Published
I have applied to Nassau Community College's Nursing Program for the third and final time. I have been declined two other times and if I get denied a third time I will not apply again. It is getting a little embarrassing that I keep on getting declined.
Their lose is another school's gain...
Hi Risgirl, can you tell me a little bit about the evening program at NCC? I am currently waiting to hear back from them as to whether or not I got accepted. I am a current NCC student so hopefully I will make it. I just hear so many stories about the schedule, hours, etc. If you can give me any information, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
The night program at NCC - let's start with one of the things I like the most...if you get into the evening program you will be with the same group of people for all 4 semesters (there are 36 of us) and you're guaranteed a seat so you don't have to rush out to register each semester. It's definitely good to have a support system in your other classmates so when you are freaking out (which will happen at some point) you have someone who understands to talk you down from the ledge!
It's a tough program if you are working full time, I'm not going to lie about that. I was working Mon-Fri 40 hours in a corporate setting from the start in September until 2 weeks ago when I finally gave up the job. Between class and clinical it's about 20 hours/week (Mon-Thurs). The first semester clinical is tough because it's one LONG night (until almost midnight). From the second semester on we have 2 clinical nights (Mon& Tues) so we're only there until about 10:30ish (give or take). There is a TON of reading to get done and if you're not organized you'll fall behind and it's hard to catch back up. I've heard from other students that the 2nd semester is the hardest because there is so much of the pathophysiology to learn and that it actually gets a little easier from that standpoint in the second year (I hope they're right!).
The most important thing to know when you get into the program is that the instructors are tough and don't take anything lightly. They genuinely care about the students, and helping us to become the best nurses possible, but that means you HAVE to show up on time (which in their book means early), you MUST have all your assignments done on time (unless something crazy happens and you contact them ahead of time to get a pass to hand it in late) and you ALWAYS need to have your pre-clinical work done or they may send you home! They know everyone is working, but in their book, Nursing School must be your priority no "ifs, ands or buts"!
All that being said, I LOVE what I'm doing now and all the headaches, stress and late nights of studying are definitely worth it!!
I will try to list as many as I can think of, but I don't know all of them and I don't know if they change each semester.
Plainview
Glen Cove
Winthrop
South Nassau
New Island
Franklin
Syosset
Huntington
Mercy
North Shore
They will assign you on your first semester and you can see if someone will switch with you if your hospital is far away and they have one closer. If you're in the evening program there is no choice because there's only one group. You may also change hospitals mid semester depending on what rounds you are doing once you get to your second year.
No worries about the questions - these are all important things when you're trying to plan!! Trust me I understand
The first semester clinicals are on Thursdays 5:00-11:45, after that clinicals are on Mondays and Tuesdays 5:00-10:30 or 11:00 (depends on what semester you're in). We were in Plainview Hospital for the first semester and we're there again this semester for our clinicals. Originally they told us that this semester was going to be at Winthrop, but something changed so we're back at Plainview. In the fall we're supposed to be split between Winthrop (for peds) and South Nassau (for psych) so if nothing changes we'll be in two different hospitals next semester.
I hope that helps!
Risgirl
84 Posts
I am in my second semester of the program at NCC and don't worry, plenty of my colleagues are from outside of Nassau. It's true you do get extra "points" for being a Nassau resident, but you also get points for your GPA, and having already taken at least 12 credits at NCC (which I did not). I don't remember the exact breakdown of their points scale for admission, but if you applied for the day program they take a lot of students. I got into the evening program and there are only 36 of us (and I didn't have all the "points" - I was shy by 1 or 2).
I just checked my acceptance letter and it was dated April 22, 2009 so hopefully you'll hear soon!! GOOD LUCK!!