Riverside Community College Fall 2015 RN

Yes, I plan on taking it. I wonder if it will satisfy our Lab hour requirements...

Awww that's so wonderful. Yes I am one to share as much as I can, and always give back as well whenever I can. If you don't mind me asking, how would you say you best prepared yourself to be as successful as possible on exams, and retaining information? Also how did you go about staying organized? I know nursing school is a whole new ball game, and I'd love to soak up all the advice your willing to give, considering you've been in my shoes already. You'd so wonderful for taking questions. Again thank you so much for your generosity ☺

Memorization will only work, with lab values and things like that, but honestly it is all critical thinking. When I first started I thought I would never be able to critically think, and that I would be doomed, no girl you do learn it! ; ) Trial and error and just studying, and learning how they test.

I am the worst at organization, but i learned how to keep my system and what works for me. Honestly I kept everything in a binder, bought tons of dividers and named them by the weeks, and that's what helped me keep everything together, other papers I just stuffed in a separate small folder, and organized them once the semester was done. You should get 2 folders, one for seminar stuff and notes, and one for your 11a Lab stuff. They will collect it anyways so its required anyways to have a separate folder. I also had a little composition book where I kept all my notes for skills. I still have it and use it. I have notes from 11 all the way til now about each skill, what to remember and key stuff. That helped me, I just bust it out and I know where its at and that's what I use and it is a continuation of skills.

For clinicals I totally recommend those white coat clipboards, it was pertinent info you will use, such as pain scales, temp conversions, injections (IM, Sub Q) Needle sizes, and lab values etc. Very useful! It keeps all your papers clean, and tidy.

You will know what MATS are, do them on your computer and save them on there, and categorize them by medication type and so forth, you will forever use these in all your clinicals and it will come in handy. Instead of having to do them over and over again. ( I learned the hard way ; ))

Basically thats all I can remember.. I know its total life consuming, but you figure out your own speed and way of doing stuff that it will become second nature to you..Hope this was helpful : )

I saw some comments about the Pharm class....It is an optional class, and it is SO EASY. It is fail proof, because the test are online, at home. I took it during summer right after n11. Not everyone did. If you plan to take it, I say take it after n11, not during or after. DO NOT take it during 12 or 21 please! The professors would also advise against it. Was it helpful. Yes it was, but it did not make or break me. Some meds I remembered, but not all of them. You learn the main meds for each semester. Some classmates thought it was a waste, and that they really didnt take much from it. It is true, most meds talked about that class really are not mentioned until 21, and 22. Some classmates never took the class and did perfectly fine. Again its about what YOU want to do, if you want to take it, cool. But it will not make the difference by any means, it is just a good way to keep your mind into school and focused. You just focus on the meds that you need to know through out each semester, which you administer them so much at the hospitals you are bound to remember them. Btw the professor who teaches Pharm, is a sweet lady! She also teaches 13, and 22

Im not sure whether or not to get a roller backpack or a regular backpack? What do you guys recommend

Im not sure whether or not to get a roller backpack or a regular backpack? What do you guys recommend

I've been going back and forth on one. I don't want to get one and then not end up using it so I might just wait to see how often I bring my books to class.

So I know everyone has their own teaching style and preference. You will see what works for you and what doesn't and you continuously will be tweeking it til you got your own method. I had friends studied everyday day before new content was presented, and all the way up until the day of exams, other friends only studied on the weekend. Both did good. Other people again would study and study endlessly and will not do as good as they had hoped. It all comes down to "HOW ARE YOU STUDYING?" Through trial and error, what worked for me was buying a recorder and record ALL the lectures. This helped me so much in 13! I never printed out the powerpoints, But I would read them the night before, and just LISTEN to the instructor and jot down key points. I did all my own notes which looked like a rainbow cause I need to color code everything! LOL I would go back, and listen to my lectures, and re read my notes, until I condensed them into smaller notes and put those into flashcards...Also the real thing that saved me was ATI and NCLEX questions. Once you figure it out, you can easily answer quite a bit of questions more easier. Youtube and Nurselabs.com did help as well...I read the book as I would do my notes and take notes from there as well. Also the casestudies, and ksa objectives were my study guide. They dont give you any study guide, so the ksas think of them as your study guides.

Memorization will only work, with lab values and things like that, but honestly it is all critical thinking. When I first started I thought I would never be able to critically think, and that I would be doomed, no girl you do learn it! ; ) Trial and error and just studying, and learning how they test.

I am the worst at organization, but i learned how to keep my system and what works for me. Honestly I kept everything in a binder, bought tons of dividers and named them by the weeks, and that's what helped me keep everything together, other papers I just stuffed in a separate small folder, and organized them once the semester was done. You should get 2 folders, one for seminar stuff and notes, and one for your 11a Lab stuff. They will collect it anyways so its required anyways to have a separate folder. I also had a little composition book where I kept all my notes for skills. I still have it and use it. I have notes from 11 all the way til now about each skill, what to remember and key stuff. That helped me, I just bust it out and I know where its at and that's what I use and it is a continuation of skills.

For clinicals I totally recommend those white coat clipboards, it was pertinent info you will use, such as pain scales, temp conversions, injections (IM, Sub Q) Needle sizes, and lab values etc. Very useful! It keeps all your papers clean, and tidy.

You will know what MATS are, do them on your computer and save them on there, and categorize them by medication type and so forth, you will forever use these in all your clinicals and it will come in handy. Instead of having to do them over and over again. ( I learned the hard way ; ))

Basically thats all I can remember.. I know its total life consuming, but you figure out your own speed and way of doing stuff that it will become second nature to you..Hope this was helpful : )

Wow, that was amazing! Thank you so much for taking the time out to respond. This was really vital, helpful information. Thank you so so much!!! 😄

Ms. Young You are welcome!! : )

Ms. Young You are welcome!! : )

Ya seriously I wish I could give you a hug! So helpful.

Ya seriously I wish I could give you a hug! So helpful.

Hey guys! 2 things.

I'm looking at the Kaplan flyer we received at orientation and it doesn't say where to purchase it right? Has anyone purchased it?

And 2nd, on the boot camp schedule it talks about a sack lunch, are you assuming it's our own sack lunch right? They aren't providing it?

No, it will not satisfy lab hours. Lab hours are spent practicing skills.

Hey guys! 2 things.

I'm looking at the Kaplan flyer we received at orientation and it doesn't say where to purchase it right? Has anyone purchased it?

And 2nd, on the boot camp schedule it talks about a sack lunch, are you assuming it's our own sack lunch right? They aren't providing it?

I can't remember where I read it but the Kaplan I think we buy it once we start school. I remember the date being in September. The flyer doesn't say much info but I think they mentioned it at intake.

& the sack lunch i think we have to take lol