TCC MENTAL HEALTH

Corkybabe12 · May 2, 2010

I am finishing up my pedi/OB semester (last clinical next week!) and I took mental health theory online. I am pretty sure that we were the first group to have it, the second group at most, and it was incredibly challenging. All my friends took it on-campus and claimed the tests were easy and the tests were their only grades. Online we had 7-10 hrs a week of case studies, assignments and other random homework to complete to supplement for time not spent sitting in class. This was all in addition to reading the chapters and notes. I made the mistake of assuming all my assignments the first week were under the "assignments" tab, only to find that there were some in another tab that I had missed. I realized it 2 hrs after they were due, emailed the instructor (thinking hey, maybe I can get partial credit since it IS the first week and I'm new to this online class?) only to get a response from her where she copy/pasted the CID saying that late work would be given a 0. Sooooo...those assignments automatically dropped me to a B in the class.

Sorry for the long diatribe, but I feel as if the class took over my life for 8 weeks and put a dent in my GPA :-( I have heard that they made major improvements, but I'm not sure what all changed. I can tell you that other people in the class did feel the same way though.

Hope this helped some! Good luck with your decision :-)

smvtx23 · May 2, 2010

Congrats on almost finishing your semester!! I am finishing up Foundations this semester and it has been great! I can't wait to take Pedi/OB. I am sooo glad you gave me all of that info bc I am pretty sure I will just stick with on campus to be safe. I am taking Aguilar for theory and she has a lot of experience in Mental Health. I was just hoping to try to get a job soon and work but I will work around Theory and just get it done. I would rather get a good grade then make money LOL! Thanks again for the info and good luck on your finals!!

Corkybabe12 · May 5, 2010

Thanks! I hope your first semester was an enjoyable one- it is one of the hardest just because you have to get accustomed to the whole nursing school scenario. I had Aguilar for my clinical instructor- she is AWESOME. When I had her (prior to her divorce) she was Dr. Ray and she was the director of the program...and I was VERY nervous haha. But like I said, she is an amazing instructor.

Best of luck to you! I remember thinking back in January of '09 "man, Dec 2010 seems forever away!" And now I'm like "wow...I start applying for RN jobs in 4 months!" I would highly recommend looking for a tech job of some sort now, as they are few and far-between now. I'm sure that you have heard that RN jobs aren't as plentiful as they were just a year ago, but with a "foot in the door" somewhere it can really make all the difference ;-)

I was blessed to land a job in the NICU of the childrens hospital of my choice, so now I just have to pray that I can slide into an RN position there! :nurse:

smvtx23 · May 6, 2010

Congrats on your job in the NICU! That is one of my choices after I graduate. I want to work in trauma as my first choice but I love the babies too! I have applied to all of the local hospitals for PCT positions but have not had luck yet. I have been a Parkland hospital volunteer in the ED since October so I applied there but have yet to here. What has been your luck with getting a job in the hospital? I have applied to Parkland, THR, Baylor, and Children's. I am willing to go to any of them!:)

Corkybabe12 · May 7, 2010

It is really hard to get into any of them right now :-(

BUT, you said that you have been a volunteer in the ED dept? I would seriously use that to my advantage- be persistent! I think what helped me get my position is that I had been a NICU volunteer a few years back for that same hospital. I would find the contact at your hospital responsible for hiring ancillary positions, and drop in with your resume and give him/her some face time while making it known that you currently volunteer there.

Don't give up! I had to apply 4 times before I was asked for an interview!

Best of luck! :redpinkhe