Anyone starting HACC clinicals in January?

justwannabanurse · Jan 1, 2008

dhyser96.....thanks for the information. I am getting excited a lil' nervous also since we have been warned by one of the instructors that this will be the hardest year of our lives....Yikes!

Mrsbradymom.......Did they happen to tell you guys that the pda was required or is it just optional at your campus? We were told that it was required (lancaster), and they want you to purchase the pda at the bookstore but one of my friends bought the palm tx at staples for $199 last week. I contacted one of the instructors and asked if I were allowed a smartphone and she said yes as long as the phone is turned off during clinicals so I got one on ebay for $65. If you purchase one just make sure that it has at least 25mb, and a sd card slot to add memory, that is what we were told at the bookstore when they showed us the pda's.....eventually I will upgrade and get a new one but right now I am trying to save as much as I can since we had to pay enough with uniforms and all those background checks.

As far as the uniforms go, I guess we have to work with what we got, but they are not flattering at all!

Happy New Year everyone

MisMatch, LPN · Jan 4, 2008

dhyser,

We had a mandatory seminar yesterday, and I met 2 of the 3 instructors. .

We had use of the lab today, and will be able to use it on Monday to get a head start on all the skills/videos/computer programs we need to have done before clinicals. They said it gets crazy in there the first 3 weeks with all the new LPN & RN students getting checked off on the skills.

Yes, I'm getting excited!

I agree with the others about the uniforms, made worse by the fact that they are white! Maybe we can all have a big bonfire when we finish, and use them for fuel:rotfl:

Good luck to all!

MisMatch, LPN · Jan 8, 2008

dhyser,

I met M....yesterday, and she was great! It was nice that they opened the lab 2 days in the past week for incoming LPN students. We were able to knock out a lot of the computer modules and practice in a more relaxed atmosphere, as well as getting to know some of the other students. Everyone worked well together, study groups have already started forming and it seems we have a cohesive class.

NOW I'm getting excited!

Best of luck to all others starting tomorrow!

annaedRN, RN · Jan 12, 2008

I have a friend who started the RN program at Gettysburg this week and she has been calling alot -feeling overwhelmed. I reassured her---and all of you all that it will get better. While it will never be easy, it will begin to take on a pattern atleast. Things calm down a little and you will get yourself in your habits/routines. Just stay focused and keep your mind "on the prize." Hope the first week was a good one for all of you!

MrsBradyMom · Jan 12, 2008

First week check-in!!!!!

How is everyone doing? My head is spinning and I seem to have some type of psychosymatic bowel reaction everytime I open a nursing book (as in there better be a toilet nearby). :icon_roll

I think most of my classmates are feeling overwhelmed and confused, so I don't feel alone. It's not so much the amount of work, it's just frustrating trying to figure out the system. I think the OP is right, once we get into a groove and figure out whats expected of us, things should go much smoother.

Is anyone else having problems with the RN class? We sometimes get booted off beds in lab and have our materials taken if the RN's want to use them. Some of us have had snide remarks thrown our way as well.

Ok everyone, chins up.....here's to a sucessful second week :cheers:

MisMatch, LPN · Jan 12, 2008

I survived the first week!!!

Yes, it's overwhelming. I appreciate the reassurance here and from others that it does settle down into a busy, but doable routine.

Our class seems to be a very cohesive bunch, that we're all in this together and can/will help each other out. I have a long comute (1 hour each way), and already have 3 classmates I can stay with in bad weather or early clinical days. We already have study groups forming.

Mrsbradymom,

I have heard that the RN students can be a challenge, thinking they are above and better than us, but haven't experienced it thus far. Just keep in mind that the first 3 weeks are total chaos, as all classes must be passed on so many skills. Once we get past those 3 weeks, and are out at clinical sites, things should settle down a bit.

MisMatch, LPN · Feb 12, 2008

OK - so how's everyone doing?

For me, so far, so good - am passed on the first 13 skills, got a 96% on my first exam, and a 100% on my first pop quiz. My classmates are awesome - we work well together and have a great time. It's a lot of work, overwhelming at times, but we are all hanging in there.

stdntograd06, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2008

Ok, I've gone through the HACC RN AND the PN program. I'll tell you why in a sec. *** It is a VERY hard program but you will come out prepared to hit the floor running. Trust me.*** :bugeyes:

I was in the RN program and had to go into the PN program in order to get a kidney transplant. (No, the program itself did not "do in" my kidneys :icon_roll). Close, but no. I was in renal failure since 2003, and had decided to keep trudging along in the program. I was informed in early 2006 (in the middle of N104- OB rotation), Hershey had found a donor. To avoid withdrawing and missing at least 1 semester, I decided to go into the PN program in May 2006. I graduated as an LPN December 18, 2006, :yeah: , had a kidney transplant December 19, 2006 and am now working full-time in a LTC facility. It is very possible to get through this program, RN or PN.

As for the instructors, I've known many of them and most of them are wonderful. S. is WONDERFUL in the lab, Ji. is the best for the OB rotation, Di. is right up there with the best, as is Ju. !!! (They teach RN courses though). I've been told by a current student (my husband is a N103 student) that there have been some new instructor additions so some I may not know.

Millie is so great!! :bowingpur I believe she's still there (she teaches PN). You can't go wrong with her. The other PN instructor has been replaced so I don't know her too well (Roseann Poe).

The organization is the key! And READ, READ, READ! They don't cover everything, or even close to everything, and when you get the exam, there are questions on there you never even discussed in theory :angryfire! Do the practice NCLEX questions at the end of each chapter. Run the cd's too. They're great. :up:

I am getting ready to take the bridge course hopefully Summer 2009, and then finish up with the last 2 semesters of RN program.

Another resource I found that is wonderful is the following link. It is very good at practicing what you've learned (it's a great tool for current nurses too):

http://www.freenursetutor.com/

dhyser96, you are right about G. You're better off staying clear of her.

I think that's enough for now. Anyone has any questions, please post or PM me and we'll email. :typing

justwannabanurse · Feb 14, 2008

Glad to hear you are doing good with clinicals so far, I am also I got an 86% on my first test & 100% on the first quiz. Honestly, I am a lil' shocked at how intense the program is I didn't think it would be so fast paced but we are all just trudging along.The only thing that I am concerned about is the concept maps that we have to do for our patients. Well keep up the good work!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 14, 2008

It's wise to NEVER posts names of instructors and their teaching style/ aptitude publically. With "guests" viewing site # in the thousands hourly, could be educator/staff from your program. Please limit any discussion to PM's. What's written and forwarded can be passed around to ANYBODY these days too.

Play it safe to keep in good standing.

trinellipe · Feb 14, 2008

I'll be starting clinicals at HACC's York campus in the summer. I am so excited! :lol2: Is anyone here familiar with the professors there and how they are?

Also, does anyone know somebody that might be interested in selling me their HACC student nurse uniforms?

kiss04bam · Jun 27, 2008

This kinda makes me excited but SCARED to apply to HACC! LOL