Pre-reqs change MCC

bonitamiaRN · Dec 23, 2007

Thanks very much!! I will be looking at that [intensely].

MsBruiser · Dec 23, 2007

I want to take the medical terminology course while I am waiting and I really need an A&P refresher. Any suggestions for a refresher course without taking it over again? Thanks for you thoughts, I knew I wasn't crazy.

Bio 160 - compresses Bio 201 and 202.

Cursed Irishman · Dec 23, 2007

I'm gonna go against the general consensus of this board and say that these changes, in my opinion, are a bad idea. So far in block I, its been necessary to understand basic physiological processes that were taught in 202 and re-enforced in 205. My suggestion to anyone waiting: Take as many classes as you can to prepare yourself. I took HCR 210, 220, 230, 240, Med Terminology, even the nurse assistant, emt, and phlebotomy courses and have found them ALL beneficial.

The only benefits to the cc program I can see from these changes is two fold: 1. people move faster onto the wait list, but incur a longer wait; this mimics progress, but doesn't actually make any and 2. failure rates will increase in the program because people are not as prepared as they should be. How many nursing instructors are going to want to adequately cover the basics of A&P for the first time to students who haven't taken the class yet? Refreshers are one thing, covering the info for the first time detracts from the purpose of the program.

What I see is them upping the numbers of people accepted into block I, counting on a higher attrition rate in order to speed through the wait list faster and not create an influx of students in later blocks.

again, just my cynical two cents

MsBruiser · Dec 23, 2007

Dude - 1st - check your PM. I will leave a message for you concerning your other post to me.

Second, you are so right on. I'll go even farther. If 25% of people are failing the basic nursing program (IMHO because they can't get their sh*t together - this stuff isn't rocket science), start layering in more co-reqs and you have a recipe for disaster. Few people will want to take the classes while they are waiting for the program to start - they are already up to their eyeballs in lousy marriages, working, and 10,000 other distractors (that cause them to drop out of the program in the first place). They will wait to the last minute - and passing rates will plummet. Right now the pendulum has swung in one direction - it will swing back the other way in 3-5 years when the full effect of the changes are felt. What a stupid idea...

GilbertDaddy · Dec 23, 2007

Dude - 1st - check your PM. I will leave a message for you concerning your other post to me.
Second, you are so right on. I'll go even farther. If 25% of people are failing the basic nursing program (IMHO because they can't get their sh*t together - this stuff isn't rocket science), start layering in more co-reqs and you have a recipe for disaster. Few people will want to take the classes while they are waiting for the program to start - they are already up to their eyeballs in lousy marriages, working, and 10,000 other distractors (that cause them to drop out of the program in the first place). They will wait to the last minute - and passing rates will plummet. Right now the pendulum has swung in one direction - it will swing back the other way in 3-5 years when the full effect of the changes are felt. What a stupid idea...

I benefit from the changes, but still agree.

Ultimately I think the best way of doing things was having provisional acceptance spots so folks like me who could put up a great case for earlier acceptance could get in and start our wait in line, WHILE we finished up the REQUIRED pre-reqs.

If there's even a 6 month wait, I'll still have all the pre-reqs done, but there will be many more who do the bare minimum, apply, get in line, and take a vacation. They'll be the ones who'll fail IMO.

Curious to see how it pans out there :)

bonitamiaRN · Dec 23, 2007

Bio 160 - compresses Bio 201 and 202.

Thanks!!

West Valley · Dec 24, 2007

I'm gonna go against the general consensus of this board and say that these changes, in my opinion, are a bad idea. So far in block I, its been necessary to understand basic physiological processes that were taught in 202 and re-enforced in 205. My suggestion to anyone waiting: Take as many classes as you can to prepare yourself. I took HCR 210, 220, 230, 240, Med Terminology, even the nurse assistant, emt, and phlebotomy courses and have found them ALL beneficial.
The only benefits to the cc program I can see from these changes is two fold: 1. people move faster onto the wait list, but incur a longer wait; this mimics progress, but doesn't actually make any and 2. failure rates will increase in the program because people are not as prepared as they should be. How many nursing instructors are going to want to adequately cover the basics of A&P for the first time to students who haven't taken the class yet? Refreshers are one thing, covering the info for the first time detracts from the purpose of the program.
What I see is them upping the numbers of people accepted into block I, counting on a higher attrition rate in order to speed through the wait list faster and not create an influx of students in later blocks.
again, just my cynical two cents

The changes are beneficial for me but I also agree that this may not have been a smart move. Just my opinion.

Glina · Dec 24, 2007

I agree that it would be very, very unwise not to take all pre-reqs while on waiting list but wait until nursing school starts.

mscardiacnurse, ASN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

I have to admit I was incredibly disappointed to see the changes they have made. It is so easy to get on the waiting list now and I personally foresee a lot of people that are not all that serious about nursing applying and flooding the wait list. *sigh* Myself, I have taken all of the pre reqs and co-reqs except for one that I am finishing up this semester. Go figure, it is one of the 4 you now need to apply. So, I have a feeling I will be waiting a lot longer than I thought to start the program, not to mention I am wondering how much I will forget in the meantime. I think I am going to get started on the rest of the prereqs for ASU.

kss0740 · Jan 2, 2008

i completely agree with the three who think this new change in pre-reqs and co-reqs is a bad idea. i am dissapointed and strongly feel this is a poor choice for many reasons :down: . i forsee the wait lists flooding over with unprepared students. this will make the existing wait list even longer for those who were basically finished and are much farther ahead with completed classes that are now co-reqs.

unfortunately, i am in the same boat as you cardiopedsnursetobe. i have taken all of my pre-reqs and am taking bio202 this semester. i would have been able to provisionally apply this week, but due to the changes i was able to apply with a boatload of other people today. i dropped off my app at glendale cc early this morning and other people were there doing the same thing. most them were applying based off of the new system and did not have all of the classes under their belts like me and the rest of us who were working off the old system. maybe i'm feeling unfairly annoyed, but their is no denying the amount of frustration i feel when a very large percentage of people are getting what seems like a huge jump start on their application. i am worried about how clogged up the waiting lists will become because of these changes, and feel like those of us with the co-reqs done should be farther along on the list.

many of those people who applied today do not have many of the important classes under their belt. it is my personal opinion that some may find themselves underprepared or will put off taking the co-reqs until it is too late and will become overwhelmed and bomb out. bio205 (among other classes that are now co-reqs) was a challenging class. almost half of those who enrolled with me in bio205 dropped or did not pass. i already feel that mccd's reqs to enter the rn program are lax compared to other programs around the u.s. now they've just made it even easier for people to apply.

an applicant needs to know whether or not they can pass certain classes vital to this profession before putting in an app and getting on a wait list. this just doesn't seem right. what are the stats of those who fail the classes that are have now been made into co-reqs??? i'd like to know, b/c all of those ppl can now be on the same wait list with those who have passed that hurdle. i wonder how mccd came up with this system anyway? it seems like it is going to slow things down, not speed them up. hopefully i am wrong and their is some strategy behind this change that i do not yet understand.

so, i'm feeling a little blue today, especially after seeing the flood of applicants with my own eyes . i just re-read my post. sorry to be such a downer. hopefully this is a good thing. we have a nursing shortage, have tons of ppl already waiting...... i just don't see how this is the solution

mscardiacnurse, ASN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

That was what I was afraid of kss, a flood of applicants. I could have applied provisional, but now I have to wait until I finish CHM 130 in May to apply. I wish they would give some kind of consideration to those of us that have already taken all of the other pre and co reqs. I feel a little screwed. There will be people just starting this semester that can apply at the same time as me and I am on my third semester with 8 classes under my belt. Ugh:uhoh3:

West Valley · Jan 2, 2008

i completely agree with the three who think this new change in pre-reqs and co-reqs is a bad idea. i am dissapointed and strongly feel this is a poor choice for many reasons . i forsee the wait lists flooding over with unprepared students. this will make the existing wait list even longer for those who were basically finished and are much farther ahead with completed classes that are now co-reqs.
unfortunately, i am in the same boat as you cardiopedsnursetobe. i have taken all of my pre-reqs and am taking bio202 this semester. i would have been able to provisionally apply this week, but due to the changes i was able to apply with a boatload of other people today. i dropped off my app at glendale cc early this morning and other people were there doing the same thing. most them were applying based off of the new system and did not have all of the classes under their belts like me and the rest of us who were working off the old system. maybe i'm feeling unfairly annoyed, but their is no denying the amount of frustration i feel when a very large percentage of people are getting what seems like a huge jump start on their application. i am worried about how clogged up the waiting lists will become because of these changes, and feel like those of us with the co-reqs done should be farther along on the list.
many of those people who applied today do not have many of the important classes under their belt. it is my personal opinion that some may find themselves underprepared or will put off taking the co-reqs until it is too late and will become overwhelmed and bomb out. bio205 (among other classes that are now co-reqs) was a challenging class. almost half of those who enrolled with me in bio205 dropped or did not pass. i already feel that mccd's reqs to enter the rn program are lax compared to other programs around the u.s. now they've just made it even easier for people to apply.
an applicant needs to know whether or not they can pass certain classes vital to this profession before putting in an app and getting on a wait list. this just doesn't seem right. what are the stats of those who fail the classes that are have now been made into co-reqs??? i'd like to know, b/c all of those ppl can now be on the same wait list with those who have passed that hurdle. i wonder how mccd came up with this system anyway? it seems like it is going to slow things down, not speed them up. hopefully i am wrong and their is some strategy behind this change that i do not yet understand.
so, i'm feeling a little blue today, especially after seeing the flood of applicants with my own eyes . i just re-read my post. sorry to be such a downer. hopefully this is a good thing. we have a nursing shortage, have tons of ppl already waiting...... i just don't see how this is the solution

ditto!

now with me agreeing with that i also want to put it out there that not all of who do not have the "original" pre-req's are crazy. i will be finished with my pre-req's over the summer but i plan to continue with the other classes while i am waiting.

i would feel the same way if i were dropping my application. good luck!