NET for OCC ADN Program

the net tests for basic math and english skills. there is a lot of info on it in the student sections here and online. the score you get doesn't matter at this point but if you want to do well you can buy books or check online.

the ns school makes your schedule. for pharm in the spring they will send you a form and you can pick your 1st and 2nd choice times. this is the only class you will be able to do this for. the rest are picked for you.

foundations is hard, as to be expected with any class worth 7 cr. it's hard because it's brand new material. not very similar to the things you learned with prereqs, it's nursing stuff. additionally, it has a lab built in which is very stressful. as you will have many check-offs that you will have to pass. there is also 2 clinicals one in long-term and the other in acute. care plans will be due for these clinicals. additionally, there are A LOT of tests and assignments due between lab, clinical and theory.

as far as the packet with additional information, i believe you get that when you go to the orientation meeting. info on the time of the meeting will be mailed to you.

Thank you so much for the info! Do we take the NET before we start the program in the Fall? I really appreciate you answering all of my questions :)

yes, you take it before school in the fall. you'll get info on it soon either by mail/at the meeting. you'll prob take in spring/summer.

Last year we signed up for the NET test at orientation which was in June and the testing dates were spread out on different days and times the two or three weeks after orientation. I wouldn't stress out about it because it doesn't really matter, but you do have to keep a copy of your scores in a portfolio that you update as you go through the program.

I would also HIGHLY suggest taking Pharm this spring/summer because foundations in the fall is hard and can be very overwhelming. Pharm is a quick 7 week class if you take it in the spring and it's only one day a week for 3 hours. It was very nice to get it done and out of the way. Good luck to all of you and if you have any other questions feel free to ask me! :)

Thank you Sarey32-I appreciate you being open to more questions-because I'll probably have alot!!!

I am in the Foundations of Nursing class right now. I'm in the LPN program but the class is exactly the same as for the ADN. We had Pharm the first 7 weeks separate and now Foundations by itself. I can tell you I cannot even imagine taking them together. As the others have said, Foundations is a lot of work. Not difficult, but lots of reading, quizzes for Lab and lecture, plus the skills checkoffs, papers due, care plans, Clinicals, etc. Definitely try to do Pharm in the summer. The 7 weeks goes by fast but it does require a lot of studying if you aren't familiar with drugs.

Don't stress about the NET either. Google it online and you can get some free sample tests. I looked at a few the day before the NET and did fine. It's basic math like you did on the math entry test to get into the program, basic reading comprehension, and some general science questions. Maybe just brush up on some anatomy and Biology terms for that. Nothing real difficult. Your grade does not count for anything on the NET at OCC. It just gives you an idea of your strengths and weaknesses. For LPN we had the NET test the same day as our orinetation but you will get a packet of info explaining all that. They will also tell you where to go for Drug testing and everything else you need to do. I know you're excited and want answers to everything. I was the same way. Be patient and soon enough they will send you all the info answering your questions. At orientation they will give you an idea of your schedule including your assignments and dates due but it's very confusing until you are actually in the class.

I must get to my studying. As an example, I have a skills checkoff tomorrow on vital signs and a quiz plus another quiz on Friday. And that is just for one class.

Good Luck!

Sarey and a damsel....were you guys just as anxious and paranoid at the same time as us? I feel like I'm expecting a child and this time I'm misssing the "what to expect when expecting" book.:wink2: Maybe alot of these questions get answered from the school but it is so nice of you guys to stil be there for us newbies. The honesty and advice is so valuable to us. Now if only someone who has been through the program would stay at the school and tutor or have study groups that would be awsome!!!! But go figure after completion of the program you guys go on to be nurses! LOL Thanks again to dedication and support! And anyone who is starting this summer...I'm all about group study. There are about 3 or 4 of us trying to connect for the summer classes.

"akarn And anyone who is starting this summer...I'm all about group study. There are about 3 or 4 of us trying to connect for the summer classes"

are you doing accelerated or traditional?! if you are doing traditional than please let me in on your study group!! I really would like to be in one.

AND YES we appreciate all the answers to our questions. Thank you all SO much.

any mcc nursing students?

I am doing the traditional program. I have 3 little ones at home and they need me too...I hope someone will be at the asc to give additional help over the summer also. I'll keep the posting going to let ya know when we get our class schedules for the first semester.

"Sarey and a damsel....were you guys just as anxious and paranoid at the same time as us? I feel like I'm expecting a child and this time I'm misssing the "what to expect when expecting" book."

I can't even believe that my first year is one class away from being over! It went by so fast! I remember feeling so excited, nervous, and scared about starting nursing school! I still get like that at the beginning of every new class. Many of your questions will be answered when you get your info. packet in the mail and go to orientation. Just remember to be patient because there's a lot of information that they need to get to a lot of people and you can really stress yourself out waiting for them for what seems like forever. Also, getting in some type of a study group has really worked for me this last year. You won't be able to stick with the same one because you get a whole new group of classmates when your classes switch, but just make sure that you introduce yourself if you don't know a lot of people and get a group going pretty fast. I would also recommend getting some type of recorder for lecture b/c they are usually 3-4 hours long and you miss a lot of stuff that the instructor says when your trying to fill in your own notes. I hope this helps somewhat and I'm really excited for all of you!

Sarey and a damsel....were you guys just as anxious and paranoid at the same time as us? I feel like I'm expecting a child and this time I'm misssing the "what to expect when expecting" book.:wink2: Maybe alot of these questions get answered from the school but it is so nice of you guys to stil be there for us newbies. The honesty and advice is so valuable to us. Now if only someone who has been through the program would stay at the school and tutor or have study groups that would be awsome!!!! But go figure after completion of the program you guys go on to be nurses! LOL Thanks again to dedication and support! And anyone who is starting this summer...I'm all about group study. There are about 3 or 4 of us trying to connect for the summer classes.

Yeah, your anxiety and paranoia is a precursor to a life changing experience. The parts of foundations I remember being difficult was getting through your baseline assessment checkoff without running out of time and doing your very first care plan. The one bit of advice I'd give is to NOT buy the crappy stethoscope they recommend. It'll be fine for doing your vitals for checkoffs but during clinicals you'll love having a better scope for bowel/lung sounds. You CAN hear everything with the cheapo, but it's a lot easier with a moderately priced scope. As far as care plans go, use the search function here and seek out advice from the user daytonite. She's probably gotten literally hundreds of students through their care plans and seeing how she rationalizes through gets you thinking with your 'nursing brain'. Also, take the time in pharm to keep well-organized notes. You probably won't need it so much to get through the class but you will refer to the material again....and again...and again.