Rockland Community College's nursing program in new york

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I am set to begin my first Clinical in January 09' I had the option of taking the first two semester clinicals together, but opted not to since I keep hearing of how difficult it is. Here is my problem: in one class, 2 out of 10 passed. I know a couple people who have failed first semester clinical and have heard of countless others failing. Now rumors are circulating that the school is being investigated because out of 32 potential graduates for this year, only 21 made it, causing speculation that the school purposefully fails a disproportionate amount of students. I am petrified. If one fails the first clinical, you must sit out 2 semesters before being allowed back in. I have worked hard for the last 7 years to get my pre-reqs done and Have purchased my uniforms on friday. Does anyone know anything about this school? Is there some magical "Thing" I need to do in order to be one of the students who pass? If the opportunity arises where I am able to take the second clinical concurrently, would this be wise? (I'm married with 2 young children, but i've stopped working for the next few months) I have heard that if you're taking both clinicals concurrently, if you fail one, you can resume the following semester as opposed to having to sit out 2 semesters. Right now, all classes for the second clinical are filled, but come time for tuition payment, some people may drop. What would you guys do/advise? Thanks for any and all help. :confused:

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Hello Felicia327,

I am currently waiting on a response from the nursing dept. i applied this fall. can you tell me how long before you got accepted. and are these rumors true. you can email me private if you like. thanks

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Hi Minnielynn,

I applied to the nursing program in the fall of 2007. I Transferred from another school with all of my pre-reqs done, except for RCC's required plurism and diversity. I applied and then a drawing took place in December of 2007. I was assigned a list number. I had to wait two more semesters and now, thank God, I will begin on the 24th. I am petrified!!! I've heard so many things and so many of the people I know who have made it into the program before me have failed while taking just the first nursing clinical sequence... I have decided to take both Nursing 111 and 113 together...Remember, if you take only one clinical and you fail, you have to re-apply to the nursing program and wait at least 2 semesters to get back in.... BUT if you take the first 2 clinicals together and you pass only 1, you are allowed to come right back the next semester and repeat it, without any lapse. Do your best to finish ALL of your pre-reqs before you start the program, if at all possible. This will free you to focus on all of your thousands of pages of reading....:)

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Felicia327,

Thanks for responding. I actually have taken everything and right now i am taking classes just to take credits. I've done EVERYTHING including all my bio's, 2 eng, 2 pysch, I even taken nutrition but so far no answer. I call the nursing dept every now and then to see if they have sent out any letters and they keep saying "not yet". so I'll just sit here and wait. Keep us posted as to how the program is. I know it requires A LOT of reading so don't ever fall behind ......good luck !!!!:up:

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Thanks for the encouragement, I'll need it!! There is another school of Nursing in Mt. Vernon called the Dorothea Hopfer School of Nursing. They start every January.. Soooo, while your waiting, it wouldn't hurt you to look into this school. I was accepted to this school back in 2007 contingent of me passing chemistry. I failed chemistry that semester and the school wouldn't allow me to start, but it is a reputable school that's been around for ages. I always try to have as many eggs in my basket as possible....be ye ever ready!! The best to you.:)

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Hello Felicia

I did look into Dorthea Hopfer but I need a school that's NLN accredited due to my employer.....so my choices are limited. :banghead:

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Hang in there, you're on the right track.... Pray...ALOT!! I'm here if I can help you with anything.:up:

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Thanks Felicia :up:

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the program is no easy road. i am currently doing nurs 141 and 142 this semester. i came in as an lpn and is a great opportunity because i did not have to follow the waiting list. its alot of study though. i do think that we should be allowed to use calculators for pharmacology (nur103) because calculators are allowed on the nclex

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Thanks, Felicia!

:nurse: I hope your semester was a success!

Though I don't plan on becoming a casualty of hard nursing process courses at RCC, it is quite useful to hear that taking 111 and 113 is a good insurance policy. I will have completed all my prereqs and coreqs before starting in Spring 2011. (When I went to speak w/a prof. in the nursing dpt. she told me that I would get a letter this fall for Spring 2011 admission with NLN-PAX composite score of 140 and 98 percentile score in math.)

Patience is not easily exercised while waiting to start, though! I just declared a second major so financial aid would pay for classes that are "unrelated" to nursing - like Spanish and ASL.

Also, for anyone who hasn't taken 103 (calculations) yet, I would suggest NOT taking it online. I took it on campus, and even though I am awesome at math, it is very helpful to see how others work out the same problems to get the right answer. Though homework was not mandatory, doing it was the only thing that prepared me for participating in class, and for validating my skills.

Any other advice out there for preparing before I start the program?

Thanks!

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Jposte

You have the right idea!! The only thing I can recommend is to purchase a Fundamentals practice book and familiarize yourself with everything pertaining to 111. If you take then both, you're in for a wild ride!!

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Hang in there guys! I am proof that you can make it through RCC's nursing program. I graduated 2 weeks ago..it took me 2 years to finish and never had to repeat a class, thank god! It is a great program, but like any nursing program you have to study and put the time and effort in. The teachers I encountered there were more than helpful and knowledgable.

Good Luck!

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