scobyroo

Thanks for following up on your original post @Jacob. This is a really common post topic, but people often don’t post a follow-up, which from the perspective of readers makes it look like there’s no resolution (or hope). I relate to your original post, as do many other new grads. From my experience, being about 4 months in as a brand new RN, I still do not enjoy the job and feel that sense of dread as my next shift is approaching.. but even though I’m still very much on the struggle bus, I can see it has gotten a little better compared to when I first started. I still think constantly about how much I want to get away from the bedside, but the point is that things are improving slowly. I just take it one shift, one hour, one task at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed. I also think that I’m getting slightly better at quieting the thoughts that stress me out about work when I’m on my off days. It’s easier said than done, but we’re stressed enough at work; it makes no sense to allow ourselves to be stressed about it outside of work too. I’m just glad to know I’m not the only one who didn’t really enjoy clinicals and still found myself shocked that I wasn’t enjoying the job when I got hired.. LOL. There’s a lot to be said for feeling like you’re not alone though! Being an RN is hard for many many reasons, but there’s always support out there if you know where to find it. I encourage anyone reading to try their best to stick it out as well, because no matter how tough it is now, we’ll come out stronger on the other end regardless of what direction we choose to go next.

The way Valencia does it, is if you meet the requirements you will be guaranteed admission. There is a waitlist though for this reason, so when you apply and are accepted it generally takes at least a couple semesters until you can start. As long as you meet their GPA and TEAS score requirements though you're in.

Hi again, Those are great questions. I will say, questions about higher level nursing education are above my scope of knowledge and experience still being in the ADN program. I may be mistaken, but I believe you will still need a BSN in nursing in order to continue on to masters level degrees. Masters level NP's are being slowly phased out, and doctorates are going to be required going forward. I do know that some schools, including UCF do a combined program from BSN to DNP. You may want to do some research to find out if your past degrees will count toward nursing. Those are all questions for NPs though; as an ADN nursing student I can't portend to know more than what I've heard. As far as what drew me to this program, part of it was cost. I have a previous bachelors degree as well, and the student loans that go along with it, so I was looking for a good program that I could afford to pay for without taking out more loans. I have worked through the nursing program thus far and it is completely doable. It's not easy, but neither is the program. When it comes to choosing a specialty, you'll find that once you start the program you won't be thinking too much about that. You may find things you enjoy during clinical, but as far as the lecture portion of the program, you're going to be fully and solely focused on learning and retaining the endless information you'll encounter. That's any nursing program really.

Hi Elsabeellie, I can't compare to Miami Mercy as I don't know anything about that program, but I can for Valencia. It's a difficult program, but we have a 100% NCLEX pass rate so it definitely prepares you. There's the traditional daytime program, but they also just started a night/weekend program this year so that's another option if flexibility is important to you. The other plus is the option of the UCF concurrent program which will get you your bachelors a lot faster. That program has its own admissions process and requirements though. From what I can gather, Valencia graduates have a great reputation with Orlando hospitals and finding work here after graduation is not too difficult. I'm not sure of the programs reputation statewide, however, so I don't know if having Valencia on your resume helps get you in the door in other cities. That's about as broad as I think I can answer. If you have specific questions I'm happy to try and answer those. Best of luck with your research!

Hey CoeurCommeHepburn, I haven't heard anything other than that Valencia grads do well with finding work after graduating. I'm not sure how a Valencia degree looks to employers outside of the central FL area, but the school has a good reputation in this area, along with UCF. That being said, I'm in school, so I don't know what hiring managers themselves think.

Hey guys, Suddenly I understand why threads always go dark once people start their programs.. I haven't been back on these forums in months; super super busy with school, but I'm just now finishing up my first semester in VC's nursing program and found myself back here. Wishing you all luck if you're starting this summer session, or perhaps in the fall. I know that most of my cohort were waitlisted and had to wait at least one semester to get a spot; though I applied for and did the concurrent program, which automatically gives you a spot in the next semester's cohort (i.e. its waitlist-proof), so that's always a way to start sooner if you're wanting to do that program and are willing to put in the extra work. Valencia will accept anyone so long as they meet the minimum requirements, whereas the concurrent program is competitive and only the top scorers are accepted. Something to think about if you're still trying to decide what to do.

I used a study guide to really focus on the math and English sections, since you can study the types of math problems and grammar structures that they're going to ask questions on. I'd say just keep doing practice questions to get used to what they're looking for.

I'm not really sure what the schedule will look like, since we haven't had orientation yet. It is the Valencia West daytime nursing schedule with the addition of whatever UCF course we have that semester. Sorry I can't be more helpful as of yet. As far as my scores and such, I had a 4.0 for my nursing prerequisites, and I think about a 3.6 general GPA. My TEAS score was 96.

I second that. Is there one yet?

Awesome! Yeah, after I registered and paid for the orientation they sent another email pointing out that this session counts as both the UCF nursing orientation and the UCF general orientation.. That answers all the questions we had haha, which we knew that from the beginning. All good now though! It did also mention that we have to do a short online thing too before orientation.

I just got an email from UCF orientation saying the session has opened up. It's the Nov 9th session we already knew about.. so we only have to sign up for that one, and not a separate online or UCF campus orientation. They charge us $35 for it though.

Yeah, everything has been approved for me now except for the fit test (which is at orientation anyway) and the CPR certification, which I should be getting next week. Definitely keep your orientation reservation until we figure it out. The main reason why I guess I'm hoping for online orientation is because its so much cheaper than the in-person orientation.. it seems silly to spend all that money to have an orientation at UCF's campus when we'll never step foot there again. I hope they get back to you with a clear answer soon. I didn't reach out to the nursing Dept, only the orientation people. We'll see what nursing says.

I'm not sure. I've been on that site, and when I signed up and put the concurrent program as my major, it tells me there are no sessions available. I called the student orientation office and they told me they haven't released the online orientation session for the major yet; and that it will be Nov 2nd online. I don't know that you scheduled the wrong one, since it let you schedule it. The website won't let me.. I was told to look out for an email or to watch for the slot to open up on the registration website. I may have done something wrong.. not sure.

Hey Shaybears, Have you been able to sign up for a UCF orientation slot yet? Everything is set up for the Valencia Nursing orientation, and the UCF nursing orientation (both on the same day) but we have to do a UCF general orientation as well (I've been receiving emails almost every day) and have been told its an online orientation and that they haven't opened it yet.. I'm curious if you're waiting on this too or not.

I received an acceptance email also, for the evening/weekend traditional program. I won't be accepting it though, because I am going to be doing the concurrent program; so there's another spot that'll open for someone else. Good luck everyone!