curtRN

Okay me a day or 2. I gotta find the data files on my flash drive.

I didn't take it. I went to the medical center of central ga. I liked the hospital and the staff seemed very nice but as you know its a long term acute care facility. One thing I can say about it is that the pay is AWESOME there! The only reason I went to MCCG is for the experience, they offered the med surg unit I wanted, and its a teaching hospital with ALOT of classes to help you learn what you need to know. Hope this helps....

Give me an email. I'll send a copy to you. I hope you know that it acts funny with windows 7, nclex 3500 would be better if you have windows 7.

Hey, I'm a new grad and found this wonderful hospital to work at. The pay is $5 more than any of the other hospitals in the area, but they are still a relatively new hospital. Some other nurses told me I would get better experience at one of the larger hospitals. Which may be true since Regency is an Acute Care Facility. And also a close friend of mine told that they kinda of put your "license" on the line in certain situations. The example she gave me was, "All of the doctors are on call and you may have to call the time of death before they get there and to make sure you cover you behind". Also since they're new, they haven't gotten all the "glitches" out. If you know what thats means. I really don't know what to do, any advice would be very helpful thanks!

I'm graduated from Darton College in Albany, Ga. It was a great program and I learned a lot.

Thank you soooo much! I love the info you've given me.

I'm from that area and my dad's a lieutenant. NurseEuele is right, the west side is a nicer area. My dad likes the houses off of Moody Rd. Which is like 5 or 10 mins away from the base. That way he doesn't have to deal with traffic that much too and from work. They have nice subdivisions there and the schools are great if you have kids.

So I'm a new grad looking to work at one of these hospitals but I don't really know anyone that works at any of them. I like to typically stay at facility or work place for years and I wanna make a good fit for me. Like I hear 6 main at MCCG is hell on wheels and to stay away for it. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Thank all of you so much! I needed the input! I'm going to get more experience and do the research. Hopefully they don't change the rules by then.

Which setting would you suggest? I like the Family NP role because you can care for patients across different ages.

I am about to graduate nursing school in like a week and in the end want to be a FNP. I'm only 25 and people are telling to wait and work for 3 years, preferably in the ICU. And then go to NP school. Is that helpful for me in the long run? I don't wanna stop because I'm in the "school mode" right now. I don't have any kids and I'm not married. Also the state or whoever is changing the degree to a doctorate degree to be a FNP by 2015 I hear. If I go now, I can make that deadline and hopefully be grandfathered in. Also what books or other things can I read to get a head start on the type of studying / work I will be doing? I loved NCLEX comprehensive review books and such, but what does a NP use? I'm the type that will study like I'm in the class a semester before it even starts. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

lol.... I'm just trying to help and besides they're gonna need it messing around with darton. I just can't wait to graduate!

Yes Denise thats right. We take a HESI every semester 2 times and the best score of the two is calculated into a test grade. Typically having 5 or 6 unit tests a semesters + the HESI and + the final. I'm taking my last class now which is med-surg 3. Our HESI is a little different and we take two different HESI's. One contains Med Surg, Psych, and Maternal/Child Nursing. The other one is Pharm. But the Med Surg is 0.7% and the Pharm is 0.3% which equals one test grade if you understand what I'm saying. BUT EVERY OTHER CLASS BESIDES MED SURG 3 YOU TAKE ONE HESI WHICH EQUALS A TEST GRADE. I know ALOT of other schools are more strict but thank god my school isn't. lol... Hope that helped and good luck!

There is a HESI exam but you don't have to pass it to pass the class. The HESI is B.S. in sooo many way but this is how it is now. The HESI counts as a test grade and it goes by your percentage score. Lets say you make an 900 on the HESI out of 1400. Your percentage score may be 82 or somewhere in the B area. It depends on you how hard your questions were that you got right, etc, etc.... You get to take it twice. Trust me, your instructors will explain it to you next week. All of other schools make you take it an an end of course exam, but not Darton thank God. lol... Ummm, I hear its worst than NCLEX also but I've done well that pass couple of semesters. It can really hurt your grade in the class if you do bad enough. But It will not be the cause of you failing the class.

I think so, Ms. Lanier your instructor is gonna give me a date Monday. It will be over my experience in the program, tips and advice, and going over the programs / e-books I'm going to give your class, and the importance and value of NCLEX questions. I can't email it unless I do it piece by piece and thats alot. lol.... Notes over the class I don't really have, besides it would be out-dated because the school changed the course about a year ago. I'm going to have a copy of the programs / e-books on a flash drive and CD that I will pass around and leave with the instructor or some one. I stay in Westwind Apts. Its like 5 mins away from the school but their are alot of closers one to the school. I know its like 8 or more off the top of my head. Believe me, its plenty of students thinking just like you. Finding a room mate is not really hard because alot people look for room mates. The problem is finding the right room mate and thats something you will have to figure out. But you can ask around the class when you start to meet people in your class. Aleast 1/3 of the class will probably not live in Albany. Don't be too concerned about it. Your welcome for the help, don't hesitate to ask anything. Congratulations on making it in and good luck!

I'm using ebooks and a couple of paper books. Ummm, I don't have much that can help you for fundamentals. For Med Surg and your other classes, I have plenty. I'm actually going to do a presentation for your class the first day. I'm going to give your class a copy of all my ebooks and nclex programs. They're valued at over $1200 together and I'm going to give it to you for free. I'm from the Macon area. Naw, I didn't stay on campus. In order to stay on campus you 1. have to be full time (12 credits a semester) and 2. The cost is not worth the small private rooms. I'm a little too old for that, but if I had to I would. The way I manage my money is I got a nice two bedroom apartment for $500 with a room mate. Pell pays for school, a $1000 loan pays my rent for the semester (4 months), and my part time job (10-20 a week) pays for my food, bills, and gas. Not to mention I still have $2000 in sub. student loan money I could get if I need it. Staying in the dorms gives you peace of mind though. You won't have to worry about bills coming ever month or messing up your money. But your going to pay around $1600 a semester to stay there though.

July 28th! I can't wait. I'm actually studying for the class already, hoping to finish all the units before summer classes start. I hate taking med surg classes over the summer, but I wanna graduate as soon as possible. A couple of words for motivation. One of the hospitals back home made me an offer of $25 an hour as a new graduate with $4 extra differential for night shift so thats $29 an hour fresh out of school! So I know the atlanta area should be more.

No problem. Ummm, surviving nursing school is well.... Challenging. I'm still trying to get out myself. lol... In fundamentals you just have to study, study, study. That class gives you the foundation for future classes. Also, most of the instructors are great. If you need anything they will help! When you get to med-surg you may benefit from an nclex comprehensive review book like saunders or something. It really helped me because I'm couldn't completely understand from the text book. I typical study anywhere from 20 to 30 hours a week depending on the test. I really have to go over the material for it to stick for me. My starting class was like 117 students. It will shrink to 35 to 50 by the time is over with. Don't let that discourage you though. You determine your success. Go in with a good attitude and be ready to learn.

Sorry for being so late. Over the summer you will have fundamentals of nursing and pharm and I already told you the schedule for that. Typically med surg 1 & 2 classes are once a week and clinicals are once a week till you get to med surg 3. Depending on your class size you will either have a week day or weekend clinical day. Every one wants a week day so I hope you pull a low number in the drawing. lol... I know alot of people that commute but even they say it takes a toll on you after awhile. But you make find a friend or something that won't mind letting you hit the sofa for a night. Let me know if you have any more questions. I'll be quicker next time. lol...

I'm in darton's nursing program and will be graduating over the summer. Your class will be on mondays and tuesdays. So you can commute over the summer. But when you start your med-surg classes you may want to consider the move. It will be easier on you as far as gas, time spent driving, and being on time. I don't know your situation but these instructors don't play about being late to clinical or class. Besides make-up tests for being late are a bitc*.

Hey, I've just started my Maternal Nursing Class. In all my med-surg classes, my saunders review book has been great for me. I'm a male with no kids and I feel clueless. lol... I wanted to get a review book for this class but I don't know which one. I hear the Prentice Hall Nursing Reviews & Rationals: Maternal-Newborn Nursing, 2/E is pretty good. but its also 5 years old. Straight A's in Maternal Nursing is okay but not better than Prentice I believe. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm a new student and the nursing exams really upset me. I know the material and can easily explain it, but when test time comes thats a different story. The simplest questions I get wrong. I read, read, and read some more everyday. I'm starting to realize I can not just depend on the book. I have to come up with another way. Some of the more seasoned student say practice questions are great, but what books are broken down by system that explain and have plenty of NCLEX questions to follow? I have to make it through this program. Someone please help or give me directions on a good way to accomplish this. Books, resources, or any! Oh yeah, it sucks being the only male in the class...