MDC Nursing spring 2014

AllyWill2121 · Oct 28, 2013

Hi everyone! Congrats to all that were accepted. Just a few tips:

You can get your CPR card anywhere as long as it is BLS for healthcare workers and that it's American Heart Association. I got mine at my local fire department and t was $60 with the book included.

The student health clinic is a great place to get all of your health stuff taken care of, granted you get there early. And I do mean early. If they open at 9:30, be there no later than 9 and plan on being there until about 12. You can also go to Miami Rescue Mission which is run by MDC. When researching dr office vs MDC clinic, I found the clinic to have the best prices since the dr office wouldn't be able to bill my insurance for titers since they're not a part of a routine checkup. And the titers test is the most expensive anyway. AND everything's more expensive at the dr office!

You can buy everything (and I do mean everything) online. DO NOT pay $98 for that stethoscope in the bookstore when you can get the EXACT same one on Amazon for $60-something. I also bought all of my books and even my white shoes for cinicals there and saved a TON!

At orientation they will encourage you to get bundles and apps for the drug guide, the nurses pocket guide, and the diagnostic testing manual. Don't do this! The problem is that while the app is easy and convenient, they will not allow you to use your phone or tablet in the hospital! This renders those apps pretty much useless because that's when you would need that information the most (like giving meds, etc) plus buying the actual books (online) comes out to be cheaper anyways so, there you go.

Get a rolling backpack

Wait until orientation to register because if you try to beforehand they'll just kick you out if your classes and you'll have to re-register anyway. We weren't allowed to register before orientation at all. I highly recommend bringing a laptop or tablet with you to orientation because as soon as they hand you the schedule and say "register" everyone will be scrambling to register right then and there and all of the good clinicals will fill up.

That's all I can think of for now. I was super grateful for the students that came to my thread on here and provided straight answers to some of our questions. Just paying it forward, ya know? Feel free to ask any other questions and I'll try to answer them if I can. I'm only 1st semester AO (well, technically 2nd since ours are doubled up) but all the beginning/getting started stuff is the most anxiety-provoking anyways :-P once you get started you'll get more comfortable and just go with the flow ?

JulieAlvarez · Oct 28, 2013

Julie this happened to someone last year she applied to transitional and full time but on the first round emails only the transitional email came so she accepted and on the 2nd round her full time generic... her first option was transitional though.. Do you know if you can switch programs once you start?[/quote
No you cant even the acceptance form you sign and turn in says it :/

JulieAlvarez · Oct 28, 2013

Are you serious?! I haven't paid yet but I planned on going sometimes this week. But now idk. I don't wanna risk not getting accepted at all but I really do want to be in the program. Also does anyone know the bursars office hours? Are they open on weekends?[/quote']
I know how you feel :/

Phaint · Oct 28, 2013

Julie this happened to someone last year she applied to transitional and full time but on the first round emails only the transitional email came so she accepted and on the 2nd round her full time generic... her first option was transitional though.. Do you know if you can switch programs once you start?[/quote
No you cant even the acceptance form you sign and turn in says it :/
Honestly, even though MDC says you can't switch programs once you start, I spoken to several people in the part-time program that have switched to the full-time program on their third/fourth semester. I would just continue forward and in a semester or two I would speak with the advisor or whoever to see if there's a chance I could jump ship.

Emunah · Oct 28, 2013

I was hoping to have to avoid paying the $40.00 dcf letter but I am going to have to.

I went to medical campus today to hand in everything and she said that we need the dcf letter even though it doesn't say it on the homestead full time list. Oh well.

jessy89 · Oct 28, 2013

I was hoping to have to avoid paying the $40.00 dcf letter but I am going to have to.
I went to medical campus today to hand in everything and she said that we need the dcf letter even though it doesn't say it on the homestead full time list. Oh well.

Well at least we have time until orientation, even though we want to do this as early as possible. What is not that great is the whole spending more money situation .

SLee_<3 · Oct 28, 2013

@allywill2121, do you use your laptop at school a lot? I'm trying to figure out what rolling bag to get.

AriesTwin · Oct 28, 2013

Hello everyone. Just a heads up for those going to the wellness center. I went today and can confirm it takes a looong time but more importantly they are COMPLETELY OUT of TB test. I was able to do the physical, titers etc but have to make a separate trip for TB and then 2 other trips for second dose/results.

AllyWill2121 · Oct 28, 2013

I use my laptop everyday. The professors usually send the presentations prior to class and I follow along and make notes under the slides. It's especially helpful if you missed something and they've changed the slide already. And it saves paper.

Lizipanther · Oct 29, 2013

AllyWill2121 Thank you so much for all your helpful tips

Emunah · Oct 29, 2013

What's with the sequences?

AriesTwin · Oct 29, 2013

@AlliWill

In regards to rolling backpack. Do we need one because we are expected to bring our textbooks to class? or we need it just to have our books handy for studying, nursing supplies etc?

Also the $100 nurse pack they make us buy ( with IV, bandages, etc) do you actually use it and will they tell you specific days to bring it?