afireinside

My opinion... Taking those two classes are going to be like a walk in the park once you actually get into the nursing program. You will eat, breathe, sleep, and dream nursing... so this might be a good time to challenge yourself to see if you can handle the stress/pressure of these two major classes together as a predictor of your resilience in the near future!

I just recently graduated from San Jac's nursing program. Luckily I was able to be immediately hired in the ER at Bayshore because I had been teching there for the past 6 months. I know that a lot of people in my class are having a hard time finding jobs. The main reason that the jobs aren't as plentiful is because of the UTMB medical personnel that flooded the job market after Ike. Many EXPERIENCED nurses needed to be placed in jobs and have still not returned to Galveston. As a result, there are less available positions in Houston compared to other places. Not to mention the problems with the economy...

The first semester is divided up into two 8 week portions. The first 8 weeks you will have Foundations of Nursing paired with Health Assessment. You will basically take Health Assessment on one day of the week and will have Foundations for the other days. If I remember correctly I think I went Monday-Thursday and had Fridays off. The second portion of the semester gets a little bit tricker as you start to add your clinical hours in with your courses. The second 8 weeks you will continue with the 2nd part of Health Assessment, and start Foundations II... or as it is better known 'skills'. This class is where you will learn everything from making a bed to inserting a Foley catheter. Before this 2nd half starts, they already have students divided up and placed in their clinical assignments at the hospital. I'm going to go on record and let you know that the 1st semester is the easiest (and that's not saying much). During the 1st semester many students were able to maintain their jobs, relationships, and have somewhat of a life. The instructors are extremely lenient and really try to make the transition for new students as painless as possible. Saying that.. I know many people were not happy with their clinical assignments and they allowed us to trade with someone else if we weren't happy. Be warned though... when you hit 2nd semester... the instructors change..and everything gets much less negotiable. As far as time off.. There is only a week.. if that ... break between the 1st and 2nd portions of the 1st semester. In fact.. let's just say by the time the winter break gets here.. you will be more than ready for your month of freedom. I hope this answers some of your questions.. :)

Hey there... I recently graduated from San Jac (Class of May 09) and I'd be happy to answer any of your questions. I've often told my fellow classmates that I wish we could impart some wisdom and tips to the incoming class to make their life a little easier. On a side note.. I took NCLEX today and I believe based on the "Pearson trick" that I'm unofficially an RN now!