Miami Dade College

akspudus · Nov 1, 2008

I would recommend studying her PowerPoints. Listening very intently during her lectures. Take good notes. Get a med/surg review and rationales book and study each applicable sections just before each exam.

Make sure you understand the disease processes...how they are going to effect the patient..and then applying the nursing process to the situation. Don't be afraid to ask her questions....don't be afraid to study. She gives study guides for each exam...make sure you spend the time to use them.

BTW...there were two professors that taught med/surg when I went through. The other class was miserable and didn't have nearly the grades we had in our class. Also, quite a few of them suffered later on in nursing school...mainly because they didn't get that good foundation.

akspudus

QLG23 · Nov 5, 2008

Hey Everyone!

My orientation is on Thursday and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what i should wear/bring? Thanks!

:heartbeat

SURPR1Z3 · Nov 5, 2008

Hello everyone,

I am graduating FIU Dec. '08 with a BA in Education, but I'm having a change of heart wanting to pursue a career in nursing. I am a bit confused as to the GPA MDC looks at for admittance to the AO program. I spoke to an advisor from the medical campus who said that they only look at my MDC GPA and not my Bachelors GPA from FIU. I have only taken 5 classes at MDC only because I was transferring from Nova to FIU and missed the FIU deadline. My grades at Nova weren't too great due to my consumption into a baseball scholarship I had received, so my CUM GPA for MDC is a 3.2 because of my transfer credits. I currently have a 3.62 CUM at FIU, not including my classes from this semester, and the bulk of my credits (92) have been taken at FIU. I want to know if it is correct what the advisor told me. I do not believe the advisor was on the right page to be honest, but there were no other advisors to speak to. If anyone can clarify or help me out in anyway i would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

Nursingforever · Nov 5, 2008

Hello everybody,,, I need information about Marie Etienne.... I am really scared. She will be my prof. for med-surg and skills the next second semester. Any advice???? Thanks....

Jessica1024 · Nov 5, 2008

There are some tips on her above. I asked the same question. see you next semester?

Nursingforever · Nov 5, 2008

Thanks butterflyyessy... We are in the same boat.... If other people did it, why not us??? I am also with ponce. I love her, I love her class,, and I am passing with B. It is my favorite class in this first semester..

Thank you again..

QLG23 · Nov 5, 2008

Hey SURPR1Z3,

I am starting the Accelerated Nursing Program this Spring and what the advisor told you is correct. They do only look at your GPA from Miami Dade. For example, I have a Bachelors degree from another institution but they did not look at the GPA, only my Miami Dade GPA which is a 4.0 Thank God! LOL. Although I'm new at this i would be glad to help if you have any other questions.

:heartbeat

Jessica1024 · Nov 5, 2008

I like Ponce, but it is not my fav class! I find the material...mostly boring. I am also passing with a B which is scary because to be honest I do not believe it will get any easier then this. Can you imagine next semester? We are going to be clawing for an escape. Between Pharm, and Med Surg....scary.

akspudus · Nov 8, 2008

Hello everybody,,, I need information about Marie Etienne.... I am really scared. She will be my prof. for med-surg and skills the next second semester. Any advice???? Thanks....

I had her for Assessment and med/surg. She is a challenge as are all professors in nursing school...but she gives you all sorts of study materials, powerpoints, study guides for exams..etc..etc. Her goal is to teach you the material...not have a class full of A's. If you have questions...ask. If you don't get them answered in class, schedule a meeting with her. She is very approachable.

I studied my @ss off, worked hard and got earned an A in both classes I took from her.

Good luck.

akspudus

akspudus · Nov 8, 2008

I like Ponce, but it is not my fav class! I find the material...mostly boring. I am also passing with a B which is scary because to be honest I do not believe it will get any easier then this. Can you imagine next semester? We are going to be clawing for an escape. Between Pharm, and Med Surg....scary.

Best piece advice that I got about med/surg...and int was from Professor Ponce. If you want to have the best chance of Acing med/surg...get the book Medical-Surgical made Incredibly Easy. During the break between semester, read the pathophysiological sections in each chapter. Don't bother with the nursing care...just the patho. Get an brief understanding for the various disease processes you will encounter in med/surg. Make sure you get in the habit of looking up terminology. Words like dysmenorrhea or hypercapnia or thrombocytopenia...learn how to pick those words apart so that when you get stumped by one, you can sort of get a clue.

Get a review and rationale book. Study your ATI book.

And oh yeah...that great pathophysio understanding will help you a lot in pharm as well. But, make sure you understand the autonomic nervous system. Learn the receptors for both sides of the system and what they control.

Don't be afraid...you can DO IT!!

Hope this helps.

akspudus

Jessica1024 · Nov 8, 2008

Sounds like a hand full. I have to admit that even this first semester is very easy material and I still manage to make only Bs. Can you imagine when everything gets hard. In fact a lot of people are actually not passing the class. The good thing is that we still have two test and people still have time to boost that grade up. I am looking forward to Med surg and yet I am not looking forward at the same time. Nursing is wonderful and scary at the same time. I just hope next semester is bearable. I feel as if I am in complete overload all the time, and to be honest I am tired, and stressed out to my fullest. I am very nervous about the critical thinking exam( the care plan). Hopefully I will do good. After all this has been a hard semester, but it has been better then I thought and I have been able to manage very well. I hardly study on the weekends ( I have two small kids) and I am still able to relax sometimes.

Anyone else happy with how nursing school is going?

Jessica1024 · Nov 14, 2008

Did a practice critical thinking and I actually did so much better then I thought. I passed one side and failed the other, but where I failed, it was things that I know I could do. The goals were all met, and that was super important for me. I really like my professors.

Actually a lot of students complain about Ponce for fundamentals, but I think she is WONDERFUL. Like I said before, it is not my fav subject, but she is intereasting to hear in class, she always says little stories, and relates it to herself, keeps the three hour lecture intereasting.

I also love that she is very by the book. She really wants to make good nurses out of the students, and she is very straight forward.

I don't mind, I think she does a wonderful job with the powerpoints, and so far what I have found in nursing is that if you work hard you will pass. Even if it is with a B or a C. It takes a lot of individual work, and little motivation from the teachers. I have been blessed with ALL the professors this semester. I really feel that MDC has a good program. I really am happy there. Frustrated sometimes, but happy.

Sometimes I think these blogs are a diary,but it really helps me to get by and look forward to another day. If I can just write about and see the good, then I am fine. Nursing school is hard, but so far it has been well worth it. I am happy with my progress, and happy that I am learning a lot.