CCAC Spring 2013

neverbethesame · Sep 13, 2012

I just started at South this semester. You don't need A's in everything. The minimum is 2.8 to apply and Carla Tomas who is a Course Coordinator and Instructor and also on the the Admission Committee- said that we (at South) had at least a 3.2. I guess they had to weed out somehow. I think that there is a new Dean of Nursing for the College. The interim Dean Maureen Pavlik is God- awful to deal with so let's hope it's true that she is not in that position any longer but I heard that she is teaching nursing courses at North or Allegheny.

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, go to a hospital-based program!!!! I can't say enough bad things about them!!! I was unfortunate enough to go to one for a spell. :banghead: Stay at CCAC even if it takes another semester or two. Trust me.

jlynn_RN · Sep 19, 2012

Wow that's not what everyone is saying around here. Even the teachers are saying that stuff. My friend went to this nursing seminar at Allegheny last week and they said the same thing.

If you don't mind me asking, what were your stats? I applied with a 3.89 with Micro completed (and Eng comp 1 & psych 101 done too).

jme123 · Oct 27, 2012

I am currently in Nursing 110 at Boyce. I had a 4.0 with no sciences completed except Bio when I applied. I was in A&P when I applied and I took micro over the summer so i didn't get any extra points. I did apply to North campus but was placed in Boyce.

Jasoninpa · Dec 15, 2012

Hi everyone. Don't put too much stock into the claim by a lot of people on these boards that every semester they reject hundreds of applicants with high gpas. I'm going into my last semester of the program next month, and I can tell you that a 4.0 is not the average gpa of people coming into the program, as some would have you believe. That said, I would focus on getting as many of my coreqs done as possible-- as quickly as possible. And aim for As. It can only help you.

It doesn't hurt, either, to apply to the hospital programs in the area: Mercy (which still does their tuition forgiveness), Shadyside, and St. Margaret. And then, of course, there are other programs like West Penn (assuming it still exists) or CCBC, if you are desperate to start and are willing to drive.

Lots of assumptions here, I know. I wish I could offer something more concrete. I have a friend who is trying to get into CCAC or Mercy's program right now with a history of bad grades, so I'm advising him and it's like going back through the whole process-- which is what brought me back to the boards.

The program seems like it takes forever to complete (at least in my opinion). And yes, you CAN work and attend school. The schedules are do-able.

If you need specifics on anything, let me know.

tmow86 · Feb 8, 2013

I just started at South this semester. You don't need A's in everything. The minimum is 2.8 to apply and Carla Tomas who is a Course Coordinator and Instructor and also on the the Admission Committee- said that we (at South) had at least a 3.2. I guess they had to weed out somehow. I think that there is a new Dean of Nursing for the College. The interim Dean Maureen Pavlik is God- awful to deal with so let's hope it's true that she is not in that position any longer but I heard that she is teaching nursing courses at North or Allegheny.
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, go to a hospital-based program!!!! I can't say enough bad things about them!!! I was unfortunate enough to go to one for a spell. Stay at CCAC even if it takes another semester or two. Trust me.

^^^NOT TRUE. Hospital diploma programs get a way better clinical experience and you are well prepared at the end of the program.

PghRN30 · Feb 9, 2013

^^^NOT TRUE. Hospital diploma programs get a way better clinical experience and you are well prepared at the end of the program.

COMPLETELY agree. They are TOUGH but you come out the other end knowing what you are doing. Ask an experienced nurse. ANY I have heard an opinon from on that would rather work with a new diploma grad then a new bsn grad or associates grad(in general). People can get through associates and bsn programs being book smart and cliniclly clueless. Diploma program will kick your ass if you are clinically clueless....and will do so until you learn...and you will either learn or not make it. I have even had an aid comment on the difference after I told her where I went. And I was one that was clinically clueless and got my ass kicked by the program for a while....but I got it eventually. I probably would have graduated still clinically clueless from a bsn or associates program.

And my point is its in general. Someone who is more adapted to the clinical end and devotes them self to learning how to clinically be a nurse can be a good nurse from any program. Diploma school would give them more clinical hours though.

But really....rather get my ass kicked by my nursing program for being clinically clueless then to land in a job and have my ass kicked by my job because im still cliniclly clueless. Its rough enough starting a nursing job having a clue and having the other nurses respecting you and telling you that you are doing really well....there is just a lot to learn that you did not deal with in school.

Jasoninpa · Feb 9, 2013

Get a job as a nursing assistant or PCT. The hospital atmosphere and the whole culture and pacing of it will become like second nature.

As far as hospital-based programs having better clinical experiences, that's not necessarily true. In general, they do have MORE clinical hours. But MORE doesn't necessarily translate into BETTER. Your clinical experience is going to depend on what YOU make of it, and on the style of your instructor. Every once in a while there is an instructor who makes the clinical time about themselves and about putting you through the ringer; you know, the types with a chip on their shoulders, who, no matter what you do, you can't win. Others are awesome and are truly there to encourage and to help you learn.

So, generalizations are not necessarily fail-proof. Community colleges graduate good and bad nurses-- as do hospital-based programs, I'm sure.