b&g'smom

Hello All! Congrats to all that got accepted...I know you've worked hard to get here! For those that didn't get in, please don't give up. I just wanted to leave some words of wisdom considering some of the negative comments on here. I am currently a 4th semester (NURS 260) student at JJC and while I am part of the "old" curriculum program, I do not believe that this program is as awful as some make it out to be. Let me explain: 1) When I say "old" curriculum, I am referring to the fact that my class only had to have an 80% overall (800/1000 pts) to pass. The new curriculum requires that you have an 80% overall for the class and an 80% average on exams. This might be confusing, so let me explain: Each semester you have a total of 1000 pts, let's say that 700 of these points is allocated towards exams and 300 towards papers/care plans. Let's say you get 553/700 pts on exams (which equals a 79% average on exams) and the full 300 points for papers, that gives you an overall score of 853/1000 or 85.3%, but since you didn't average 80% or better on your exams, you still don't pass. This might be difficult for some to swallow, however let me remind some people that at the end of the day, even if you graduate JJCs program, your actual nursing license is only granted after passing the NCLEX, so this program is just preparing you for REALITY. 2) The program is hard, as hard as it was to get in, it will be harder for you to keep your spot. I hope that most of our students realize that when they graduate they will be in charge of peoples lives! That is not something to be taken lightly. So I, along with most of my peers, appreciate and accept the challenge of our program being hard....what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, and one heck of a better nurse! Every single nursing program out there is challenging....find one that isn't an prove me wrong! 3) JJC is an accredited program, with a great reputation, whose 2011 NCLEX pass rates exceeded national standards. In 2011 our PN pass rate was 99% and our RN pass rate was 96%. These students don't pass the NCLEX because they are gifted and talented, they pass because the program prepared them well! 4) Someone mentioned that there were no 4th semester nursing students willing to volunteer to give advice to incoming 1st semester students. WRONG!!! I know first hand that this is incorrect, because I myself went and spoke to new students during orientation. Now, let me get off my soapbox and give the new, ambitious students some real advice. Be prepared to be extremely flexible, things will be thrown at you last minute and you will have to cope. It sucks sometimes, but in the end you will see strengths in yourself that you never imagined possible. Be prepared to eat, breath, and sleep nursing...again, it will stink sometimes, but in the end you will feel empowered and knowledgeable on a level that you never new was within yourself. Don't believe all of the rumors you here...Upperclassmen/women will try to scare you...don't let them. People graduate, don't they?!? The fact that we have NCLEX pass rate statistics proves this! You will hear things about some teachers being horrible and then you will have them yourself and adore them. You will hear that one semester is worse than the other and then that semester will wind up being your favorite. Blah, blah, blah....don't believe everything you hear! Ultimately, what I am trying to say is: You CAN do this!!!! I can say this because I work, I'm a mom, and I KNOW I will be graduating in December (with honors, might I add). Good luck to you all in your nursing education!

I am in my last semester of an ADN program. I too enjoyed all of the prerequisite courses and fortunately had a 4.0 prior to starting my program. I would not say that the amount of time needed to study is any different during nursing school than it is taking your prereqs, however the application of your knowledge WILL be. This is just my opinion, but there is no black and white in nursing content, it is all a grey area. All of your tests will focus on critical thinking, meaning that when you get a multiple choice question with four possible answers, anywhere from 2-4 of the possible answers will be "right", however the "correct" answer will be based on prioritization or doing what will help your patient the most. "What will you do first?", "what do you anticipate being ordered?", questions like that which require an amount of prioritization and rationalization that I had not experienced prior to nursing school. With that being said, it is obviously doable. I personally have 2 children and work full-time and expect to graduate in December (with honors). In fact, the overwhelming majority of people in my program have children and work part/full-time jobs.

jem8945, I was accepted for Spring 2011 and received my acceptance letter around November if I recall correctly.

Long story here, but my overall GPA at the time was a 3.84, however my GPA on all of my nursing prerequisites was a 4.0. I had attempted to go to JJC fresh out of high school and was very unsuccessful. At that time I was an accounting major. When I went back to JJC, 7 years later, I started with a 1.36 GPA (from the classes right after high school) and then continued with my nursing prerequisites, which I got all A's in. I'm pretty sure (not 100%) that they only look at the grades for the specified nursing prerequisite classes. On the otherhand, I do know several people who got into the program with a mixture of A's, B's, and the occasional C. The classes they will look at are English 101, Bio 250 & 251, Health, and Psych 101 & 215. If you have a mixture of A's and B's, then your GPA is not what you need to worry about. Focus on the TEAS test. I purchased the study guide, completed it, then purchased the online practice test, which you can buy for around $35 for 2 attempts. I think the online practice tests helped me the most. When you complete the test it gives you a detailed report of the areas where you did the best/worst. I then took my results and restudied the areas that I had the most trouble. The test is not horrible, but I do recommend studying for it. Again though, this is what worked for me, I know many people that did different things that worked for them.

To Reese2012, Having as many prerequisites as possible done before applying increases your odds of getting in, plus you don't want to have to take these classes along side nursing classes. I applied before I completed A&P II and still got in, but a lot of people said that it could have decreased my chances. So the best you can do is take the TEAS test as soon as they'll let you because they will always use your highest score for admissions. Plus, if you don't get in the first time at least you have a second shot at taking the test and doing better the next time around....that was my mind set, but I wound up getting accepted the first time.

I got in with an 84 composite and an 88 in reading. There averages change with every semester, since there are different people taking it. I do know that they look at the TEAS reading score, TEAS composite score, GPA on nursing prerequisites, and completion of nursing prerequisites. Good luck!

Hey all, I just finished 1st semester so I thought I would chime in : ) I was in the day program and the first 4 weeks of my clinicals were in the lab from 8-12, then we went to the nursing home for 3 weeks (7-1:30), then the hospital for 6 weeks (7-1:30). Hope that helps. Congrats to you all and enjoy your summer! The only advise I have is to take everything one day at a time, try to keep up on your readings, and buy a recorder because they sure do help.

I bought my books, uniform, etc....but mostly I am just enjoying time with the kids and working as much as possible to save money before I cut my hours.

I too am so excited, but nervous and scared at the same time. Congrats to all who got accepted for Spring 2011!!

Gixergirl....what section are you in for clinical? I think you MIGHT be in my group.

I have heard the same thing about registration. A friend of mine started the program last semester and said that when she showed up to registration her times and days were already set.

Also, does anyone know the info about the scrubs. The letter says that we need a lab jacket, but it says scrubs are "optional", do we or do we not need scrubs? I want to be prepared, because I'm planning on getting all of these things done early.

I think the key is scoring around 80 on the TEAS. I had feared that I wouldn't get in because I didn't have Bio 251 done, but I think since I scored an 84 comp and 88 reading and had A's in all the other prereq's it helped me out.

Oh, I also forget....CONGRATS to everyone!!! I know that we have all worked very hard for this!!! :yeah::yeah:Now lets all have a big sigh of relief and get ready for our lives to be thrown upside down!

I got into the day program too!!! WoOt WoOt!!! So excited right now!!!!