Riverside Community College Fall 2015 RN

I think I'm gonna buy the course points this weekend so I'll let you know! I'm currently tackling our reading list :/ 8 chapters down, 36 to go haha.

Ahhh yes 36 chapters omg. I've only done 6 so far, tackling the smallest ones first because I feel a little better lol. Thank you so much lunalove!!

From what it says on the back of my boxes, there is a digital copy included. I haven't opened them yet, though.

From what it says on the back of my boxes, there is a digital copy included. I haven't opened them yet, though.

OK great thank you so much mine are shrink wrapped but I didn't want to open those yet. But I'm sure I'm going to crack them open after bootcamp! 😄

Hey guys! If you still need textbooks or coursepoints, today is a good day to order them. I just used this promo and got $30 off each coursepoint :]

Hi all! I'll be starting the RN program with you all August 31st! Has anyone NOT bought the pharmacology book yet? Apparently mine was a two-for-one deal and I have two of the exact same pharmacology books. Any takers?

Hello to all of you and welcome to this amazing program!! I'm a current N22 student. I used to be on this site all the time during my pre rec days, and around Fall of 2013 when I applied for Spring 2014. I remember the feeling you all have. It was the people and fellow alumni that were on here that helped me get the info I needed to start the program.

Now that I been through most of it, and nearly done I'm applying to the Fullerton BSN Distance program, They do have the jumpstart program available to those who have completed a year of the adn program. You can take the first 2 bsn classes during the summer to get ahead. it does not guarantee admission, but you basically are a shoe in once you apply to the actual university, and to the school of nursing. Financial aid is not available, so if this is something you may be interested in doing, start saving up funds now. OR you can enjoy your summer because you will need the much needed break ; )

Basically here is some stuff I have learned at my time in the program....

It doesn't matter whether you got in with 75 points or the full 100 ( Don't know anyone who did, highest in my class was 95), it is a whole other ball game once in the program. Unfortunately very very smart people have failed through out the semesters, or have been seriously close to failing and passing by .01 point. Please seek help early on, if you don't score as high as you thought you would. LEARN nclex test taking strategies early on! Watch youtube videos on subjects or skills you don't understand, buy nclex study books (Lippencott or Saunders), Pinterest has great pictures and websites you can go to!

11, in all honestly was a cake walk. It is overwhelming because you have information overload, and have so many foundations to learn, but honestly that is the only easy semester you will have, because the intensity will rise, and so will the expectations. If you have any backround such as a CNA, EMT, LVN, or whatever it WILL help! You will have a slight edge over the ones who do not, but please do not rub it in others faces, cause the class will know, and you wont have any classmates willing to be near you. ( Yes, there will be cliques, know-it-alls, bullies, and YES the professors will catch on early on and know who ALL of you are.) So make a great impression, they will follow you the entire way! The next semester professors will know all about you before you even finish your current semester. Start a good study group early on, you will learn what works best for you and what doesnt.. If a big group is your thing go for it, if not study with one other person.

12, Personally was the hardest (Dang you OB!) You have 1 (12hr) clinical once a week for 5 weeks, than switch (Ped/Ob or vice versa) while the other cohort is in chronic care ( 2 8hr clinicals a week), which to me was the easiest part of 12. The workload is alot, and the skills become harder.

13, I heard rumors that they would be taking this section out due to its difficulty in my class ( 10 failed) Yep : (....I heard the newer class had it alot more easier since they tweeked it (so glad they did) But basically this is where you get the meat of everything you will need to know for the last 2 semesters. At this point you have learned all the skills, and they expect you to know them all coming into 21. SO im not sure whether your class will have 13, or they will take it out. They tend to switch up the program alot, due to feedback from previous semester groups.

21, The professors that graduated from the program at RCC said this was the hardest semester... Alot of people said that, and I did not think so, yet the opinion varies. The process papers become longer, and at this point your patho needs to be on spot on. At this point of the program it seriously all comes together, and you BECOME the nurse. It's an amazing feeling

22, This is where currently am, I hear this is the roughest thing, and by looking at my KSAS ( Yes it is!!!!!)

Buy a rolley backpack (your back will thank you!)

NO you don't have time to read everything (Professors will tell you this, you need to focus on main points and ideas)

Learn test taking strategies

Practice nclex questions

Learn your ABCs (airway,breathing, circulation), Maslow Hierarchy of Needs, and The Nursing Process will all be your guides!

You will have mental breakdowns, almost everyone has, your anxiety will be through the roof!

So please make time for your loved ones, and most importantly for yourself, do not burn yourself out, you will make it through!!

Some of your classmates will be your second family!

Some of the faculty will become great friends, and a good support system for you!

During clinicals, do not be afraid, jump in at the opportunities! Know your stuff, come prepared, clean, and organized! Most importantly treat your patient as a HUMAN, not just (a process paper assignment) you will see the difference you will make it, and it will be the constant motivation you need to help you keep going!

Buy those clipboards by white coats it will keep the billion papers you need at clinicals organized, get a small nursing diagnosis handbook with you, and a nursing manual (Lippencott) will be your bible! They will totally help you!

If you have any questions ask away, honestly I LOVE helping students, and I would one day come back to become a nursing instructor. (Alot of them do come back, you will see ) : )

This site helped me tremendously, and alumni helped me along the way, I'm just paying it forward.

Goodluck, and congrats!!! Enjoy your summer, because trust me, you will be begging for those breaks to come in. It is so hard, you will want to give up, and even question yourself, you will think you are not competent, but if you made it this far, you can surely make it through nursing school. It is hard, but not impossible!

One other thing, Clinical sites!!

Webadvisor will be a nightmare during all your registration periods, the server crashes! I would advise to use alot of devices while you are registering up at midnight! I heard this trick works...I just used it when I registered for 22. 2/5 actually went through!

Also...top clinical sites? I would say RCH! I will finally be going to RCH on my last semester, but per classmates who have gone, they have come out with the BEST experiences ( seriously a little jealous!) They trust, and LOVE RCC students!

I did many rotations at RCRMC, honestly peds I LOVED, but the rest was a sub par experiences. Units were nearly empty, not many chances to hang piggybacks, or insert IVs. They do not let you do accuchecks, while other hospitals like Arrowhead ( it seems thats all we ever did). I don't recommend RCRMC, but you do not really have a choice, especially in 12,13, or 21. I preferred my time at Arrowhead way more than I did at Riv County, I saw alot more, and got to do alot more. You will get to go to ER during 21 and it was AMAZING!

Parkview, is very old, and still goes by papercharting, but honestly you get to do so much there, and you learn how to read that MD writing because all you do is verify orders are there before doing anything! One of my better experiences was there as well.

Never gone to Kaiser, or St. B, or Corona, so I cannot speak for those sites.

You also will go to other locations such as skilled nursing facilities, Psych Units( Totally recommend Patton, or Arrowhead for this)

Also working through the program... Everyone is different, and only you know your financial situation.

I worked as a CNA at a snf all the way, til I quit half way of 21. Not because I couldnt handle it, I could have, I only worked 1-2 days a week, but the facility was the problem, so I let go of that.

You can work if you can, and know you will be on top of it, and know it will not affect you.

Some people didn't work and still struggled, some worked full time and struggled and others did not, like I said, you only know what YOU can handle.

IF you do not have your cna, you will automatically become one after 1st semester, so if you want to save the cash just wait until then, it is an amazing experience and I learned soooooo much invaluable experience as a CNA. I love the cnas, and as a future RN I respect them even more. This is my personal opinion, but since I been in the trenches as a CNA, I know what it is like, and thats why I respect them that much more, well the HONEST ones at least : ) You will be a much more compassionate RN at least towards your cnas for that matter.

I got in a car accident during a test day, the professors were so accommodating to me. They seriously are there for you, to facilitate your learning, and to guide you through your nursing school journey!

Basically everything that could go wrong for a nursing student happened to me, I seriously want to write a book! But thanks to my faith, my mom and family, and understanding boyfriend I was able to get through all of it...dealing with dad going into cardiac arrest, parents divorce, morgage defaulting because of the divorce, and so much more all while in school...Honestly it has been such a rollar coaster, but I survived, and so can you! Work hard, and study study study! Good luck on all your nursing endeavors and see you all on the 31st! : )

Thank you for sharing information, it is much appreciated!! Good luck to you on all your endeavors.

@futurePedalsNurse thank you so much for taking the time to give all your advice and kind words. Very much appreciated :]

Sorry spelling

One other thing, Clinical sites!!

Webadvisor will be a nightmare during all your registration periods, the server crashes! I would advise to use alot of devices while you are registering up at midnight! I heard this trick works...I just used it when I registered for 22. 2/5 actually went through!

Also...top clinical sites? I would say RCH! I will finally be going to RCH on my last semester, but per classmates who have gone, they have come out with the BEST experiences ( seriously a little jealous!) They trust, and LOVE RCC students!

I did many rotations at RCRMC, honestly peds I LOVED, but the rest was a sub par experiences. Units were nearly empty, not many chances to hang piggybacks, or insert IVs. They do not let you do accuchecks, while other hospitals like Arrowhead ( it seems thats all we ever did). I don't recommend RCRMC, but you do not really have a choice, especially in 12,13, or 21. I preferred my time at Arrowhead way more than I did at Riv County, I saw alot more, and got to do alot more. You will get to go to ER during 21 and it was AMAZING!

Parkview, is very old, and still goes by papercharting, but honestly you get to do so much there, and you learn how to read that MD writing because all you do is verify orders are there before doing anything! One of my better experiences was there as well.

Never gone to Kaiser, or St. B, or Corona, so I cannot speak for those sites.

You also will go to other locations such as skilled nursing facilities, Psych Units( Totally recommend Patton, or Arrowhead for this)

Also working through the program... Everyone is different, and only you know your financial situation.

I worked as a CNA at a snf all the way, til I quit half way of 21. Not because I couldnt handle it, I could have, I only worked 1-2 days a week, but the facility was the problem, so I let go of that.

You can work if you can, and know you will be on top of it, and know it will not affect you.

Some people didn't work and still struggled, some worked full time and struggled and others did not, like I said, you only know what YOU can handle.

IF you do not have your cna, you will automatically become one after 1st semester, so if you want to save the cash just wait until then, it is an amazing experience and I learned soooooo much invaluable experience as a CNA. I love the cnas, and as a future RN I respect them even more. This is my personal opinion, but since I been in the trenches as a CNA, I know what it is like, and thats why I respect them that much more, well the HONEST ones at least : ) You will be a much more compassionate RN at least towards your cnas for that matter.

I got in a car accident during a test day, the professors were so accommodating to me. They seriously are there for you, to facilitate your learning, and to guide you through your nursing school journey!

Basically everything that could go wrong for a nursing student happened to me, I seriously want to write a book! But thanks to my faith, my mom and family, and understanding boyfriend I was able to get through all of it...dealing with dad going into cardiac arrest, parents divorce, morgage defaulting because of the divorce, and so much more all while in school...Honestly it has been such a rollar coaster, but I survived, and so can you! Work hard, and study study study! Good luck on all your nursing endeavors and see you all on the 31st! : )

Thank you so much for all the kind words, and advice. It's always nice to know that there are people out there like you that are here for students just beginning like us. I wish you the best of luck in your last few semesters, and again thank you thank you !! 😄

Ms. Young, Thank you, for your kind words! I've been one to be a team player, and always share what I know. People were kind to me when I had a bunch of questions, So I'm paying it forward, because I know exactly how it feels! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I'm enjoying my last summer of doing absolutely nothing before the madness begins!