student4u2

P.S. NSA spirit wear can only be purchased via cash or check. You worked your hearts out to get into this program, and I think everyone should get the Carpe Diem RN student sweat shirts, t-shirts, decal for your vehicle and etc. Your call, but it really feels great to show your pride in your accomplishments. You also can purchase your clinical bag at registration time from NSA, and my whole group has them! They SO come in handy, and again purchasing anything is not mandatory.

Guys to answer a few of your questions: You will only wear your scrubs to school when you have skills testing, and to clincals. During group registration you will all get together, and you will get your assigned classes & schedule. It is already decided for you, and you will have an opportunity to purchase NSA spirit wear, and scrubs.

I just wanted to take a moment to say "CONGRATS!" to everyone who made it into the JJC program! I am gearing up for exams and upcoming finals for first semester. Welcome to the JJC RN program everyone! If there is any questions I can help with just let me know!

Mental break time for me...you will all understand soon enough. Lauryn, there are 6 of us in my clinical group and only 2 of us are CNA's. The other 4 had to take the CNA classes with the regular classes. It is a ton of work on top of what you already do, but it also gives you a leg up on the skills aspect. If it were me---I would take it with the regular RN classes, but it is totally your call. Again, it is a ton of work, because I watched my friends go through it, but it also reinforces the skills that you learn in the RN clinicals class. Plus I think it was only 6 weeks long that they had to do it while studying for the other classes.

Ok...Theory is calling my name...time to go study! Have a beautiful & blessed evening my soon to be RN family!!

One more thing, Lauryn...I feel for ya with the children situation. However, you will be happy to know that most of us have children in the program. I have 5 children, and if I can do this---then so can you!!!!

Lauryn, if Kim Dyer is good at bio then she is good at micro. It is almost the same thing! So do not stress, because she can't be great at one, and suck in the other. So let that worry go, because it is time that you can't get back!

Lauryn, that was so sweet to say! However, we are ALL in this together! It is up to all of us to keep our spirits up, and to make it through the program, because if one of your clinical team and or you are falling down that proverbial black hole---it is important to be able to bring them back up, and or have them bring you back up! My favorite saying with my clinical group is, "WE SO GOT THIS!!!" Congratz again, and remember, "WE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOT THIS!!" I am off to go study Theory the rest of the night, but I will check back to see how everyone is holding up. Remember...you are all here because you ARE smart! You got this! Keep your sexy chins up!

Rate My Professor put Kim Dyer down for a 4.3 A- average. So you should be ok with her! Here is the last comment on the site: Professor Dyer is an exceptional teacher. She was able to answer every single question that I had with confidence. It's a shame that she's only an adjunct, she ought to have a tenure-track position. I would take another class with her!

Lauryn, I have no clue about Kim Dyer. I took every class that Dr. Bellas gave, and I refused to take them with any other teacher. Did you pull her up on rate my professor? That may help out! :)

P.S. Supplies: uni-ball BLACK no smearing JETSTREAM pens, highlighters, rolling book bag, stetho, BP cuff, (2) penlight with pupil mm on side, pocket drug book for clinicals, PDQ RN book clinicals (awesome!), finger 02 sat (you can get this at the bookstore), at least 4-2 inch binders 5 if you want to put your math in it, and even larger binders to move papers when completed for each class, bandage scissors, clinical bag (NSA has them for sale, and you can get at registration), white tennis shoes, band-aids for any tattoos to cover them, small stud earrings, (if you have fake nails get rid of them), small calendar, erasable board to practice med math on, APA the easy way book (trust me on this one), Nursing care planning made incredibly easy book, and a MUST book to practice NCLEX type questions that we all use and worth every single penny is the Saunders Comprehensive Review 6th edition NCLEX-RN Examination book, small generic calculator, and pencils for med math, you will need your own pencil sharpener as there are none in the classrooms, post its, small stapler and staples, recording device for lectures, batteries for said recording device, and the most important and I stress the most important.......STOCK UP ON PRINTER PAPER AND INK!!! If you can afford a new printer---trust me get one. You don't want to be working on a paper or whatever, and run out of ink or paper at 1 AM. You will be printing and using printer ink like you have never had to do before. (I am a nut and I like my ppts. in full size to view!) That is all I can think of for now...just remember if it is a cheap item like the penlight---have 2 on hand, because if one breaks and your in the middle of skills testing or at clinicals you better have another one!

Tips....boy oh boy...do I have lots of them, but the most important is "ORGANIZATION!" You guys will be hearing that over and over! I can't stress enough that you really need to be organized. They will give you all this phenomenal monthly calendar schedule on your first group orientation after registration. My suggestion is to scan every single sheet, and save it on your laptop. Then you can add (write in) to the monthly calendar with everything you need to study, guided skills, exams, quizzes and etc. It has been a life saver in the program. The second thing I have to tell you all is that your clinical group will become your everything in the first semester. They will help with meltdowns, highs, lows, and even if you forget something. My clinical group is my family now, and it is imperative that you form a great bond with your whole clinical team. They will be there to cheer you on when you think you can't do something, and they will be the only ones who will truly understand what you are going through. Your family & friends will have no clue regarding the stress, but your clinical group does. You family & friends will sympathize with you, but your clinical group--they will totally get it, and they are feeling every single emotion that you are...and they DO make it better. (I have seen a few clinical groups already who have excluded people, and or do not study together (skills lab), and it is SO sad, because we are all here to become R.N.'s and if you are not helping each other then...well I just do not get that.) I have only been in the RN program for 1/2 a semester so far, and it has been a wild ride to date. It is everything I expected and more. You will have SO many people out there telling you that it is a hard program, and it is; but...it is the one's who tell you horrid things about the program---well all I can tell you is that they are wrong. It is hard (yes), and you have to study in a way you never had to do before, but it is worth every second of any anxiety you have. The anxiety is like any other anxiety of test taking. You will be introduced to a new way of testing, but it is so doable! Once you get the hang of it---you will be ok. Do not listen to all the negative talk about the JJC program, because it is usually the people who are disgruntled for some reason, and or that had to do it again. You are all smart cookies, and my advice is to judge the program for yourselves. Oh another life saver is the rolling book bag, and believe you me it will come in handy! Once you get the hang of books, classes, and etc. then you can change to just a regular bag. However, to start---trust me---get a rolling bag. We all use them so don't worry about looking awkward! You will have more books then you have ever seen before, and the last thing you want to do is hurt your back. I hope I helped with some answers?! P.S. Dr. Bellas is a good friend of mine, and the BEST teacher ever! He is my ultimate favorite teacher, and he gives you everything (EVERYTHING) you need to study to pass the class...hint...hint...hint! Congratz to all of you and get ready for the ultimate ride of your lives! If you have any more questions---I would be happy to answer them! I will check back in-between studying. CONGRATZ my soon to be R.N. student family!!

Hello everyone! I just wanted to touch base with you, because I remember how stressed I was when I was trying to get into the RN program at JJC. The entry has changed a bit, but the stress appears to still be the same. I just wanted to remind you all of how hard you have worked to get to this point, and that it is no small feat. Regardless of the outcome...keep your heads held high, and remain positive. You have come this far, because you are ALL smart, and have worked really hard. I am gearing up for my second leg of the first semester in the RN program after spring break. It has been insane, but well worth the effort. If this is what you really want to do then do not ever give up! I know first hand how much stress is involved with the whole process, but I can tell you all that sometimes you have to STOP and remind yourself that you are smart, talented, and have come this far-and not by chance. If you stress every single second then you miss the proverbial ride so to speak. So just remember to take a little time for yourself now and then. Your hard work will pay off, and never ever give up on your dreams of being an R.N.

Thimble-I was online and my theory class opened up online. I printed out my syllabus and was tinkering in the site, and I can honestly say...I am SO lost! LOL! Then I just got an email from Paul and they changed our location for the mandatory orientation for Friday. It is so much to take in...Here we go!!

Oh yah, and I got a ZUCA rolling bag for Christmas for the program. Has anyone ever used the ZUCA rolling bag for books? It is quite sturdy, and nice. Our paperwork said to go with a rolling bag for the program, and I do not want to carry all those heavy books in a book bag. I have never used a rolling bag for any class, and this will be the first time. So I was just curious about any thoughts regarding the rolling bag.