NAU Spring 2012 Hopefuls

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

Hi everyone, I'm Lily. I am applying to NAU's 2012 program and was hoping for any advice with the HESI A2 (what books to study since I've heard many bad reviews about the review)

I know it's some time away but I am shooting to get in my first time applying!

Also, I was hoping get a ballpark of how many people will be applying for this start date.

Thanks!

Ya I read a little further on and saw what you said and didn't have time to correct it sorry about that! They may still use the Hesi A2 for the entrance exam, I'm not positive. The program is ok, not what I was expecting, but it will do. The first 8 weeks is insane and very intensive the last half of the semester is a lot easier.

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Ya I read a little further on and saw what you said and didn't have time to correct it sorry about that! They may still use the Hesi A2 for the entrance exam, I'm not positive. The program is ok, not what I was expecting, but it will do. The first 8 weeks is insane and very intensive the last half of the semester is a lot easier.

Do you mind sharing what isn't as you expected? I'm getting nervous b/c I saw NAU's Nclex pass rates for last year we way lower than U of A. Also a bit nervous because the class schedule on Louie shows "staff" for a number of instructors. I'm wondering if they're having trouble getting faculty. I chose to apply to NAU over U of A b/c of cost and also b/c I got a bad taste in my mouth over U of A switching their 2 nd degree program and being less than forthcoming (in my opinion) regarding some of the details. Now I'm wondering if I should have looked harder into. U of A's traditional program.

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A good friend of mine just interviewed for the UA program. She was a Pima student with a 3.9 GPA and no classes in progress. When she was offered an interview, I was so ecstatic that I volunteered to help keep the interview sessions running smoothly.

Acceptance letters went out this week and they did NOT accept her. With the application that she had I was utterly surprised that she was denied and I was thinking that it was because she was a Pima student.

Now she decided to retake a class over the summer to get in A and have a 4.0 for her second application.

U of A seems real tough to get into.

I am hoping that NAU will give me a chance. I'm expecting to have a 3.8 GPA and 2 classes in progress during the time of my application. Is this a good application for NAU?

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Lily,

Your guess is as good as mine. I have been told I'm in "good shape" with a 3.9, no IP classes, and a strong Hesi A2, but we'll see. I'm not going to feel confident until I have an acceptance letter in hand.

I would suggest your friend talk to U of A admissions before retaking that course. Sometimes a retake will count against you more than a B. Now if the course was a C to begin with I can see the logic but I'd still talk to them and see. I think that just all depends on the program and how they score applicants. Was this for the direct entry MS or for the traditional BSN program?

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Specializes in LPN.

Does anyone know about LPN-RN at NAU? I know they don't have a transition program specifically, but I've heard they can integrate LPNs into the regular program.

My GPA isn't much above 3.0, I'm not sure exactly. It also has been many years since I took some of the prereqs. I've been an LPN for 4 years now (just renewed my license!) but I don't know what my chances are of being able to get a higher degree without starting over completely.

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A good friend of mine just interviewed for the UA program. She was a Pima student with a 3.9 GPA and no classes in progress. When she was offered an interview, I was so ecstatic that I volunteered to help keep the interview sessions running smoothly.

Acceptance letters went out this week and they did NOT accept her. With the application that she had I was utterly surprised that she was denied and I was thinking that it was because she was a Pima student.

Now she decided to retake a class over the summer to get in A and have a 4.0 for her second application.

U of A seems real tough to get into.

I am hoping that NAU will give me a chance. I'm expecting to have a 3.8 GPA and 2 classes in progress during the time of my application. Is this a good application for NAU?

From the students in my class that applied at the U of A, there are 2 interview you have to go through so if you don't get called back after the first one you aren't going to get in. Also I have heard that you pretty much need a 4.0 to get into the U of A program. As far as your chances at NAU, have you taken the HESI yet, and if so what did you get, and do you have volunteering experience? I was admitted with a 3.8 GPA, 1 class IP, a 94 on my HESI, and about a year of volunteer work at a local hospice.

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Do you mind sharing what isn't as you expected? I'm getting nervous b/c I saw NAU's Nclex pass rates for last year we way lower than U of A. Also a bit nervous because the class schedule on Louie shows "staff" for a number of instructors. I'm wondering if they're having trouble getting faculty. I chose to apply to NAU over U of A b/c of cost and also b/c I got a bad taste in my mouth over U of A switching their 2 nd degree program and being less than forthcoming (in my opinion) regarding some of the details. Now I'm wondering if I should have looked harder into. U of A's traditional program.

I like the program don't get me wrong, but at times I feel as if I am floating on this vast sea of nursing information and have very little guidance. It just took me some time to get used to the set up. I am taking 4 classes; NUR 205 (Fundamentals of Nursing), NUR 214 (Intro to Health Assessment), NUR 215 (Pharmacology), and BIO 320 (Pathology). My nursing 205 class meets once a week for lecture for 3 hours and once a week for 8 hours for the lab section which starting on week 11, next week, we begin our clinicals after passing a mid-term skills check off list. Nursing 214 the didactic portion is all online, then we meet once a week for 3 hours to practice what we have read. NUR 215 is all online with a once a week internet live lecture and is very intense. Bio is a joke, it is very easy and you will see when you take it why it is so. I think you really need to be prepared to do a lot of learning on your own and come to class prepared with questions as you only meet once a week. The first 8 week are INSANE, I was reading an average of 40 chapters a week, taking quizzes, and many other things! My first NUR 205 test was over 28 chapters and 600 pages so be prepared for that, which I am happy I got a 90 on that test. Which leads me to the one thing I Don't like about NAU vs UA is the grading scale, U of A uses a regular grading scale, at NAU 100-93 A, 92-84 B, 93-75 C, below 75 and F. Don't get me wrong I like my program and am very glad I got in, the reason I chose NAU over U of A is I heard awful things about the U of A program. If you have any more questions feel free to ask, also if you do get in just a little heads up that your books alone cost 1000 your first semester ontop of everything else you need to buy! Also if you want a heads up about what the classes are like here is a link that shows you the syllabi for some of the classes, look at 205,214, & 215 as those the first semester classes. http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~nurse-p/students/course_packs.php

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Cliff- thanks for the info. I have been scouring the internet for info so I did find the course packets a while back. When I saw how fast and how much material was covered I bought an outdated version of the fundamentals and pharm books for $5 each to get a jump on major concepts. I'm not going to kill myself to learn it all on my own but I'm one of those that has to read, take notes, and reread to really "get" it. I figured getting my first read out of the way can't hurt. I'm also taking patho now outside the program (it can be transferred in from Rio Saldo - the only core class that can be to my understanding).

600 PAGES! Things pretty much sound like I expected. Congratulations on the 90%. From what I read on here it sometimes sounds like nursing exams might as well be written in Greek so I think that is a very admirable score - especially for the first exam. I have heard about how expensive the books are but you'll use several throughout so hopefully the later terms get better. I told my husband I need a good bookshelf because my office is about to become a library!:lol2:

Good luck with clincals and the rest of the term. Hopefully I'll see you on campus in the fall!

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I went to see the advisor at NAU Tucson just now and she gave me a lot of great information.

Apparently it's true that NAU wants to switch to the Kaplan entance exam rather than the HESI.

They also are looking at throwing out the Liberal Arts requirement. We should get the solid information by this May.

Thank you everyone for all the great information. Hopefully we can get more NAU Spring 2011 hopefuls to come join this discussion.

- Lily

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Does anyone know about LPN-RN at NAU? I know they don't have a transition program specifically, but I've heard they can integrate LPNs into the regular program.

My GPA isn't much above 3.0, I'm not sure exactly. It also has been many years since I took some of the prereqs. I've been an LPN for 4 years now (just renewed my license!) but I don't know what my chances are of being able to get a higher degree without starting over completely.

Sorry, I don't know anything about this. I know there is a bridge RN to BSN but I don't know anything about LPN . . . I'd give them a call.

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I went to see the advisor at NAU Tucson just now and she gave me a lot of great information.

Apparently it's true that NAU wants to switch to the Kaplan entance exam rather than the HESI.

They also are looking at throwing out the Liberal Arts requirement. We should get the solid information by this May.

Thank you everyone for all the great information. Hopefully we can get more NAU Spring 2011 hopefuls to come join this discussion.

- Lily

Well, I'm glad that I'm applying for next semester and have already taken the Hesi. I purchased the evolve reach (by Hesi test publisher) and the Kaplan review guides to study for the Hesi entrance exam and after taking the pretest in the Kaplan book I felt like an idiot. I must have gotten 30% the first go around. If their guide is any indication of what their entrance exam is like then I would have been in trouble. I did quite well on the Hesi but I don't know how well I would have done on a Kaplan written exam.

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I like the program don't get me wrong, but at times I feel as if I am floating on this vast sea of nursing information and have very little guidance. It just took me some time to get used to the set up. I am taking 4 classes; NUR 205 (Fundamentals of Nursing), NUR 214 (Intro to Health Assessment), NUR 215 (Pharmacology), and BIO 320 (Pathology). My nursing 205 class meets once a week for lecture for 3 hours and once a week for 8 hours for the lab section which starting on week 11, next week, we begin our clinicals after passing a mid-term skills check off list. Nursing 214 the didactic portion is all online, then we meet once a week for 3 hours to practice what we have read. NUR 215 is all online with a once a week internet live lecture and is very intense. Bio is a joke, it is very easy and you will see when you take it why it is so. I think you really need to be prepared to do a lot of learning on your own and come to class prepared with questions as you only meet once a week. The first 8 week are INSANE, I was reading an average of 40 chapters a week, taking quizzes, and many other things! My first NUR 205 test was over 28 chapters and 600 pages so be prepared for that, which I am happy I got a 90 on that test. Which leads me to the one thing I Don't like about NAU vs UA is the grading scale, U of A uses a regular grading scale, at NAU 100-93 A, 92-84 B, 93-75 C, below 75 and F. Don't get me wrong I like my program and am very glad I got in, the reason I chose NAU over U of A is I heard awful things about the U of A program. If you have any more questions feel free to ask, also if you do get in just a little heads up that your books alone cost 1000 your first semester ontop of everything else you need to buy! Also if you want a heads up about what the classes are like here is a link that shows you the syllabi for some of the classes, look at 205,214, & 215 as those the first semester classes. http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~nurse-p/students/course_packs.php

Oh - I do have a question. I read in the course pack that one of the classes requires you to pick up patient assignments outside of class/ clinical. Do you know yet how this works? I have two little boys and my youngest is only going to be going to preschool while I'm in class. Just trying to cover my bases for childcare (provided I get in - they need a fingers crossed emoticon).

Thanks

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