sarahuh

I am a second year student at JCCC. I would def reccomend taking A&P seperately, especially if you want to go on to get your BSN, as most programs require 6 hours of A&P and the combined is only 5. Also, the combined doesn't give you a compleate comprehension of phsysiology- which is SO vital to nursing information. But learning it as you go isn't impossible...but it would have been better seperately. I will probably go and just take physiology by itself to get my 1 hour needed (even though its a 3 hour class) just so i can feel like i have a better understanding of how body systems function. Think of it this way, knowing every notch in your femur isn't near as important as knowing how vital your pancrease is, how your kidneys function, or how your heart pumps blood - none of which we really covered in my A&P class, and i had an exceptional instructor who has been teaching for many years and has quite a bit of expierence in his field. I also would not reccomend any classes over the summer - they move very fast and seem to skip over important information. aslo, keeping your gpa up while in a summer class...most of the time you just hope to pass, let alone get an A. also, they say that its hard to get into the program. I graduated highschool december 2006, took the 3, yes count them there are but 3 (besides your CNA, but if you don't have that and aren't working as a CNA, in my opinion, you have no business trying to get into nursing school...but thats just me ) prerequistes that spring and summer, and started nursing school aug 2007. i have taken all the corequistes as COrequisites, and I, by no means, would EVER reccomend this. I don't even have kids or responsibilities, but I do work as an aide and coach volleyball...but if you have a family, i'm not even sure that it would be possible. But the point was, when I applied to the program, I had my CNA, and Composition 1 compleated (because I had to take that to graduate highschool early) and that was all. My GPA was 3.8 and I had a composite 26 on my ACT and 28 in the science section. I may be the exception to the rule, and actually hoped to NOT get in right away so I could take some classes...but I guess God just didn't have that for me in his plan. haha. but when I hear people say "i didn't even apply to JCCC because there was no way I could get in" I think "haha. yeah right. there was no way I should have gotten in...but i did" Neosho, from what i can tell, along with KCCC, has a good program. Although i have heard about quite a few people from those programs that had to take NCLEX several times, and that the year before us, only 3 people didn't pass the first time, I think, but I'm not 100% sure on that. In general, JCCC is known for having a very high pass rate and success. Also, JCCC compared to a 4 year program, such as KU, has much better clinical expierence. We get more because we are only a 2 year program, and I have 2 personal friends who are in the program, and with talking with them, they and I have both aggreed that I have gotten a much better expierence, which supprised me, because I would assume that the 4 year programs would have better clinicals, but that just doesn't seem to be the case. JCCC instructors are also really awesome. Both clincally and in the classroom. I would not reccomend taking the LPN to RN if you can help it, because the expectations are just different, and the LPN transitions seem to be struggling (not academically but just stressing about what their instructors want and doing things the "RN" way compared to the way they were taught - althought I'm not entirely sure they were supposed to be different, but they seem to be. But every instructor I have had has always been very open, open to questions, very "teachy", and allow for a lot of independence if they can tell you can handle it. They're very good at treating you like you instead of just another student. (ie expecting more from people who can handle doing more, ect) i hope any of this information is helpful. I hope i'm not sounding like an infomecial for JCCC, but I think they have an excellent program, and I have learned a lot from it. Let me know if you want to know anything else! -Sara

As for livivng, I would stay on the KS side, probably Leawood or Southern Overland Park for the uppermiddle class. Blue Valley Schools (West or North) or Olathe Schools (East or Northwest) are probably your best bed. But Brookside for more of a down-town feel is nice, especially if you can afford private schools. KU med is always a favorite, but St. Jo right off I-435 and State Line was good when I did my L&D clinical there.

I think some programs only consider the GPA of the courses that apply to their program I believe. I would not take the LPN to RN route myself. The LPN bridges in our program have developed the "i have worked as an LPN and THIS is how I do it" and they can't seem to get in their head that it doesn't matter how they do it, it matters what the instructors teach, whats on the tests/check offs, and what State puts on their boards. they can do it their way ALL day...but it probably won't get them through nursing school. but if you can get past it, then they're probably right, it takes longer to do the LPN to RN route, so not as many people are doing it, so its easier to get in. I'm not sure that going the BSN route first off is easier...but it might be.

I am 20 years old, and going to graduate from an RN associate program in May. I have lived in Johnson County (in kansas, which is close to the equivalent to Orange County, California) my entire life, and I am SO ready to live somewhere more....cultured. I love the ocean, and want to live somewhere that there is public transportation. I HATE cold weather.....so considering all these options, Miami seemed like the perfect place to live. But seeing as I have no family, friends or ever acquaintances in Miami, I was wondering, from a soical, climate, community and career perspectice, if Miami is all that I hope it will be to live ( i have been there 2 times on vacation and loved it) and what reputations the hospitals in the area have - especially in the preop, ER, or telemetry areas of the hospital ( i work on a tele floor now, and could see myself doing that, but i also want to be an anesthetist eventually) If anyone has any advice or info that would be helpful or informative, that would be great. Thanks!