[LvngAngel]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the nursing scene in general so any advice would be appreciated. At the moment I'm going to my local community college taking 28 credits with a 4.0. I would really like to know if anyone in the career has any advice especially concerning classes they wished they would have took, things they would have done, or known. Also if anyone has any more general information on nursing or life in general I would gladly take any I can get. ( I switched my majors this year to follow my heart. I don't have much experience, I'm starting to volunteer at a local hospital, but I have all the passion and determination in the world.)
<font color="purple">Blessed Be</font>

[CCHADWI]

I just wanted to say, "Way to go, and Good for you"

There are a lot of people too scared to follow their hearts, and the ones who do will come out on top. I applaud you for taking a step towards something you have a passion for.

I wish you the best of luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Charles N. Chadwick II
Director of Marketing
Ultimate Nurse Network

[RNwannabe]

LvngAngel:

I'm new at this too and also live in the Phx area AND am going to community college I would like to hear responses to your questions as well. Perhaps you might try posting your question to the "nursing" page as opposed to the "student" page. You might get a better response. Who knows how many nurses in the field are reading the student board.

[LvngAngel]

Nice to meet someone in my area! I go to most of the community colleges here, although my base is at Mesa Community College during the school year and Glendale during the summer. What semester (classes) have you taken and what are you planning for next semester?

[RNwannabe]

I've just begun my long journey with my pre-reqs. Next semester will take BIO 181 &amp; PSY 101. Not looking forward to algebra tho. I figure I'll get into the actual program Jan 06'. I'm going at a bit slower speed...why? Because I can! I'm going to MCC too. Any instructors you'd recommend/not recommend?

[LvngAngel]

Oh course I have recommendations!! If you haven't taken HCC130 yet, I highly recommend Terry Mitich, she is was an RN, and is really informative and helpful, and I have learned so much personally and professionally from her. (even though I have to go to Red Mountain to take thye place, I would do it again in a heartbeak to have her as a teacher.) I took Bio181 at ASU, so can't help you there. I took PSY101 at Glendale CC. (Dr. Samuels, who teaches there over the summer is excellent. Very interesting and can hold your attention, I took the class 3 years ago and remember almost every detail.) If you have any other classes you want to know about let me know. PSY101 is so much fun! It does require a lot of work if you actually plan on retaining the information. If you have any previous background in Biology it will be incredibly useful in bio181, the class is advanced and goes at a qucik pace.

[RNwannabe]

Wow, sounds like you've taken classes all over the place! I'm looking forward to BIO--took the "pre" class about 20 yrs ago at MCC. Unfortunately, back then the "pre" class was the prerequisite for the nursing program. In the years that have passed, it has changed. So, I've got to take it over. That's ok. I've got many bio classes ahead of me and it won't hurt to refresh. Good tip that they go quickly. PSY sounds interesting too. I'm registered for HCC 130 AA-AF over Christmas break (you know those .5 cr classes). Figured I'd knock them out while hubby was home over Christmas. Mitich sounds familiar--my HCC class just lists "staff" still.

I have a question for you: do you know if MCC offers any of the BIO classes over the summer? If so, would you recommend taking any of these in the condensed format or do you think they'd be too hard/too much info?

[TracyR]

Hi everyone

Keep up the good work, and hang in there... the long journey will have been worth it.

Did I ever say... "I absolutely love my work?"

See ya' on the unit soon!

[LvngAngel]

I would absolutely agree that taking BIO over again is a great idea with the emphasis on it in the future. I have been all over when it comes to school (ASU, MCC, GCC, and PCC) I started taking classes when I was a freshman in high school so I get a headstart on most people. For Bio181 that place a lot of emphasis on the scietific process (causal question - hypothesis - etc.) and on lab write-ups. Other than that it is pretty basic and does a good job covering everything from Mendelian genetics, meiosis and mitosis and community ecology and the factors that effect it.
I know MCC will offer Bio classes during the summer and I would absolutely recommend taking them. They usually progress quickly, but as long as you make sure you know the material that was covered the day before (classes will usually be everyday except friday, or sometimes every other day) you will do fine. It is even more important in these classes to keep up and seek help immediately if you don't understand the material, as there isn't really time to fall behind and then catch up. I know I plan on taking A&amp;P 2 over, the MAT requirement and possibly the CNA courses, so I can apply to the nursing program for next fall. (After only a year! Wish me luck!!) They usually will only let you take 8 hours over the summer, so if you want to take more than that you have to petition, which is a pain. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with! I know I need all the help I can get!!

[RNwannabe]

LvngAngel:

Thanks so much for your advice. You bet I'm gonna keep in touch. Good luck to you--you are definitely on the fast track.

Tracy R:

Thank you too for the encouragement. The "long journey"...boy did you say it right! It's only taken 20 years to get here but I've spent my time well in the meantime--raising kids, traveling and seeing the world, supporting my military hubby. Now's the time for me to prepare for the second chapter of my life. Thanks for the words of encouragement!