Tri-C in Cleveland

AssociateDegree · Jul 26, 2012

Yes, he is.

melissamc · Jul 26, 2012

I'm starting the program this fall at Westshore. I'm at Lakewood Hospital on Saturdays and Sundays. How about you?

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Jul 26, 2012

are you the same scott that is on the adn group site with all of the knowledgeable information???
i guess i should clarify that i was asking for anyone starting 1300 & 1450!!

yeah we are the same dude. posting on here and on the group site helps me procrastinate at work.

you nervous yet?

FLboundBSN · Jul 27, 2012

I knew you were the same guy! :lol2:

I have been looking forward to this for 2 years! I finished all my prereqs for Tri-C and all but 2 for CSU's BSN!

I will be at East days and yes I am nervous. I just got the syllabus and have a lot of reading to do. There goes my summer break!

I have a question for people that are in 23, 24 and 2500 -- when you started, did you feel like you wouldnt be able to do it or get through? I am SOOO nervous that I am going to flunk out. I am a straight A student, but I am having a lot of anxiety about testing. I have so many friends with little children, a job, AND they got A's, so I am thinking, if they can do it, so can I, but I still question my abilities.

The last two years, I have spent a lot of time with NCLEX books and taking the NCLEX reading questions on Evolve through the Fundamentals book, but it's still scary.

I am especially nervous for 1600 and all the acid/base and self teaching (from what I hear) (if I make it through first semester!). I just finished that chapter in AP2 and while I am in a 5 week, it was SOOO much information and seems like I will never get it. I got the F&E Made Incredibly Easy book.

So ya, I am kind of nervous!

FLboundBSN · Jul 30, 2012

With regard to first semester clinicals (1450), what do you need to bring to the hospital :nurse: ? I know we will have a Clinical Orientation in September prior to Clinicals, but I would like to know in advance. I read somewhere to bring a lab book, drug guide, drug cards, IV drug guide and pocket dictionary. Seems like a whole lot that would require you to bring a backpack!

Please help! Thank you!

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2012

This is what I have taken to 1450, 1600, and 2300 OB and Peds clinicals. (Psych is different.)

Stethoscope, Pen light, bandage scissors, hemostat, couple pens, Sharpie marker, small notebook. This is the stuff I'd have on my person.

In my backpack I'd have a couple folders that had some different things in it. Case studies, and any care plans to be turned in. Occasionally I'd have a textbook in there too.

I've never bothered bringing any physical reference books. For one you don't really have any time to look at them. Second every hospital that I've been at has had some sort of drug look up application as part of their computer system that we could use if we needed to.

Everyone feels nervous prior to starting nursing school, EVERYONE. It's easy to fail out if you don't show up for class and don't do any of the work, but if you show up, pay attention, participate in class, and do the readings it is really hard to fail. Is it hard? Yeah, but if it was easy everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great. (To quote Jimmy Dugan.) Expect to feel like holy **** what did I get myself into for about the first 5 weeks give or take. Then everything starts to slow down for you. That's how it was for me.

FLboundBSN · Jul 31, 2012

Where do you keep your backpack? What about a lunch break? Does it depend on the site? My friend said you get maybe 15 mins here or there and not to plan on eating. I have an eating schedule. Should I carry granola in my pocket? :no:

Scott - thank you so much for your detailed reply. I really appreciate that!

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Jul 31, 2012

Usually you put your stuff in the break room or where ever the staff puts their stuff.

My 1450 clinical was scheduled from 7:00am to 1:30pm Typically we would try to be off the floor by 12:30. We'd then go down to the cafeteria for lunch/post conference. Unfortunately the floor we were on was generally slammed and we rarely if ever got off the floor before 1:00, but we still did gather in the cafeteria for lunch and post conference.

Each semester thus far we have been provided time for some sort of lunch. At least the clinical groups I have been a part of have.

Also this final semester I'm going to switch it up and ditch the notebook and roll with this 4 patient "report sheet" that I found and a clipboard. It's high time I got a little more organized instead of writing things down in my chicken scratch notebook.

FLboundBSN · Jul 31, 2012

my friend recommended an enclosable like clipboard. Would you recommend that for first semester clinicals? or would that be to heavy/bulky to carry around?

Can you give me more info regarding 1450 clinicals and its first few weeks of being in the hospital? Like will we be standing around and observing mostly, or will we be in the thick of things? Making beds, feeding patients, etc?

Dont we have to "test out" in lab to make a bed or feed before doing it in the hospital?

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Jul 31, 2012

Some folks use a clipboard that has has a compartment in it. Most of the time the clipboards hide out inside the pull down shelves in the hallways.

Usually the first day or two are what I'll call "clinical orientation" basically you fill out whatever forms the facility requires, you might have to watch a quick power power point and answer a few questions, and you'll also probably get some electronic medical records training on the actual computers, only you won't be looking at active medical records just "test ones."

After your first day or two you basically jump in and start doing basic nursing aid functions. Although this sort of depends on your instructor. My group pretty much was doing everything the day after orientation. All basic care, bed, bath, toileting, vital signs, and our group was even doing head to toe assessments and putting them into the computer with our instructor really early in the semester.

I don't think you'll be tested out on basic skills, other than when you do it on an actual patient. Most of the stuff is fairly easy and hard to screw up.

vlange · Sep 19, 2012

Lee J A, I am an LPN taking classes at Lakeland Community college for their LPN to RN. Lakeland shoves their LPNs into the daytime program at Lakeland and I now need to go in the evening or the weekends. I work 9a to 330p each week day, off on weekends and the summer. (school nurse). On tri-c's website some nursing classes say "evenings start at 2:30p" is this true? what does this mean? is the program out of reach for me? any info is appreciated. I am so frustrated trying to find a reliable program that works with my schedule

AssociateDegree · Sep 19, 2012

The reason the website says that "evenings start at 2:30 p.m." has to do with the availability of clinical sites. Notice that the evening/weekend program is referred to as a "modified evening/weekend program" for just that reason. While lectures will generally start at 5 p.m., clinicals may start 2-2 1/2 hours earlier. Tri-C does offer clinicals on the weekend, though, but they may start anytime from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 or 4 p.m.