NVCC Fall 2008

One requires a certain CPR class-- Healthcare for providers I believe, and they are not always held. And they are good for two years! And always good to know/or refresh.

Healthcare Provider Program CPR/BLS

http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/continuing/oc.asp for the NVCC ones.

Thank you for your prompt reply. I did call the nursing department earlier today and she said that it was against school policy to tell me exactly where I stand on the list. I guess I have no other choice, but to wait. I'm mainly concerning b/c I haven't taken a CPR class yet b/c I don't want to take yet w/o knowing for sure that I'm in the program. However, If I do get in "hopefully" I'll feel rushed to get everything done before classes start.

Thanks for your help. I probably will register for a CPR class just in case.

Probably best to. if you do get accepted, one has to have the CPR prior to start of clinicals which is about 6 weeks after course start. At least thats the way it was for us last yr.

What about the other pathways- the online nursing pathways that starts in January or the accelerated pathway, were those slots also filled up? It seems odd, the dept will not tell you where you are on the list, when other university nursing dept tell their wait list students their status (?) My cousin was on the wait list at her college, she was number 231 (yes, 230 people ahead of her.) Have you thought about the Respiratory Therapy Program?

Flames, you have been extremely helpful in providing us with additional information. Thank You!

What about the other pathways- the online nursing pathways that starts in January or the accelerated pathway, were those slots also filled up? It seems odd, the dept will not tell you where you are on the list, when other university nursing dept tell their wait list students their status (?) My cousin was on the wait list at her college, she was number 231 (yes, 230 people ahead of her.) Have you thought about the Respiratory Therapy Program?

Keep in mind this is the first year of the program being competitive. Hopefully things will improve in the near future. last year they took ALL applications, and that was around 250 students.

Flames, you have been extremely helpful in providing us with additional information. Thank You!

I try. helps in my procrastination from studying,lol

For the first semester the "big" exam many seem to have problems with is the electrolyte exam, which for us was test 5. We had 6 exams, plus a final exam, which is a total of 7 exams. those 6 exams = 70% of your mark, and the final the remaining 30%. Of course this was for last year, could al be different this year. I do know your not using Ziggy as one of your text books. Many last yr hated it, I didn't mind it, was a tad harder to follow at times. As I have stated before, the first semester, the questions are not super easy, but one doesn't have to know many pieces of the puzzle to answer them. As the second semester progresses, one requires to know more of the puzzle to answer the questions, and one really has to do their reading. for example they may pick a drug that isn't used that common, just to see if you are doing the reading.

Another good investment is a Nursing care plan book. Its not a must have. One can sign them out from the MEC libray, but they only have a few copies. In your clinicals, depending on the instructor, you will have to do at least 1 per clinical. You do 2 clinical sites per semester, switching half way through the semester. I purchased the Nursing care Plan, nursing diagnosis and interventions, 6th edition, Gulanick/Myers, ISBN # 9780323039543 or 0323039545. One can look on amazon.com, ebay or what i prefer half.com which is owned by ebay,but there is no auction, you buy it now. I buy most of my books from half.com. Check your local libraries as well for nursing diagnosis books, there are many. its not a must have, but can make your life a bit easier. Any of the Reviews and Rationales books are great as well that correspond to what topic your on. They have a NCLEX one that has covers many areas,and many students say that helps a lot. One can spend a lot of $$$$ on books,lol Best of luck

More tidbits of info:

One can buy those medical clipboards. Not a must have, but they have lots of information on them, that one can look over during downtime on clinicals. Yes ur busy,but their are quiet times. Plus always good to keep some blank pages to keep notes on. Just dont put clients name on it, don't want a HIPPA infraction. Plus it has a calculator at the top of it. If ya goto EBAY and type in Medical clipboard, pr clipboard calculator,you will find a few. plus there is a list they will hand out at orientation, and its on their. Again, not a must have, and to be honest, not many students had them. I liked to put other documents on them,such as the currents week power point slides, so if i did have some down time, looked over them, so it came in handy. http://www.standris.com/medical_clipboard.cfm

As well during first year lab, you will (at least we did) have a drug administration exam. The lab instructors will give you a list of like 30 drugs and you have to know everything about them, BUT you can make up cheat cards and use them for the exam. so one can use ur drug book and make your own cards up, OR PURCHASE cards. I purchased Nurses med deck 10th edition, ISBN # 080361456 or 9780803614567, its a time saver! Ur allowed "cheat" cards because in the hospital, one has the drug guide available to them. One should still know the drugs and use the cards as back up. take ur time and do it right.

Another good series are the "Made Incredibly Quick" series. They are pocket size and have lot of good info, and good for any down time to look over. One that I always keep in my pocket is "Nursing facts made incredibly quick, ISBN # 1582557403. They are around $25 at a bookstore, probably cheaper on ebay or half.com. Lot of handy facts and baseline figures. of course when it comes to info, your text book prevails.

If you get Culmore clinic in 2nd semester, clients ar 99% Spanish. That series has a Spanish one as well.

Another handy item is http://www.standris.com/medical_instruments_details.cfm#organizer Look for Organizer Set with Color Velcro Tabs. Has a nice pouch and velcro holder to hold the scissors,pen light, 3 color pen (all come with it) When going to a hospital setting, most of the time your not given a locker,SO bring the bare essentials into the hospital. I leave my wallet at HOME. In that pouch, it has a pocket, I put my school ID, drivers license, credit card and $20, rest stays at home!! I highly recommend you leave $$ jewelry at home.

Enough for tonight,lol Cheers

Hello,

I would like to say thanks to flames9. I am nervous about starting NVCC nursing program this Fall. I dreamed about it for two years, now I am a little scared. It is so different than general studies classes. Thank you for providing information. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Not to be able to pick convenient class time or location? I am not picky, I just have an hour drive to Springfield and family obligations. Now I won't go into a shock during orientation on July 29th. Flames9, you rock!

Better news for you 1st yr students. One can log on to blackboard and see the Fall 2008 class schedule (mind you there could still be changes to it) Log onto https://nvcc.my.vccs.edu/jsp/home.jsp, then click on VCCS SIS89: Student Information System then top right Class Search/Browse Catalog. Ensure you select 2008 FALL. top right blank line, put in NUR, then on line right below put in 111, and viola the NUR 111 fal lschedule comes up!

AND looks like a better deal for you. It appears they have combined CLS and lecture all into one class, the one you have on Monday, 1300-1730!! (ours was only 3 hrs then one had CLS another day) There is one on Friday,but thats for the accelerated program.

CLN = your clinicals, otherwords hospital

LAb is 3 hours,but I belive for us that was only the first 5 weeks. In those first 5 weeks we had NO clinicals. Once clinicals started, lab was shortened.

REGISTRATION DAY:

In your basket you should have LEC (lecture), CLN and a LAB. Those 3 will all be in your basket, before you hit the final submit button. If you only have 2 out of the 3 it will give you a big red X. One can have thier desired classes in the basket al ready to go, so when they take the lock off, you can quickly get ur classes, and believe me,the desired class times go fast, like less than a minute!! You can practise now selecting your classes, but it wont actually accept them. One wants a GREEN check mark, Ensure you do al lthe steps, there are 3 or 4 steps to sign up for the class. Some do not do all the steps, thus dont get the classes which they thought they did.

For your clinical, at orientation you will get a list that states what clinical your in, so when ur registering,ensure you select that class, otherwise you will get the big red X!!! Registering isnt that hard, but as you can imagine the majority of the students will be waiting by their computers for the lock to come off, so one has to be ready! As well ensure you have NO holds on your account. A simple overdue book, puts a hold on your account!! Back on the VCCS SIS8.9 homepage, top LEFT is STUDENT CENTER, click on that, and on that page, top right it states HOLDS, it just say "no holds" I got screwed as I had not updated my Greencard information with the school, so I was not a happy camper back in June,lol but it worked out. If ya have any questions about staff, PM me or Krenee. Hope I didnt confuse anyone, its really not that bad. And one can switch clinicals, but YOU have to find someone to switch with. They will explain that at orientation. On the 2nd floor, near the lab is a 1St yr student board, you can post your clinical switches their. Ensure your doing that math study package! I'm sure that those that have spent time on it, will find the exam very easy. Double check your work and READ the INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!! cheers