Unhappy with CSCC...are there any alternatives?

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I submitted my application to CSCC at 9:00 am this morning. Later today, I found out that dozens of other people had the same idea. They camped out in the computer lab and all waited to hit the 'enter' key at 9:00 am. The application was supposedly for Spring '11, but only a few people will get in due to the overwhelming number of applicants from the Fall '10 crowd. I'm fairly certain that I will not start until almost a year and a half from now. I find this frustrating, considering I have the same chance of getting in as someone who has much lower grades than mine (I have a 3.9 GPA). Are there any good alternatives to Columbus State out there?

Did they give you an option of buying your own scrubs instead of ordering through them? Just wondering, because I need a Petite XS in pants and not sure if they have that size or not.

They do have petites and xsmall.

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I'd agree, but 2nd quarter isn't any better.... involved clinical, pharmacology, and a skills lab...

I'm taking micro/patho (hybrid/online) winter together with a full-time job with the hope it'll get me on the right path to take on nursing school in the spring!!

I don't mean to imply that the work gets easier. I think the reason that we were advised to wait and not take anything else (or certainly not any challenging courses) first quarter is because we will not only be taking nursing courses with difficult coursework, but we will be nearly overwhelmed with just the newness and challenge of the type of courses. After the first quarter, we will have a bit of experience with the type of work and assessment. The work will still be challenging, but the whole deer in headlights effect should have gone away.

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I don't mean to imply that the work gets easier. I think the reason that we were advised to wait and not take anything else (or certainly not any challenging courses) first quarter is because we will not only be taking nursing courses with difficult coursework, but we will be nearly overwhelmed with just the newness and challenge of the type of courses. After the first quarter, we will have a bit of experience with the type of work and assessment. The work will still be challenging, but the whole deer in headlights effect should have gone away.

Ugh. :p That's almost all I can say about that. I guess I'll skip the online class, since I'm not the best at online anyway.

Job + 1st quarter of nursing school + Two kids and a husband = I'll try a speech class

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I don't know what quarter you're in, but they started a tutoring program last quarter and brought that attrition number down to 8%!:yeah: It seems like a pretty cool program, it's headed up by a lady [no names allowed on here] who's going to do her thesis on it. I'm making A's now, but I started a new job on Monday, and I'm trying to decide whether or not to try and take pathophys online with my two nursing classes 100 & 110 [traditional] next quarter... any thoughts? I didn't want a gap in the sequence of anatomy, phys, and pathophys, but I'm really worried about the amount of time that I'll need to put into these first two classes on the other hand all of nursing school will be time intensive. I will only have Pathophys, Micro, and the two Comm classes left as of next quarter. They really did try to talk us into p/t nursing school. :confused: But I just don't want to delay graduating. Oyi, so many decisions!

They said that any scrubs you buy elsewhere have to be approved because everyone MUST look the same. I know they had XS, but I don't remember Petite or Longs. HTH!

I am in the second quarter of the program. The tutoring sessions are aimed at helping you learn how to improve your study habits and test skills, it's not necessarily a content focused session. I attended the sessions several tines, and while I didn't really gain anything new from them they are beneficial for many people. I would suggest going at least a couple of times just to see if any of their methods can help you get more from your studying.

As far as scrubs go- since a couple of people asked, you do have to buy the ones from the bookstore (unless you are pregnant and need maternity scrubs). The tops have a nursing patch on the left sleeve and the pants aren't the most stylish - the are unisex scrubs- but it is what it is. They all have to be the same, and the clinical instructors are very strict when it comes to uniform and clinical dress code.

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Specializes in LTC.
Just reading through some of the posts...

I am currently in the RN program and believe me it IS a lot of work. I remember hearing the "scare" talk at orientation as well and thinking that it was just a tactic to get you scared so you don't fall behind. It isn't a scare tactic- they are being very upfront about what to expect. I was a straight A student before beginning the program and now am having to work very hard just to make B's in the classes. There is an adjusted grading scale (they don't use the CSCC standard) so you have to get higher percentages to get A's and B's. Also there are about 20-25% of people who don't make it past the first quarter - not because they drop out but because they fail. The first two classes you take are meant to weed people out of the program. We started out with 95 people (I think) and now we have about 70. Many people do take the part time option - I personally didn't take that option but I seriously wish I had. Anyway good luck to you - the faculty is really great and they will help you out if you ask!

I wonder how many of those people who dropped out the first quarter were taking on a full load (nursing courses + A&P courses + general education courses). The basic requirements for admittance into the RN program are not very high.

Requirements:

- 2.6 GPA minimum

- Basic Algebra and English classes

- NURC 101 and 102

- CHEM 113

- PSY 100

- Pass the HESI A2 with 75%

These are very simple classes. Also, they do not have a competitive selective admissions process like other nursing schools have. Admission to the CSCC nursing program is on a first-come first-serve basis. In other words, average students are admitted along with brilliant students on equal footing.

I've heard that at CSCC you start out your first quarter at a hospital. In a hospital, everything is done electronically. In a nursing home a lot of paperwork is still done the old-fashioned way (pen and paper). Also, I've heard that you're given plenty of time to complete your assessments. Is this true?

If you're juggling a family or serious relationship, friendships, full time job, full time school, and church (if applicable), then you probably will run into some serious time constraints. Also, consider the number of students who have had no previous healthcare experience. You will be around sick and needy people who don't care whether you are a student or not. If anything, they'll probably be anxious about a student taking care of them. Also, could it be that some people simply conclude that Nursing is not for them and drop?

belle52877, I'm not disagreeing with you. I think it is simply unfair that CSCC has such a lax admissions process. There are a lot of people returning to school with previous degrees who know what commitment to their education looks like. Also, consider all the people who have healthcare experience and good grades. Need I say any more?

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I've heard that at CSCC you start out your first quarter at a hospital. In a hospital, everything is done electronically. In a nursing home a lot of paperwork is still done the old-fashioned way (pen and paper). Also, I've heard that you're given plenty of time to complete your assessments. Is this true?

If you're juggling a family or serious relationship, friendships, full time job, full time school, and church (if applicable), then you probably will run into some serious time constraints. Also, consider the number of students who have had no previous healthcare experience. You will be around sick and needy people who don't care whether you are a student or not. If anything, they'll probably be anxious about a student taking care of them. Also, could it be that some people simply conclude that Nursing is not for them and drop?

belle52877, I'm not disagreeing with you. I think it is simply unfair that CSCC has such a lax admissions process. There are a lot of people returning to school with previous degrees who know what commitment to their education looks like. Also, consider all the people who have healthcare experience and good grades. Need I say any more?

The first quarter of CSCC is in LTC, not a hospital. It is a truly nursing clinical through, not nurse aide clinical like a lot of other nursing programs. You practice your assessments and care plans for the most part. Second quarter is OB, then Med/Surg I, then Med/Surg II w/ OR shadowing, then Peds, then Rehab/Psych, then elective prectorship.

I would hope that after completing NURC 101/102 someone would at least be able to conclude whether or not nursing is for them! It is scary the people that get in to the nursing program... so many people that had to take CHEM 113 and NURC 102 2-4 times just to pass... eek! :eek:

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Specializes in Psych/med surg.

The word they used at orientation was attrition rate. The traditional has a 22%-25% attrition rate and the online has a 2%-3% attrition rate. Attrition rate is the amount who leave the program. She said that since they started the study tables, the attrition rate is improving. After all the science courses I have taken for this, there is no way I am going to give up now.

Someone asked about taking micro with patho online during their first quarter of nursing classes. If you don't work, don't have kids and have no other obligations then it is doable but the patho takes up some time. At first when I started the online patho I was annoyed with all the work but it is doable afterall. I am also taking micro but haven't devoted much time to it because of patho. There is a girl in my micro class that is taking the lecture patho and she says her teacher only requires exams with no case studies. I will be glad when all my science courses are done.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Do they offer an online PN-RN program? I am considering doing Rio Grande's online program. They are 3 1/2 hours away from me and the clinical sites will be about 1 1/2 away. Columbus is an hour or so away from me. Thanks!

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Do they offer an online PN-RN program? I am considering doing Rio Grande's online program. They are 3 1/2 hours away from me and the clinical sites will be about 1 1/2 away. Columbus is an hour or so away from me. Thanks!

Yes.

Nursing: LPN Admission

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I've heard that at CSCC you start out your first quarter at a hospital. In a hospital, everything is done electronically. In a nursing home a lot of paperwork is still done the old-fashioned way (pen and paper). Also, I've heard that you're given plenty of time to complete your assessments. Is this true?

If you're juggling a family or serious relationship, friendships, full time job, full time school, and church (if applicable), then you probably will run into some serious time constraints. Also, consider the number of students who have had no previous healthcare experience. You will be around sick and needy people who don't care whether you are a student or not. If anything, they'll probably be anxious about a student taking care of them. Also, could it be that some people simply conclude that Nursing is not for them and drop?

We were even told at orientation that first quarter is LTC. Just an FYI for those applying they told us you have ABSOLUTELY no choice in clinical times. You take what you end up being scheduled for. First quarter is the closest you get to picking clinical time with picking a seminar time that is attached with a clinical. Also be prepared to not have "plenty of time" for any assignment. That's what the SNA people said.

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I wonder how many of those people who dropped out the first quarter were taking on a full load (nursing courses + A&P courses + general education courses). The basic requirements for admittance into the RN program are not very high.

Requirements:

- 2.6 GPA minimum

- Basic Algebra and English classes

- NURC 101 and 102

- CHEM 113

- PSY 100

- Pass the HESI A2 with 75%

These are very simple classes. Also, they do not have a competitive selective admissions process like other nursing schools have. Admission to the CSCC nursing program is on a first-come first-serve basis. In other words, average students are admitted along with brilliant students on equal footing.

I've heard that at CSCC you start out your first quarter at a hospital. In a hospital, everything is done electronically. In a nursing home a lot of paperwork is still done the old-fashioned way (pen and paper). Also, I've heard that you're given plenty of time to complete your assessments. Is this true?

If you're juggling a family or serious relationship, friendships, full time job, full time school, and church (if applicable), then you probably will run into some serious time constraints. Also, consider the number of students who have had no previous healthcare experience. You will be around sick and needy people who don't care whether you are a student or not. If anything, they'll probably be anxious about a student taking care of them. Also, could it be that some people simply conclude that Nursing is not for them and drop?

belle52877, I'm not disagreeing with you. I think it is simply unfair that CSCC has such a lax admissions process. There are a lot of people returning to school with previous degrees who know what commitment to their education looks like. Also, consider all the people who have healthcare experience and good grades. Need I say any more?

Actually, many of the people in the program are older students with previous degrees or at the least some completed college coursework. There are quite a few that are married and/or have kids and also work full time - I am sure this has some correlation with the percentage of people who fail or drop one of the classes the first quarter. The problem is that the nursing coursework is structured very different from your garden variety college class. It is hard to explain, but you will know what I mean once you start. Many of the people who fail one of the first quarter classes do come back with the next class and try to make it through. I actually know a girl who failed first quarter who has 6 years of healthcare experience and she was a bright girl - I never would have expected it.

I have a previous degree from another college and took all of my required supporting classes (A&P, patho, micro, etc) prior to starting the program. I have no healthcare experience whatsover, and to be honest it doesn't really matter. After the first quarrter everyone is in the same boat because you start to learn things in the scope of nursing ole which is much different than the assistive personel function.

As far as your first quarter clinical, it isn't in a hospital. Your first quarter is in a nursing home setting. You learn to do basic assessments. There is A LOT of paperwork to fill out, and I wouldn't necessarily say that you have plenty of time to complete assignments. Then again it really is dependent upon your clinical instructor. They each do things very differently.

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We were even told at orientation that first quarter is LTC. Just an FYI for those applying they told us you have ABSOLUTELY no choice in clinical times. You take what you end up being scheduled for. First quarter is the closest you get to picking clinical time with picking a seminar time that is attached with a clinical. Also be prepared to not have "plenty of time" for any assignment. That's what the SNA people said.

It is true about the clinical times... The first quarter you get to choose between the 2 days and times available, but after that clinical dates and times are assigned (unfortunately) You just have to keep your fingers crossed that you get the one you want (at least that's what I do). Though you do get to still choose your seminar time. The class offerings are restricted to certain days and times so a flexible schedule is a necessity.

As far as the time allotment for assignments, there isn't what I would call "plenty" of time, but it really is dependent on your instructors. Some assignments do have pretty sturdy deadlines, but clinical paperwork does vary from each instructor.

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