capribry

so are you saying that if you go to sentara you have to become a care partner and work at the same time?? If so I think you might be mistaken. I go there and what you might be talking about is after your 1st semester in the program you are now qualified to become a care partner and may be do so if you wish. Sentara has alot of clinical hours. Its usually 2 days in class and 2 days in clinical a week (starting off) I don't know if much of the rules has changed for the BSN program but I suggest that you get some information from the school itself before making your decisions because sometimes hearing things from others aren't always truthful.

hey, just read your post and wanted to know why would you have to travel to the pennisula if you live in va. beach? Sentara's main campus is in chesapeake by greenbriar. I attend the school and it just turned into a BSN program and it should be starting its first class next january (i believe). It's clinical experience is what persuaded me to transfer from ODU to Sentara. I can't tell you how many times I worked with nurses from schools that offers BSN programs that doesn't know as much as I do (I'm not trying to start anything just giving my opinion). And I just want to let you know not to count on your employer to pay for your school expenses. The economy is so messed up right now that they don't have as many incentives like they use to (a sentara recruiter came and talked to my class about this last week). Anyways you just have to look into the school and figure out what will work better for you! Go to the virginia board of nursing and check out the nclex pass rates for one. Good luck to you

I'm so sorry to hear that. Maybe you should take a break from studying to relax and clear your head before you start studying again. You probably need to find a different way to study. How many times are you allowed to take the test before they cut you off?? This is my worse fear that I will pass nursing school and fail the exam. Also about taking the test in another state, I heard that was bad cause even though we are all taking the same test, it varies from region to region because of the "lingo" and the qualifications by that states board.

Passing at my school is 76.51. don't ask me why they put the .51 at the end. my school doesn't round or give extra credit.

I gotta friend that just flunked out the rn program. About 90% of her class failed so they extended their mod and made them take test every day and by then end of the week if your average wasn't an 80 then you have to start over. Her grade was 79.93 so you know she was pissed. On top of that they had a meeting for all those that failed and told them that they might not get in the next round of classes because it might be full. Ain't that some bulls***!! I probably would had went to jail that day for homicide!(j/p)

I'm not saying to have a hard copy of each book, I was just saying don't think that you don't need to learn your meds just cause it is one click away. Also most PDA software comes with a desktop copy for your computer so that you can download it. I never used the desktop copy before to see if it works like the PDA. Just don't leave it around cause I heard stories of books and PDA's being stolen off hospital floors as well as stethescopes (by MD's and you will think that they have money to buy their own littman's) I never used by lab diagnostic book at all. We just really started to focus on labs and stuff in 301 and I have one on my PDA. I never even cracked it open in 101 (cause you are new or 201 (focus on specialties). I never even really used my dosage calculations book that help you with math cause they teach you in class. It was a waste of money for me. Yeah I did my prereqs at ODU for 2 years and then switched to Sentara. I will be attending the RN to BSN program shortly after I graduate. I'm only 21 and could take a break but I am money hungry and scared that if I stop I won't go back. ODU came up to our school about a month ago and gave out applications. That's one thing that is great about Sentara is that they credits transfers to other school unlike most schools. I think it is only a year long program (can't remember the details) Like I said before I worked in clinicals with students from other schools and it always seem like I know more. I worked with students from ODU (at CHKD during PEDs rotation) that was graduating school and they had diff. with med admin and stuff like that cause they didn't have alot of clinical practice. They learned about it in class but didn't have the hands on experience. Not trying to say they are dumb but for me to be in a diploma program and is not graduating for another year, I felt like we was on the same level. Also you won't see too many nursing students from other schools at Sentara hospital. They will never be on the same floor as you (we get top bid) You might see them in the hall or during lunch and that is pretty much it. You will see them when you have to go to other places like in Psych and Peds (@ CHKD)

Thanks!! No I did not apply for the internship or for the scholarship. But I believe Nursecadet got an internship for the summer thanks to the Godfather (Mrs. Wyche)!! Make sure you have fun. One of the reason why our class (may 08) is so memorable is because we had a blast and gave our teachers nicknames. They still remember me to this day and I'm in my 3rd semester. (i was a goofball but I got my work done)

PDA's wasn't required when I started but after doing research on this website I purchased one before I started school. I didn't use it until my 3rd semester but I most say that it is a time saver. Instead of flipping through books I have it right in my pocket and can tag it if I wanted to come back. I use it mostly when looking up drugs b/c everytime you give a drug you have to tell your instructor what it is, side effects, classification, nsg. intervention etc. and most of the time you are going to have alot of meds to give especially in the morning. Don't become dependent on it just in case it breaks or you lose it. Try to remember your meds anyway especially if you give it alot. It will be bad that your patient is have a adverse reaction to a med and you got to look it up or don't realize it til later. Some meds that I see over and over are Heparin, coumadin, coreg, lasix, glucagon, tylenol, and benadryl. I have on mine a drug guide, iv drug guide, rn pocket notes, nsg diagnosis, and a bunch a free stuff like drug calculations to see if the patient is getting a safe dose.

Hey guys and by the way me and Nursecadet are in the same class and are study partners and I always score high on my tests when I study with her. She is wonderful and one of the most knowledgeble person I know. See you at my son's B-day party or at school in August!!! In 101 class are usually from 8:30-3 or 4 depending on the material but it usually ends earlier. I remember getting out of class like at 12 or 1 most days but I don't know how it is gonna be now. 1 thing I liked about 101 and 201 is that it didn't seem like we was in class that long. Plus you get breaks and a guaranteed hour lunch break. Class is not mandatory but they do take attendence for records and for financial aid. Skills lab and clinicals are mandatory and you must call your instructor if you are going to be late or absent cause you can only miss 10% of clinical time. In 301 it seems like we be in class forever. The teacher keeps us in class even if she is finished with lecture but she uses the time for review (which is helpful). I don't know much about Riverside but I did do clinical with some students from there during my psych rotation (@ Partial Hospital Program in Hampton) There program is longer than ours (i believe) and doesn't have as much flexibilty since there is only 1 hospital for them to attend. I might be biased but out of any other nursing students I encounter (BSN programs included), I seem to know more than them and I am not all that smart. I really think it is because we have so much time practicing in the hospital so we see more things and know how to work in diff. situations. We just don't learn the textbook. Plus I am more of a hands on/visual person. It's one thing to read it but to see it will put the icing on the cake. We are allowed to do more things than most schools. I pretty sure they have a website or maybe a topic on the school that can be more helpful.

Sentara has just started an online class. I don't really know the details but if you go to sentara.com and then to facilities then schools, they might have more info on it. (I don't know the exact address but if you play with the site you should find it) Some students in our class travel all the way from North Carolina and I must say it's worth it cause the program is the bomb but I guess I'm being biased. I don't know about the salary. I think its around 19 bucks + more if you have experience and is certified in certain areas also if you work nights or weekends. You should look into it if it's appropriate with your situations. Let me know if you can find the website.

I never fainted but while on the floor I felt kinda flushed and dizzy. I told my teacher and she just laughed at me. Another student took my blood pressure and was practicing a head-to-toe assessment on me and my BP was like 80 something over 40 something. I felt naseated and hot. I later found out that I was pregnant (what a suprise)

Hi you probably don't even come to this thread anymore but I am a current RN student at Sentara. I'm half-way through my 3rd semester. The program is awesome and is one of the best in my opinion. We have the most clinical hours which I believes allow us to be more competent cause it is more hands on than text book. Your 1st semester will have students from LPN and ST (surg. tech) programs so your class will be extremely large (around 100 students). You will learn Pharm and Nursing 101 and communcation. You will also have to pass a math test by the end of the semester (you get 3 tries) . You will have a group project to do called CPA (it was on nutrition when I was in 101) and towards the end of your semester you will have a CPE (which is when you clinical instructor evaluates you and make sure that you perform the skills you learn competently in the hospital setting (head-to-toe assessment, reporting your findings, vital signs, and med admin.)Your main teacher will be Mrs. Wyche-nurs. 101, Mrs. Evard-concept maps/careplans (i think cause i heard she is moving to 301 in aug.) Mrs. King-communication, Mrs. Carroll-Pharm/math. (at least that's how it was for me). You will begin the semester with skill labs which will teach you how to do "care partner" stuff like bed baths, transporting etc. You will also learn about med admin. (5 rights). The 1st couple of days you will get bags of nursing equipment like syringes and gloves. You will start clinicals I think in october in a nursing home for like a week (2-3 days) and then you will go to the hospital on a med surg floor. You can choose days or night clinicals depending on your clinical instructor but people with children usually get to pick. Classes are usually Mon. and Thurs. and clincial is Tues. and Wed but in the beginning it will be mostly classes and skills labs. 1st semester was a blast. Make sure to form a study group and meet with them even if there isn't a test scheduled. Pay attention and attend class as much as possible. Remember to have fun cause if you stress about little things it will be harder for you. Most students grades will drop so if you were an A+ student don't cry if you are now a B or C student, after all C= RN. Don't expect to be spoon fed everything. Sometimes the page numbers will not be posted and you might need to use the index (don't cry or whine about it. There are bigger things to be concern over) Also Blackboard is your friend. It's a way that the teachers communicate with you and have your current classes, grades, and schedule on it. 2nd semester is specialties (Peds, OB, Psych): The group will now be only RN's. Ya'll will be divided up in 3 groups and will rotate which specialty you do til you do all 3. EX: I started off with Psych, then OB (which I loved), and ended with Peds. You will still have classes with everybody on Monday and thursdays and your clinical will be tues. and wed. Psych is where I encountered my first problem with a teacher (Mrs. Finnell) She is very picky and does everything by the manual. I think that she is petty. And never met a teacher that was so particular over nonsense in my life. I will never get in trouble over nursing stuff. Like for intense like I was 1 minute late to clinicals cause I slipped and fell in the hall and she asked me why didn't I paged her. 1st of all by time I pulled out my phone and called you, I would have already been on the floor, and 2nd we aren't allowed to have phones on in the hospital. Anyways, I'm not trying to bad mouth her and you might have a plesant experience with her.........I just didn't and couldn't wait til that rotation was over. I'm in 3rd semester right now with Mrs. BA and Mrs. Johnson. we are currently on our summer break and will resume classes in aug. (the same day you start) This is med-surg and we are now on 2 patients. We do everything from IV's to blood draws and the paperwork is more intense. We are more of nurses then students. We are expected to know alot and are asked tons of questions like if your patient has crackles... what would you expect the doctor to order. the answer should be a diurectic like lasix but you will learn this stuff in all due time. I'm an average student and believe that if I studied harder (since I barely do it all) then my grade would improve significantly so hopefully I will get myself together so I can improve this coming fall (I'm 21 with a 3 y.o and a single parent who also works as an waitress) All in all at this school you are taught everything you are expected to know and is more hands on with all the clinical hours. They are very fair and I haven't had any problems beside with the refund check coming almost at the end of the semester which they currently improved. They listen to the students concerns and make changes if appropriate. Good luck and sorry for the type-o's and talking you to death!! Capribry RN May08

I'm only half way through my 3rd semester (RN program) but my teacher told us that the questions get harder and harder as you get them correct and then when start to miss them it will get easier. It's going off your overall knowledge and to make sure that you are competent enough to practice nursing. I heard plenty of stories passing at 75. My teacher told us a story of 4 of her students taking the test together and 3 of their machines stopped at 75 and the other one stopped at 200 something and all of them end up passing their exam. This new RN grad told me that she kept calling this number to see if she pass and she found out like a day later around 0800. She thought she failed too and said that she was a "borderline" student in nursing school. So don't sweat it and just call to get your results (or whatever way you can get it) Good luck and I will be in your shoes in a year!!

so are you in 101 to become an RN or an LPN? I love Mrs. Wyche and Mrs. Evard. My last clinical instructor was Ms. Webley (she recently to just cut all her hair off) Me and Nursecadet came into the class when Mrs. Evard was doing the "i'm from sentara" act when she was dressed inappropriately and interupting class. Everything is fine I just finished my OB rotation and start PEDs this week. I have a test tomorrow so I need to study.

hey princess, you remember me and NURSECADET. We are in 201 now together. how are you