blue4thebeach

OP,You must be at County! I just graduated in December. While the clinical program IS difficult to manage, it teaches you time management, prioritization and how to be a floor nurse. County grads are loved at hospitals because not only do we pass nclex first try, but we are more competent as new grads on the floor. Other schools... They might not get to insert a foley on a "real" patient. Some don't even get to give injections or start IVs while in school. I am guessing that you were an LVN previously... Those of us that started in 1st semester were pushed to the limit from day one, both clinically and academically. The exams are harder than you'll have ever seen. Comps (written test at end of clinical) are even more so. Clinicals are tough and a lot is expected of you. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. I start my first job in a week (less than 3 months after graduation). I was hired when they heard I was successfully caring for 4 pts during 4th semester, had inserted IVs, foleys and NG tubes. Not to mention all meds, assessments on all 4 pts, and full charting. Yes, they'll probably start me with 2 pts during orientation... But I KNOW I can handle 4-5 pts. County taught me very well. The instructors are there as your resource and to guide you. After graduation you will be expected to be an RN, not a student. County grads do well in that transition... Others have a steeper learning curve.You might have to work harder as a County student... But you'll be thankful when you land your first job and don't drown the first night.Good luck!! Go County! ;-)

Mugalex - So bummed to hear that you won't be with us this semester, but very glad that they are re-reviewing you for the fall. I will keep my fingers crossed for you!!!! Good luck! Xairamx - which clinical site will you be at? USC or Olive View? I'm at OV. I've met 1/2 of those at OV as of this week. Congrats & welcome!! Looking forward to meeting you. Most everyone I've talked to has never heard of this board or has only come across it casually. Hope to meet you in person next week! I have all of my books and spent all of today getting my health clearance and ID for class - tomorrow is my ID at OV. Yeesh! All of the paperwork and extra stuff that I hadn't expected! :-) But it's worth it in the end. Good luck! Andrew - thank you for being so supportive! It's great to see such kind people on a board where the cynics seem to come out in droves. :-)

Hey Mugalex... Did you get a chance to call? Anything? Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hoping to see you in a week... or next semester if needed.

Mugalex - have you heard anything?! I'm really hoping for good news from you!

Hi Iliana, I think it depends on how many people are in the "borderline" section. They had over 400 applicants with 190 that were qualified. They were only accept a total of 50 people (40 at County & 10 at Olive View). I'm not sure how many of those 50 will drop at the last minute... probably not very many. They only have a few more days to be able to accept anyone new... because the health clearance deadline is coming up soon and all that.

Stay positive! I was at today's orientation. A couple of people were accepted at another college as well and were still trying to decide. Some due to financial aid differences between county and the other school. Plus there was one or two that weren't sure they could support themselves even with financial aid. You never know! Good luck! Just think, even if it doesn't happen this semester you can reapply for fall. That gives you 6 months to save money and retake one class. Also, you will automatically get one more point for having qualified previously. That one point could make the difference in the fall.

Hey Joanna, Any word on if you are accepted? I just got my letter over the weekend. Hoping to meet you at orientation!! ~Blue

Have either of you called and just asked if anything was mailed to you or if you got in? With Ace getting his letter, maybe it's worth a shot to just ask. I called today to get parking info and Erica was really nice to double check the info for me. Ace, which facility are you doing clinical hours at?

For those in the "first round" of acceptance letters, we had to notify them by today if we were going to register for classes. That means that by today, they will know if they have any extra spots open up. Iliana - give them a call again. It can't hurt. I'm actually going to call in a bit to confirm that they have my "yes" registration card in my file and find out which parking lot to use when we meet on Friday. Ace - Congrats!! Looking forward to meeting you on Friday. :-) ~Blue

Woohoo!!! I'm in! I will be doing clinical at Olive View. Hope to see you all in January. :-D

Hi Iliana - Lots of hugs here!!! Call the school office and ask which ones are "approved" for you to take. You might even attend another info session and ask the question there (that's where I got the info). The dean and office staff are both very helpful and very nice. I'm sure they'll give you the info if you just ask. It's too bad your school wouldn't round up on that percentage!! SO SO close!! Thanks for the good luck. I'm still waiting for my paperwork (nothing is certain until it's in writing), but I'm feeling pretty good about it all. Hope to see you around in the future! ~Blue

Hi Iliana, Thank you for the update. So sorry that it's slightly above your points. Don't despair though. Often times they will lower the cut off closer to the start date as others decline the acceptance to attend a different school. It happens every semester and could happen again this year. Good luck for next semester - keep trying! You will even get a bonus point next semester for having met minimum qualifications this semester. You can also go back and retake one or two classes to bring your grade up. At the info session, they said if you took & passed a lab science, you can take it online without the lab to bring your grade up. So, if you got a B in Anatomy, you could take it online without lab to get an A and they would take your A instead of the B. You can do the same with any of your classes (science, english, etc). You will get there soon!! You just never know what life will bring you. This also gives you a little more time to work and save some money for school. Thanks again for calling to get the cutoff number. I think I had 80+ points, so I'll continue to check my mail every day. Nothing so far except junk mail this week. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow before I leave for the weekend. Would love to have it with me to read and celebrate before breaking the news at work next week. Good luck!!! ~Blue

I went cold turkey almost 2 months ago and have very little temptation. I started by cutting out the sodas and drinking regular Snapple tea (with sugar instead of sweetener). More than likely it's the aspartame causing your withdrawal symptoms (it was for me). I went about a week on Snapple (taking ibuprofen if I had any sign of headache). After about a week, I started drinking a glass of OJ first thing in the morning with toast or other breakfast item. I don't get headaches and am completely off both soda and caffeine. I keep a 24 oz water bottle at my desk (still at my office job, waiting for nursing school) and I fill it 3-4 times daily. Not only am I sleeping better and avoiding the extra chemicals, but I'm eating a lot less too - the water really fills me up. Good luck. I've tried once before to quit and ended up starting back up and doubling my consumption. I'm hoping to avoid falling back into it this time around. The first two weeks are the worst, but you can do it.

Hi Iliana - Congrats on you pre-entrance results! I knew you were good to go! Maybe it's a good sign that Maria called to ask for your HS transcript. I would take it as a good sign. Anyone else get theirs yet? My mailbox had only junk last night, so I'm crossing my fingers for tonight (I'll keep saying that until it arrives!). Landesmummy - if you are able to find out the cut off, that would be AWESOME! I am 99% sure what my points are, so knowing the cutoff would confirm either way. :-) Good luck on your comps!! I'm sure you will do great! Have you started applying for jobs yet? I'm still unclear on how that works between graduation and NCLEX.

I got so excited that I forgot to congratulate you!!! Congrats Lalollys!!! Hope to see you in January! Which clinical site did you get? I'll either go to LA or to Olive View. Won't know until I get my letter (positive thinking!).