Entrance test for EN diploma Perth HELP!!!

Hi Kate,
I'm also going for the same test next week on the Tuesday... EEK!. Did you manage to get any info onthe test it so far? I wonder if we are in the same class. I will look out for a Kate :)

Hi Kate,

Well, the Lit and Numeracy is over for me. I sat it on the 26th of this month. The Comprehension was fairly easy: read an article (about health) and answer some questions about it. You also write something about yourself: a holiday you took, something going on in your life (a two sided sheet with lines where you have to write more than three lines but other than that you can write it as long as you want it to be.. I filled my two pages. Go figure..) This is just to check out how your English is. Full stops, commas, cap letters etc. The numeracy was the bit freaking me out!! It turned out to be a LOT of multiplication (three or four numbers x two or three), long division, a lot of subtract (some with decimal places) and addition ... also simplifying fractions and mls to kilos. No percentages, or anything harder than what I just said. Phew. I ended up getting 85 percent for the math and 90 for the Comprehension/English. Another phew.

Now comes the big question. I'm seriously wondering if I have what I need to pull together to do the actual course. Its a HUGE ask. Two years, three months of non-stop study. Four weeks off over Xmas and one week off mid-year. Thats it. Hols don't coincide with school hols which is a problem for me. 10-15 hours of study not including assignments. A week in a nursing home for prac, another in a mental facility and then hospital time including surgical. EEEK! I am trying to weigh things us - seriously. The information session I had on the same day as the test was scary. She put the fear of God into us all. Most of us (and there were a lot of people there that morning) were quietly spinning out - and some, not so quietly. I am in a quandry. I dont want to regret not having done it but on the flip side, life is comfortable now and I have a great routine with little in the way of upsets. What to do? What to do?

Good luck with your test in Aug. I will have my fingers crossed for you! I hope the bits of info re: the test help. It does help to know others have paved the way first lol Makes you think... if they've done it.. so can I!

Cara :)

Hi Cara,
Well done on the test you aced it, thats fantastic!! I can begin to thank you enough for giving me the heads up on it, I really appreciate it. Wow the work load sound massive. I thought it would be about 15 hours a week on top of the one day at TAFE and that would include assignments. So what do you think the total amount of time you would need to put in at home a week with assignments.

It sound pretty scary and I'm surprised that we would not get the same holidays as school holidays. So is it just one week off mid year and then christmas? How old are your kids Cara? I have a 2 year old he will be going to day care twice a week so one day would be for TAFE and the other for study. Did they mention what days you can choose from to come into TAFE? Sorry so many question!
You got me thinking about everything now, if only we could go back a few years and have the time to do the full time course.

I am going to be doing my Cert III in disability to get into the EN course so I wont be finished until the end of the year so I'm guessing if I get into the course I would start next year. Hopefully you will decided to go ahead and do it also. It would be great to one day meet you and be scared together haha!

I really do hope we can both find the balance between family and study, we owe it to ourselves to give it a go and as you have said in all you supportive replies we can do it! I really think we can.

Thanks again Cara
:)

Hi Shelley, Cara

Glad to have found this website. I AM starting this course in August 2011 and I have chosen Wednesdays. Sob sob would not be able to 'see' you till October! Yeah, although I am very keen to take up Enrolled Nursing, I am on the other hand very very nervous and apprehensive on the workload!. I am not the studious type/book worm category............. Anyway, to progress this far and not to take up the challenge is a waste of opportunity , so hopefully, I will complete this course in 2 years 3 months........ needs lots and lots of steel determination....... (Come on, Cara, WE can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Hi Lynda,

Will look forward to seeing you in Oct. I was planning on strting in August but move house that day, so had to defer until Oct. Keep me updated as to how it goes and what books you have purchased. Good luck and enjoy.

Hi Lyndia,

I am staying in Landsdale, just moving house. Need to stay near the childrens school as I have to get a friend to collect them from school on Wednesdays when I start the course. Really wish I was starting this month as i met some lovely people whilst taking the test.

I have been told to try fishpond book store online as you caan purchase the books on there at a better price. Hope all goes good for you when you start, keep me updated so I am prepared for the first day. Am starting to worry as I work 4 days a week have 2 children and a husband that works up north. I am sure I will cope, as will all of us on the course.

Lynda

I can totally relate to all of that. I am just about to go into week 5 of full time EN studies at Challenger TAFE Fremantle. I definately felt very overwhelmed and afraid after the first day. I did go home with a big headache and thinking "oh dear, what have I signed up for!". I too left school over 20 years ago and now have a business to run and two young kids to look after - now with full time (3 full days a week) at TAFE! Blimey!

I must say it has been a long 4 weeks - but I am finally starting to find my rythum and the family seems to be settling into the new routine well too (thanks to my wonderful husband). From my experience you just have to be organised and look ahead. We already have 19 assignments due by the end of semester - most of which we already have to start working on - including 5 oral presentations - AAAHH!! But, I am just trying to stay calm and start working on them ASAP so I am not doing them all on their due date.

The referencing and plagurism stuff - yeh full on - BUT once you get into the swing of things you will pick it up. I am pretty happy with that now. I have done 3 assignments and seem to have that under control - although it does seem overwhelming in the beginning - DEFINATELY!

Hang in there. It is great fun. I feel like I have learnt so much already. It is interesting. I am loving the people I am studying with and am eager to go to "school" each day to learn more and more.

Good luck!

Cheers

Rebecca

hello guys,
just wondering if anyone can help me, im siiting the test for the enrolled nurse at Shellhabour Tafe NSW. can anybody tell me what the test is like? I havent been to scholl for about 15 years and im a b it nervous about my test skills these daysWhat is the actual name of the test as my boss hasnt told me yet. I am going in on a Scholarship through Dept Aged Care.

Hi shelley33

I'm going into wk 3 tomorrow. wk 2 was on OSH and Infection Control, an hour of "how to" get the most productive and effective web referencing and research techniques.
I got my books on the 1st week. There were only three (Tabbner, Memmler's and a dictionary). I did not receive any booklist as I am a 'govt. funded' recipient I will have to buy my own reference books or I could borrow from the library.

I take a train to college. I leave my house (Joondalup) at 7.00a.m to catch the 7.15 train. I arrive in Central Perth station at approx. 7.45a.m. I then walk over to platform 9 to catch the midland line to East Perth station. Arrival at East Perth station approx 8.10a.m. From here, its a 10-20minutes walk to college - depending how fast or leisurely I wish to go! Since I do so much walking and the books are so heavy, I have invested in a 'trolley craft' bag which cost me $19.90 from Kmart! Lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you say parking? Where? In Joondalup train station - sorry full house. Currambine train station , yes but you have to be early to get a spot and a long walk. In Central TAFE, hardly. Be warned, DO NOT park in the campus premises. You can street park on chertsey street and west parade. Very very very limited............ so, I did another investment ie. to buy a smart rider!

When are you starting? It would be good if you could do a 'trial-run' on your schedule. See how it goes, I might be wrong.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Take care
lynda

Hi ladies,
I am sitting the entrance test at the open day next week. Fingers crossed I will do ok. I would be looking at doing the part time (1 day a week) option if I get in at Mt Lawley. Are you both full time? I’m freaking out because I haven’t studied for 15 years and have a 2 year old. Does anyone know the cost of doing the diploma? And what item do you need to buy when you first start? You all seem like you are enjoying the course and I was wondering how many hours you think you have to put in a home a week on top of going to TAFE. Another question which you may not be able to answer but do you think there is much work out there for nurses that is not shift work?
Thanks

Kate