TIPS FOR MTC NURSING STUDENTS

Although I was not a Nursing Student at MTC but rather an AS student, most of my students that I have tutored for the last 10 years have been.  I like to pass on information that I learn from students and the mistakes and trials that they have faced to other nursing students in the hopes that it will save someone else from making the same mistake.  Also being very familiar with the MTC Nursing Program, I am aware of alot of the rules and regulations associated with the program.  So I decided to add a post for suggestions to the Nursing Students. One of the things Nursing Students should do (in my opinion) is to prelearn several classes before signing up for them.  Microbiology BIO225, College Algebra MAT110 and Medical Calculations NUR131 are the big three.  Whether you just buy the book ahead of time and start reading and studying or get help with me to pre-tutor the course, either way you should be prepared and familiar with the material before signing up for these classes. 

BIO225 is 28 chapters in one semester.  Imagine taking BIO210 and BIO211 in the same semester.  Not!  Well that is about what you would be doing.  Don't even try to take it over summer semester in 10 weeks.  It also contains alot of in-depth biology concepts that BIO210 and B10211 does not.  Your best plan of attack for this course is to take it in Fall Semester when you have 17 weeks, prelearn or pretutor the class before you sign up for it, simplify your life the semester you do take it, and don't take any other class with it.  I was a straight A Science Major and this class kicked my butt.

MAT110 is the natural progression from the previous courses.  If you came to MTC having to take developmental Maths, remember MAT032, 100, 101 and 102 are not college level courses and will not transfer.  MAT102 you do have to have a C or better for the Nursing Program.  The first college Math is MAT110 and it builds on what you already have done in the previous courses.  The Nursing Program gives you the option to take MAT110 or Statistics, but I recommend MAT110.  It builds on what you know, more people tutor it, and it is a good transferable course if you plan to go on to a 4 year degree.  Again, prelearn or pretutor this course before you sign up for it.  It is fast paced and requires knowledge of the previous Math classes.  Don't take this course in summer.  Take it in Spring or Fall with a light load.

NUR131 is the course that seems to be getting alot of students kicked out of the Nursing Program at MTC.  This is a fast paced 7 week course in Medical Calculations.  The very first test you have to get an 80% on to stay in the class.  If you don't, you get to retake it once more, but remember if you get an 80% on the retake, you keep your original grade from the first test.  You need to have an 80% average for the course and the worst tests are 3 and 4 and the final.  So my suggestion in this course is.....PRETUTOR, PRETUTOR, PRETUTOR this course before you sign up for it.  When I pretutor the course, my strategy with students is to be in the 95% or higher range on the first two tests.  If your average at midterm is 80%, you are not likely to pass the course with an 80%.  With a higher average at midterm, this gives you a cushion to land on your feet if test 3 and 4 are lower than 80%.  MTC does not let you take this course more than one semester before starting your clinicals, but THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T START LEARNING IT A YEAR BEFORE.  Buy the learning packet, it is cheap and start ASAP.  I have a very high success rate with my Nursing Students that prelearn it and take it.  Remember, you can not WF more than once or you are out of the program, so if you are at 80% by midterm, you need to W the course.  Don't risk staying in and getting a WF.