APU ELM for Fall 2014

Summers3 · Nov 17, 2014

Dear Rizzoland,

Hi, I was wondering if you happen to know that for the leave of absence, students are encouraged to work as RN and take classes (or take a full LoA away from classes) but I would like to ask if a student can’t find position as RN, are we able to accept another any other position just to be able to work to support ourselves even if the job is completely unrelated to nursing?

Does APU care about this?

Also, I saw on the graduate calendar that cohort 38 is graduating this Spring 2015. However, spring 2015 starting cohort is 52. So the time difference between 38 and 52 is a total of 15 semesters = 5 years!!!!! Does this mean cohort 52 took 5 years to complete the ELM program?! I understand individuals take LoA and students graduate at totally different times than the people they started out with. But isn't 5 years too long especially when the APU website stated 3-4 years as maximum?

And you can absolutely graduate with a different cohort than you started out with if you happen to get through the program at a faster pace right? This is why some people of same cohort graduate faster than others?

Sorry if this questions are too random! if you happen not to know, I'll ask around and see.

Thank you for your time! Have a good rest of your day! :)

Emily103 · Nov 23, 2014

Hi Rizz!! So glad to hear form you again! :) Aren't you excited? I am at Kaiser in Baldwin Park currently, but you're definitely going to be in different clinical sites considering you're in IE. I'm not really sure how your scheduling works, but I had Fridays off (sim labs on certain Fridays) and my clinicals were on Wednesdays. It was nice having Fridays as an empty day to study. I believe you guys may have a different schedule for skills labs and simulations though so I think you'll find out more at orientation.

Tina, they name cohort numbers 3 at a time from the 3 campuses if I'm correct. I am in Azusa which is cohort 47, SD is 48, and IE is 49. I might have the numbers mixed up as I don't have anything to look on. I am aware that Summer 2014 cohorts for Azusa is 44 and SD is 45, and I assume IE is 46. That would bring the next cohort (mine) Fall 2014, up to cohort 47 for Azusa, so on and so forth. So no, I don't believe the cohort took 5 years to graduate. The program takes 15 months to complete, 18 months including your residency.

I'm not really sure what you are asking regarding the LoA. I don't think students are supposed to take any unless there are serious circumstances. If you mean after the completion of the 18 months, there is a break where you will graduate and proceed to sit for your NCLEX. During that time, APU encourages students to find a part or full time RN job and return to complete the Masters portion of the ELM program. You have the option of being a part or full time student while working. The idea is to have RN experience so when you graduate with an MSN, you'll be able to find a job as an NP because you've already had a year experience as an RN. Most jobs will not consider you without the RN experience if you've jumped straight into NP and graduate without any kind of experience.

In that sense, you will graduate the BSN portion with your cohort. The masters portion is harder because everyone will then be on their own pacing depending on whether or not they are taking time off to work, or if they will return as part/full time students while working.

Summers3 · Dec 8, 2014

Dear Emily,

Thank you for your reply, Emily! I hope you are doing well. :)

I know you have touched on this before and I apologize for bringing up a topic you have already addressed, but regarding the book bundle, it is only for the first semester. You shared that some books do get reused or at least, a quick reference back to it in the future semesters. So this means that the books you need for second semester and beyond are not included in the bundle. But were there any books in the bundle that you didn’t use for the first semester at all? I would like to ask for an estimate because I am wondering if the book bundle will be still worth it if say, 1/3 of the books included won’t be used. Thank you!

Do you happen to know if there is a tutor/tutoring session available or are the professors and classmates the only source of additional help a student has? I would like to ask in case I find myself struggling with the material in class. I am very worried about studying habits as well considering there have been hard times where I study for extensive lengths of time (not cramming), go to tutoring/office hours, done everything I can but yet still trouble with the material and struggled throughout class. May I ask your advice in your studying habits, what helped you and what not for example?

Finally, I understand you are close to finishing up your first semester. I don’t start until later on but may I please also ask for advice on how to transition into the first semester? Or actually, for your advice on “what you knew now that you wish you knew earlier in the semester”?

Thank you again and best wishes for a happy holiday season! I hope you thoroughly enjoy your break before hitting your next semester!