SAC nursing program fall 2011

SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2011

I didn't mean to scare you. It shouldn't scare you. It's just that you won't be focusing on anything but school once it starts, so I'm saying DON'T focus too much on it now.

I didn't have trouble getting a job, but I knew where I wanted to work and did everything I needed to secure that position.

sacnstudent · Mar 31, 2011

Hi SolaireSolstice,

Thank you so much for you input. Do you think it will be difficult to work and be in the nurisng program? Have a good night. Thank you.

Carmen

kbaines09 · Mar 31, 2011

Hi SolairSolstice,

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said...gives me a lot to think about. Well, my story is a little different. I was in the military (Air Force) for 10 years and my last two years in, I got married (to another military memeber) and went to LVN school in Wichita Falls, TX. My husband was in Maryland so needless to say after graduation and being released from active duty I moved to Maryland. I've been here for a year and a half and have yet to find a job! Noone wanted to hire a new nurse :crying2: (they all required a year or more of experience that I didn't have) So, after about 6 months of looking, I decided to go back to school, finish up my prereqs and apply to the nursing program out here.

Low and behold my husband gets an assignment to San Antonio, TX (we'll be out there by Sep 1)....so, all my plans had to change and I had to start gearing up for a program in San Antonio. I have to say that I am scared to death!!! I still have an active Texas license so of course I applied to the LVN-RN transition course, but having been out of practice for so long, I'm starting to wonder if I should go for the BSN instead so I can kind of get brushed up on my skill. I've been looking at books, procedure cards and doing dose calcs, praying that I hold on to as much knowledge as I can, but its not the same as hands on...Initially I was happy that SAC didn't require you to take a refresher course in order to apply/get accepted, but as the time draws near, I'm wondering if I would be setting myself up for failure by not taking a refresher course...DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!! :confused:

SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2011

I found it hard to work and go to school, and took leave only working during winter and summer breaks. Others pulled it off. The biggest issue will be last minute schedule changes out of your control (and you will have them) and some employers really hate that. Also you'll have mandatory skills labs and check offs held outside clinical and lecture time.

nbaines09, I know very little about the lvn to rn program other than we started running into the lvns after our first semester after they had taken some other course work we didn't have. But you'll have lecture and clinicals with each other starting in Mental Health.

I don't know what skills you feel you might be missing or losing, but check out the IV therapy course through the continuing education prgram at SAC. It's a 2-3 days course, 1 day of lecture on campus, the other 2 at a hospital. You'll get a crash course on medication calculations, IV medications and administration, and IV starts. At the clinical you'll have a round through an ER and on a med surg floor where you will administer medication under the close supervision of your instructor, and practise starting IVs under supervision from the nurses. The students who take this course will not need to take extra time to get checked off during Med Surg 2 (which I don't think the LVs-RNs take, but I don't know if you will need the check off). You sign up through the continuing education dept, but I think you will still need to get authorization from the nursing dept. You get it from the secretaries who register and check off imunizations and such. I took it and recommend it highly. Sort of a mini-refresher course. Those who are in the straight RN program have to pass Med Surge 1 before taking this course. Already licensed LVNs can take it anytime.

sacnstudent · Apr 1, 2011

Thank you SolaireSolstice!! Very very very much!:)

noelle0910 · Apr 1, 2011

Hey guys, just wanted to post that when I realized today was April I got even more anxious and nervous than before because I know we will be hearing back this month? Is anyone else super nervous now? I am about to start prayying harder than I was before lol.:heartbeat

sacnstudent · Apr 2, 2011

Hi Noelle0910,

I know exactly what you mean. Let the countdown begin again, for another month... :crying2: I am extremely nervous, anxious...etc...lol...Everyone have a great weekend...:)

jortiz26 · Apr 2, 2011

Hi everyone, I emailed ****** last and her reply said that notifications are currently being sent, but to call the department if I haven't recieved anything by late May, so I have been frantically checking my mail on the daily expecting a letter, I am so glad I stumbled across this thread to save myself some stress throughout this month long wait we have.

sacnstudent · Apr 2, 2011

Hi Jortiz26,

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I hope we dont have to wait till May. I dont think I can wait another month. Should we be expect a notification by mail or email? I hear ya, I check my mail every day sometimes twice a day..lol..Again, Thank you..

Carmen

sacnstudent · Apr 3, 2011

hi solairesolstice, what's the hesi exam? does that need to be taken before nursing school/during or after? i know it's a silly question, maybe something i should know by now. lol..

thank you,

carmen

jortiz26 · Apr 3, 2011

I am assuming they are sending the notifications by mail, but I am not for sure.

kbaines09 · Apr 4, 2011

Hello Ladies!!! OMG, it is April! Shouldn't be much longer now...although I'm sure its going to feel like forever. I too have been checking my email like a mad woman, and then checking my spam mail to make sure it didn't accidentally get sent there...lol, I feel like I'm going crazy!!! As I said before, best wishes to you all and I'm hoping to see all of you in orientation, until then, lets keep each other posted!!!...And thank you so much SolarSolstice for all your help/suggestions. You have been a great help!