Anyone applied to UF's accelerated BSN?

mcs1505 · Mar 13, 2009

First of all, congrats to everyone who got accepted. I have 98 days left but still remember the day that orange envelope showed up.

I kind of glanced through and wanted to clear up some stuff for you, plus let you in on some of the stuff we wish we'd known:

...For those who do get accepted should feel lucky bc it looks like budget cuts may be eliminating the undergrad BSN program all together! (check the CON's website). :wink2:

Do you guys think the possible budget cut will affect the accelerated program for this year? I would think since the application deadline passed before this discussion of budget cuts started, that the BSN (regular and accelerated) is safe for this upcoming year, but who knows?

--They've told us personally that the ABSN program is not being affected by budget cuts. http://www.nursing.ufl.edu/news/news-BSNmessage.shtml The ABSN program is their crowned jewel and they actually have several seats available due to a government grant through the VA so they're not going anywhere. http://www.nursing.ufl.edu/news/news-UF-VA.shtm

I wonder what it means to the program that they are making cuts, and that they are changing all the MSNs, getting rid of the BSNs... ?

--They're phasing out the MSN programs and going to the DNP, but no one is going to be phasing out BSNs anytime in the next few decades at least. Esp. not with the nursing shortage.

Anyone know anything about scholarships thru school or hospitals, or work in Shands or Vet during the program?

--I'd say at least half of my classmates work, the vast majority of my girlfriends got jobs at North Florida, Shands, the VA or private Dr. offices. I personally sold plasma in town for $350/month for a while to help with bills. And a few of the girls I know have agreements with hospitals in Atlanta and Tallahassee that are helping pay for school in exchange for working with them after graduation. You'll have to contact the hospitals in your area individually. The VA also has a great plan for tuition reimbursement.

Does anyone know exactly how much tuition is?

--Tuition is 145/hr for undergrad and 375/hr for grad classes. They're revamping the curriculum for your class but you'll prob. still have the same number of grad classes we did (6 credits). http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/coa.html

--Books: You don't need most of them. You definitely do not need to buy the massive box they try to sell you in the bookstore. HUGE waste of money, we were all pretty angry about that after the fact. The only ones I ever used were the books for Health Assessment, Essentials of Prof. Nursing, Med-Surg/Adult-Elderly, and my drug guide for Pharm.

--You don't need to get your badge before orientation unless you want to use the bus to get to campus that day (it's free if you have an ID, 1.50 one way without the ID)

--Preceptorship: you can only do your preceptorship/transitions on a Med-Surg floor. No ER, Peds, OR, OB etc. You will have Peds and OB rotations, but you won't be allowed to do your 6 week "internship" there at the end. It is, however, still possible (albeit more difficult) to get a job in these positions after graduation, even without the extensive experience (I just took a Peds ER position).

--Summer is the worst. Almost no one worked over the summer. It is killer, but not impossible. And once you're done with that it's literally all downhill from there :) So don't get discouraged by the amount of stuff you have to do.

Again, congrats! Maybe I'll see you on the floor this summer! Feel free to PM me with any questions about UF, Shands, Gainesville etc.

UF_Ashley · Mar 14, 2009

I have been following the posts here and finally decided to register today. I received my letter of admission last weekend. Just curious does everyone already have clinical experience? My current job is completely outside the scope of health care.

marge444 · Mar 14, 2009

Hi Ashley, I don't have much healthcare experience, I just started volunteering at shands a few months ago, which has helped me get my foot in the door and become more comfortable in a hospital setting but that's really it for me. It's good to know I'm not the only one who might be a little green. Congrats on getting in!

mcs1505 · Mar 14, 2009

I have been following the posts here and finally decided to register today. I received my letter of admission last weekend. Just curious does everyone already have clinical experience? My current job is completely outside the scope of health care.

Speaking for the class of 09, you're not even close to being alone. There were a few of us who had worked as a tech in the hospital or in the field, but I can only think of 5 or 6 (out of 60) though there were probably a couple more. We had a lot more teachers, business people, and brand new BA grads than we had coming from the health care setting.

And previous experience in no way determines how well you'll be doing in 6 months. Some of the students I'd be glad to have as my nurse had no clinical experience or health care background coming in to the program, and vice versa.

If you wish you were a little more familiar with things, contact your local hospital and ask if they'd let you shadow nurses on different floors for a few days. But it's not necessary: you're first clinical rotation is only 5 hours long and starts at the very beginning of basic care.

UF_Ashley · Mar 14, 2009

Thanks for the insight. Your posts are very helpful and much appreciated. Has anyone gotten a registration date yet on isis?

naominurse0 · Mar 16, 2009

mcs1505! Thank you for that very helpful info. Especially the books. I have only needed a text book in my prerequisites like 2 times. I spoke to the financial aid office, and they said we don't need to do anything regarding financial aid till the orientation. They tell us there what our status is and let us know if we need private loans, which I will need. I have 2 other questions:

What is the best and lowest interest rated private loan?

Will we be registering on orientation day, or do we have to register before orientation on May 8th?

THANKS!! :bow:

Shaunna · Mar 18, 2009

Hello future fellow classmates,

I don't have too much to add, but I have been anxious the past few days wondering how I am going to pay for everything, so I thought it would be comforting to find others in the program and hear their takes.

I'm a current UF student (graduating with a BA in anthropology less than a week before orientation), so if anyone has questions about Gainesville, maybe I can help.

I really love Gainesville and UF, and I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone!

Any other freshly graduated students out there?

gatorgirl111 · Mar 18, 2009

I do know that you register BEFORE orientation. Some people had problems, so they had to register at orientation but almost everyone else registered beforehand. They will e-mail you when they are ready for you to register and will let you know the classes, etc.

naominurse0 · Mar 18, 2009

Gosh, Im glad you told me that Gator girl, they didn't mention that.

Im getting excited. I found a place to house sit for the first 3 mos, then I will need to find a place to share.

naominurse0 · Mar 18, 2009

Will they notify us by regular email, or only on ISIS?

Shaunna · Mar 20, 2009

Hey all-I just created a facebook group for this summer's class, if anyone is interested. The group is called

UF Accelerated Nursing Students- Class of 2010

gatorgrad · Mar 25, 2009

Hello Everyone!!

I just got the good news that I have been accepted!! :yeah:

I don't have the packet yet, since they called this morning to give me the news. I feel a little behind with all the paperwork as a result. Would you mind telling me when orientation is scheduled so I can ask for the day off?

Thanks for the kind words you offered when I submitted my petition. Turns out my stats class was