WCU Nursing Student | How to Prepare for Nursing Core, Clinical Requirements, etc

[@nurse_krizia]

Update: I wanted to clarify that for your first term, you will not have the med math in your first week, it will be sometime during the first term . For the first term, you will go over how to do the med math during skills lab and during fundamentals theory (for theory it is briefly). Starting on term 2 is when you will have it on your first week.

[@everythingshayy5760]

Ooh ok, that's good to know! Your information is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[@mrobert19897]

Sounds a little scary

[@mrobert19897]

Thank you for the info; I really appreciate it.

[@marissachavez223]

ok! thank you!!!

[@tiffanygharassimian9010]

how often do we have these med math exams?

[@ss4george]

I would suggest for you to get to the point of the information the rest is just fluff. We are only looking for straight info plz

[@timssugar04]

I’m starting West Coast University June 15th!! For BSN! I’m so excited! It’s the Dallas Campus!

[@BonnieDona]

how is it Lisa?

[@timssugar04]

@@BonnieDona I couldn’t afford it 😒 so I stayed at my college I was at and I am continuing to get my BPH there. 😊

[@BonnieDona]

Lisa Womack Arizona College of Nursing is affordable i pay 21$ a month

[@timssugar04]

@@BonnieDona Where are you from? I may have to look into that.

[@jeffrey7159]

For the final Capstone Project, could it be done as a group?

[@MFI952]

Were you accepted to clinicals even if you were not immune to hepatitis B?

[@nurse_krizia]

I had to get the Hep B vaccines and once I completed that, I was good to go!

[@hinamarie2920]

Omg your timing is amazing! I start core in 2 weeks! Im confused on the med math exam? We have to teach ourselves the material? How do we know beforehand what to expect if we have never done med math before?

[@nurse_krizia]

Hina marie your instructors and clinical professors will go over the content with you during your first term. The school also offers workshops as well as online modules to practice.

[@nurse_krizia]

The most important thing is to practice, practice, practice!! It’s usually conversions (mg to kg, tbsp to mL), division and multiplication. There are modules online that help you go over everything, if you’d like to look up so practice right now, just look up how to do Med math using desired over have! It’s the same equation you use over and over again and the additional work requires you to convert the information.

[@mrobert19897]

I'm terrible with math 😨

[@mrobert19897]

What campus do you go to?

[@californiathrift]

Thank you so much for these videos! I am planning to transfer to WCU next year so your content is def helping me prepare!

[@Aligianoi]

Hi! thanks for the video! really helped me a lot understanding about the packet T__T) I actually missed 2 emails and now I only have a month before the due date... I'm super frustrated! I know this video is 2years old but if you can still see this reply.. I searched MMR and other titer test in OC but Minute clinic in CVS is the only thing I was able to find.. Do you think they can do what the school requires?

[@mirandaalexis]

MMR = Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

[@nurse_krizia]

yes! thank you! I totally had a brain fart, lol

[@everythingshayy5760]

Hey nice video! I'll be starting core in august at west coast. Is the med math like dosage calculations? Also when do they teach you that material,what term? Thanks!

[@nurse_krizia]

Shay T yes it is dosage calculations! You go over med math during your skills lab and fundamentals theory during your first term, I don’t quite remember when you get tested but it is sometime during your first term, after your first term its planned during the first week. There are resources the school provides on how to do Med math such as tutoring and modules online that they provide.

[@nurse_krizia]

Shay T topics for the first term include: safe dosage, medication administration (patient rights, etc), oral medications, injectable meds

[@nurse_krizia]

Shay T I would also start memorizing conversions!

[@marissachavez223]

How do you prepare for the Med MATH EXAM?

[@nurse_krizia]

Do the practice ATI questions, don’t look at cheat sheets/conversion while doing them and actually take it like you’re taking the exam. Memorize the conversions

[@LesliieeSalgado]

Thank you for this video! I start core in two weeks and so far I have my clinical schedule and my NURS100 and NURS110. During orientation they mentioned skills lab! So I’m wondering if that is another day that will be added to the schedule or will it happen during the clinical day since clinicals don’t happen until like week 4 of the first term? If it’s another day that is added when would we find out? Thank you in advanced 😊

[@LesliieeSalgado]

To be more clear if my clinicals are Mondays will my skills lab also be Mondays? Sorry if my first post was confusing.

[@nurse_krizia]

It is scheduled on the same day as your clinical! Half skills lab and half clinicals

[@nurse_krizia]

So yes, your skills lab will fall on the Monday

[@Franz119]

Im starting my nursing core this year, i was curious if the clinicals are only in the weekdays or if they’re also on weekends?

[@bethnguyen9322]

Hi Krizia if I go to WCU in Florida and I plan to work California in the future. Can I take the NCLEX in exam in California instead of Florida?

[@joelanderos6597]

How many drug screens are there prior to nursing core? Is it 4? Or just once?

[@nurse_krizia]

joeydobe vibindoe so far, I’ve only been screened once and that was when I did my clinical packet. I’ve heard of them doing surprise drug screenings before starting WCU but I haven’t experienced or heard anyone having it done again

[@chastity-mariepagdilao279]

@@nurse_krizia is it just a urine test?

[@nurse_krizia]

@@chastity-mariepagdilao279 yes!

[@danielatorresmalaga3601]

Each new term you have to do a med math test?

[@a1tec771]

Do you recommend wcu for asn

[@avramsexy24l]

Hey do you know what happens if your not compliant in complio by the deadline?

[@nurse_krizia]

If you’re assigned to a clinical site, you get dropped for that term and are held back. You end up taking a non clinical term which is mostly online classes. I’m not sure how it is now if your clinicals is telehealth (online)

[@lydializ2705]

Just wondering have you ever failed any core classes? Because I know you took a non clinical term. Just wondering because I get worried about failing a term

[@nurse_krizia]

Hey Lydia! No I haven’t failed any core classes. I decided to take a non clinical term due to being invited to be a part of a campaign for a fitness brand (gymshark). My first day of clinicals landed on the day of the shoot and if I missed it, I was going to be dropped during week 1 and risked being held back 1-2 terms. so I decided to take a non clinical term which guaranteed me to have a spot for the following term.

[@lydializ2705]

Krizia Ann okay thank you so much! That was very helpful 💕

[@mandee_5637]

I’m at WCU and starting pathophysiology on Monday! Do clinicals start during fundamentals and intro to professional nursing? I’m confused what classes have clinicals

[@nurse_krizia]

Mandee _ hey Mandee! Yes! When you start nursing core you will have clinicals for every term. For your first term, you will be taking fundamentals, intro to professional nursing, and practicum(clinicals)

[@mrobert19897]

I go to WCU Miam, I start fundies lab and lecture along with intro on the 15th. As exited as I am to start, I'm also concerned about how we will get our hands on training experience while the campus is still closed for Covid-19.

[@nurse_krizia]

Some clinical sites may open before June 15th but you don't go on site until 4 more weeks after that so hopefully they open up then. I'm not sure how it will be for fundamentals virtually, but you should have gotten (or will be getting) your duffel bag full of medical supplies that you can use to practice at home.

[@mrobert19897]

@@nurse_krizia sorry for the late reply lol but thanks alot for the info 😊👋👍 let's all hope this clears up asap.

[@mrobert19897]

@@nurse_krizia oh and regarding the duffle bag, I believe that's after orientation which is on the 15th, I haven't received anything yet.

[@arianavaldovinos4120]

Hello, I know you took a non-clinical term. Was this for your first term starting core?

[@nurse_krizia]

Hello, no it was the term before OB.

[@arianavaldovinos4120]

Got it. I am unable to start core due to not meeting the clinical packet deadline :( and was told I could take a non-clinical term. Wanted more info on what that consists of.

[@nurse_krizia]

@@arianavaldovinos4120 you will basically be taking the online/second course that goes along with the core class. I’m assuming they will have you take 2 secondary classes and if you do, when you start core you’ll only be taking 1 core class which is less stressful. This can be beneficial as you’ll have more time to study for your core class.

[@arianavaldovinos4120]

Hello, since you took a non clinical term and weren’t with your cohort anymore. Do you join another cohort? And we’re you able to do pinning and graduation still?

[@kayreenanonuevo3463]

Is it possible that prereqs can be taken online?

[@nurse_krizia]

Hey! Not sure which pre-requisites you mean, do you mean pre-reqs for the program? Some classes you can’t, such as micro since they require a lab. But if it’s psychology I believe you can. But I’d definitely check on their website before signing up for pre req classes and them not accepting it

[@flusteredtorchic9024]

Hey, can you talk about why you think WCU is a good choice? Im thinking of going to these schools but these private universities seem kinda shady. Can you shed some light on that? What about this school has convinced you that its legit and worth the money?

[@nurse_krizia]

flustered torchic hey! What is it that you find shady with private universities like WCU? I just want to get a better understand so I know what information and experiences to provide.

[@flusteredtorchic9024]

@@nurse_krizia basically the fact that they are for profit, it gives the idea that they just want your money and treat you like a client instead of a student. I guess maybe give some examples of things that make the school seem legit? Things that make you feel like all the money your spending is worth it and your noy getting scammed somehow? Some people call these schools "degree mills". I was thinking of going to the one in LA, i live here, but i was told by a former student that i should go to the one in anaheim.

[@nurse_krizia]

flustered torchic I agree as well as a majority of the students who attend WCU why they charge so much for our education. A part of our tuition also goes towards paying hospitals in order for us to have our clinicals/rotations held there. If you’re asking if WCU is legit here is a link discussing their accreditation: westcoastuniversity.edu/about/accreditation/accreditation-faq.html During my clinical rotations and current job at a hospital, I’ve met with countless amazing nurses who are alumni of WCU. They are actually the ones who end up being the best mentors during clinicals as well as educate me on the floor at work (as a future nurse). All of the clinical instructors I’ve had worked with me to get the experience I wanted (starting IVs, inserting urinary catheters) etc. No matter what school you attend, you make the experience. I make sure to do my work prior to class and clinicals, making sure I’m prepared and not walk in expecting to be taught every single thing. I come in with the basic concepts and knowledge and have my instructor guide me and not hold my hand every step of the wat. I’ve had clinical instructors test our knowledge, making sure we know our stuff and are not just their to get our hours. All in all, it’s about how much work you put into your own experience. Some of the clinical instructors I’ve had are WCU alumni as well, returning back to teach future WCU nurses

[@nurse_krizia]

In addition to this, there is the other side where professors grade unfairly or only picked answers that they agreed with. But as students, we fight and converse with our deans to make a change for future students and to prevent them from experiencing anything unfair.

[@nurse_krizia]

I can’t speak on behalf of the other campuses, but I do attend the Anaheim one and have liked my experience so far. I’m not here to push people to attend WCU but rather to inform you guys of my experience.

[@tabsdoge1662]

Would having a low key part time job from 12-5pm be doable. Looking for ways to pay tuition and it would be at a hospital.

[@nurse_krizia]

Definitely doable! You have time before and/or after to study. I’d say go for it!

[@tabsdoge1662]

@@nurse_krizia It is a Monday through Friday job, would I still be able to make the morning classes and clinicals works, or would I have to take evening classes?

[@nurse_krizia]

@@tabsdoge1662 clinicals would be 12 hours shifts so those days you won’t be able to work. You can preference for weekend clinicals but it isn’t guaranteed

[@nurse_krizia]

@@tabsdoge1662 morning classes usually run at least 5 hours and end around 1:30. If it is Monday-Friday it may not work with your schedule unless your job is able to work with your school schedule

[@tabsdoge1662]

@@nurse_krizia unfortunately it is a 12-5pm shift at a surgical center so they aren’t very flexible since they are open 8-5pm. How many days a week are in-person classes in core (I start next term), and how many clinical days a week?