Prairie View A&M students

gina2423 · Dec 31, 2006

Htownurse - Congrats on being accepted!!! I too have been accepted for Spring '07 and am very anxious to get started. Unfortunately I do not have any hints or tips to give. I'm actually in the same boat with you - looking for hints, tips and any other pertinent info. Feel free to contact me anytime, we can go through bootcamp together!!!

PVNurse1 - Congrats on your recent graduation, you have overcome a great milestone in your life!!! I'm waiting to begin my journey to overcome mine now. Can you tell us what we should expect going in day 1. All I know so far is that I have to go to orientation - family and mandatory. Other than that, I don't know ANYTHING - registration, uniform, supplies, textbooks, nothing. I guess thats the part where I have to remain patient especially since those that I ask at the one phone number I was provided don't seem to know anything either. Any info will be appreciated, Thanks!!!

pvnurse1 · Jan 1, 2007

Prairie View's program is hard! No doubt about it. There will be a lot of times when it feels as though they are wasting your time, during orientation will be one of them. When you go you will get registered, pay your fees, take your badge picture, they will give you an information packet with costs of the supplies and uniforms. Prairie wears the official nurse whites, so you will have to order them through the nursing school. They will give you all the info you need. The also will give you a Drug calculation packet to go home and work on. You will have to take and pass a drug cal test with better than a 94(?) each semester in order to enroll in clinical rotations. Its not hard but be sure and practice the packet they give you. It has medical abbreviations, drug calculations, and conversions on it.

Prairie View is unorganized so you must have patience if you attend school there. They change up the schedule on you at the last minute, they just do stupid things. But in the end, you are prepared and way ahead of graduates from other schools. I've seen this with my own eyes, students who don't know simple stuff and you're looking at them like, "Are you serious? You don't know this?" But it will be rough. Just ask plenty of questions if it's something you don't understand.

Anything more specific you want answered let me know. Orientation for me was back in August 2003, so its been awhile. I have to remember that. But anything about classes I can tell you.

htownurse · Jan 1, 2007

thank you sooo much pvnurse1 for all what you said. Can you inform us about your study habits or other things you did that helped get through nursing school. also is it better to buy textbooks with the school or buy it online. can you recommend any instructors. do you think i need a pda for the program also does tape recorder help, that is for the lectures. Is there anyway i can make copies of your notes from your past classes.

hey gina2423 congratulations on your acceptance. PM me your email addy so we can exchange numbers and info hope to see you on saturday.

pvnurse1 · Jan 2, 2007

With regards to textbooks, you may as well buy them through the school. I never used a tape recorder. I just highlighted along in the text book and wrote notes on something the instructor harped on in class. I wouldn't think you needed a PDA, a planner with would be just fine. Its up to you. Just something to organize your study time, and that would enable you to see upcoming tests and necessary reading assignments.

With regards to study habits, form a study group your first semester, people who really want to work. Keep this group for the remainder of the program. You all will grow together and keep each other afloat and then you'll all graduate together.

The instructors all teach a specific course. There is no choosing because each semester has a team of instructors. I don't really have any notes because I mostly just wrote in my text books. Any little notes I have wouldn't be much help. Its really individualized how you learn best. I wasn't really a note taker. I just read the text book.

michellesrndream · Jan 2, 2007

Congrats! You must be so excited! I have a question though if you don't mind. We're looking at relocating back to Texas and I was wondering if GP (or other driving distance community colleges) are impacted like here in California. I'm done with all pre-reqs and g.e. and ready to apply here, but there are 2-3 semester wait lists and/or re-apply periods. We seriously have 400+ applicants for 50 spots at every program offered here. How is it there?

Thanks, any info would be greatly appreciated,

Michelle

htownurse · Jan 6, 2007

thank you for all your advice really appreciate it.

michellesrndream

i cant really say what the ratio between applicants and spots are. i know it is really competitve, but as long as you have a great gpa and apply early you should get in. another thing is to always follow up when you mail your documents mistakes happen, so always be on their case.

ccrn2b · Jan 6, 2007

Prairie View? whooooop! Not to discourage anyone but i was there myself. They make it soooo hard and tough! Luckily, i transfered some of my classes to another school and still graduated the same semester as i would have if i stayed at prairie view. I didn't loose anything. I was only there for one semester. I bagan doubting and asking myself if nursing was actually for me. But i only had to ask that question while in prairie View. Once i entered the other school, i soon discovered myself. I would have doubted if nursing was for me and would have left for something else mistakenly if i didn't transfer.Now i'm working in ICU and doing great! Anybody either in their program or planning on going there should listen to nurse Pvnurse1. She has been there all thru and knows better. There's no sweet-talking you into hell! Bottom line? Ask lots of questions before going there so you won't start having a second thought afterwards.. Be prepared. It's do-able but you really have to have patience and take all their disorganizations and stuff.. I couldn't stand all those. In whatever decision you make, goodluck..

pvnurse1 · Jan 6, 2007

I don't know that Prairie View has any sort of waiting list. They even accept students with GPA's less than 3.0. So GPA is a non issue at Prairie View.

cenedradRN · Jan 21, 2007

Hi,

I'm considering applying for fall 2007 and was wondering if you have to have all pre-reqs complete at time of application. I have the majority but I don't have A&P, lifespan, and sociology. I'm taking them this summer. Any advice or info would be great!

pvnurse1 · Jan 21, 2007

I believe you can still apply with classes still outstanding and you can still be admitted. Just be sure and list on the application when you will be taking the courses and when you expect to complete them.

PrairieViewRN · Jan 30, 2007

Hi everybody!

Until this thread I didnt think anyone from Prairie View or folks that were interested in PV knew about this site! Well I am a PROUD PVU grad! I went to the main campus and then the College of Nursing, where I graduated in May '05. Ive been working full time as a nurse since graduation, and Im so happy about the career choice I made.

Advice I would give to those taking prereques at the main campus: study,get good grades, but make sure you have fun sometimes too: if you haven't already mastered the art of prioritizing major or minor things in life, now is the time. You will definately need this skill the remainder of your time in nursing school, and especially when you become a nurse. Also learn the art of networking. If you know someone about to leave for the college of nursing, and you still have more classes to take on main campus (or wherever you attend school), introduce yourself, get to know them and keep in touch because they will know what tidbits to share with you when you take the classes they have already taken. (Study materials, old handouts from previous classes, etc.) When its time to go to the CON, get ready....you're in for the time of your LIFE....but if you finish, (yes, i said IF) and apply the knowledge correctly the wonderful instructors have given you, you will be polished, well educated, and a professional BSN, RN. Like me :nuke:

To those already at the CON, all I can say is hang in there, I promise you WILL get out and you WILL make wonderful nurses. Try not to get involved in the uhhh..."politics"...that may sometimes be involved there. Politics are just apart of nursing. Get used to it. Even though your're in school, remain professional with the instructors, and students as well. Dont get caught up in trying to graduate with the class you started out with. I know everyone wants to get the hect otta there, but how fast you finish the race is not important, but how you well and throroughly you ran your race at PV is what matters. I started with a class of 65. I graduated a semester later with a class of about 15. Every thing that is being crammed down your throats right now YOU NEED, and you will see it again. If you dont know what HESI is, you will know real well by the end of semester 4. To those about to take the NCLEX, hmm...what can I tell you??? Its not like taking any exam that PV has already given you. It tests SOME knowledge, but i think its ensuring you know how to "think like a nurse". What can you analyze from the information being presented in the question? What is the pertenant (sp?) info? What, if anything, needs to be done with the information given. If yes, what do you do 1st, 2nd, last?

I hope this information has been helpful to anyone reading it. Im so proud of you all and I wish you the best of luck in your journey!

All questions/comments are welcomed and encouraged :nuke:

PV101 · May 26, 2007

I just finished my first semester at Prairie View and although they are unorganized, I love the program. I am excited about the upcoming semesters. What advice can anyone give about semesters 2-5 (particularly semester 2)?