Portland Community College Fall 2017

Do you know if they are picky about the color of the stethoscope?

No, not picky at all. Just ensure you have a name tag on it (you can get it on Amazon) or something to show that it's yours. Or, like a classmate of mine did, you can get a bright orange stethoscope! Or lime green. No one's running away with that :)

Does anyone use a stethoscope case for protection purposes or do you normally just have it attached to your body at all times? There are so many items/accessories out there to purchase it seems a bit overwhelming. Trying to determine what is actually beneficial to purchase if anything. I know the ID tag is pretty much a definite but thinking maybe the rest will be purchased if we realize we actually need it. I'm for sure stocking up on small notebooks to fit in scrubs right now while back to school supplies are on sale. I've heard they are a must?!??!

Does anyone use a stethoscope case for protection purposes or do you normally just have it attached to your body at all times? There are so many items/accessories out there to purchase it seems a bit overwhelming. Trying to determine what is actually beneficial to purchase if anything. I know the ID tag is pretty much a definite but thinking maybe the rest will be purchased if we realize we actually need it. I'm for sure stocking up on small notebooks to fit in scrubs right now while back to school supplies are on sale. I've heard they are a must?!??!

If anything, by my second year, I had a little pocket notebook I would flip through of things I learned in clinical. It was cool to have a little reference book where I knew exactly what I needed to find! Plus, you'll always learn something new! Or you'll need to reinforce your learning on something.

I had no case for my stethoscope, but if I could go back and suggest something to my student self, I would buy a "bat clip." They have them on Amazon too. I'm actually ordering one for my first job as an RN! haha!

When you got your name tag for your stethoscope did you get one of the yoke styles or just one that attached anywhere on the tubing? Found several styles and was wondering if one was better than the other as far as staying out of the way?

Congrats on your job! Was it hard to find one or did you have options right after graduation?

When you got your name tag for your stethoscope did you get one of the yoke styles or just one that attached anywhere on the tubing? Found several styles and was wondering if one was better than the other as far as staying out of the way?

Congrats on your job! Was it hard to find one or did you have options right after graduation?

I had one that clipped anywhere but it proved to be a nuisance and would poke me when around my neck. I would get the one that clips on to the Y section of the scope.

As for jobs, make sure you have above a 3.25 overall gpa for any residency. And if you can get your foot in the door as a CNA in the hospital, that combination is powerful. None of my pre reqs (and prev degree) were done at PCC except for one (I was lucky to get in), so my overall nursing program gpa was slightly lower than the minimum necessary for a residency. It's what happens when you're a chronic B (3.0) student... even if it was an 88 percent. Anyway, network network network right from the getgo. Get your nurses' contact info and get to know your clinical instructors well.

Meet with a manager from the beginning; an easy Google search can prepare you for what kinds of things you could ask for informational purposes. There's a project in your last term where you do talk with a manager of your practicum placement, but I sincerely wish I had done that in the very beginning. While it may seem hectic by your second year, I recommend looking and at least queuing up positions you're interested in and apply by April.

I applied to many places and because we are associate degree graduates, I had a hard time with applications. Even the manager of the trauma unit where I'm a CNA at said she'd prefer I have my BSN and a year of experience unless of course I got into the residency (at Legacy). But apply everywhere and keep your options open to anything while you work on getting your year of experience. My friend who is an ICU nurse says after she got 1 year of exp, so many more doors opened.

Hi All! Can't believe in less than 1 month we begin our journey!!! I was wondering if anyone remembers from the orientation in June when we can expect to find out our clinical schedules? I was reading the notes I took and I wrote down we essentially have the same schedule all year but didn't write down when we can expect to receive it. After registering on the 24th was just trying to get an idea of what fall quarter will look like to prepare for childcare and such.

Your orientation in September will be the day you find out your clinical schedules. It'll be old school and on a tri-fold board, and you'll be able to see it once they're done with presentations and whatnot. Expect to have clinicals on either Thursday, Friday or Saturdays. Some had it split on Thursdays and Fridays, others had it all day Saturdays. It just depends!