Janice Ankenmann

NURS 246 covers complex alterations and concepts and involves
integration of multiple body systems.

 The best thing you can do to prepare for success in NURS 246 is

know the material you have already covered in your pre-req classes

like A&P, math, and NURS 141, 142, 143!! The more solid your foundation of

information, the better able we are to build!!

The pharm calculation test will cover information/skills you should have already mastered from your pre-req classes and previous semesters.  You will need to know how to calculate ml/hr, mg/min, mcg/kg/min, units/hr and gtts/min along with all of the other types of pharm calculations you've been doing!  Please go to the web page listed under Sandra Buckley for more information and some practice!  Also check the ADN and HEOC SKILLS LAB webpages for more information on available calculation tutoring!

Same with your skills---practice, practice practice!!  At home, in the skills lab, and in the Sim lab (check the WCRSC webpage for open practice hours)....... especially practice basics like how to reconstitute a powder, choose the correct needle and/ or syringe size,  know the landmarks for IM injections .... the six rights and three checks in med administration......the more you do it, the easier it becomes! 

Plan to limit your work hours for this eight weeks....NURS 246 is 6.5 units......more hours of class-  and more hours of homework, reading, and study!! 

As per your student handbook, if you require accommodation, please be sure to contact faculty (email is fine) with your accommodation needs prior to the start of class (including formal letters of notice from the testing center) so we can make arrangements ahead of time.  The day before classes start or the day of class is not adequate notice if you want accommodation for the math calculation test on the first day!!

The one additional text you will need this semester is Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management  (Whitehead, Tappen, Weiss) FADavis, publisher.  It is available in the NVC bookstore.   I strongly suggest you start reading this asap, as we will be using the information in the book during the first week of class, as well as throughout the semester! 

PLEASE BRING to FIRST DAY OF CLASS

• THE NURS 246 SYLLABUS.  (available on Blackboard one week before the start of classes).  Please preview it and have your questions ready.
• YOUR RECEIPT OF LAB FEE, indicating it has been paid so we can distribute your lab packs on the first day or so of class ...the form to have signed off is on the HEOC webpage. 
• A calculator and pencil to take your pharm calc test. 
•  Please review your student handbook, as we will refer to it during Nurs 246 at times.
• A copy of your class calendar,  which will be emailed to you,  along with your clinical assignment using the web advisor email address .  

Clinical assignments are made at the discretion of the instructor, based on availability, facility need, and program need, not on individual request.  Please be advised that once posted there is NO trading ....facilites will have already been notified of who is assigned where.  Clinicals are usually scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday--but day (T? W? Sat?), location (Napa? Fairfield? Vacaville?) and hours (8? 12?)

are currently under discussion---as soon as a decision is made, I will email you via webadvisor!  If you have a preference, this would be the time to email it to me----no promises though! 

• All students must to be available for off- site clinical assignments (minumum of two days) on Tues, Wed, Friday.  We will have these schedules for you within five class days of the start of the class.   All students will have the same total number of clinical hours no matter what the assignment. 
• Lecture will be most Mondays and Thursdays 0730-1200 (but the nine week session has some variation, so review the calendar being emailed to you).  Please note---I cannot mail you a calendar unitl I know what the clinical sites will be!  We are hoping to have this resolved by mid-June 2012......

I hope I have covered most of what you want to know!  Enjoy the "break" and get relaxed and re-energized-- then prepare!!  Sandy, Janet, and I look forward to seeing you soon!    Janice A