St. Clair County Community College

kaddley · May 26, 2009

hi!

i have also been accepted in the RN program at sc4 for fall '09. i am worried now about overloading myself for first semester. i am currently taking HE 210 online and am registered for HE 224 for fall semester. so my question is since the first semester is so hectic should i drop HE 224 and take it in the spring when it is more "laid back, and calm"? thank you for your help! i look forward meeting you all June 5th!

ldnurse1 · May 26, 2009

kaddley,

I think that they advise us not to take anything other than what we have to our first semester. I had HE224 this past semester and there were several 2nd semester nursing students in my class.

I know that everyone says that the first semester is a killer, so in my opinion I would wait. HE 224 is a lot of work. I took it online, and I spent on average about 15 hours a week reading and studying. And I also heard that taking it on campus isn't any easier. I highly recommend taking it online if you can. Especially since you'll have other classes and clinicals. I really liked it online, I could read and study on my own time (when my kids went to bed in the evening). I also have not heard many nice things about one specific instructor (I think the only one that teaches it on campus), whereas there is 2 instructors that teach it online (at least last semester).

Anyways, good luck and I also look forward to meeting everyone on June 5th. I can't wait to find out my schedule. I really need to begin preparing myself for what's ahead this fall, and once I have my schedule I can begin doing just that.

jserwin510 · Jun 1, 2009

hi everyone! i was accepted into the '09 program. i am so excited about orientation on friday. i will see you there!

angelgreg · Jun 1, 2009

I would NOT take HE 224 or ANYTHING else while in the first semester UNLEss all you have to take is your ADN courses. If you already have your pharm class out of the way then maybe try to do it...even then I would'nt even chance it. I am a repeat first sem and it was killer. It was the hardest thing that I have EVER in my life had to do.

I will see all on Fri!!! Looking forward to meeting everyone:)

ldnurse1 · Jun 1, 2009

I would NOT take HE 224 or ANYTHING else while in the first semester UNLEss all you have to take is your ADN courses. If you already have your pharm class out of the way then maybe try to do it...even then I would'nt even chance it. I am a repeat first sem and it was killer. It was the hardest thing that I have EVER in my life had to do.
I will see all on Fri!!! Looking forward to meeting everyone:)

Angelgreg,

Can I ask what you found to be the hardest thing about the first semester? Was it the amount of time involved? or the amount of information that we are expected to know? I'm just curious, because I'm super nervous about how I'm going to handle school with my family life. I certainly don't want to feel like I'm neglecting my kids, but I so badly want to be a nurse. Do you have children? If so, did you feel like you were neglecting them or did you feel that you still spent enough time with them? Also, did you work the first semester? If so, how many hours per week? I do not work, but with the economy the way that it is and my husband not working as much as he has in the past, I've actually thrown around the idea of getting a part time job (but definitely not until after the first semester). Also, how many hours a week would you estimate that you studied your first semester?

Sorry I'm asking so many questions, I just don't get much of a response on this site from those who have already been through this, so it's nice to be able to have someone on here who has already experienced at least the first semester like you have. And like I said I'm so nervous about being able to handle everything.

Anyways, I'm also looking forward to our orientation on Friday. Since you've already been to one of these orientations before, can you tell us what to expect at it? We are supposed to be getting our fall schedule, right? Do we have any say as to what our schedule is, or do they basically tell us when and where to be?

I know, I know, stop with all of the questions, but as you can tell I'm very anxious to know everything that is going to happen. Well, I hope to hear from you soon, I look forward to getting some insight as to what to expect from someone who has already been there.

I look forward to meeting everyone on Friday!

angelgreg · Jun 2, 2009

Hoping09,

First I understand exactly how you feel. I was in your spot last year. I was so nervous, excited, anxious. I had no idea what to expect. I will let you know how it was for me. I won't lie or sugarcoat it. It is going to be one of the hardest things you probably ever will do in your life. It is SO much work. When I say so much work, what ever your thinking take that and double it. It is Alot of reading. Lots of reading. My advice is start in the summer when they give us the list of readings in the August meeting (I believe it's Aug). Read it all. Try to read it twice. Then when it's time to do it in class really stay ahead of the game. Don't ever fall behind. Once you do it's almost impossible to catch up.

I do have three children ages 10,7 and 3 (at that time) and I felt like the worst parent in the world. I will be honest with you. I did'nt have time to do homework with them (husband had to do it), I could'nt go to any of there soccer games, or football games. My youngest cried everymorning that I had to leave her at daycare. It was horrible. I felt like you had said, like i was neglecting my kids. I had to keep reminding myself that it was for a greater purpose, so that in the end I could help them have a better future. I had to miss a little over the next two years to give them a better life. It is hard. I am not looking forward to doing this semester over. I will be honest.

Our schedules are just handed to us. We don't get to pick. (at least last yr we did'nt). I heard they might be doing it a little different this year with us picking numbers. Not sure. Basically, Friday is just us sitting and listening and going over our paper work and schedules and what to expect. I think we may get our reading schedules on friday. I can't really remember.

I hope this helps you-

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. I will be more than glad to answer anything that I can. I understand how you feel.

Congrats!! See ya on Fri:)

P.S.

Remember, you can do this! Even when you it gets bad and you have 4 test in one week, and your freaking out. You can do this. Just take it one day at a time. Just breathe. It may seem overwhelming, your not alone. That's the most important thing to remb. Everyone else feels the same way. Your not the only one freaking out. lol

If you need anything I will help you out as best as I can. Don't hesitate to ask. :)

ldnurse1 · Jun 2, 2009

Angelgreg,

Thanks for all of the info and your honesty. It's nice to be able to hear from someone who's been through it. I think that the toughest part for me will be feeling guilty for "neglecting " my kids and husband. My husband's great, but I've always been the one to take care of the kids (baths, homework, dinner, etc). I just don't want him or my kids to end up resenting me for following my dream. I know that in the end everything will be ok and that it it will all be over before we know it, it's just so scary to step into this not knowing what to expect. So thank you for being candid with me.

angelgreg · Jun 3, 2009

your welcome:) your right, in the end it will be worth it all! we are doing the right thing. we just need to remb to keep reminding ourselves of that when it seems that we are "neglecting" our family. We need to try to remb it's not forever. It's only two years. :eek:

ldnurse1 · Jun 4, 2009

Angelgreg,

Do you know if they keep us all day at the orientation tomorrow? I know that our letters say 9-5, but I'm just wondering what they have to say that will take that long. Also, do they give us enough time for lunch to actually leave and grab something, or should I pack a lunch? Not much info was given in the letter, so I feel kinda lost.

Thanks!

ogonekk · Jun 7, 2009

Hi Hoping,

So what did you think of orientation? I have a cream schedule, how about you? I'm hoping to find people to carpool with.

ldnurse1 · Jun 8, 2009

Hi Hoping,
So what did you think of orientation? I have a cream schedule, how about you? I'm hoping to find people to carpool with.

I thought orientation went well. I don't have my schedule in front of me, I think that it was purple though. I was a little overwhelmed with the schedule at first. Just because it changes a few times throughout the semester and I have children that I need to figure out daycare for. So I was hoping for a little more consistency. At first I started questioning myself and wondering if I should wait until my kids are all in school full time (3 years from now). But now that it's been a few days and I've had time to think things through, I know that everything will be OK. I will just have to deal with it one day at a time, which is hard for me bacause I'm such a planner and I like organization. I have to keep reminding myself that in less than two years I'll be a nurse. And afterall that is my goal.

Do you have children? Do you have to work? I just like to hear that there is others in the same situation as me (about the children anyways. I do not work).

Good luck and try to enjoy your summer (before the real fun begins in August)!

4treasures · Jun 13, 2009

:yeah: congrats to all sc4 incoming students. i am an sc4 09 grad. the program is very tough. the whole first year is rough, although if you don't need patho, the second semester is 3 days. i took it in class. i know you are overwhelmed, but stick together, and you will be ok. i agree that the first semester i did very little but read and study. the house is a mess, and you need to get help from family as much as possible. i am the mom of 4 kids who were 2, 5, 7, and 9 when i started, and i managed to be one of the few who got all a's the first semester, and graduated with a 3.56 gpa. so, it can be done! (although i have gained about 30 lbs from sitting on my butt studying for hours at a time:crying2:) if i can help, let me know!