I created this post in the hopes that all applicants applying for the nursing program at Miami dade submit their experience they have had so far and also submit any questions they might have. I'm currently applying for the accelerated option but would like to hear what others are doing in the part time and generic option. A little about me is that I have a BSN in health science (2014) and have taken all the prerequisites with the exception of A&P 2 (which I am retaking in summer b June 22).
Right now my biggest concern is the hesi a2 exam we have to take and making sure i ace it because my science gpa is not so hot right now. I have read prior posts and it seems like A&P is the most challenging section. Has anyone taken it as yet? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Also I'm worried that after they evaluate my degree they might not take my science subjects and make me re do them ?? . Has any one's transcript been evaluated yet?
I never thought of it that way, the worse was the instant tears following the test
I cried when I saw my score after taking the Fundamentals HESI, I couldnt believe I passed with a 1020, I felt I was doing horrible throughout the whole test. I hugged my professor because of the emotion LOL
I'm starting pharm and medsurge and clinicals at Jackson. Anything you can tell me about 2nd semester in general, including the clinicals?
Also does the program ever get easier at any point?
Also is it normal that I don't feel fully competant, even with the first semester as I enter the second semester?
3rd semester is like a mini vacation, its intense but is only 1 class at a time so it feels like a breeze. You have one specialty w/ clinical, and the community class on the side. The community class has no exams its all papers and such, so is relaxing.
My best advise for the second semester is to focus your effort mostly on Pharm, its a hard class, you have a lot of information to memorize, and the exams are about having all that information memorized. Med/Surg is more about comprehending the information, but is a 100 times more straightforward than anything in fundamentals. You have diseases, you see what they are, and what a nurse does about them; so is straightforward.
Clinicals are more hands on and a big improvement over fundamentals. You are gonna be giving medications, starting IVs, changing wound dressing, anything a real nurse does, except for blood hanging and narcotics. Sometimes you have to be on top of your preceptor and ask for them to let you do things.
* Have you ever gotten a rotten professor that jeopardized you passing a class, and what did you do about it (were you able to switch professors in the beginning)?
* How is the last semester like with the exit HESI exam and when are you planning on taking the NCLEX?
* Do you have any job offers already? Are you planning on going straight to the RN-BSN prog? I ask because I plan on working first for a good 6 months before I start even thinking of taking one or two BSN classes.
* Where are you looking to start working first?
* Any tips on passing future classes, especially pharm and med-surg? How should I approach studying in the second semester?
1. I never got a bad professor (got lucky, changed classes and sequence when I got one with bad reviews) But my classmates in the other sequence got a horrible professor who find satisfaction in failing her students. This was for Advanced Med/Surg on the last semester. I cant say her name because of the terms of service of the forums but it is similar to the color of normal poop (hint). The students who were used to get 96 & 98 were getting 82 & 84, so you can imagine what the rest of the class was getting. It was really stressful for them. But luckily there aren't many professors like that.
They dont show the names till the day before class, when they do show run and try to change classes, there may still be hope.
2. The last semester is intense, its only 1 class, advanced Med/Surg with clinicals; but man that class is rough, its a lot of information in a short amount of time, but it can be done. After that you then go into Leadership class, the class is like whatever, some papers, and 2 days of 12hrs clinicals. During this time you have to prepare for the HESI, the best recommendation is to use the Saunders book and do a loooooot of practice questions. The Exit HESI has a lot of prioritization questions and who would you assign a patient to, like lpn, cna, RN new grad, etc.
The exit exam is weird in that is straightforward , but really hard. It covers a lot of safety type questions.
I plan to take my NCLEX right away, like in a month and half, so sometime in June.
3. I dont have offers yet but I have already received some calls to schedule interviews. However this has been only from places outside South Florida, Orlando is way more New Grad friendly. Also many other states outside Florida are welcoming to new grads, and some hire them straight into specialties.
I plan on doing the RN-BSN right away, before I cool off too much. But if you wait its OK, its not a big deal, just apply and get the ball rolling.
4. I wanna work into ER or ICU, so I am trying for those positions first. I dont like Med/Surg, I realized that when I did my clinicals, I fell in love with the ER during my Leadership Rotation and I did full 12 hrs shifts 2 days a week; it was awesome. ICU because its really intense too and puts your brain to work.
5. For future classes my best advise its to keep doing whatever has been working for you so far. Pharm is about memorization, you need to learn the classes (types of medications) and prototypes ( main drug in the class). Focus on pharm, med surg is a bit more simpler to be honest. You learn disease processes and the nursing interventions for them; and of course the medications that should be given. Enjoy your time off between semesters, is helpful to recharge batteries LOL.
1. I never got a bad professor (got lucky, changed classes and sequence when I got one with bad reviews) But my classmates in the other sequence got a horrible professor who find satisfaction in failing her students. This was for Advanced Med/Surg on the last semester. I cant say her name because of the terms of service of the forums but it is similar to the color of normal poop (hint). The students who were used to get 96 & 98 were getting 82 & 84, so you can imagine what the rest of the class was getting. It was really stressful for them. But luckily there aren't many professors like that.
They dont show the names till the day before class, when they do show run and try to change classes, there may still be hope.
2. The last semester is intense, its only 1 class, advanced Med/Surg with clinicals; but man that class is rough, its a lot of information in a short amount of time, but it can be done. After that you then go into Leadership class, the class is like whatever, some papers, and 2 days of 12hrs clinicals. During this time you have to prepare for the HESI, the best recommendation is to use the Saunders book and do a loooooot of practice questions. The Exit HESI has a lot of prioritization questions and who would you assign a patient to, like lpn, cna, RN new grad, etc.
The exit exam is weird in that is straightforward , but really hard. It covers a lot of safety type questions.
I plan to take my NCLEX right away, like in a month and half, so sometime in June.
3. I dont have offers yet but I have already received some calls to schedule interviews. However this has been only from places outside South Florida, Orlando is way more New Grad friendly. Also many other states outside Florida are welcoming to new grads, and some hire them straight into specialties.
I plan on doing the RN-BSN right away, before I cool off too much. But if you wait its OK, its not a big deal, just apply and get the ball rolling.
4. I wanna work into ER or ICU, so I am trying for those positions first. I dont like Med/Surg, I realized that when I did my clinicals, I fell in love with the ER during my Leadership Rotation and I did full 12 hrs shifts 2 days a week; it was awesome. ICU because its really intense too and puts your brain to work.
5. For future classes my best advise its to keep doing whatever has been working for you so far. Pharm is about memorization, you need to learn the classes (types of medications) and prototypes ( main drug in the class). Focus on pharm, med surg is a bit more simpler to be honest. You learn disease processes and the nursing interventions for them; and of course the medications that should be given. Enjoy your time off between semesters, is helpful to recharge batteries LOL.
Thanks so much for the insight, goodluck with your future endeavors
Hey , congrats on your acceptance , I'm hoping to get in this fall 2016 , do you think a 3.9 sience GPA and 72% on the HESI is good enough , I'm nervous
I know ppl that got in with that range, hopefully you get in, best wishes : )
Hey guys... this is my first post and reason behind me writing here is because I have no one else to turn to save an MDC Nursing school advisor.
Here goes...
I graduated FIU in 2009 with a BA in Psychology and minors in military history. At the same time I commissioned in the armed forces as a 2LT. Unfortunately, my cum GPA was an overall 2.3 with several credits. I did well in my science courses though, Getting an A in Micro and Fund. of Physiology amongst other courses. I was the type of student that did amazing in difficult courses, terrible in the easy ones (funny right?).
I know I am a much better student than that, however, I used to have many issues at home (see abusive) and not enough focus/maturity in college.
Working in the medical field has always been a passion in my life and I do accept my past errors, immaturity, and the other issues that have caused my lack of importance in my grades.
But..here I am, seven years later, a Logistics captain now in the reserves (was active duty), married and ready to start a new episode in my life and career.
I have matured beyond comprehension now and moved out of that house. I'm ready to start anew, and with hope, can do that with a Nursing degree.
What are my chances I can do a comeback? Take my prereqs and ace them? Does MDC or other programs look at my previous bachelor's cum GPA? If so, do I even try to get into the programs? I know if the do I don't have hope with the massive amount of credits I already have.
I don't need to worry about tuition since I have the Post 9-11 GI Bill.
Well that's my story, please let me know what you all think.
Hey Javielee1 it's great that you don't wanna give up and are ready to get back to it! I think you should meet with an advisor to get all the facts and have them evaluate your transcript. From my understanding, it seems like MDC bases their admissions on their pre-req science GPA and the entrance exam (but again, meet with an advisor to confirm). Their are some other schools who do the same and then their are some who take you cumulative GPA into consideration. If I were you, I'd meet with an advisor to see if any of your old classes still count and make sure I do great on all other pre-reqs and the entrance exam and apply.
You need atleast a 2.5 GPA, It's very competitive but with a high enough entrance exam it might be possible. In anycase you could complete all the prereqs in a year, but ask an advisor to be sure.
Good afternoon Phaint, I see that you are a student at MDC Medical in the part time program. I know you posted a while ago but I was wondering if you could more or less tell me how the part time schedule is. I work at mount Sinai hospital and I really would need a program where i can take classes afternoon or weekends. Thanks in advance
Eru Ilúvatar
576 Posts
I cried when I saw my score after taking the Fundamentals HESI, I couldnt believe I passed with a 1020, I felt I was doing horrible throughout the whole test. I hugged my professor because of the emotion LOL