SPC Nursing Fall 2018

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Hey Everyone!

Thought I would be the first person to start a SPC Nursing Fall 2018 thread. Even though we still have one semester left before applying, I thought I would start a thread to get the ball rolling and to see where everyone stands. If are applying for the program in Fall of 2018, please let us know the amount of credits you will have at the time of applying and what your cumulative and program GPA's are. As for me, I will have 30 of 30 credits completed and a cumulative GPA of 3.9, with a program GPA of 4.0.

I'm in the same for nights at Health South. Mon: 3-5 Tues & Wed: 3-11 and Thurs: 3-6pm.

That's my class too!!!! Are you going to orientation the 19th?

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We're in the same section!! I didn't have issues with that in particular, but i did have to log out and back in a couple times for the website to work.

That's awesome! I can't wait to meet everyone.

And, I was able to figure out the website after calling the company. Apparently, that particular location (Pinellas Park) is having issues with their site. I made it at a different location and there were no issues.

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Specializes in NICU RN.
Has anyone had their status change in Castle Branch in regards to the fingerprinting? It says the school administrator is supposed to do it, however I am not sure when they actually do it. Anyone know?

This is THE.LAST.ONE. to fall off your to do list. Even mine entering in 3rd semester still says pending. It takes a bit for the admin to go through EVERYONE'S information and either approve (or not) who's getting in. I think mine switched a week or two before classes actually started. So no worries just yet.

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Specializes in NICU RN.

For first semester I purchased the book only package that was taped up in a huge box. We basically used them ALL at one point in the semester or another.

The ones that were well loved in first semester are: Nursing Fundamentals, drug guide, and nursing diagnosis handbook. Does that mean ONLY purchase those books - nope. I did use all the books in the package in either first or second semester. I just used those ones mentioned the most in first semester. I also purchased other study books as well to better prepare me for exams. The books are EXPENSIVE - but no worries you'll be purchasing more a few more specific books each semester as well.

My suggestion - get the books. Don't skimp out on the books. You are going to use these books like no other courses in the past. Pre-req's are done. This is your future career. Don't short change your education - it's not worth it in the long run.

If money is tight (let's face it we're all students here) you may have the option to rent (BN College*-*St Petersburg/Gibbs*Bookstore). They will also give you a list with the ISBN numbers. Use your resources and see if you can buy them used either on the college site (Sign In) or elsewhere (Amazon, ebay, AbeBooks, BookFinder.com, etc). As long as the ISBN number match up that is all that matters. If your using your book line of credit and its not enough to cover EVERYTHING you can get that book line of credit increased by visiting financial aid. Just keep in mind that their not in every day at the HEC so book yourself an appointment or call before you drive down there.

Good luck guys - You got this!!! It's going to be the BEST and HARDEST two years of your lives but, I promise, it's SO so worth it!!

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Specializes in NICU RN.

You will need the some of the codes in the first week so bring them with you to classes. They will be walking through how to get things registered and it's handy to have the codes ready so that when their doing it your done and it's one less thing you have to worry about once you get home.

The books should be the same for all classes no matter if your days/nights or what instructor. We all receive the same tests (with variances so there is no cheating). We were also provided ATI books in the first week which are amazing! This will give you extra study help and they will help you register into ATI that first week.

The way they had it set up for us in the first two semesters is 3 clinical groups in each lecture session. Clinical groups had 10 people per group. On our clinical days it was just the 10 of us. Lecture/test days it was the 3 groups together. Lab skills days we were taught then broke off into our clinical groups for check offs.

Now, second and third semester they moved the clinical groupings around. For us the clinical core group remained the same, but the large clinical groups on lecture days were mixed up. (for example Semester 1 the grouping was BPVA, BayCare and LPN. Semester 2 it was BPVA, BayCare, and HealthSouth). I was lucky the first two semesters to keep with my established study group, they were not in my clinical group. This semester I'm not so lucky as I'm with a completely different lecture group, but no worries. We're gonna make it work. It's all about being adaptable and resourceful, right?

If your a book person you may wish to print the lab guide out. You can download all the files and put them on a usb drive. If you sign up with nsna.org you can print them out at staples and get it all bound together for a fraction of the cost (I'm talking the total cost is under 10.00 with the membership discount). You can also print out the power points inexpensively with the discount code as well. The cost per membership is 40 per year or 70 for two years. It honestly pays for itself within the first few months if you like to print things.

I know someone who completed Nursing I in the spring and she said they only used Fundamentals book, Nanda book (Nursing diagnosis book), Davis drug book, and Interpersonal communication book. Also, 3 online codes: Elsevier Sim chart, pharmacology, and Med surg. She bought every single book and she said they only used these listed. The online codes will be brought up first week of class.
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Thank you so much for your help! You have been a wealth of information.

This is THE.LAST.ONE. to fall off your to do list. Even mine entering in 3rd semester still says pending. It takes a bit for the admin to go through EVERYONE'S information and either approve (or not) who's getting in. I think mine switched a week or two before classes actually started. So no worries just yet.
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In addition to the "required" books on the book list, is there any "recommended" books that you feel would be helpful to have? They seem to have the books divided up by "required" and "recommended."

For first semester I purchased the book only package that was taped up in a huge box. We basically used them ALL at one point in the semester or another.

The ones that were well loved in first semester are: Nursing Fundamentals, drug guide, and nursing diagnosis handbook. Does that mean ONLY purchase those books - nope. I did use all the books in the package in either first or second semester. I just used those ones mentioned the most in first semester. I also purchased other study books as well to better prepare me for exams. The books are EXPENSIVE - but no worries you'll be purchasing more a few more specific books each semester as well.

My suggestion - get the books. Don't skimp out on the books. You are going to use these books like no other courses in the past. Pre-req's are done. This is your future career. Don't short change your education - it's not worth it in the long run.

If money is tight (let's face it we're all students here) you may have the option to rent (BN College*-*St Petersburg/Gibbs*Bookstore). They will also give you a list with the ISBN numbers. Use your resources and see if you can buy them used either on the college site (Sign In) or elsewhere (Amazon, ebay, AbeBooks, BookFinder.com, etc). As long as the ISBN number match up that is all that matters. If your using your book line of credit and its not enough to cover EVERYTHING you can get that book line of credit increased by visiting financial aid. Just keep in mind that their not in every day at the HEC so book yourself an appointment or call before you drive down there.

Good luck guys - You got this!!! It's going to be the BEST and HARDEST two years of your lives but, I promise, it's SO so worth it!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you again for your helpful insight!! I am unclear on what happens until we are actually at our clinical sites. When do we usually start going to the clinical sites on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? I had heard that we are not even there until like the 7th or 8th week of class. Are we at HEC from 1-11pm or 6-3pm those days? How does it work?

You will need the some of the codes in the first week so bring them with you to classes. They will be walking through how to get things registered and it's handy to have the codes ready so that when their doing it your done and it's one less thing you have to worry about once you get home.

The books should be the same for all classes no matter if your days/nights or what instructor. We all receive the same tests (with variances so there is no cheating). We were also provided ATI books in the first week which are amazing! This will give you extra study help and they will help you register into ATI that first week.

The way they had it set up for us in the first two semesters is 3 clinical groups in each lecture session. Clinical groups had 10 people per group. On our clinical days it was just the 10 of us. Lecture/test days it was the 3 groups together. Lab skills days we were taught then broke off into our clinical groups for check offs.

Now, second and third semester they moved the clinical groupings around. For us the clinical core group remained the same, but the large clinical groups on lecture days were mixed up. (for example Semester 1 the grouping was BPVA, BayCare and LPN. Semester 2 it was BPVA, BayCare, and HealthSouth). I was lucky the first two semesters to keep with my established study group, they were not in my clinical group. This semester I'm not so lucky as I'm with a completely different lecture group, but no worries. We're gonna make it work. It's all about being adaptable and resourceful, right?

If your a book person you may wish to print the lab guide out. You can download all the files and put them on a usb drive. If you sign up with nsna.org you can print them out at staples and get it all bound together for a fraction of the cost (I'm talking the total cost is under 10.00 with the membership discount). You can also print out the power points inexpensively with the discount code as well. The cost per membership is 40 per year or 70 for two years. It honestly pays for itself within the first few months if you like to print things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You will need the some of the codes in the first week so bring them with you to classes. They will be walking through how to get things registered and it's handy to have the codes ready so that when their doing it your done and it's one less thing you have to worry about once you get home.

The books should be the same for all classes no matter if your days/nights or what instructor. We all receive the same tests (with variances so there is no cheating). We were also provided ATI books in the first week which are amazing! This will give you extra study help and they will help you register into ATI that first week.

The way they had it set up for us in the first two semesters is 3 clinical groups in each lecture session. Clinical groups had 10 people per group. On our clinical days it was just the 10 of us. Lecture/test days it was the 3 groups together. Lab skills days we were taught then broke off into our clinical groups for check offs.

Now, second and third semester they moved the clinical groupings around. For us the clinical core group remained the same, but the large clinical groups on lecture days were mixed up. (for example Semester 1 the grouping was BPVA, BayCare and LPN. Semester 2 it was BPVA, BayCare, and HealthSouth). I was lucky the first two semesters to keep with my established study group, they were not in my clinical group. This semester I'm not so lucky as I'm with a completely different lecture group, but no worries. We're gonna make it work. It's all about being adaptable and resourceful, right?

If your a book person you may wish to print the lab guide out. You can download all the files and put them on a usb drive. If you sign up with nsna.org you can print them out at staples and get it all bound together for a fraction of the cost (I'm talking the total cost is under 10.00 with the membership discount). You can also print out the power points inexpensively with the discount code as well. The cost per membership is 40 per year or 70 for two years. It honestly pays for itself within the first few months if you like to print things.

Thank you so much for all this information! You've been very helpful and I appreciate the insight. I don't like blindly going into things and it's awesome to hear from someone who has been there. :)

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Thank you again for your helpful insight!! I am unclear on what happens until we are actually at our clinical sites. When do we usually start going to the clinical sites on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? I had heard that we are not even there until like the 7th or 8th week of class. Are we at HEC from 1-11pm or 6-3pm those days? How does it work?

I won't be starting until January, but I did have a recent advising session with Tammy Cappleman and she told me clinicals usually start the third week. Since my alternate number is so high (#51-and she told me the numbers are absolutely a ranking, contrary to what somebody else on here posted a couple weeks ago), IF I did magically get called to accept a seat as an alternate it would likely be at the very last minute. I asked her honestly what it's like to get all the stuff done when you're notified so close to the start date and she said it gets super stressful and requires jumping through a whole lot of hoops while simultaneously trying to start a totally new kind of schooling. She also pointed out that I would have the absolute last pick of clinical choices and if I wait til January, I'll have preference. So IF I get called, I'm going to decline and take these five months to finish up my AA classes and get comfortable with my first ever healthcare job (as a CNA), which I started two days ago. Good luck to everybody here that's starting in August-see you guys in January!

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That's my class too!!!! Are you going to orientation the 19th?

Yes, I'm going! How about you?

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Yes, I will be there!

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