Temple College 2015

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Hello, I just wanted to start a thread for those of us applying for the LVN or RN programs at Temple College for 2015. We can share information, discuss any concerns, talk about the HESI exam, getting cleared through the Board of Nursing, or the just nursing program in general! Those of you that are already in the program are more than welcome to chime in.

PLEASE NOTE: I am in no way taking responsibility for any wrong information given, nor will I moderate this thread. I just want to meet new friends and support one another through the process of applying and getting our acceptance letters!

Last day to apply to the ADN program. I wonder how many applicants there were. Anyone applying last minute?

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A friend of mine applied last Thursday and it was in the 130's at that point.

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I heard the final count on the RN applicant pool is 245. I'm pretty sure that's smaller than usual, which helps our chances.

I previously heard about 360 usually apply and, of those, 300 actually have the minimum requirements to be considered.

With only 245 applicants, that's about a 1 in 4 chance of getting in. They take 60.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Oncology.

When do letters go out??

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When do letters go out??

Transcripts with grades from classes taken this semester must be submitted by May 18. I assume letters will go out shortly after that.

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For any of you that applied to the TC program....did any of you take A&P 1 and 2 and Microbiology as online courses?

And are they accepted like the regular classroom courses?

Thanks

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I took A&P1 as a Hybrid course at TC. The lectures were online. We only met once a week for lab. I'm taking A&P2 and Micro right now as traditional lecture courses.

As long as the course numbers are the same, they should be accepted. A&P1 is BIOL 2401; A&P2 is BIOL 2402; Micro is BIOL 2420.

These courses are numbered according to the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS), which Temple College uses. If you take the course at a university or somewhere else where the numbers are listed differently, look up their TCCNS equivalency ( TCCNS - Common Course Matrix ) to make sure it is the course TC wants.

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So is A&P as hard as everyone says it is or is possible to make an "A" in

it if Science is not a person strong subject?

By the way, I was talking with a person today who recently moved from

CA after graduating nursing school in 2013. They said that a lot of new

graduates, including themself, was having a hard time finding a job as

a new graduate. This person had to move to Texas just to get a job

in a hospital. They also mentioned that a number of their classmates

still have not found nursing jobs since graduating in 2013. Sounds

pretty scarey about the job market for new graduates.

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I made an "A" in A&P. I had avoided as many science classes as possible when I got my Bachelor's in Counseling.

Studying did take a good chunk of my time because I was starting from scratch. I didn't even know the correct anatomical position or what distal, inferior, superior meant. Thankfully, you can use common sense for a lot of those terms.

I have heard that nurses are having a hard time finding jobs ESPECIALLY in CA and not so much in other places. CA pays their nurses pretty well and I have heard of people moving there because of that and then not being able to find a job. I feel that there is still a decent shortage of nurses in the rest of the US.

The first thing that I would do after getting an ADN, is try to bridge to the BSN. That seems to be what most hospitals want. On the plus side, I personally know a woman that is graduating this May with an ADN and she already has 6 job offers.

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I also made an A in A&P1, and I took it with the chair of the Biology department at Temple College, Dr. Jason Locklin, who is known to be the hardest prof for A&P. I finished a Bachelors in English in 2013. The only science classes I needed for that degree were Geology and Astronomy, lol. The last bio science course I had

taken was in 2008, in high school. There was definitely a learning curve at first to get oriented with all of the standard language, but anyone can pull off an A, I think, with enough dedication.

Like kpalo said, CA has the highest average pay in the nation (last I checked, around $41/hr), so lots of nurses have flooded there. But even though there is a shortage of nurses nationwide, including CA, it's very difficult to get hired on as a new grad in CA. Simply put, there is a lot of competition, employers have a lot to choose from, and CA seems to be especially stingy about only hiring nurses who already have experience...

This is a problem that haunts people in just about every other profession, too, to an extent. A sector needs people to do a job, but they only want people who have done that job before. How do you get experience doing a job that requires experience??

Well, some places are less strict, more inviting/trusting...even desperate maybe? We happen to be fortunate to live in a state that is a haven for new grad nurses looking for experience. I read an article that listed Texas as the best state for nurses overall, in terms of cost of living, job opportunities, etc.

Some of the bigger hospitals here are more stingy about BSN vs ADN, if they're trying to get or maintain magnet status. I've heard teaching hospitals, like Scott and White, are more open to ADN graduates (esp. from TC since they have a partnership). I work at Scott and White as a CNA right now. I would say at least half of our nurses are ADNs or LVNs. And I know at least four who are from California, graduated recently and moved here just for the experience.

So, I would suggest trying to get as much "experience" as you can in a hospital or nursing setting while you are still in school. Supplement your resume with not just a degree but also work as a CNA, a scribe, a HUC, a nurse tech, whatever you can get. If you can't manage to work regularly right now, volunteer. Just get hours of experience in the setting outside of your academic clinical hours. It won't completely even the playing field but it can't hurt.

And do research in our or other states (if you plan to move) to see which hospitals are more open to new grads, ADNs in general. Just talking with nurses on my floor, I've learned a lot. Teaching hospitals seem to be the best bet. And they're also best if you plan to continue your education while you are working. Being a teaching hospital, they are usually more willing to work with you and your schedule, to make time for your schooling.

Surveys Show Unbalanced Supply, Demand in California Nurse Labor Market - California Healthline

The best and worst states to be an RN in 2012 | Scrubs – The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles

(^This second link is a few years old, but it still seems pretty relevant/accurate)

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For the ADN program- i made all A's on the Pre-req's but made one B on the Co-req's and that was in The Lifespan Psych class. Anybody else make a B on any of their Co-Req classes?

I made an overall score of 88 on my HESI. The program director said that was an ALRIGHT score, it doesn't help that I live out of district as well. But who knows what will happen. If I get in, great and if not, then it's not the end of the world. Just gotta stay patient and keep my head up

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I got a B in comp... A's in everything else and got a 96 on the HESI.

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