Christine2009

Find out from your school what book they are using for A&P and start studying that or just go to the bookstore and get an A&P book. Knowing A&P is vital to your success in the program!

As far as the books go, you have to get them through the school. It is included in your tuition. The books they use for the prereq class are: Memmler's Human Anatomy in Health and Disease and Calculate With Confidence. Module 1: Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, Memmler's Human Anatomy in Health and Disease, Calculate with Cofindence, Williams Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy Module 2 & 3: Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Text and Study Guide, Core Concepts in Pharmacology Module 4: Foundations in Mental Health Care, Maternity Nursing: An Introductory Text, Pediatric Nursing: An Introductory Text As far as the WIA program goes, you have to be or have been on Unemployment in order to qualify for the program. I live in Alameda County so Contra Costa County might have different requirements. The best thing to do is to call the office and ask what they require. It is a very lengthy process mind you and I started the process this time last year and recieved approval for the program in April of this year! HTH!

For me, hands down is Pharmacology! All the drugs we need to know for class and clinical is killing me...I should buy stock in the company that makes the 4x6 index cards because I buy around 300 (3 packs of 100 cards) them just about every month for all the drug cards we have to make!

Study up on your A&P! You will revisit it through out the program!

Here is my email address if you have any questions or need help on your classes. I am almost half way thru Module 3, so feel free to shoot me your questions if you need help [email protected]

no I am still in school. why not volunteer somewhere where LPN's work to see the day in the life of an LPN. For me there was no question about what I wanted to do. I want to go on to get my RN, but going for the LVN first b/c it is easier to bridge into an RN program here in CA than straight applying.

LPN's do everything an RN does except that we do not push meds in an IV line, or make the initial care plan for the pt. We work mainly in LTC's or clinics, and RN's work in hospitals. As far as pay goes, it depends on your state. Here in CA, they start LPN's anywhere between $26-$30 an hr depending on where you work. HTH!

What advice do you want?

Are you there to get your LVN or make friends? Stay out of the drama...who cares if your class likes you or not! My class is full of high school bs and so sick of it, but I keep remembering the reason why I am there...to get my degree and move on to bigger and better things...If I make friends along the way, great...if not, oh well at least I got what I came for. Drama will be everywhere...at your job, school, ect. focus on your goal of becoming the best nurse you can be and do not worry about what your class thinks of you...you are there for you! Keep your head up, stand proud and get it done:nurse:

try outlining the chapter and answer all the objectives in the chapter...answer all the questions at the end of the chapter...utilize the online website that comes with your book if available...also you might want to try the A&P coloring book...overall, A&P is pure memorization, just stay positve and try different study techniques you might also want to talk to the director of the program since you already spoke with the instructor and did not get a clear answer on how to pass this class, the director might be able to give you study techniques as well... HTH! and best of luck to you...

Gurinick uses Calculate With Confidence 5th Edition...this book is awesome and trust me when the program starts, you will have alot of time to learn the calculations stuff...you learn it in the prereq's and Module 1. I am not good at math either, but found what works for me and that is how I do it...the instructors always confused me so I had to tune them out and just do it my way...as long as I came up with the same answer, who cares how I do it right? lol...what campus are you going to again? I have no problem helping you when you guys get to this part in the class and show you the way I do my problems. Just PM me and I will give you my # so you can call me with any questions.

Why are you thinking of giving up when you just started? I understand you are depressed and questioning whether you can do this, but you have not given the class enough time. Give yourself a break...you are just begining the journey. Correct what you did wrong, elvauate your study habits, talk to your instructor and go for it...:redbeathe

1.) 50 units = 50mL 500mL/50 = 10mL 10mL/20mL= 2 units Answer: 2 Units 2.) 25 units = 25 mL 250mL/25mL = 10mL 10mL/1mL= 10mL Answer: 10 Units HTH!

You are right! But, they taught us MONA not MOAN b/c you want to administer nitro before the ASA for the MI pt. As I said I am losing my mind...lol...I so need a break!

I record all my lectures! On my recorder I have 5 different files so I use file A for Med-Surg and file B for Pharm. This way I can keep track of what class I am listening too. The mnemonics did not help me really...I read the book, outlined the chapter, did the online testing accompying the book, did all the check point questions in the chapter, along with the questions at the back of the chapter. Then on the rare occassion we were given a study guide for A&P, I made 3x5 cards of the questions and added information from lecture and my notes to the card to study for the test. I ended up with an A for the class doing it this way. Now that I am in Module 2 about to start Module 3, my studying has laxed a bit b/c I am getting burned out. With no break between these modules, it is so hard and now just study to pass the class or test. I am still though an honor student...3.83 GPA, but as I stated before, these two modules are intense with alot of HW and writing as well as reading. On Friday is our Pharm 1 final and then we have to hand write 30 pages of notes front and back of the paper to remediate our Fundamentals HESI for Module 1 that has to be turned in on Sept. 28th to move forward into module 3 along with studying for our comprehensive final for Med-Surg 1! It is just insane all the writing you have to do!

That is the only one to start with. The drug dose book is good to start as well, but Ann ususally gives you a packet with the first 6 chapters to do before class which will help you once class starts. I suggested the anatomy book b/c Arti (the instructor) just reads a powerpoint and does not really lecture or expand on it. It makes it difficult to understand the material for the test when she does this, so if you can get an understanding now, then you won't be lost in the class.

The only memonics we were taught in prereq's were for the cranial nerves. Which was o o o to touch and feel a woman's lady parts...lol...do not ask me what they are anymore, I just learned them for a test, and that is all I remember. For med-surg they taught us MONA = morphine (pain), oxygen (stabilize breathing), nutrition (balanced diet), aspiration (make sure pt does not chock)...I forget what this is applied to...I think it is for the post op pt...you never want to catch up with pain... then there is "the deeper it goes, the sweeter it gets" for pharmacology but forgot what that was applied to...lol... As you see, I am losing my mind!

When you get your Anatomy & Drug Dose Calculations books...For Anatomy read chapters 1-3 (first test) and for Drug Dose start with the first 5 chapters. Your tests in Anatomy will include math problems from those chapters. Also, when you get to Chapters 14-16 in Drug Dose in your class, find the method that works best for you. These chapters show you the 3 different ways to calculate meds. Once you have the method down, do all the problems in the 3 chapters that way so that when you get to taking your Drug Dose test (need a 75% to pass) you will be okay on the test.

The prereq class and Module 1 are the easiest classes...once you get into Module 2 & Module 3, everything you learned up to this point is stepped up a notch! The reason being is that you have a lot of information thrown at you and there is a lot of HW, reading, and studying plus you do not get a break between the two modules. Pharmacology is really hard and requires a lot of studying, writing and a boat load of HW! Trying to manage clinical two days a week, and doing case studys, drug cards, ect then trying to study Pharm and Med-Surg and all the HW, studying and reading is really difficult. Then when you get into Module 4, you have a test EVERYDAY you are in class, along with clinical two days a week and field trips! The time in the program goes fast, but really fast paced.

911, You will want to cut your hours down at work! This program is intense and very fast pace...I work 40 hours a week and it is so hard to stay on top of all the HW, reading, writing, and studying...working a 48 - 60 work week does not leave a lot of time left, if any, for studying.

i attend the concord campus and in module 2, (about to start module 3). since all the campuses work the same, here is my advice and supply list that another student gave me when i started: stay focused on why you are there...stay out of the drama...if you make friends great, if not that is okay...you are there for you and you only. the prereq class and module 1 are a breeze, but you really need to spend time in your books studying. module 2 & module 3 are intense because there is no break between the two modules. pharm is really hard and you spend the majority of your time studying this while trying to juggle clinical and med-surg. module 4 you will have a test everyday as well as clinical 2 days a week plus field trips! supplies needed: recorder (to record your lectures) notebook paper (for all the hw assignments) 3x5 cards (can take these anywhere with you and help you study) 4x5 cards (for module 2 & 3 for the gazillion med cards you have to make) black ink pens (you will do a lot of writing!) 3-ring binder(s) (i use a different binder for each class to keep things organized) rolling backpack (the med-surg books weigh a ton!) spiral notebooks (to take notes in) comfortable white shoes (you spend a lot of time on your feet in the core program in clinical) pencils (for your tests) calander (keep hw dates and test dates) tylenol (for the constant migranes from pharmacology) coffee (for the late night studying sessions) enjoy the journey, the time goes by so fast and can not believe that i am graduating in 6 months! hth!

The reason why they do not buy the books until the program starts is because they might come out with a new edition of the textbooks. Talk to Kamila (the financial aid director) and let her know that you already have the A&P book and see if she can get it taken off your tuition. If you want the book list, I can email it to you. The editions are not changing, because when I started they had just changed...Once the class for January is finalized, they order the books...usually in December, like I said, call Kamila at the San Mateo Campus or Concord and talk to her about it and see what you can work out.

I am a student at Gurnick Concord and if you paid the $75 enrollment fee, they will not refund that back to you. Since you have already done the FA, you might as well stay there. I am loving my experience at Gurnick and graduating in 6 months...can not wait!

From what I have heard, Unitek is only out for the money. I inquired about their bridge program and was told that when I came down there after filling out my FASFA they would give me all the info I needed...the more I asked questions about the program, I was told that he had other people waiting to talk to but to make an appt to come and see the campus and do the financial aid stuff. Now, why would I fill out a FASFA if I never even got my questions answered? I basically told him that I was not interested in going to a school that only cared about the money and he told me that when I was serious about doing their program, to call him back! Gurnick is in the stages of putting a BSN program together so I think that once I finish the LVN that I might look into that if I have any sanity left...lol...

11th edition. Make sure you let Ann know that you already have the book so it can be deducted from your tution. Just tell her a friend of yours had the book and did not use it and so you bought from her in case she asks.