National University Nursing Program

VeggieBSN · Oct 9, 2012

Thanks for replying.
I don't have any classes to transfer. This is all new to me but I am determined, and yeah I guess it would be the generic entry, is that a ASN or BSN course? I'm hoping financial aid could help me out and not sure if they reward those who go for the Bachelor Degrees:confused:. I bet it's pretty pricey there as well. Any suggestions on how to study for the TEAS? I "REALLY" rather not go to a big university or campus like Fresno State/City College, plus I heard they have a long waiting list for RN's?? Any Advice is appreciated.:) Thanks!

Hey, I'm in the RN program at national (cohort 9 - fresno). Wanted to say that yes it's a BSN and while its good to start studying for the teas early, I would suggest waiting until you've actually taken the A&P, Micro classes so you have a better understanding of the material. For study manuals, the ATI TEAS V and McGraw Hill are best in my opinion.

I also looked into Fresno state and city but decided on NU because it doesn't have a wait list or lottery system and unlike City, it's BSN with WASC and CCNE accreditation. I'd say if you'll be doing all your pre-reqs and the BSN at NU your looking at somewhere near 45,000~ The best thing to do is take some of the classes like sociology, English, public speaking, etc during a semester at community and transfer them. Only take ILR, A&P, and Micro with them if you have to, it will save you money.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes, typing away on an iPad.

Amal_559 · Oct 9, 2012

Hey, I'm in the RN program at national (cohort 9 - fresno). Wanted to say that yes it's a BSN and while its good to start studying for the teas early, I would suggest waiting until you've actually taken the A&P, Micro classes so you have a better understanding of the material. For study manuals, the ATI TEAS V and McGraw Hill are best in my opinion.
I also looked into Fresno state and city but decided on NU because it doesn't have a wait list or lottery system and unlike City, it's BSN with WASC and CCNE accreditation. I'd say if you'll be doing all your pre-reqs and the BSN at NU your looking at somewhere near 45,000~ The best thing to do is take some of the classes like sociology, English, public speaking, etc during a semester at community and transfer them. Only take ILR, A&P, and Micro with them if you have to, it will save you money.
Sorry for any spelling mistakes, typing away on an iPad.

JKaur,

Thanks for the info :up: . I Figured it would be expensive, but I hope financial aid can help me out with some of it at least. Since there isn't a waiting list and you graduate with a BSN Degree (if I make it to that point:)), it would be worth it. I have NOOOO Experience :sorry:in the Health Care Setting and would not be working while in school (have parents support) and My biggest fear is not finding a job in the Fresno Area after graduating and therefore not being able to pay back that huge loan I know I'm going to need. Everywhere I check they want "at least 1yr. of nursing experience." So how does a new grad gain employment? This thought terrifies me because then this whole process would be a waste of time :nailbiting: ....and money.

VeggieBSN · Oct 9, 2012

JKaur,
Thanks for the info . I Figured it would be expensive, but I hope financial aid can help me out with some of it at least. Since there isn't a waiting list and you graduate with a BSN Degree (if I make it to that point:)), it would be worth it. I have NOOOO Experience :sorry:in the Health Care Setting and would not be working while in school (have parents support) and My biggest fear is not finding a job in the Fresno Area after graduating and therefore not being able to pay back that huge loan I know I'm going to need. Everywhere I check they want "at least 1yr. of nursing experience." So how does a new grad gain employment? This thought terrifies me because then this whole process would be a waste of time:nailbiting:....and money.

No problem :) actually a lot of the students have no previous healthcare experience, including myself. I think it's worth it because you'll be able to pay it back within a couple years because you'll be working earlier. As for jobs, quite a few people from previous cohorts got job offers from the hospitals they did clinicals at because they made such a good impression. Plus, after getting a degree, most people look only for jobs in hospitals...to get that 1 yr experience also look for jobs at clinics, LTC facilities, veterans hospitals, etc too. It's also good to get connections with other nurses and doctors who can help you out.

Amal_559 · Oct 10, 2012

No problem :) actually a lot of the students have no previous healthcare experience, including myself. I think it's worth it because you'll be able to pay it back within a couple years because you'll be working earlier. As for jobs, quite a few people from previous cohorts got job offers from the hospitals they did clinicals at because they made such a good impression. Plus, after getting a degree, most people look only for jobs in hospitals...to get that 1 yr experience also look for jobs at clinics, LTC facilities, veterans hospitals, etc too. It's also good to get connections with other nurses and doctors who can help you out.

Wow:), sounds good. I been to there website and think I'll go to the campus sometime this month. Im going to have to take the generic entry. Which did you take? How do you like NU so far? Also wondering how long this whole process is going to take me from start to finish, as I think I'm going to be taking all pre-reqs through NU. Oh, and how many students are in the class? I was hoping for a smaller class size for more one on one learning experience. Thanks for your input, its nice to hear from someone who is actually attending.

VeggieBSN · Oct 10, 2012

Wow:), sounds good. I been to there website and think I'll go to the campus sometime this month. Im going to have to take the generic entry. Which did you take? How do you like NU so far? Also wondering how long this whole process is going to take me from start to finish, as I think I'm going to be taking all pre-reqs through NU. Oh, and how many students are in the class? I was hoping for a smaller class size for more one on one learning experience. Thanks for your input, its nice to hear from someone who is actually attending.

I was generic entry because this will be my first bachelors degree. The only difference between accelerated and generic is that generic also requires you to do GE classes for the bachelors while for accelerated you only need the Nursing classes. But during the program both generic and accelerated students are in the same classes. There are about 20 students per cohort but sometimes a student or two will drop out mid-program due to financial/personal issues or they failed the course. So far I really like national but I've just started the program this fall so I'm still new to this (ask me in 6 months how its going! Lol). I think if you're going to do all your pre-reqs at NU then it will take about a year to do them plus the program is almost 2 years so make that around 3 years for you to graduate. But thats just my guesstimation so make sure you talk to those advisors! Do your best in all the classes but make sure for A&P, Micro, Medstats you get A's :)

Amal_559 · Oct 11, 2012

I was generic entry because this will be my first bachelors degree. The only difference between accelerated and generic is that generic also requires you to do GE classes for the bachelors while for accelerated you only need the Nursing classes. But during the program both generic and accelerated students are in the same classes. There are about 20 students per cohort but sometimes a student or two will drop out mid-program due to financial/personal issues or they failed the course. So far I really like national but I've just started the program this fall so I'm still new to this (ask me in 6 months how its going! Lol). I think if you're going to do all your pre-reqs at NU then it will take about a year to do them plus the program is almost 2 years so make that around 3 years for you to graduate. But thats just my guesstimation so make sure you talk to those advisors! Do your best in all the classes but make sure for A&P, Micro, Medstats you get A's :)

Thanks for all the info JKaur,:)

Oh and a big FYI...I suck at math..lol..I'm talking allllll math besides the basics:(, so I'm kinda wondering If I even have what it takes to become a nurse:sorry:. I narrowed it down to NU for my BSN or go to Clovis Adult School and become an LVN, but with them it's a process. Just to become an LVN, you have to take a CNA course for 14 weeks. After that, you do the LVN pre-reqs (not sure how long it takes, wish I new), and then you apply for the LVN program thats an 18-20 month course, but Im pretty sure there's a waiting list for this, but I don't know. :dead: AHHHH!!!..lol. Trying to figure out which is a shorter process from start to finish, Clovis adult for LVN or NU for BSN:grumpy:. And do you know if LVN's are being phased out? I heard its hard to find work as an LVN, and the pay is not so great, so maybe NU is the route to pick. INPUT INPUT JKAUR!!!!... :cool:

VeggieBSN · Oct 14, 2012

Thanks for all the info JKaur,:)
Oh and a big FYI...I suck at math..lol..I'm talking allllll math besides the basics:(, so I'm kinda wondering If I even have what it takes to become a nurse:sorry:. I narrowed it down to NU for my BSN or go to Clovis Adult School and become an LVN, but with them it's a process. Just to become an LVN, you have to take a CNA course for 14 weeks. After that, you do the LVN pre-reqs (not sure how long it takes, wish I new), and then you apply for the LVN program thats an 18-20 month course, but Im pretty sure there's a waiting list for this, but I don't know. AHHHH!!!..lol. Trying to figure out which is a shorter process from start to finish, Clovis adult for LVN or NU for BSN:grumpy:. And do you know if LVN's are being phased out? I heard its hard to find work as an LVN, and the pay is not so great, so maybe NU is the route to pick. INPUT INPUT JKAUR!!!!...

There isn't a lot of math in the pre-reqs for NU, just that med statistics class but its about more data analysis/interpretation with basic math than hard advanced math (At least that's how my class was like). I'm sure you'll do fine once you put your mind to it. Agh, that whole Clovis adult school route looks harder and more time consuming than the bsn route for some reason (plus i might be bias lol). But the one good thing about that is you'd have your CNA done and can work while in school, the pay wouldn't be amazing or anything but you'd get experience and make connections. I don't know a whole lot on LVN department but from what my working RN friends/cousins have told me, it's way harder to find jobs and at the some hospitals they work at they aren't even hiring lvns any longer, but that'sjust Ina few places in this area, could be different elsewhere. And my short personal experience with this: I was going to go the LVN route before, applied to Gurnick and everything and about 3 weeks before pre-reqs I dropped because everyone I spoke with told me its not worth paying so much money for a field where I'll probably not get a job and won't even have my bachelors. Gurnick in fresno especially isn't worth the 30k, it's kind of a tacky place and their clinicals are in mariposa. For this economy where it's hard to find a job even as an RN, I don't think lvns have much of a chance. Even The working RNs that I know who don't have BSN are even going back for those to keep up with the competition. There a lot more factual information on this site about this lvn topic so you should definitely research those up.

Amal_559 · Oct 17, 2012

....I was going to go the LVN route before, applied to Gurnick and everything and about 3 weeks before pre-reqs I dropped because everyone I spoke with told me its not worth paying so much money for a field where I'll probably not get a job and won't even have my bachelors. Gurnick in fresno especially isn't worth the 30k, it's kind of a tacky place and their clinicals are in mariposa. For this economy where it's hard to find a job even as an RN, I don't think lvns have much of a chance. Even The working RNs that I know who don't have BSN are even going back for those to keep up with the competition...

That's so true. You definitely have made some good points, and when you think about it, yes, it makes no sense to spend all that money to be an LVN, "especially" at Gurnick (I did a tour and omg/make sure you still have your purse is what came to mind..I guess I just couldn't appreciate the graffiti/ghetto-ness enough to attend..lol) when its hard enough as it is finding a job as an RN (especially one without a BSN.) Thanks for the help:) Hope your loving school and wish you the best JKaur, maybe I'll find my way back on this forum in a couple of months and see how your experience is going with NU.

VeggieBSN · Oct 21, 2012

That's so true. You definitely have made some good points, and when you think about it, yes, it makes no sense to spend all that money to be an LVN, "especially" at Gurnick (I did a tour and omg/make sure you still have your purse is what came to mind..I guess I just couldn't appreciate the graffiti/ghetto-ness enough to attend..lol) when its hard enough as it is finding a job as an RN (especially one without a BSN.) Thanks for the help:) Hope your loving school and wish you the best JKaur, maybe I'll find my way back on this forum in a couple of months and see how your experience is going with NU.

Glad to help :) I hope you figure out which route is good for you. I'll probably check back in here after a while too just to share any updates or anything.

lyfhckr · Jun 4, 2013

Has anyone already started their nursing program at National University? what books do you guys use for Med Surg I and II?

KJet5 · Jan 26, 2016

Hello there! How was your experience with National Univ.?

I am starting my pre-reqs with them in 1 week in San Diego,and then I apply to BSN within the year. (I had some previous credits from a community college.)

I would love to hear more about your thoughts on the application process, the actual program itself, preparing for and taking the NCLEX... etc etc. Thank you so much!

nursehajduk · Dec 11, 2017

Hello KJet5

I know I'm a little late but I just joined allnurses and just seen your post. I am currently enrolled and am going to be staring my anatomy 1 class January 9th on the Riverside, CA campus. How did you like the science courses and were they very difficult? I know that are only 8 weeks and i'm kind of stressing about that =/. Hope you got into the nursing cohort you wanted too.