First semester cost for those other future students that are wondering what the cost is.... it's about $1500.
They require you to buy a bag with several kits you'll need for nursing. Its about $128.
Also, this is the same as other schools I've visited, however, for those of you that are curious.... failing 2 classes will get you out of the program. Also, if you fail one class you have to skip the next semester and ONLY take that 1 class and PASS in order to continue the program.
On registration day, they open at 8am. People were waiting there since 7am in line to ensure they got the classes they wanted (sequence 1 or 2). Make sure you get there early. Some people actually were able to register online, and some were not. I've seen some inquiries about what sequence 1 and 2 are. They give the left side of the room in orientation with one color paper (sequence 1) and the other side with another color paper (sequence 2). The sequences are different teachers and different times. Sequence 1 you get Thursday off (for now) and Sequence 2 I wasn't able to see. Its so that you have some choices of teachers and some options with times but regardless of which one you choose the schedule never overlaps.
The cost of the books is about $250.
Take Micro Lab AND Psychology before the start of the program. They have a Baptist Scholarship that requires these classes.
I made the mistake of not taking the classes since I didn't know about this program. Don't make the same mistake.
When you graduate, if you pass NCLEX within 6 months MDC (for now) will reimburse you $200! That's awesome encouragement
Oh! And try to keep your books because before you graduate (make sure to apply for graduation before your last semester starts or you won't be able to graduate regardless of passing your classes) you are required to take the HESI. It's basically confirming that you learned something before they release you. You need to pass it to graduate. If you give up your book you can't review
Also, starting Jan 2018 they will be breaking ground at the parking across the street to build a large parking garage for us! YEY! The bad this is that we don't know when it will be finished. I've decided to take the Metro Rail instead. There are three exits. Santa Clara you need to walk like 2 blocks. The Civic Center you'll need to walk through Jackson Memorial Hospital. CULMER exit is the way to go. Apparently, MDC has a trolley that takes you to MDC !!! The monthly student pass that is available at the bookstore is about $60. Parking if you will be parking at the station near your house is about $12.
They use pink scantrons. Sold at the bookstore for about $1.50 for. Make sure NOT to write your name on all of them. The professors asked that we not write our names on them.
Get your I.D at the medical campus. They give you a bonus thick hard plastic name tag that other campuses do not give. I learned this the hard way . But if you are a prior student, but your cover for about $2 at the bookstore. It's worth getting. It's very durable.
You don't need white shoes for school. Just use regular sneakers. You need white shoes for CLINICALS! You can wear a sweater in class but not in CLINICALS so use one of those Under Armor (white plain) shirts under your white clinical shirt.
Don't wait for the Fundamentals professor or any professor for that matter, to email you the syllabus until 2-3 days prior to the first day of school. Remember, they are on vacation too and everyone deserves a break! For Fundamentals, read chapters 1-7. For Pharmacology the syllabus said to read the first 3 chapters.
Don't forget to show a paid receipt of your schedule to get your Parking Decal. Take your ID and car registration too! Also, if you are on a payment plan, they will make you log in to your phone and show that you have a HOLD on your account for pmt Nelnet plan in order to get your tag.
Uniforms at Blue Angels are affordable. I bought mine at the bookstore, however, because the ones at Blue Angels (across from MDC) had a different shade of green on their bottoms than their top. I wasn't too fond of the look but it appears that there were quite a few students that purchased their uniforms there since you see them walking the halls with mismatched scrubs
I hope this helps everyone that is nervous and searching for answers. I wanted to pass the information along Good Luck everyone.
Thank you MOONNightNURSE! Lots of tips in that answer!
I wish you SUCCESS on this new job offer! I know you'll do well. In my opinion you'll end up flirting with teaching later on, as you seem to have a passion for helping people to succeed. Best of luck and keep letting us know about your journey!
Just fyi....my friend just started her last semester in MDC and she just called to say that there is NO MORE HESI. They are using ATI now.
Wanted to thank you for all the AMAZING info you posted on here. I think I literally saved EVERYTHING LOL. I went thru every single page and can’t Ever thank you enough.
I was going to be applying to apply to Spring 2020 but then had to push to Fall 2020 but have already started to look at everything I need.
The ATI TEAS is going to be effective of Fall 2020 and kind of “scares me” bc we call advisement and at first they wouldn’t even confirm.
Wanted to thank you for all the AMAZING info you posted on here. I think I literally saved EVERYTHING LOL. I went thru every single page and can’t Ever thank you enough.
I was going to be applying to apply to Spring 2020 but then had to push to Fall 2020 but have already started to look at everything I need.
The ATI TEAS is going to be effective of Fall 2020 and kind of “scares me” bc we call advisement and at first they wouldn’t even confirm.
You are very welcome ? I’m glad it helped :). TEAS is much better than HESI so you should be fine. The HESI in my opinion was a joke. I’m glad they steered away from it.
My friend who is in Leadership right now said the TEAS is much better. I’ve been able to see some of her practice questions and it more accurately portrays the NCLEX. The HESI questions did not.
You are very welcome ? I’m glad it helped :). TEAS is much better than HESI so you should be fine. The HESI in my opinion was a joke. I’m glad they steered away from it.
My friend who is in Leadership right now said the Teas is much better. I’ve been able to see some of her practice questions and it more accurately portrays the NCLEX. The HESI questions did not.
I’m getting mixed opinions but honestly just am diving in. I only plan on applying to MDC so gotta give it my best. Haven’t heard much nice things about BC so...
I have a question, what were/are your go to shoes? I’m planning on taking advantage of Black Friday to buy items like: shoes, maybe stethoscope, def long sleeve white shirts (bc I’m always cold).
I honestly just bought regular white tennis shoes. And at the hospital you’ll see most of the nurses are wearing tennis shoes too. Just make sure target are comfortable and all white (MDC doesn’t like any color on them)
Here you are ladies! I had (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) for AMS but school putted all 4 or 5 classes together in a big class room (3101). (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME), (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) and (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME) were tough our class. It was tough but you guys will be fine as we are ? GOOD LUCK!
Update: Out of my group I am the least experienced and the only one with a job. Volunteer hours will really bump up your resume. It makes it more attractive. Make sure to have a good Linkedin. The recruiters from the hospital actually do look at it. Its not easy finding a job. Take your test as soon as you can and start applying asap. Dont wait. In a few months it will be a year since we graduated and we will be less attractive since we have been out of school for so long. One advice....don't wait for a particular position you are holding out for. It's unrealistic considering WE are the ones begging for a job. Remember, hospitals right now have the opportunity to pick out of a huge amount of candidates. I know of someone who lost an opportunity because they were going for something else and lost out. It may be best when it happens, because God has a way of working in mysterious ways, but working and getting through the first 2-3 years is a good goal.
Mount Sinai has 3 year contracts
HCA contracts are usually about 2 years. I hear the pay was increased during the internship program.
Jackson has a residency program as well BUT it is highly sought out and they dont interview many candidates.
Make sure to apply to many positions
DaVita, Tenet (Hialeah, Palmetto, North Shore), HCA (Kendall, Mercy, Aventura, Plantation, Westside, etc), Mount Sinai, Jackson, University of Miami (residency is only for hires w/ Bachelors), Nicklaus Hospital, Joe DiMaggio, Memorial Hospitals, Baptist (only hires w/ Bachelors unless you are connected or were a CNA or LPN with them), Cleveland Clinic, Veteran Affairs, Broward Hospital, Florida Dept of Health, Prison (https://www.bop.gov/jobs/positions/index.jsp?p=Registered Nurse) , Jackson Long Term Care, Villa Maria, Miami Jewish, Larkin, Holy Cross,
Nursing Homes: Victoria Rehabilitation, Coral Gables Nursing, etc....You can go online and find them. There are a lot. But from what Ive heard new nurses have felt overwhelmed in nursing homes as a new nurse.
Guys! Make sure you are using this to do notes for your clinicals. They help you soooo much when you are working!! I wish someone would have told me to use this in clinicals.
Update to my 5 friends who passed the NCLEX last September.....still no job. Some are in home health but nothing in the hospital yet. Highly recommend you search for a job even before you take your NCLEX. It’s tough out there! Also!! Please don’t be so picky. Most people are wanting ICU or ER right out of school. Although some people get it, if you wait for it you’ll be struggling with finding a job afterwards. Keep in mind that the more you wait, the more students are graduating and becoming your next competition. The newer graduates have the information fresh in their head. The more you wait, the more difficult it will be to find a job.
So a little about how it has been going. My friends still do not have jobs. Almost a year in and nothing. A lot of the others do but there are many that dont. A coworker of mine that graduated from Nova and another from UM also have friends that even graduated prior to May 2019 that do not have jobs. It's tough out there guys. At least in South Florida. It's tough. Dont be too picky about where you are going. Work from the bottom up and you'll eventually get to where you really want to be.
The COVID crisis has been tough. The hours are being cut and the jobs being offered are for experienced nurses.
Some of my friends went to a career fair and were told by HCA that since they are nearing their graduation date, they wouldn't qualify for the StaRN program.
Tenet offers jobs, but since they don't have an internship or residency they require you to take the advanced telemetry course with nursing unlimited. They offer 28/h but it depends.
HCA starts you off at 23. After the 3 months of training you stay at that amount for 90 days, then they can increase it to 26. They offer tuition reimbursement (you have to extend the contract for 2 more years from the date that they pay you which is after the classes have been passed but it is a great benefit), they also offer to help with your school loans. They are a great company.
I do have to tell you it is SOOOO different than nursing school. The amount of lab values is overwhelming. The studying never stops. I study on the way to work listening to videos via bluetooth in the car and on the way back home.
The amount of patients is a bit overwhelming. You do get used to it though. As you learn more skills they seem much easier and the next time you need to do them its faster and more efficient. I feel dumb until the days come that I don't and then the next day you feel dumb again. You get frustrated and feel like you made a mistake for choosing nursing and then you go back to having that proud moment when you make someone feel more comfortable or you solve a problem by knowing what the patient needs and knowing what to ask the doctor. You'll cry. Not initially....but you'll cry. It took me being on my own for 4 months until I did break down. Just keep you head up, ask a lot of questions and know you are not alone.
. But if you are a prior student, but your cover for about $2 at the bookstore. It's worth getting. It's very durable.
imperalv
33 Posts
Thank you MOONNightNURSE! Lots of tips in that answer!
I wish you SUCCESS on this new job offer! I know you'll do well. In my opinion you'll end up flirting with teaching later on, as you seem to have a passion for helping people to succeed. Best of luck and keep letting us know about your journey!