PBCC-palm beach comm. college

letsseehere · Aug 15, 2010

Congrats on your grades and surviving that schedule! I was soooooo happy to be done with pre-reqs. For fall, I am only taking Pharm. Which is going to feel like vacation after this summer! It's exciting, too... my first class directly related to nursing. :)

Don't feel bad about your GPA - I killed mine the first time around and after making mostly A's this year, brought it UP to a 2.6. Oh yes. UP to. Very impressive. :cool: My application points are at 28.6. That's as good as it's going to get for me - already took the NLN. I obsessively keep checking though, just in case I missed a point somewhere...

Also, I just pulled the application from the web and there is now a point for NUR 1024 Critical Thinking for Nursing...WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN???? If I knew this, then I would have taken it THIS SUMMER!!! Not cool adding another point, just like that!

No, not cool at all! I had a conniption when I saw that. Reaaally makes you think the fates are against you. :down:

Anyone attending the information session on the 25th?

ginmarada · Aug 17, 2010

I believe they added the extra point for Critical Thinking last Spring. Which is good because its a point but bad because it ups the points needed. I'm going into the fall program and I believe our cut off was 28.6 or right around there. Spring is supposed to be less but I don't know about the evening and weekend program. Hope that helps a little. Good luck.

ginmarada · Aug 18, 2010

Do any of the semester 2 and beyond students have any advice for the newbies about to start semester 1?

pickledcookie · Aug 18, 2010

Do any of the semester 2 and beyond students have any advice for the newbies about to start semester 1?

A few things I can think of:

Prepare for chaos for the first few weeks, especially front loading. The professors are quite unorganized and schedules changed, students didn't know where they were supposed to go, and it was just confusing. Considering the program has been around for 40+ years you would think they could do better.

The dual stethoscopes are absolutely horrible. Do not panic if you're practicing taking BPs for the first time and you hear nothing through those things. Practice with your regular. Although you will need the dual for check off.

Long term rotation is a complete waste of time. Bring study material and prepare for boredom.

Clinical and skills lab instructors are probably your best resources if you have a question. Avoid asking Aurelien and Kent. Greenblatt (skills instructor) can be kinda scary for check off, but she is very informative if you need help.

PIPs are no big deal.

Bring cash for the cafeteria at your hospital.

Skip class on days Demarco lectures. You will thank me for this.

I think that covers a lot. Have fun during hospital clinicals. They're exciting and there's lots to learn.

woahmelly · Aug 18, 2010

A few things I can think of:
Prepare for chaos for the first few weeks, especially front loading. The professors are quite unorganized and schedules changed, students didn't know where they were supposed to go, and it was just confusing. Considering the program has been around for 40+ years you would think they could do better.
The dual stethoscopes are absolutely horrible. Do not panic if you're practicing taking BPs for the first time and you hear nothing through those things. Practice with your regular. Although you will need the dual for check off.
Long term rotation is a complete waste of time. Bring study material and prepare for boredom.
Clinical and skills lab instructors are probably your best resources if you have a question. Avoid asking Aurelien and Kent. Greenblatt (skills instructor) can be kinda scary for check off, but she is very informative if you need help.
PIPs are no big deal.
Bring cash for the cafeteria at your hospital.
Skip class on days Demarco lectures. You will thank me for this.
I think that covers a lot. Have fun during hospital clinicals. They're exciting and there's lots to learn.

Thanks for all the info!

Do you get a choice of clinical sites or are they all assigned before hand?

pickledcookie · Aug 18, 2010

Thanks for all the info!
Do you get a choice of clinical sites or are they all assigned before hand?

They'll be assigned to you. 1/2 the semester is acute (hospital) and the other half is long term care. For the most part they try to chose locations close to you.

Nikki RN BSN · Aug 21, 2010

A few things I can think of:
Prepare for chaos for the first few weeks, especially front loading. The professors are quite unorganized and schedules changed, students didn't know where they were supposed to go, and it was just confusing. Considering the program has been around for 40+ years you would think they could do better.
The dual stethoscopes are absolutely horrible. Do not panic if you're practicing taking BPs for the first time and you hear nothing through those things. Practice with your regular. Although you will need the dual for check off.
Long term rotation is a complete waste of time. Bring study material and prepare for boredom.
Clinical and skills lab instructors are probably your best resources if you have a question. Avoid asking Aurelien and Kent. Greenblatt (skills instructor) can be kinda scary for check off, but she is very informative if you need help.
PIPs are no big deal.
Bring cash for the cafeteria at your hospital.
Skip class on days Demarco lectures. You will thank me for this.
I think that covers a lot. Have fun during hospital clinicals. They're exciting and there's lots to learn.

Yes the program may seem unorganized but they are changing the curriculum to something much better and elaborate then when I attended. The long term rotation seems like a waste as you are providing more "basic" nursing skills (bed changes, bed pans, bed baths, etc) however, there are ways around it like following the wound nurse and studying your meds (o.k. that still seems boring but it will help you greatly in pharm and also in 2nd semester med-surg). Kent still scares me to this day but I'm sure she means well. Yes please bring cash for the cafeteria and coffee is always a plus. Although you are right about Demarco, I'd still show up to class as being absent can hurt your grade so bring study material. Also, for those nursing students that have completed first semester: Apply for nurse extern positions! I worked at a hospital in Jupiter. It is a great opportunity to earn money while using your newly learned skills as well as employment for future RN positions within the facility and nursing scholarships.

happyjj777 · Aug 22, 2010

Thanks for the great advice Nikki RN BSN.

The LTC rotation is so different at each facility it will really depend on your assignment. There is a lot of good information to learn. I didn't do many bed baths or bed changes in LTC, actually more in the hospital clinical setting.

O yeah, I agree Kent is scary, but harmless! Good Luck to everyone!:hpygrp:

stephanie262 · Sep 5, 2010

hey fellow pbsc student I'm taking the NLN test net sat sept 11, i'm so nervous, i'm hoping for at least in the 70"s percentile. I been practicing but the score is always in 70 or low 80 raw score in the practice book. I'm horrible in the comprehensive since english is my second language but good in math, dnt know about the science eitheir.

stephanie262 · Sep 5, 2010

please give me some advice to get my confidence back

woahmelly · Sep 6, 2010

Remember on the NLN you are being judged against about 2k other test takers to get the precentile. I actually did pathetically bad on the science section (70ish) but I got in the 99th percentile because of the scaling. Don't stress. It's not as bad as you think it will be.

stephanie262 · Sep 6, 2010

thank you woahmelly, im going to take advise to just go in there and do my best. do u have any advise or techniques on how to improve on the comprehensive part?