Saddleback students - a few questions about your program...

[Jessie88]

Hi everyone,

I have applied to several nursing programs in Orange County, among them Saddleback College's, and I'm wondering how students who are currently enrolled there like the program.

I have a few questions, and I'd really appreciate if you could take the time and let me know what you think of the program.

Please feel free to write as much as you can think of. I'm really interested in anything that comes to your mind. Just skip any question that you don't feel like answering.

1. What semester are you in?

2. What do you like about the program?

3. What do you dislike about the program? / What do you think should be changed?

4. When comparing Saddleback to what you've heard of other programs, are there things that you believe Saddleback does better than other programs? (aside from producing high NCLEX pass rates)

5. To the A-hunters among you who entered the program with A's in all classes: Do you think you'll manage to graduate with A's in all your nursing classes as well?

6. Do you work? How much?

7. Is there anything you wish you had known before you entered the program?

Many thanks to all of you in advance!

Jessie

[PackersFan]

Okay, well I have an update about Saddleback's program. I attended a "paperwork session" this week. It is pretty much a mini-orientation.

Anyways, a few pointers: take gerontology & pharmacology before starting the program (and any General Education classes that you need to take.)

My schedule for my first semester is (just with the N170 & N171 classes):

Wednesday: 7:30am - 2:00pm (Lecture)

Thursday: 6:30am - 4:00pm (Clinical)

Friday: 6:30am - 4:00pm (Clinical)

The schedule isn't terrible, because it will allow me to work on Monday/Tuesday/Saturday...but I'm going to be super busy (and super stressed, I'm sure.)

Oh, and even though I get out a little early on Wednesday, I have to drive to the hospital & do all of the paperwork on my patient for Thursday/Friday. In between all of this, there is a skills lab, where you have to log in for a minimum of 12 hours throughout the semester (which shouldn't be very hard to do.)

Required items:

Liability insurance - $20

Background check - $50

Physical exam & vaccinations (you can do them through the student health center, no earlier than 3 months prior to the start of the semester)

Uniforms (you have to buy them through the school) - $80/set

Stethescope

Blood pressure cuff

Watch with second hand

Bandage scissors

We have an all day orientation at the end of July...I'm sure it will be another intimidating day!

I hope that this helps a little :)

[Jessie88]

@ AAnderson:

Wow, thank you so much for all that information. All of it is really helpful!

Please keep us updated on anything you want to share. It's really interesting to me to get a glimpse into the kind of life that's ahead of me, and I bet others think the same.

Anybody feel free to post anything Saddleback related here!

I applied last week. Please wish me luck. :)

[PackersFan]

Jessie:

I apologize for not writing back sooner!!

What other programs did you apply to?

Good luck...hopefully I'll be seeing you on campus next spring! :)

[Jessie88]

Thank you! :)

I applied to Saddleback and Long Beach City, and I am going to apply to Cerritos, Cypress, and Golden West.

Saddleback is my first choice because of the proximity to my home and because of how friendly and helpful all their staff have been whenever I had a question.

Other programs may have high NCLEX pass rates too, but their staff wouldn't answer most of my questions and over all made me feel like I was a number on a long list. Saddleback's staff seemed to care about their applicants and their students much more so.

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

hello! i'm a saddleback nursing student!

1. what semester are you in? i'm going into 3rd this august!

2. what do you like about the program? everyone is supportive...faculty, students, etc. saddleback also has a pretty good reputation. my nurses always seem happy to have a saddleback student which is nice! i hear from other people....on this site and elsewhere....that the instructors are mean & try to fail you. the instructors i've come across at saddleback are very encouraging....it's refreshing.

3. what do you dislike about the program? / what do you think should be changed? nothing in particular.....i mean it's nursing school, it's tough no matter where you go!

4. when comparing saddleback to what you've heard of other programs, are there things that you believe saddleback does better than other programs? (aside from producing high nclex pass rates) very supportive & encouraging. they really want you to pass your boards & become a great nurse.

5. to the a-hunters among you who entered the program with a's in all classes: do you think you'll manage to graduate with a's in all your nursing classes as well? haven't gotten anything but a's so far.....with hard work, a's are definitely possible.

6. do you work? how much? i actually quit my full-time job when i entered the program based on advice from others who said it was possible but harder. luckily, i saved money & was able to do so. if you don't have to work, it's nice to be able to focus on nursing full time....i wouldn't change anything. if you're someone who has to work, there are lots of people who continue to do so & do just fine.

7. is there anything you wish you had known before you entered the program? i always knew i wanted to be an rn so i wouldn't let little things get in my way. be prepared to get organized & be ready to put lots of time into your first semester. there's lots to read, videos to watch, & 3 weeks of skills lab which can be a bit overwhelming - just so many new things to learn!!! :typing

i'll actually be at the july orientation/bbq......w/ cnsa!

congrats to those who made it in....it's definitely competitive

[Jessie88]

@ Soon2BNurse:

Yay, all my questions were answered! Thanks so much!

It's good to know that part time work is possible. I can do without a full time job for two years, but I will have to work part time. It's also encouraging that you managed to ace all your classes while working. It's important to me to be good at what's assigned to me for both my patient's sake and to keep further educational options open.

There are two more things I'm curious about, that just now came to my mind:

Were you finished with all your general ed classes before you entered the program?

And...

Did you have any pre-exposure to the medical field (related work or related degree)?

Thanks again. Your post was really helpful!

Jessie

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

well, i did quit my job when i entered the program so i've gotten a's without working.....but it is doable. yes, i was finished with all my general ed classes before the nursing program. i didn't get in my first time so it gave me more time to finish up everything....i think i have a couple of more classes to finish but it's only to transfer...not to graduate. i also had some medical experience....i was a medical assistant for almost 10 years.

[PackersFan]

After attending the orientation...I have to say that I am really impressed with the program. They have a great support system set up. My friend's BSN orientation consisted of a tour of the school. Saddleback's orientation was a little of everything, including what to expect over the next two years. I am a lot more confident going into this program, knowing that there are people there who actually seem to care! :)

I am really excited...but really nervous too.

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

they really do have supportive & encouraging instructors :)

congrats again & you'll do just fine....the first 3 weeks of skills lab can be tough but be patient...going into the hospital is fun!!!

good luck :heartbeat

:typing ok..........back to my studying!!!

[2lroberts]

Hey everyone! For some reason I stopped getting the email alerts about this thread so I thought it had died again....it was a nice surprise to see all your new posts! Thank you SO much for sharing all the helpful info (and also the encouragment, AAnderson- it was much appreciated :)). You guys are getting me way too excited about Saddleback's program- it's really nice to hear that the faculty is supportive and focused on creating great nurses, not just pumping a bunch of people through the program. Now I'm going to be totally bummed if I don't get in!

AAnderson, if you don't mind sharing, how much are you planning to work during the program? I'd like to work too but I don't want to compromise my grades/sanity.

Soon2BNurse3, before starting the program had you finished every possible nursing curriculum course that they allow you to take in advance (like pharmacology, the two lifecycle classes, psychology, etc.)? All I have left are the two lifecycles classes but I just found out that you can't take them anywhere but Saddleback. Unfortunately I live 8 hours away so it's just not going to happen. Will I go totally insane if I take these first semester with the nursing core?

Thanks so much you guys and good luck!

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

since i also didn't get in right away, i was able to get all those classes done before starting the nursing program. you should definitely try to do pharm before 1st semester.....you get a lot thrown at you in 1st & it's just added pressure to do pharm on top of everything else. trust me, take pharm & make it easier on yourself!! it's ok if you don't take it the semester before you get in.....you end up re-learning the meds as you go along anyway. gero is easy enough to take during the semester and the growth & dev. class should be easy enough to squeeze in also but you need that before you go into 3rd semester.

you can of course take pharm & gero in 1st sem......a lot of students do it....it's just easier to get it out of the way before :wink2:

[2lroberts]

Cool, thanks Soon2BNurse3! Luckily, I took pharm a few semesters ago so I won't have to worry about it (man, I'm happy that class is over!). Glad to hear the rest is pretty manageable. I appreciate all the help!