mlcord121

I'm currently in my second semester of the nursing program at OCC. The program is challenging, but I have to say I love it. Theory and lab get to be too much a lot of the times, but I am learning so much in my clinical. I just keep telling myself, it will all be worth it

I haven't heard this yet, what's the new rule?

I know what you mean about the prep points. They do take a long time to do, especially when we have them for theory and lab. But I think the whole point is so we have an idea about what the lecture will be about. I had my checkoff yesterday and I had to watch a video today on medical asepsis b/c I forgot to take off my gloves btwn positioning the bed pan and giving the pt the call light. Things are going really fast, but I kinda expected that. My cousin graduated from the program a year and half ago so she gave me a few tips. Have you tried getting a mentor? Maybe a second yr student, I know they had a sign up sheet at the orientation. Maybe you can go to the welcome luncheon and try to get some tips there. I totally understand how you feel about the stress. Hopefully when clinicals start and we start doing the skills on actual patients, maybe things will seem better to you. Just try to hang in there and take one day at a time. I know its easier said than done, but don't give up yet. Take care

Well so far things are going good, a ton of work though. I've read on this site from many people to keep organized. That's what I've been doing so far. I look at my calendar where I have written down when every prep point is due, when every quiz is, and when we have checkoffs. I look at it everyday and try to see what I can work on to scratch off the list. Luckily I'm not working right now so I can study all the time. I think after this semester I'm going to try get a job as a nurse aide or PCA or something. We'll see. How are things going with you?

Hi I'm a first year at OCC too. I just had my first lecture yesterday. About prep points, for my instructor we can only put two questions per page. The answers need to be ABOVE AND BEYOND what the question is asking. Fun huh? I think she freaked out the whole class, if someone asked her a question she looked at you like you were a complete idiot. But then after the break she completely changed her attitude. She was laughing and making jokes. Maybe she wanted to see if anyone wouldn't come back from break:rotfl: Well, good luck to you. I have a feeling it's going to be a long semester:p

I completely understand everyone's point of view, but I have been on the other side of it. I've been a MA for 8 yrs and currently going to school for RN. I work at a FP x 4yrs and the Dr is constantly calling us NURSES. Even after I constantly correct her. I am always telling the patients, "No, I'm not a nurse, I'm a medical assistant. But I'm going to school to be a nurse." When I first started working there the front office staff would always come back to me saying that a patient was on the phone with questions. I would tell to take a message for the dr and I'd get dirty looks and huffs and puffs. So after awhile I just okay, what line are they on and I would take a message myself. I feel so incredibly uncomfortable, I am not trained for that. Well not yet anyway. I don't try to triage or assess the pt, I just honestly tell the patient I don't know and that I will ask the dr and call them back. And you know what really gets me, is that the Dr I work for was once a RN herself!! Is that crazy or what? She just completely forgot the difference btwn an RN and MA. Sorry for the long post :)

Hi everyone I just got my acceptance letter today!! Actually I had to go to the post office and ask if they had a certified letter for me. I've been waiting all week b/c a lot of people in my pharm class had already gotten their letters. Well to make a long story short, the mailman had apparently came on wed to deliver it, but he didn't even leave a card to notify me that I had a certified letter waiting for me! I was a little annoyed with that, but I guess all that matters is I GOT IN!!! I am so excited, I finished all my prereqs too, last fall. So I can focus solely on Nursing classes. Good Luck to everyone. Michele Oh, by the way its a 5 semester program at OCC in MI.

I know exactly how you feel, I get so excited to start the nursing classes, then I get so nervous that I get butterflies in my stomach!!! :) All in about 2 seconds! Good luck to you.

Seems like everyone here will find out before I do. Our application deadline isn't even until May 1. They say we'll find out by June 30, then start classes this fall. I'm excited but nervous too. I heard that the first semester is the hardest, to weed out all those who can't "hack it". I actually heard that from the dean of the nursing dept at the info session. SCARY...:uhoh21: