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Okay soooo let's get an update on recent experiences as of like 2014 graduates and current students. It's accredited now... I'm aware of the Mercedes I could be buying with tuition. What are the clinical days like, how often do you go? What's the class schedule like? I'm thinking about bridge adn. My main concern is working FT and clinical and classroom times and days.

Nay91! Yes you can just go ask and they'll see if they have a spot open.

Hi Silver3!! I didn't even know you had replied, sorry for the delay. I'm still here!! Its okay.. I don't hate it but I would rather be using more of my skills learned. Then JUST pushing meds to 20-30 patients. You really don't get the time to get to know and learn of your resident/patients history or diagnosis or disease. That is what I am MOST interested in; wounds I LOVE WOUND CARE I could care less about getting a check just to push a cart and pass medications. I feel I am more then LTC. I'm here... :banghead:at a brick wall with my nursing career. I've only been working for 9 month on the 7th. I want more... I will say I have worked on the rehab side at my current job but its EXTREMLY busy so you cant, in my mind, take care of your patient accurately like you would want to. Easy transition I will say yes. When I first started, the first few months I worked I was pregnant and emotional hormonal and I work 7p-7a on the rehab with 30 residents it was pleasant. I learned a lot. I'm seeking more so back to school I go for RN. Good days bad days but I'm in it for the experience not just a check. I LOVE learning. So at some point you feel like in LTC that you are not learning about the diagnosis or disease, your just coming to work. I hope this makes sense lol. Just ask questions I'm still here.

YESSSS!!! Love her!!! It was a lot to take in, whenever you start ANYHTING new its always a lot to take in. You are very welcome and ask away!! ATIs will be given to you.... if they're still using it...they'll tell you how to set it up or give you a username... one of them. They are online and ATI is paid for through tuition.

Sorry it's late and long! You're welcome! I'm not sure we'd already graduated once it took effect. But it most likely changed for the better. Instructors do help you if you ask and will give you pointers and tools. If you aren't getting a section, during one of the 10-15 min breaks or after class tell them so they can set something up or help you right then. lol. I understand, put it like this... If you aynt trying your hardest and pushing and studying and asking questions....they aynt gone help you.... You have to put forth in order for them to use their time to help you. Make sense. HAHAHAHA...You will NEVER know if it stuck until A. Exit exam B. NCLEX (Another topic lol.) and C. When you're working and you remember oh yea!!! or when you're reading one of your residents chart and you're like oh yea I remember this!! or when you're watching a commercial and you hear a drug and you know the side effects or what it does.... That's when you know SOMETHING stuck. YES! A LOT of chapters.... A LOT!! Uhhh... boards. Well I sent my info in, paid, registered, did finger prints...it would've been quick but my finger prints didn't take so it took like a week longer but its VERY quick. Being prepared goes back to the info being retained ACTUALLY sticking. NCLEX is another language in its self. If you have a lot of questions, it doesn't mean youre doing bad. It just means they found out your weak subject. Any who, I took the ATIs and I read ALL the rationales even the ones that weren't the right choice to understand WHY it wasn't the right choice or the MORE correct choice, as they do in nursing. I also did the Kaplan Review but I just listened to how to answer the questions and eliminate choices. That helped out ALOT! I suggest...which is hard. But I suggest to do the ATIs that go along with the subject you all are studying. You'll have to ask for the codes but make sure you ask for the ATI pertaining to the subject. Study, read all chapters, Ask questions, get clarification, ATIs, Get all the hands on in clinical rotations, don't be scared to get out there and be a nurse... oh and the Director of Nursing...I don't want to put her on blast is a BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE!!! Just make sure that you have read and have notes and ask away she is a GREAT help!! I hope she's still there...

Hi silver3, Thank you for the friend request. You can ask me anything along your journey at First Coast. But the workload is heavy the program is tedious. But as a graduate it's doable. Expect it to be hard but then get easy and then hard again or vice versa. You will cry, stress and doubt your choice but keep your dreams and goals in front. Studying has to be second nature I the program. Like eat and study at the same time. I hope that helped some. But I know once we graduated the program did change a little.

This helped me out a lot ladies. I have 11 weeks to go until baby and I'll have about 6 months from the time I got my license when I apply to a job. It's killing me to not be able to work and put my skills to use. So in the meantime I still have to work as CNA in order to get by. But the nurses at work tell me to go and apply somewhere PRN but I don't know what to do.. advice?

Hi everyone!! I graduate next Thursday. I'm looking into home health because I need a job pretty soon to save up money quickly. I'm pregnant and will be delivering in June so why would any facility hire someone for 2.5 months. So how exactly can I prepare for a home health position? Id also like advice on what and where I should apply due to my situation. Thank you!!!

It's not that there is anything wrong with working in a nursing home. It's the thought that this is the only thing you can do until you become an RN. In FL there might be only 3 hospitals that allow LPNs to work there with decent pay and doing the things they learned. I would prefer not to work in a nursing home. I work there as a CNA, not really my forte.

I read section by section and ask myself, did I understand what I just read. Then that same section, I write notes in my own words about what I read and any bold words and definitions that were in the section. Then I continue on to the next section and repeat. Oh I also find that reading out loud helps retain and understand better. I know that's a lot but learning 2 chapters a week, you need to remember everything. That is what works for me. I also record the lectures in class. When I take notes in class, I really only write the words or whatever my teacher stresses. Then I go and make sure i know it word for word. Not writing in class helps me understand what she's lecturing about. I hope this helps.

That was very interesting. I just put myself in your shoes, I visualized it. Although I'm only in LPN school and I have no clue what CHF is a d some other words. I was walking in your shoes. I wish we could rotate in the hospital more then nursing home but. You took it quite well.