Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing anyone??

U.S.A. Connecticut

Published

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone out there is starting at BHSN this fall?? If so, are you signing the contract w/ Bridgeport Hosp? Thanks, Melanie

Melcia060.....Thank you for the information. I'm very excited. Hey, is their accelerated program hard to get into?

Last year the school only had 22 people interested in the accelerated program (they say they "require a B average" to get in, but I know of a few B- students who got in last year)...I think they were afraid that this year's summer enrollment would be low also, so they took away the grade requirement for us. They told us to sign our name on a piece of paper if we wanted to go thru the summer - there's 43 of us who are signed up for accelerated right now.

A word of advice about buying the books - I hardly ever use mine. I spent about $1200 on them and most of them have never been opened. The "Fundamentals of Nursing" book is ok, but they take 20 pages to say what they could have said in 2 pages. The "Medical-Surgical" books are a must - that's where you find everything. Certainly get yourself the Drug Guide, The Pediatric Nursing book, the Nursing Dx book, and the Physical Assessment Pocketguide. As for the rest of them...I've never even opened them. Also, it probably isn't on your book list, but you'd be wise to invest in a good Nursing Care Plan book (it'll save you A LOT of time writting care plans) - you don't have to get a brand new one, mine was off of Amazon.com for $30 and I use that book for every patient.

NU101 and NU102 aren't that bad (except for Fluid & Electrolytes in 102:uhoh3: ). The key is to stay organized and don't cram - it isn't all memorization in nursing school - the tests are different than any others you've taken. The recommended "Test Success" book is good - it gives you little hints and some of the questions are similar to those you'll find on your first few exams. You guys don't have to go buy it though...you're welcome to borrow mine (once you figure the tests out, the book isn't of use anymore).

Another hint - buy paper. A lot of paper - a REAL lot of paper. All the notes are e-mailed to you and you can print them off w/ your paper at the school. Once you make it thru NU101 & NU102, you should get a good NCLEX review book - I use Saunder's because it has a CD w/ 2500 questions broken down by system. You'll need the practice for NU104!! Good luck!!

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i do not know what to expect, im a nervous wreck

:lol2: Our first day, we were all scared to death!! The instructors ease you in the first couple days. The Level 1 teachers are really good, esp the Lab instructors. You'll figure out real quick who you can turn to for help. Most of the Senior nursing students are willing to help so don't be afraid to ask. Our class is talking about doing a "Mentor-a-Freshman" type thing. We didn't have that when we started and we all felt it would be a huge help.

The key to this school is staying organized. You'll start doing rotations in NU104 and things get crazy...you'll be on your normal clinical floor one day, then in the OR the next day, then in Pediatrics for the next week - you need to be extra organized. Stay on top of your paperwork and try to hand it in the next day (unless there's an exam to study for). Really learn how to complete a Care Plan in NU101 & 102 ... you'll be doing them forever and it'll take you twice as long if you don't understand.

Make sure you go to every lecture...no matter how boring, how long, or how stressed you are. GO to lecture! There's questions on the exams that come straight out of your instructors mouth that are NOT in the notes. You'll get those questions wrong every time you don't show up. I have a digital recorder that I use to tape lectures. You don't have to tape every single lecture, but the harder ones (aka the LONG ones that you know you won't pay attention to), those are usually the focus on the exams and it helps to hear it twice. Don't get caught up in the readings...if you get the topic, move on. Nobody has to time do that much reading every week with everything else that needs to get done.

This program never gets easier, but with time you eventually get used to dealing with it. You'll watch a lot of people, some of whom you become close with, fail out. If you want it enough, and if you work at it hard enough, you'll be ok.

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Anyone know the schedule for students who completed all the cognates/prerequisite coursework? I will likely enter the accelerated track this fall and was told that I would have classes 3 days/week. I am not sure which days these courses are offered or which courses I will be taking. Does anyone here know? Thank you in advance for your help.

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:lol2: Our first day, we were all scared to death!! The instructors ease you in the first couple days. The Level 1 teachers are really good, esp the Lab instructors. You'll figure out real quick who you can turn to for help. Most of the Senior nursing students are willing to help so don't be afraid to ask. Our class is talking about doing a "Mentor-a-Freshman" type thing. We didn't have that when we started and we all felt it would be a huge help.

The key to this school is staying organized. You'll start doing rotations in NU104 and things get crazy...you'll be on your normal clinical floor one day, then in the OR the next day, then in Pediatrics for the next week - you need to be extra organized. Stay on top of your paperwork and try to hand it in the next day (unless there's an exam to study for). Really learn how to complete a Care Plan in NU101 & 102 ... you'll be doing them forever and it'll take you twice as long if you don't understand.

Make sure you go to every lecture...no matter how boring, how long, or how stressed you are. GO to lecture! There's questions on the exams that come straight out of your instructors mouth that are NOT in the notes. You'll get those questions wrong every time you don't show up. I have a digital recorder that I use to tape lectures. You don't have to tape every single lecture, but the harder ones (aka the LONG ones that you know you won't pay attention to), those are usually the focus on the exams and it helps to hear it twice. Don't get caught up in the readings...if you get the topic, move on. Nobody has to time do that much reading every week with everything else that needs to get done.

This program never gets easier, but with time you eventually get used to dealing with it. You'll watch a lot of people, some of whom you become close with, fail out. If you want it enough, and if you work at it hard enough, you'll be ok.

You have been so helpful. I think we have a mutual friend, Mary? She passed on some other info you sent to her a while back...so of course I have more questions....about the dorms. What are they like? I'm considering this option just to have a distraction free space but I don't know much about how it works or what they are like. Any insight would be highly appreciated. THANK YOU for taking the time to ease our nerves some.

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Hello,

Do you know the schedule for students who completed all the cognates/prerequisite coursework (sciences/psych)? I will likely enter the accelerated track this fall and was told that I would have classes 3 days/week (NU101 and NU102, I think). I am not sure which days these courses are offered or which courses I will be taking. Do you know? Thank you in advance for your help!

Best,

Nora

:lol2: Our first day, we were all scared to death!! The instructors ease you in the first couple days. The Level 1 teachers are really good, esp the Lab instructors. You'll figure out real quick who you can turn to for help. Most of the Senior nursing students are willing to help so don't be afraid to ask. Our class is talking about doing a "Mentor-a-Freshman" type thing. We didn't have that when we started and we all felt it would be a huge help.

The key to this school is staying organized. You'll start doing rotations in NU104 and things get crazy...you'll be on your normal clinical floor one day, then in the OR the next day, then in Pediatrics for the next week - you need to be extra organized. Stay on top of your paperwork and try to hand it in the next day (unless there's an exam to study for). Really learn how to complete a Care Plan in NU101 & 102 ... you'll be doing them forever and it'll take you twice as long if you don't understand.

Make sure you go to every lecture...no matter how boring, how long, or how stressed you are. GO to lecture! There's questions on the exams that come straight out of your instructors mouth that are NOT in the notes. You'll get those questions wrong every time you don't show up. I have a digital recorder that I use to tape lectures. You don't have to tape every single lecture, but the harder ones (aka the LONG ones that you know you won't pay attention to), those are usually the focus on the exams and it helps to hear it twice. Don't get caught up in the readings...if you get the topic, move on. Nobody has to time do that much reading every week with everything else that needs to get done.

This program never gets easier, but with time you eventually get used to dealing with it. You'll watch a lot of people, some of whom you become close with, fail out. If you want it enough, and if you work at it hard enough, you'll be ok.

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We should be getting our schedule information in the next few weeks. I'm waiting as patiently as I can as well. Good luck!

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Last year the school only had 22 people interested in the accelerated program (they say they "require a B average" to get in, but I know of a few B- students who got in last year)...I think they were afraid that this year's summer enrollment would be low also, so they took away the grade requirement for us. They told us to sign our name on a piece of paper if we wanted to go thru the summer - there's 43 of us who are signed up for accelerated right now.

A word of advice about buying the books - I hardly ever use mine. I spent about $1200 on them and most of them have never been opened. The "Fundamentals of Nursing" book is ok, but they take 20 pages to say what they could have said in 2 pages. The "Medical-Surgical" books are a must - that's where you find everything. Certainly get yourself the Drug Guide, The Pediatric Nursing book, the Nursing Dx book, and the Physical Assessment Pocketguide. As for the rest of them...I've never even opened them. Also, it probably isn't on your book list, but you'd be wise to invest in a good Nursing Care Plan book (it'll save you A LOT of time writting care plans) - you don't have to get a brand new one, mine was off of Amazon.com for $30 and I use that book for every patient.

NU101 and NU102 aren't that bad (except for Fluid & Electrolytes in 102:uhoh3: ). The key is to stay organized and don't cram - it isn't all memorization in nursing school - the tests are different than any others you've taken. The recommended "Test Success" book is good - it gives you little hints and some of the questions are similar to those you'll find on your first few exams. You guys don't have to go buy it though...you're welcome to borrow mine (once you figure the tests out, the book isn't of use anymore).

Another hint - buy paper. A lot of paper - a REAL lot of paper. All the notes are e-mailed to you and you can print them off w/ your paper at the school. Once you make it thru NU101 & NU102, you should get a good NCLEX review book - I use Saunder's because it has a CD w/ 2500 questions broken down by system. You'll need the practice for NU104!! Good luck!!

****Thank you so so much for the information. I often wondered if I would need all the books they say to buy. I have now added LOTS of paper to my list.

Also, let your class know the idea of Mentor a Freshman sounds great from someone who is entering this fall. ;)

PS - what type of digital recorder do you use?

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****Thank you so so much for the information. I often wondered if I would need all the books they say to buy. I have now added LOTS of paper to my list.

Also, let your class know the idea of Mentor a Freshman sounds great from someone who is entering this fall. ;)

PS - what type of digital recorder do you use?

I use a SONY ICD-P320. I don't think it much matters though...most of them have around the same quality. I bought this one (around $70 I believe) because I could connect it to my laptop, save the lectures on my hard drive, then burn them onto a CD and listen to them. I have a 2hr car ride home on Friday afternoons so I usually listen to them then. Melanie

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When is orientation for fall 2007?

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We will not know when orientation is until BHSN sends us the letters stating. There letter a week or so ago stated we would receive more info in a few weeks.

Also, just an FYI that no one enters the accelerated program in the fall. The accelerated program means you go through the summer of next year and graduate in Dec 2008.

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I would love to know what you felt your strengths were to be accepted to this program. I have my heart set on being accepted, but it sounds competitive (700 applicants for 100+ spots).

Also, what are the typical hours for the week? I'm wondering if I can swing this with my kids school hours.

I'd appreciate any and all replies!

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Hello my strengsh were good pre-reqs and co-req grade with a positive attitude. BHSN offer a day shift and evening shift to accommodate the working student and parent. This school is extremely competitive to get into, however you must first believe that you can become a nurse before you can persuade the decision makers who hand pick every incoming freshmen. I also went on their website and found it very useful.

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