SCC Fall 2014

mrsboots87 · Apr 10, 2014

I'm in block 1 at SCC now. Its a great program. They just got a whole new building that opened last semester. The block one professors are awesome. They are very helpful and test questions mostly come from what is lectured and the reading is supplemental if you don't understand a concept, or if you just really like to read. The clinical sites are all over the valley depending on what block you are in. Block 1 is all at LTC. This semester there are groups at Friendship village, the VA, lifecare - 2 different facilities, and somewhere else I cant remember. The days are Thursday, Friday, or Sunday depending on what group you are in. You will have one day lecture for 4 hours and one day clinical for almost 7 hours. This semester we are Tuesday 8-1230 and Thursday or Friday (depending on what clinical group you are in) 8-245. Definitely good to work part time at most. It takes a lot of study time and quite a few hours split over a few days to do the careplan prep and careplan completion.

Honestly, for now the best thing you can do is relax. Once you start, it will go super fast and you will wish you enjoyed your last bit of free time. But you can start on the background check, the health stuff, and getting your supplies: a pair of really good white shoes (the shoe does matter because your feet, legs, and back will thank you for a good pair, I use danskos), a stethoscope (you don't need a super fancy one, but not a cheapy either, I use the littman s.e.II and it works great), and your scrubs can be purchased from apparel pro. If you don't like the pants, SCC lets you wear any brand as long as they are Caribbean blue (match the tops) and aren't "fancy" like some of the brands that have colorful stitching or bungees and such.

Congrats on getting in after a LOOOOOONG wait. You will love this program, even though sometimes you might want to pull your hair and scream because of the courseload. But, with good time management you should be able to squeeze in some free time for relaxing or hanging with friends and still do well in the class. But don't get behind or its near impossible to catch up. Review review review, and practice all skills from lab at home. GL next semester.

Gaabey · Apr 10, 2014

@Mrsboots87 Thank you so much. I'm so excited...after all this wait I'm finally starting! Like you suggested I'm going to relax and maybe work little bit harder to save some money. I hope all goes for you at @SCC. :-)

mpeacock15 · Apr 11, 2014

Congrats!

CateinPhoenix · Apr 11, 2014

Hi there! Congrats! Do you mind sharing what your time/day stamp was for the Maricopa nursing program?

Gaabey · Apr 12, 2014

@CateInPhoenix

Hello Cate,

I waited exactly two years... My date stamp was 4/13/2012. R u waiting for placement?

CateinPhoenix · Apr 13, 2014

Hi Gaabey, yes I am waiting for placement. I have a 12/2012 timestamp. I am anticipating Spring/15 or Fall/15.

Gaabey · Apr 13, 2014

CateInPhoenix,

Yeah, hang in there. I know the waiting part sucks! You might be able to get in spring 2015. :-)

KendallAZ · Apr 29, 2014

Congrats on getting in! You will love SCC! The professors are amazing and really connect with the students.

You get a skills bag that is provided to you and you are able to practice as much as you want outside class. Lab time is not so necessary this block because skills wise its not that advanced... so just remember that when people start having breakdowns before check off because they didn't get to practice enough. Spend your free time wisely. However, if you are more hands on and need more instruction, they also have lab time that is limited to 20 students (first come, first serve) but that was on our exam days so that didn't work for me. (I am in the CEP program with NAU so I also get a little lab time through that class too.)

My clinical was at Osborn Health and Rehab, our clinical instructor was amazing. The facility gives me a tad bit of anxiety, you will hear that a lot with LTC facilities but after block one you start hospital clinical sites.

Care plans, care plans, care plans. I can't even comment on these. I have 3 more blocks to go. :dead:

Now for my advice:

Come prepared: if you are not a punctual person either start practicing now or find a different profession. You will not be allowed into lectures if you are 1 minute passed start time; and in my opinion that is EXACTLY how it should be. I come at least 30 mins early every day because I would rather be early then miss a quiz or vital information for a few extra minutes of sleep. PLUS, respect the time of your peers and your professor.

Take your vitamins, eat well, stay healthy: You don't have time to be sick. Seriously, you do not have time.

Get nclex resources NOW:

Amazon.com: Saunders 2014-2015 Strategies for Test Success: Passing Nursing School and the NCLEX Exam, 3e (Saunders Strategies for Success for the Nclex Examination) (9781455733194): Linda Anne Silvestri PhD RN, Angela Silvestri MSN RN: Books

AND

Amazon.com: HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 4e (9781455727520): HESI: Books

These have saved my butt. If you think you know nclex style, you probably don't. I wasted a lot of time this semester flipping through flash cards and knowing the material like the back of my hand but not knowing how to answer the nursing style of questions. As soon as I told one person about these...people started popping up with them all over the class because they are that useful. The second one really ties in all the power points and lectures. Fundamentals of Success is also one they recommend which is not much of a resource of material but more practice with nursing style questions, that book will be on your "optional" book list and I HIGHLY suggest you add that one to the pile too.

AND learning style:

Note cards, recording lectures, typing vs. writing notes, study groups...whatever it is explore what works for you.

Nursing school is hard (did anyone ever say it was easy? haha), you will never stop pushing forward. It's the nature of the program. The instructors are not out to get you, they want you to succeed. They take time out of their day OUTSIDE our scheduled hours to privately answer questions about lecture and tests. Utilize this!

Your love of this profession will be challenged on days that you didn't perform well or when you are overwhelmed, but if you really want this then you will keep fighting.

mrsboots87 · Apr 29, 2014

Congrats on getting in! You will love SCC! The professors are amazing and really connect with the students.
You get a skills bag that is provided to you and you are able to practice as much as you want outside class. Lab time is not so necessary this block because skills wise its not that advanced... so just remember that when people start having breakdowns before check off because they didn't get to practice enough. Spend your free time wisely. However, if you are more hands on and need more instruction, they also have lab time that is limited to 20 students (first come, first serve) but that was on our exam days so that didn't work for me. (I am in the CEP program with NAU so I also get a little lab time through that class too.)
My clinical was at Osborn Health and Rehab, our clinical instructor was amazing. The facility gives me a tad bit of anxiety, you will hear that a lot with LTC facilities but after block one you start hospital clinical sites.
Care plans, care plans, care plans. I can't even comment on these. I have 3 more blocks to go.
Now for my advice:
Come prepared: if you are not a punctual person either start practicing now or find a different profession. You will not be allowed into lectures if you are 1 minute passed start time; and in my opinion that is EXACTLY how it should be. I come at least 30 mins early every day because I would rather be early then miss a quiz or vital information for a few extra minutes of sleep. PLUS, respect the time of your peers and your professor.
Take your vitamins, eat well, stay healthy: You don't have time to be sick. Seriously, you do not have time.
Get nclex resources NOW:
Amazon.com: Saunders 2014-2015 Strategies for Test Success: Passing Nursing School and the NCLEX Exam, 3e (Saunders Strategies for Success for the Nclex Examination) (9781455733194): Linda Anne Silvestri PhD RN, Angela Silvestri MSN RN: Books
AND
Amazon.com: HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 4e (9781455727520): HESI: Books
These have saved my butt. If you think you know nclex style, you probably don't. I wasted a lot of time this semester flipping through flash cards and knowing the material like the back of my hand but not knowing how to answer the nursing style of questions. As soon as I told one person about these...people started popping up with them all over the class because they are that useful. The second one really ties in all the power points and lectures. Fundamentals of Success is also one they recommend which is not much of a resource of material but more practice with nursing style questions, that book will be on your "optional" book list and I HIGHLY suggest you add that one to the pile too.
AND learning style:
Note cards, recording lectures, typing vs. writing notes, study groups...whatever it is explore what works for you.
Nursing school is hard (did anyone ever say it was easy? haha), you will never stop pushing forward. It's the nature of the program. The instructors are not out to get you, they want you to succeed. They take time out of their day OUTSIDE our scheduled hours to privately answer questions about lecture and tests. Utilize this!
Your love of this profession will be challenged on days that you didn't perform well or when you are overwhelmed, but if you really want this then you will keep fighting.

THIS!!! :yes:

Hvncent5 · May 31, 2014

Hello Gabby, I got into the fall 2014 SCC too!!! Yeahhhhhhh... So exciting, but oh so scary!

LiaS · May 31, 2014

I also got accepted Fall 2014, super excited!