michellej_1012

I agree with Mandi... Med surg success is an AWESOME BOOK. I also recently got pharm success and it's just as amazing.

Do any and all NCLEX type questions you can get your hands on. Most of your books will come with online access, register them and I am sure you will find questions on some of those.

I start the program in about 6 days. Pre reqs take about a year or so to complete, a year wait and then the program itself is a year and a half. So yeah the total time is about 3-4 years. I do suggest getting some of the classes that are required for your bachelors out of the way. I only needed to go as far as beginning algebra but over the wait I took intermediate and college. I also took a humanities and a speech class... you could probably do more but I took this last semester off to take a break right before the program starts. Seminole is always another option but they are VERY competitive. As long as you have a 3.8 GPA all throughout your pre reqs then yeah it would be worth it.

Will do =) I know how anxious I got waiting for my orientation and everything else to come around. I still need to get khakis for our lab uniform, a new lab coat because I don't like the fit on mine (and sew on the patch), get some white long sleeve shirts for when its cold on our lab days and read about 70 more pages in the fundamentals books. I'm also waiting on 2 books that the book store still does not have in stock. The name pins that we are required to wear on lab days are also not ready yet. Just a little tip for anyone going into the program soon, I'm sure pretty soon you guys will start doing your physical and what not. Keep this in mind that the TB screening expires.... I made the mistake of being so anxious to get everything done that I went in and got everything done in February of last yr, not realizing that now in about a month I'm going to have to go in and get another one. The TB, tetorifice, CPR certification and fit testing all expire. You have your orientation about 2 months before classes start and about 2-3 weeks before orientation you will get an e-mail listing everything that needs to be done. In that there will be a website where you upload all of your records like physical, immunizations, etc. Anytime one of your immunizations, CPR or anything like that is going to expire it will e-mail you and let you know.

required -fundamentals of nursing textbook/ studyguide & skills DVD (Potter & Perry 7th edition) - AT MY ORIENTATION THEY TELL YOU TO READ CH 32, 33 & 34 BEFORE CLASSES START -Dimensional analysis for meds 4th edition- THIS IS A SELF TAUGHT BOOK. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE IT ON YOUR OWN. ITS PRETTY MUCH A MATH WORK BOOK -workbook for nursing - pharmacology a nursing process approach 6th edition -pharmacology study guide -essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing -elsevier evolve case studies -davis's comprehensive handbook of laboratory and diagnostic test with nursing implications -cyclopedic medical dictionary (indexed) -nursing pocket guide: nursing diagnosis -davis's drug guide for nurses optional -how to survive and maybe even love your life as a nurse - I WAS TOLD THIS IS POINTLESS TO GET -test success beginning nursing students -fundamentals success -fundamentals (flash cards)

Only a week until my first day of class. I am sooooooo nervous but so excited. Anybody else starting with me?

OH BTW... in the fundamentals of nursing book they suggested we read chapters 32, 33 & 34. I'm pretty sure those are correct... I'll double check for you, but the first chapter is Vitals and the second is doing Physicals and what not.

I have a post going Valencia CC Spring of 2011 - Nursing for Nurses And some one in a reply said she was supposed to start in the summer of 2011 but got moved up the Spring of 2011 with me. Typically its a 3 semester wait but if your one of the lucky ones there is a small chance its only a 2 semester wait.

Oh wow LUCKY you. I was hoping I would get moved up but that didn't happen. I was wondering when I went to register for my classes at 7:00 am, I heard they filled up REALLY fast. I checked back the next day and there were still ALOT of spots left. That's got to be super exciting but a little stressful w/ such short notice. Did you have most of the requirements finished already? Don't they hold another mini orientation for those that get moved up? If you haven't already did your background check etc. I will just warn you that certifiedbackground is a pain in the butt big time. Let me know if you have any questions, I'd love to help out if I can.

We didn't find awhole lot out at Orientation today. We bought the polo shirts ($25 a piece, not covered by financial aid) that you have to wear on lab days. We also had to order one pure white UGLY scrub set that cost like $75 (which financial aid does cover) and this is where you also order your lab coat that you have to wear on lab days, if you already have one you can buy a patch at the book store for $1.50 and have it sewn on the left sleeve. We got fitted for those masks that you have to wear if your dealing w/ a patient who is highly contagious. Also stopped at the book store to order two name pins. They gave us our list of books that we need and told us we need to get our lab kit. I'm ordering both of those the first week of December. Still have to go out and get a stethoscope and a BP cuff. That schedule that I posted earlier is the definite schedule. So I'm assuming that's what the hours will probably look like for you as well. One guy who was already a student and volunteering at the orientation was telling us "I failed the first semester because I tried to work, so I had to quit my job and retake that semester." From what they are saying its pretty hardcore. I want to get in at the West Campus in the silver section, so this Sunday we have to get up at 7:00 am ON THE DOT to register and get the class we want. The instructor said one year someone said at 7:01 they went to go register for the specific section they wanted and didn't get it because it was full. Its late and I'm tired so that's all I can remember for now. I'll keep you guys updated =)

No but I'm starting in 3 months. You should go check out my post Valencia CC Spring of 2011 - Nursing for Nurses

They really like to keep you in the dark. My orientation date is November 19th and I start on January 10th. I just got my packet with all the information about 2 weeks ago. While you are waiting I would highly suggest getting these things out of the way. Get CPR certified- Valencia offers it for $40 Continuing Education for Health Professionals - Valencia Community College http://www.valenciacc.edu/west/health/orientation/CPR_BLS_Certification_Requirement.pdf Go to centra care for your physical and immunizations http://www.valenciacc.edu/west/health/orientation/HEALTH_STATUS_FORM.pdf http://www.valenciacc.edu/west/health/orientation/VCC_CENTRA_CARE_Immunizations.pdf Also plan on spending about $160 for finger printing, drug testing and background check. You have to do that about a month before your program starts http://ptlmail-prod.valenciacc.edu:6777/attach/NURSING_Generic_VA_06_VCC_CB_Student_Instructions_Drug_Screening.pdf?sid=&mbox=INBOX&uid=961&number=6&filename=NURSING%20Generic_VA%2006_VCC%20CB%20Student%20Instructions_Drug%20Screening.pdf Here is a sample schedule- This does not include clinicals (our clinicals do not start until March) WEST CAMPUS Section RED (A) CRN 22597 Monday/Thursday (Theory) 9:00AM - 11:50AM Tuesday/Wednesday (Nursing Lab) 1:00PM - 4:50PM Tuesday/Wednesday (Seminar) 10:00AM - 11:50AM Professors: TBA Classroom for Theory: 4-120 & HSB 220, Seminars: HSB 220 Classroom for Nursing Lab: HSB 225 Section SILVER (B) CRN 22598 Monday/Thursday (Theory) 9:00AM - 11:50AM Tuesday/Wednesday (Nursing Lab) 8:00AM - 11:50AM Tuesday/Wednesday (Seminar) 1:00PM - 2:50PM Professors: TBA Classroom for Theory: 1-113 & HSB 120 Seminars: 1-113 Classroom for Nursing Lab: HSB 225 OSCEOLA CAMPUS Section GOLD (O) CRN 22599 Monday/Thursday (Theory) 9:00AM - 11:50AM Tuesday/Wednesday (Nursing Lab) 8:00AM - 11:50AM Tuesday/Wednesday (Seminar) 1:00PM - 2:50PM So at this point that is all I know. In about 3 weeks I will have more info.

So who here will be starting the program at Valencia in Spring of 2011. I figured this would be a good place to share our excitement and questions.... because that e-mail we just got with our orientation materials was kind of over whelming lol.