall Part Time program at MDC) for tips and advice. I've read your messages and they're very helpful. I'm all ears to anything else you want to share :)

I am a bit apprehensive of the load for the first semester since I do have to work and I have a very stressful job... Anyway, my orientation is November 17th. It sounds like pre-studying and reading ahead (will try to buy my books right after the orientation) are crucial.

Thanks.

fem · Oct 28, 2011

Hi Mwen,

Please share with me your GPA & TEAS score. Don't be shy.

Mine was 4.0 & a modest 81.

Tip #1 - start meeting & collecting names/phone numbers, email addresses of part-timers (or full-timers) AT THE ORIENTATION. Naturally offer yours 1st so your classmates-to-be are willing to give you theirs.

Even if you aren't a social butterfly, try to connect with others. It is a valuable tool to survive RN school. If you are brilliant, consider helping other less brilliant.

Tonight was our pharmacology math class. I'm guessing 25 of 42 students failed the final exam worth 35% of our grade. I KNOW 16 students of the 42 did not pass the 2nd exam as the professors posted how many students got what grade. There were only 3 exams total + homework/participation/quiz, etc. There were a few students who had an "A" going into the final exam but feel like they flunked the final. The question on many students mind tonight is.... "did we pass this class". Or do we retake it? MDC has a 3-strike rule. In my opinion, now is not a good time to have to retake a class. It is too early on. Better try to save it for the heavier semester(s). Which I believe is 3rd & 4th semesters.

But don't worry... maybe you will get a different professor?

Or maybe this professor will curve the grades?

TIP #2 - look at ratemyprofessors.com - Now, my class did not have a choice. Our class schedule was "handed to us". No options. But even then.... look at ratemyprofessor.com. Why? If you have one professor who is known to be extremely difficult, but another one who is more realistic with expectations... the smart thing to do is to spend more time studying for the "extremely difficult" professor's class & a little less time on the "more realistic" professor class. Right?

Yes. Most of my peers work. And it is a challenge to work full time and go to school part-time. Some semesters will be worse than others. I'm hoping our 2nd semester is going to be "easier" as we pick up only 1 class (the clinical) and finish fundamentals lecture. But our professor with Fundamentals Lecture is retiring in December. And we are assigned another Professor who has very low ratings on ratemyprofessor.com.... so maybe next semester will be equally as challenging as this semester.

Failing classes is not unheard of. But guage your ability to succeed based on your TEAS score & GPA & workload (outside of school). There are some full-time students who took Chem, Chem lab, Micro, Micro lab, A&PI, A&PI lab all in one semester and earned all A's but one B. That type of student is obviously more capable than other students. (me included).

I am disappointed that I bought the books on the required booklist in advance. Why? Because #1 you pay a premium for the brand new books & #2 - Many of my professors use older editions than what was on the required booklist.

So, how do you know what to buy & pre-read & what to wait til you get a syllabus? Good question.

If I were in your shoes, I would buy the "TEST TAKING STRATEGIES FOR BEGINNING NURSING STUDENTS" (not on the required booklist, but should be ... LOL). Alternately, introduce yourself to the tutoring dept at MDC. They will show you where the online "Test Taking Stagegies for RN students is". Do this BEFORE classes start, or it is difficult to get done in time when you need it.

TIP #3 - Buy & start doing:

1. Fundamentals Reviews & Rationales. Plenty of students use the

Reviews & Rationales" books instead of the textbooks. I preferred "in addition to" vs. "instead of". They have the series for many RN school classes. What these books do is CONDENSE the material into a manageable workload.

2. Fundamentals Success - book is all about sample test questions in this new "test taking style" that RN students must do.

3. (maybe now?) NCLEX-RN 4000 is good(book? or DVD/CD)

4. (maybe now?) Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX-RN Review (4e or later) is good.

If you can acquire your syllabus as soon as possible. It is to your advantage! Email your professors & ask! Some reply, So do not.

TIP #4 - Go to the bookstore (or get required booklist). If you can buy cheap textbooks (even one version older) online.. do it early & pre-read. Then if you feel you MUST have the latest & greatest versions.. you may still be able to afford it because the used ones were cheap. The disadvantage to SOME of the older versions is they do not always have the CD or clinical companions, etc. In my case, my expensive brand new textbook from bookstore did not have the DVD & my older edition textbook did. Go figure! LOL.

Know that the first 30 days is just "getting into the groove". Once you get over your first exams in every class, you will "get the hang of it". But take a proactive approach. Those who failed exam #1 in pharm/math ... hmmm... well, let's just say, it only gets harder as time goes on.

KNOW you will never have enough time to read every chapter in every book. I get a kick when the orientation people said, "don't get behind in your reading". My advice is "choose wisely what you choose to read". If you try to do all the reading assignments, you might make yourself crazy. I work by "syllabus topic" instead.

Fundamentals Lecture is strictly scantron tests with this "new type of testing style = critical thinking" Fundamentals Lab is "hands on". No scantrons. It is skills performance. Some of the students have a "hands on" type instructor for Physical Exam & Health Assessment. Others have scantron-type tests "critical thinking style". All depends on the professor for "hands on" or "scantron".

Pharm/Math is all about pencil & paper & calculations. No scantrons there.

LAST TIP FOR THE DAY: Consider getting advice on "how to succeed MDC Nursing School from students who have succeeded before you". Personally, I think this is better than listening to what the Professors have to say about "how to succeed".

Ok, I've written a book (right?) If you are still reading, I'm impressed.

I've got to get up early and prepare for an exam on Saturday.

GOOD LUCK.