San Jacinto College ADN Fall 2009

afireinside · Jul 5, 2009

The first semester is divided up into two 8 week portions. The first 8 weeks you will have Foundations of Nursing paired with Health Assessment. You will basically take Health Assessment on one day of the week and will have Foundations for the other days. If I remember correctly I think I went Monday-Thursday and had Fridays off. The second portion of the semester gets a little bit tricker as you start to add your clinical hours in with your courses. The second 8 weeks you will continue with the 2nd part of Health Assessment, and start Foundations II... or as it is better known 'skills'. This class is where you will learn everything from making a bed to inserting a Foley catheter. Before this 2nd half starts, they already have students divided up and placed in their clinical assignments at the hospital.

I'm going to go on record and let you know that the 1st semester is the easiest (and that's not saying much). During the 1st semester many students were able to maintain their jobs, relationships, and have somewhat of a life. The instructors are extremely lenient and really try to make the transition for new students as painless as possible. Saying that.. I know many people were not happy with their clinical assignments and they allowed us to trade with someone else if we weren't happy. Be warned though... when you hit 2nd semester... the instructors change..and everything gets much less negotiable.

As far as time off.. There is only a week.. if that ... break between the 1st and 2nd portions of the 1st semester. In fact.. let's just say by the time the winter break gets here.. you will be more than ready for your month of freedom.

I hope this answers some of your questions.. :)

Fly_Dayton · Jul 5, 2009

Oh wow, thank you! That is definitely some beneficial information you've just given us. It's like having our very own spy : D

momof3andnurse2B · Jul 5, 2009

ha, ha. That's funny!

Yes, that was very helpful. Are the hours (not counting when clinicals start) all day? Like 7:30-4:30? I remember the LVN program saying that was the their hours, but I don't remember what was said about RN.

I am so excited to get this started. I know I should be relaxing and preparing for the new busy life, but I am on such pins and needles and ready to get going, that it feels like forever till Aug. 24th.

Meliss214 · Jul 5, 2009

Thank you for all the info!!!

Russell, how are you feeling? Did you complete your extra credit assignment already? I'm so tired of studying. :uhoh3:

Fly_Dayton · Jul 5, 2009

Well, I've still got a nasty cough, but I can breathe a bit better and I can talk in my normal people voice (a small victory for sure). As for studying...ask me again when the semester is over. All I know is, 3 exams in 4 days is tough no matter what class you're taking.

I'll probably start--and subsequently finish--the extra credit tonight. Cold willing.

afireinside · Jul 5, 2009

"Yes, that was very helpful. Are the hours (not counting when clinicals start) all day? Like 7:30-4:30? I remember the LVN program saying that was the their hours, but I don't remember what was said about RN."
The Foundations of Nursing class is from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. for the entire group. However, Health Assessment was dependent on which group you got put in. Some groups met from 8:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. and others met from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
I remember being shocked because I thought that we would be in classes all day. I remember thinking, 'this isn't going to be that bad because look at all the time we have to study'. However, don't be lulled into a false sense of security as our first Foundations test was over 15 chapters that is covered in a VERY short amount of time and a lot of people failed the first Health Assessment test. Initially getting through those classes if you have had no prior medical experience is going to be like immersing yourself into a foreign language where you have a hard time reading/absorbing the information...

PharmLUV · Jul 5, 2009

Thanks for the information that is really helpful and lets us know what to expect. I thought for sure we were going to have to be there all day. I worked as CNA for two years on a telemetry floor and have been working as a certified pharmacy technician for three years also in a hosptial so I am hoping that this will give me a jump start. If anyone would like, I am willing to help out with anything I already know (drug names, classes, basic cna skills, etc) once we start school.

Meliss214 · Jul 5, 2009

Well I figure if I make a 90 on the test tomorrow, 90 on the lab Wed, then I can make a 50 on the final and stilll get an A in the class. I did the extra credit to relieve some of my anxiety of having to complete 5 essay questions and questions on new material that hopefully he'll begin to cover tomorrow.

Don't forget your notebook since he's not providing any notes.

Chelken · Jul 5, 2009

afireinside,

Thanks for all of the information that you have given us. It helps me out a lot!

momof3andnurse2B · Jul 5, 2009

Thank you sooooooo much for passing on so much help. I hope when i finish that I'll be able to help the next group out.

Where are you headed now that you're done? Do you know yet if you passed th NCLEX? Do you have a specific field of interest?

momof3andnurse2B · Jul 5, 2009

Chelken- Welcome back stranger! How was all the vacationing?

Wasn't that nice that "fire..." gave us so much inside info. I feel so much more prepared. With that, and what we get from orientation, we should be in great shape.

I've just really been dying to find out the schedule so that I can figure out my childcare situation. Now I feel like I have a starting point.

Chelken · Jul 5, 2009

Yes, it is very helpful information. Also, I have been reading the threads about what was helped others when they started nursing school. I think I will wait until orientation before I start investing inall of the products that everyone is suggesting!