Megan1217

Hey everyone! Just an FYI, TB tests are free at DCCCD.

Congrats to all of you! Nur-c-poo is right, this is the way they operate! You have to be on your game at all times! First semester is VERY stressful and it is to see who can handle it and who can't. Basically it's a make or break ya semester! 2nd semester is AWESOME!! Just some tips from me. First, look at the ecampus site. Most of what you need as far as info can be found under "community" nursing. You will be added when your classes are set up. Once you are added, browse through it and familiarize yourself where things are. Another thing, work together NOT against each other. You have ALL made it! Team up and help each other find things or answer each others questions. Also, your friends and family will not understand what you are going through, but your nursing buddies will! Keep up with your reading!! Print the concepts from ecampus and study with that. Sometimes you do not need to read the entire chapter. Also, use ATI as it is a big help to solidify the concepts. As far as clinicals, if you want the BEST learning experience get the VA! Yes the instructor is tough but you will be ahead of other students because you will learn so much more and have hospital experience! I thank that instructor every time I see her because she made me a better nurse. Also, you will be done way before other students. Let's see, what else can I tell you all? OH, when you all meet in July to pick clinical sites/lecture, LISTEN to them. They will not repeat themselves! Do as they ask! Don't write when they tell you not to. Turn your phones off and listen for your number to be called! If you fail to do so, you will be picking last! I shouldn't have to say this BUT, act like adults! Ok that's all I've got right now. Let me know if you have any questions! Again, congrats!!

That's AWESOME! It must be because they have a new person in the admissions office. When I was waiting for my letter, it was sent out a few weeks late. Again, best of luck to all of you!!

That won't happen! Not trying to be a Debbie downer, BUT, they have never sent acceptance letters out on time. They usually are sent a couple of weeks after the due date. If you don't receive them by Wednesday, you know it will be a couple of weeks. Best of luck to all of you!

Don't be surprised if you have to wait an additional 2-3 weeks before you get your letters. They are always running behind! Best of luck to each of you!!

Nurse Betty, a new grad, thought she had the coolest new job until she had to locate her missing psych patient........the one who thought he was Edmund Hillary!

The only other advice I can give is make friends with each other. Your friends and family may not understand what is going on but your nursing friends will. Remember that you all are in this together and are not competing anymore. If you find something works for you, share it with your nursing buds. If you are not sure of something, ask your instructor. Do NOT be afraid of them! Another thing is to read the points at the end of the chapters first, then go through the chapters and skim reading the headings and vocab. Once you have done that, get up and stretch and come back and read. The way that questions are asked on tests are not like any other questions you have had on tests before. I HIGHLY recommend that you do the Evolve questions online and buy a book called Fundamentals Success by Nugent/Vitale. It has tons of NCLEX questions with rationales that will help you. The more NCLEX questions you do, the better! I know some of this may not make sense to you now but it will after you get started. If you are down at the VA, you are going to see LOTS of things! Wound care was the BEST! The patients are very friendly and the staff was AWESOME! One thing though, if you are at the VA I would check with your instructor about your shoes. She is picky and will even want you to wear a black shirt underneath your scrubs. Remember, she is military and that is what she wants everyone to look the same and professional. She does not take any crap but she will make you a better nurse because of it. Let me know if you all have any questions. Again, remember BREATHE! This will all be ok!! Just say to yourself, I am a nurse, I CAN do this!!

LadyBug2012- I am starting my 2nd semester and was at the VA during my 1st semester. It was the best experience. Presby wasn't an option last semester. It was a nursing home, a long term care facility and the VA. Even though my teacher was tough, we really had the best experience because we were in a hospital setting. What were the options for you all? I will be at Parkland this semester and I am super excited! The best piece of advice I can give you all is to learn the community site and know where things are, be flexible (they will tell you that they own you for the next 2 years and they mean it), keep up with your reading, and last but not least is to relax and take a deep breath! You all can do this!!

So where will everyone be for clinicals?

Awesome! Nope no email notification. I had emailed the "registration contact" at El Centro yesterday and she told me that they were doing registration yesterday and today. I noticed when I went to pay for the classes, the liability insurance of $18.13 was included in the cost. That was my question in a different email to the "nursing coordinator". I was starting to get a little nervous about those two things and am SO glad they are now taken care of!! So are you like me and ready to get this party started?!? :)

What are you confused about and I will clarify. :)

Hey everyone! They are actually registering us for classes today. I actually made my payment for my classes about an hour ago. If you go into eConnect and view your class schedule, it should be there by the end of the day. Also, your liability insurance (not medical/health insurance) is included in the amount due when you go to make your payment. Just thought I would pass that info along! I'm sure you all are getting as excited as I am for school to start!

Yes congrats to all who go in! :yelclap::w00t: Who will be at El Centro? I went and hand delivered my pink letter to them yesterday. Wahoo!

Yeah we both are there! That was my first choice because the train runs right by there!

Congrats to all of you!! I know you all are over the moon too!