What to expect in Sentara RN Program?

U.S.A. Virginia

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Hi ! I'm excited to say I will be starting Sentara's RN program this fall. :monkeydance: I was wondering if any current RN students or grads could give me a heads up on what to expect, specifically with books, class schedules, clinicals, uniforms, professors, etc. , really anything would help. Thanks for any info

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Well I received my registration information in the mail today for Sentara:monkeydance: . Anybody else??? If im still a loner here I'll just celebrate by myself until I meet some classmates June 26 Yayyy

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Hey RnStudent,

I read your post, I dont have any knowledge about Sentara's rn program but I wanted to say CONGRATS!!!!

I am just about finishing up on my prereqs for the rn program and I wanted to know was it very competitive to get into the program? I live in the Richmond area but I am seriously considering any nursing program that is within 100 or so miles from my home.

Be glad to hear from you:balloons:

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Thanks nursn4me,

Well for me getting into the program wasn't hard at all. I had all my prereqs completed with 3.5 GPA & a previous degree (I don't think that matters at all). I didn't do to good on the NET (didn't take it too seriously). But I think it differs with each persons qualifications. Ive heard you need 4.0 in prereqs & high score on the NET (obviously not true for me) but I know its one of the best programs in the area & owns majority of the hospitals & has 100% job placement. Since your in Richmond have you also considered Bon Secours diploma program? Hope this info helps & feel free to ask more questions if you need

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Rnstudent,

Yes I have considered Bon Secours program but it is 3 years and it has a lot of classes you have to take that you dont have to take at any other program. I am not sure if I want to take the extra science classes their program requires and go an extra year when all the other community colleges and hospital programs are only two years.

I have heard that the program is excellent though.

I guess I need to weigh my options. I can always wait to see if I can get in the rn program at one of our local community colleges but I hear it is very competitive and a 2 year waiting list...yikes!

It's great that you got in and are on your way!!!!!! Congrats to you again!!!!

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Hi you probably don't even come to this thread anymore but I am a current RN student at Sentara. I'm half-way through my 3rd semester. The program is awesome and is one of the best in my opinion. We have the most clinical hours which I believes allow us to be more competent cause it is more hands on than text book. Your 1st semester will have students from LPN and ST (surg. tech) programs so your class will be extremely large (around 100 students). You will learn Pharm and Nursing 101 and communcation. You will also have to pass a math test by the end of the semester (you get 3 tries) . You will have a group project to do called CPA (it was on nutrition when I was in 101) and towards the end of your semester you will have a CPE (which is when you clinical instructor evaluates you and make sure that you perform the skills you learn competently in the hospital setting (head-to-toe assessment, reporting your findings, vital signs, and med admin.)Your main teacher will be Mrs. Wyche-nurs. 101, Mrs. Evard-concept maps/careplans (i think cause i heard she is moving to 301 in aug.) Mrs. King-communication, Mrs. Carroll-Pharm/math. (at least that's how it was for me). You will begin the semester with skill labs which will teach you how to do "care partner" stuff like bed baths, transporting etc. You will also learn about med admin. (5 rights). The 1st couple of days you will get bags of nursing equipment like syringes and gloves. You will start clinicals I think in october in a nursing home for like a week (2-3 days) and then you will go to the hospital on a med surg floor. You can choose days or night clinicals depending on your clinical instructor but people with children usually get to pick. Classes are usually Mon. and Thurs. and clincial is Tues. and Wed but in the beginning it will be mostly classes and skills labs.

1st semester was a blast. Make sure to form a study group and meet with them even if there isn't a test scheduled. Pay attention and attend class as much as possible. Remember to have fun cause if you stress about little things it will be harder for you. Most students grades will drop so if you were an A+ student don't cry if you are now a B or C student, after all C= RN. Don't expect to be spoon fed everything. Sometimes the page numbers will not be posted and you might need to use the index (don't cry or whine about it. There are bigger things to be concern over) Also Blackboard is your friend. It's a way that the teachers communicate with you and have your current classes, grades, and schedule on it.

2nd semester is specialties (Peds, OB, Psych): The group will now be only RN's. Ya'll will be divided up in 3 groups and will rotate which specialty you do til you do all 3. EX: I started off with Psych, then OB (which I loved), and ended with Peds. You will still have classes with everybody on Monday and thursdays and your clinical will be tues. and wed. Psych is where I encountered my first problem with a teacher (Mrs. Finnell) She is very picky and does everything by the manual. I think that she is petty. And never met a teacher that was so particular over nonsense in my life. I will never get in trouble over nursing stuff. Like for intense like I was 1 minute late to clinicals cause I slipped and fell in the hall and she asked me why didn't I paged her. 1st of all by time I pulled out my phone and called you, I would have already been on the floor, and 2nd we aren't allowed to have phones on in the hospital. Anyways, I'm not trying to bad mouth her and you might have a plesant experience with her.........I just didn't and couldn't wait til that rotation was over.

I'm in 3rd semester right now with Mrs. BA and Mrs. Johnson. we are currently on our summer break and will resume classes in aug. (the same day you start) This is med-surg and we are now on 2 patients. We do everything from IV's to blood draws and the paperwork is more intense. We are more of nurses then students. We are expected to know alot and are asked tons of questions like if your patient has crackles... what would you expect the doctor to order. the answer should be a diurectic like lasix but you will learn this stuff in all due time. I'm an average student and believe that if I studied harder (since I barely do it all) then my grade would improve significantly so hopefully I will get myself together so I can improve this coming fall (I'm 21 with a 3 y.o and a single parent who also works as an waitress) All in all at this school you are taught everything you are expected to know and is more hands on with all the clinical hours. They are very fair and I haven't had any problems beside with the refund check coming almost at the end of the semester which they currently improved. They listen to the students concerns and make changes if appropriate. Good luck and sorry for the type-o's and talking you to death!!

Capribry RN May08

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That's awesome Capriby, I remember talking to you before when you applied to MCI as a backup plan. I am glad that you are doing so well and will be graduating in 2008!!! I heard or read maybe that Sentara has started the online nursing program at Hampton?? maybe I have the location wrong. I live in Richmond and I really wish I could go to Sentara but with the cost of gas it would be a financial burden on me to travel back and forth to chesapeake or Hampton so I guess I will end up at the local community college or the hospital program. I could have been finished up my pre-reqs but I was taking one class at a time because I have a 1.5 year old son and he takes up alot of my time. I decided to go ahead full time this fall and I should be done with the prereqs in January. I just purchased the net exam book to study, I want to really do well so I can hopefully get in on my first try. my gpa right now is 3.1 so hopefully it will go up even more by January. Has the salary went up for RN nurses at Sentara??? I was thinking I might get a job at Sentara after graduating, me and my husband talked about moving to Va. Beach area after I graduate.

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That's awesome Capriby, I remember talking to you before when you applied to MCI as a backup plan. I am glad that you are doing so well and will be graduating in 2008!!! I heard or read maybe that Sentara has started the online nursing program at Hampton?? maybe I have the location wrong. I live in Richmond and I really wish I could go to Sentara but with the cost of gas it would be a financial burden on me to travel back and forth to chesapeake or Hampton so I guess I will end up at the local community college or the hospital program. I could have been finished up my pre-reqs but I was taking one class at a time because I have a 1.5 year old son and he takes up alot of my time. I decided to go ahead full time this fall and I should be done with the prereqs in January. I just purchased the net exam book to study, I want to really do well so I can hopefully get in on my first try. my gpa right now is 3.1 so hopefully it will go up even more by January. Has the salary went up for RN nurses at Sentara??? I was thinking I might get a job at Sentara after graduating, me and my husband talked about moving to Va. Beach area after I graduate.

Sentara has just started an online class. I don't really know the details but if you go to sentara.com and then to facilities then schools, they might have more info on it. (I don't know the exact address but if you play with the site you should find it) Some students in our class travel all the way from North Carolina and I must say it's worth it cause the program is the bomb but I guess I'm being biased. I don't know about the salary. I think its around 19 bucks + more if you have experience and is certified in certain areas also if you work nights or weekends. You should look into it if it's appropriate with your situations. Let me know if you can find the website.

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Hi capribry, Wow thank you for all the information. I love all the details you included and the heads up about the instructors. Ive been waiting for you and nursecadet to come back to allnurses so I could flood you guys with questions.:D I read the old posts from when you guys were first starting and was hoping you would sign back on soon. Im soo excited to be starting soon. We already had registration & welcome reception, I got my uniforms,etc. We are getting PDAs instead of books fortunately they said they are trying out somthing new to rid so many books & stay current so thats part of our fees for 1st semester. Yeah I have Ms. Wyche for 101 she seems nice. I going in with my eyes open. Too bad I gotta take nutrition & microbiology in 101 again being that I already took it as prereqs for another nursing program.

For your summer break are you doing SNAP intern/extern? Also, were you one of those lucky ones who got the Sentara local scholarship?

I just love hearing from current students and hearing so much positive feedback about the program Again thank you for the info & good luck through 4th & 5th semester!!!

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Hi nursn4me,

To answer your question about the Sentara distance learning program we have 20 students from the peninsula out of 94 in the upcoming RN class doing the distance program. They showed us how classes will be conducted at our welcome reception. Basically, they will attend class on the peninsula but will be broadcast with our class in chesapeake. I forgot the technical terms but we will be able to see them on a screen in class & vice versa. In addition, they will be able to interact with us & ask questions to the instructor like we are actually all sitting in the same classroom. We all have access to the same resources and all receive the same instruction. I think its really neat! I think for them as far as clinicals go you can be placed at any of the sentara hospitals like us but I do think they will accomodate distance students because of location but am not sure. I think this will really be great for the peninsula learners & further expand the programs great rep. Hope this helps

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Capriby,

I go to the Sentara's website all the time, I am still debating about the traveling. Mostly because I HATE getting up early in the morning for clinicals and I would have to leave even earlier to get down there to do clinicals. Anything worth having is worth struggling for that's for sure, I just have to make myself do it. The other thing with me having to leave so early to be on time for clinicals I would have to consider daycare too, most daycares only open around here at 6:00am. Shoot I would have to be on the road by 4:30-5:00am the latest. My hubby leaves for work around 5:30am everyday so he wouldnt be able to help me out with this.

People are coming from NC???? Wow that is insane. I am going to gather more information about the online program. I know you have class two days and clinicals two days, but how long are your class hours? Do you know anyone who goes to Riverside or do you possibly know the scoop on Riverside's rn program. They are in newport news and a bit closer to me that's why I was asking.

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Rnstudent,

Thanks for the info, I am about to go to Sentara's website to see if they have posted more info on about the online program and the exact location. I know you cant wait to get started huh? Although it will be interesting to hear from you once you have started how that PDA is going that they will be implementing with your class. Keep us posted

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