Ocean County Community College

I Just graduated from OCC One day a week online program in December. I graduated with the first class to go through the program, and to day 14 out of 14 of us have passed the NCLEX on the first try. It was a really hard program and took a lot of discipline and a strong study group to get through it. If anyone has any specific questions feel free to ask.

okay. here's the dirty little secret about OCC's nursing program.

YES, they do claim to have one of the highest % rate of students that graduate AND pass the NCLEX.

......here's the stats. OCC starts out with 90 students in the day program. The number of students that make it through and get pinned? 30-40.ish. So, 90 students start, 30'ish finish. 30 pass the test.

Yes, it's a good program, and it's hard and tough, and a lot of it is expected to be learned on your own. But the numbers that start the program vs the numbers that graduate are slightly different.

With that said, yes, they have a high ratio of students who graduate and then pass the NCLEX.

As for getting in, three pieces of advice.

1. Make sure you submit your letter of intent EVERY SEMESTER at least twice...mail back the one they send you, and then HAND DELIVER one letter in person. Avoids the chance of the letter getting lost, and you losing your spot on the "waiting list" (personal experience, hence the handing one in person)

2. In addition to getting on the waiting list for the program, get on the waiting list for Nutrition. It is very difficult to take more than your nursing classes- if you have to take it, however, try to take it with Nursing I. The more you can get out of the way, the better....which brings us to:

3. get all of your pre-req's out of the way. Don't take A&P or micro as a co-req, it really, really really makes things harder and adds to the stress level. If you are extremely good at time and stress management, then attempt it, but if all you have to worry about is the nursing program, it will be easier to get through.

I didn't mean to scare you- just keep at it and stay on top of things and you shouldnt' have any problems. Any "rumors" you hear, I wouldn't take it as fact until you 've talked to one of the professors or even the dean and they've confirmed it as such.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice mneumonic. I got into the program for the fall. I am taking Nutrition over the summer...wahoo...a summer class. I have Scholossbach for Nutrition and for Nursing I. I will be done with everything so I can concentrate on nursing. One problem, I have to be full time in order to stay insured under my parent's. I have no idea what I am going to take along with Nursing I. I am hoping I can take a class toward my BSN with Kean, but who knows....for those of you who are still waiting to get in....

Listen to mneumonic....

Don't attempt A&P with Nursing....that class is hard enough by itself!

Submit several letters of intent....believe me they do get lost.

Go into the Admissions office and ask them what your status is RE: Nursing wait list...keep up on them.

Become friendly with people already in the program...they know what you are going through and have been through it themselves...

Good Luck!

The 9 credits you'll get from the Nursing I class gives you what they call "partial time" status. It may be enough to qualify you under the insurance. It apparently is enough to maintain financial aid. Check to see if it will work with just the one class.

If it works with your schedule, try to take the evening class for Death and Dying. Sounds horrible, but it's actually a wonderful class-the prof is fun, and you learn alot about yourself and others in the class,and everyone respects each others opinions and beliefs. Worth it! Test every week, (10 questions, usually multiple choice) but its all from the reading. Not difficult at all.

I am working toward getting into their program. So far, everyone has been a pleasure to deal with. However, while you are waiting to hear anything, there isn't a lot of info on what you should be doing or what could help you in the long run. There were times where I felt on my own, but then I'd pick up a phone or go into the office and ask questions.

As for it being tougher to get a job with an ADN from a community college, I've not heard that. I know a few people who went to OCC and got right into jobs afterward. I think once you have a degree, it's up to you how you market yourself (i.e. - good interviewing skills, professional looking resume, being assertive in your job search, etc.) I think that goes for most new grads in any profession.

I was just accepted into the nursing program for Fall 07. I've been going to OCC for a total of 3 years (2 yrs for preq's and 1 waitlisted) I am really excited and cannot wait to start. I have also heard the program is really hard as well, but you CAN do it. You just have to work extremly hard.

There are many ASN programs in NJ. And where I live OCC was the closest. I'm working on my BSN in the mean time between semseters through Kean.

If you are a new student there thinking about getting your BSN after. Take classes in between or while you are waiting. Thats the best advice I can give anyone.

Hope to see some of you in the Fall! Message me!

I just graduated from OCC in may, just took my boards, passed with 75 questions and so far none of my classmates have failed. Hard as hell on you, but i did it.

A new semester is less than 2 months away...is everyone ready?

I'm going into the third semester, the one they call the "weeding-out" semester. I am really nervous about it, last fall 32 students did not finish the semester (some failed, some withdrew, some just quit...) But, gonna give it my best...

I've been reading through the medsurge and the ob/peds books, and I"m already overwhelmed...

A new semester is less than 2 months away...is everyone ready?

I'm going into the third semester, the one they call the "weeding-out" semester. I am really nervous about it, last fall 32 students did not finish the semester (some failed, some withdrew, some just quit...) But, gonna give it my best...

I've been reading through the medsurge and the ob/peds books, and I"m already overwhelmed...

Good luck to you!

Wow, 32 students?! Was that 32 in their 3rd semester, or 32 who started the program with you last fall?

And while we are on the subject, do you have any advice for those of us who are starting in September? What can we expect the first few weeks? What did you find the hardest part of 1st semester? What was easiest? How were the clinical sites? What is the one thing you would advise us to do (or perhaps not to do) in order to do really well?

I hope you don't mind me answering...but I just finished my first semester last spring at OCC so I have some info you might find useful. You use the Kozier book almost all semester (The yellow and burgendy one) Your labs (hands on) that you do (and are tested on a pass/fail/remediate basis) are: vital signs, bedmaking, wound care, foley insertion on m/f, and drawing up medications (5 rights of medication administration) Those are just a few of the things I can remember off the top of my head. The first semester is fairly easy- but definatly overwhelming! Don't overwork yourself, and focus on what each test is covering.

What I found to be the easiest would be the actual studying and test taking. (but that's just me) The most difficult was starting clinicals and just being thrown into a patients hospital room and being expected to know what to do and how to do things! If you have any other questions just ask!

I just got into their pilot program at SOCH. Every Friday for 12hrs. Luckly I already work 12s. Hopefully this one day a week program will work out well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The best advice I can give:

1. Keep up on your reading. and pay attention to the lectures. You need both, and don't assume that because they don't cover it in the lecture, you won't need to know it for the tests.

one of the things I found out about the program at OCC is it's largely based on self teaching. Sometimes the lectures don't touch on what's being covered in the book's chapters, but the tests are from both lecture and book. PS- if they repeat it over and over again, remember it!

2. the lab practicals aren't as scary as you might think. Just follow what's in your lab handbook and workbook, and practice, practice, practice. get yourself a good lab partner, one who has the same mindset about the program as you do, and stick with them. It makes it a little less nerve wracking when you have someone familiar going through it with you.

3. Find someone, or a group of someones who you can study with, and get together often. Question, test, challenge each other, argue, debate, and have fun...it makes all the difference.

4. The biggest problem I faced was time management. If there is a test coming up, don't wait until two days beforehand to start studying. Not enough time to ask questions, or iron out things that you don't quite understand. If there is a project (care map, presentation, etc) due, start working on it the day it's mentioned. You'll find that time runs out before you can blink.

5. Speaking of time, don't forget to give yourself some every day. Regardless of your situation, you must take some time and pamper yourself. Sit for a few minutes outside, without your lab manual...take an extra long, hot shower...take a short nap...anything. If you don't remember yourself, you'll burn out quick, and it will overwhelm you.

good luck, and I hope this helps!