University of Miami accelerated program spring 09

Tatortots · Jun 10, 2009

Hey,

Did anyone get in while taking courses in progress? Also, did anyone get the scholarship and if so did you apply early decision?

Thanks

UF-UM · Jun 15, 2009

school of nursing and health studies
apple base machine - not advisable
[color=gray]apple notebooks are not advisable for nursing students as the required hesi exams are not compatible with the mac operating system. also, elsevier (the company that provides the hesi exams) does not provide support for bootcamp and does not recommend running their testing software on it, nor on any pc emulator. therefore, technical support for notebooks running bootcamp will be very limited at the school level as well. students who take hesi exams on a mac through the bootcamp software or via any pc emulator do so at their own risk.
if a student still decides to use an apple laptop despite this disclaimer, they must make sure that it meets the following minimum requirements with sufficient time prior to their first hesi exam:
pentium d, 2.8ghz/800mhz fsb or greater (intel core duo if windows vista installed)
mac with an intel processor
mac os x " leopard " or higher
boot camp software properly installed and tested
have available cd with valid copy of windows xp sp2 or higher
on the windows side make sure that internet explorer 6.0 or higher and microsoft .net framework 2.0 or higher are installed
be sure to " activate " the copy of windows installed

hello,

i have been accepted to the accelerated bsn at um staring this fall 2009. to my understanding the school of nursing mandates the students admitted to use a specific type of computer (which excluded apple-macintosh computers). i have a mac laptop and according to them it is "not advisable".

do you know of anybody who has actually tried using the hesi exams on a mac laptop with bootcamp running microsoft vista?!?! if so did it work properly? i don't think i can afford to buy a new laptop on top of the cost of tuition...

AngelsRGorgeous · Jun 15, 2009

I think I saw someone post on the forum for the class that began in May that you can go to the computer labs to take the exams, but I'm not sure if I'm remembering right - search for the May 2009 accel. BSN, and see if you can find it. Sorry I'm not more helpful, but I think I remember seeing something like that.

Kimberly*Pink · Jun 24, 2009

hello,
i have been accepted to the accelerated bsn at um staring this fall 2009. to my understanding the school of nursing mandates the students admitted to use a specific type of computer (which excluded apple-macintosh computers). i have a mac laptop and according to them it is "not advisable".
do you know of anybody who has actually tried using the hesi exams on a mac laptop with bootcamp running microsoft vista?!?! if so did it work properly? i don't think i can afford to buy a new laptop on top of the cost of tuition...

i have been using my mac for everything! a few others have, although i've seen a few using windows on their macs, eeeehh! lol stick with your mac! throughout the semester we take quizzes and exams through blackboard, sometimes using "lockdown browser" which works just perfectly on my mac. the only time you will need a pc is during the hesi, which is only during finals week. what i would do is just use the mac until then and either use the labs for hesi or borrow someones laptop temporarily or something, but whatever you do, don't install bootcamp on your mac! it will ruin your mac, and plus you don't wanna risk it (if it messes up during the hesi or something). hesi is run by evolve/elsevier, and i guess the program they use is pc based, and um has nothing to do with it. you will be fine until finals week basically ! (and you'll have to get the pc laptop checked off by the it dept before the hesi). :lol2:

Kimberly*Pink · Jun 24, 2009

hello,
i have been accepted to the accelerated bsn at um staring this fall 2009. to my understanding the school of nursing mandates the students admitted to use a specific type of computer (which excluded apple-macintosh computers). i have a mac laptop and according to them it is "not advisable".
do you know of anybody who has actually tried using the hesi exams on a mac laptop with bootcamp running microsoft vista?!?! if so did it work properly? i don't think i can afford to buy a new laptop on top of the cost of tuition...

and run bootcamp with vista?? yikes,a double negative! lol no pun intended...

UF-UM · Jul 26, 2009

and run bootcamp with vista?? yikes,a double negative! lol no pun intended...

hey everybody, thanks again for all the helpful replies to all my questions and concern. and for all the valuable info you have all contributed (especially you kimberly*pink). thanks

here is what i have to contribute and i hope it helps some of you:

like some of you, i have to take up some student loans to do this accelerated bsn program. i was going to take the loans through sallie mea, but then i did a bit of research. i found that "discover cards" is the only student loan program allied with ffel that is offering benefits on loans, at this time in this economy.

sallie mae, being the biggest student loan organization has a 1% default fee and 1% origination fee on the principal of your loan. however discover has 0% on fees (including default fee and origination fee) and for private loans they offer a 2% immediate cash-back (on principal reduction) if you graduate on time. which saved me about $500 that i could sure use on something other than spending them on fees.

just thought you guys should know. i bet it is never too late to change your lender.

these are the courses i am taking this upcoming fall '09:

nur304 ax 6 m 8:00-11:20 a a. vega

nur307 fx 3 m 1:00-3:30 p n. apatov

nur314 qx 3 t 1:00-2:40 p j. sikkema

nur315 nx 3 t 8:30-11:0 a tba

do you have any advice or tips on how to study, for the courses with these particular professors? (listed above: a.vega, n.apatov, and j.sikkema)?

and i also read from previous threads that not all books are necessary, that some class notes are sufficient. which books are a "must have"? which books should i save my money and not buy?

here is the textbook list:

nur 304 ax adult health i:

nursing 304 (pkg)(summer 2009) author:elsevier

nur 307 fx pharmacology:

drug therapy in nursing (set:txt/lynn:lipp)(w/cd) edition:3rd author:aschenbrenner

drug therapy in nursing (sg) edition:3rd (recommended) author:aschenbrenner

nur 314 qx health assessment:

physical examination etc (w/cd) edition:5th author:jarvis

pocket companion for physical examination etc ed: 5th author:jarvis

physical examination & health assessment (dvd) author:mosby

physical examination etc (online course) ed: 5th author:jarvis

nur 315 nx pathophysiology:

essen of pathophysiology (w/cd) edition:2nd author:porth

essen of pathophysiology (sg) edition:2nd recommended author:porth

Kimberly*Pink · Jul 26, 2009

hey uf-um (and other fall students)

as far as apatov, pharm, he tests mostly from powerpoints and lectures (ppts are directly from the book). i would recommend the book, just probably won't have time for the study guide, although the pharm studyguide has some summaries. if you really have to have it, i or someone can make copies for you, lol. for patho, same thing, but the book is a most (he also includes photos directly from the book on the exams), study guide book just has additional questions, no summaries. he writes his own exams so you will find his study guides that he gives you more helpful. for his class, pay attention to tables and any extra "boxes" in the text. for health assessment, you need the text, you need the online access code, you don't need the pocket companion. i got it, it's a waste because it's the same as the book, just condensed and smaller. unless you want something to tote around, which would be inconvenient during clinicals (not enough pocket space!) it's not really that small either. for dr. vega, it's a hard subject. not to scare you but this course is basically a ton of info, and when test time comes, it's another language. the format of the questions on her exam are like what you need to get used to for the rest of the year... critical thinking, analysis, etc. yes you do need the fundamentals of nursing book. no study guide. for the math course, the online code is a must, but the book is ok, i never used it but i sorta like math. if you need a refresher, get the book (you use a lot of dimensional analysis, ratios/fractions so it's like basic algebra)

i would also recommend getting saunder's comprehensive review for the nclex-rn 4th ed (it's a big blue book, lots of pictures, summaries, what you need to know, etc). the saunder's is required our last semester anyways, but you can refer to it all year. vega gives study guides, do those. work in groups, especially for online quizzes (i didn't, big mistake) split up and share your study guides, that's all i can say. get the hesi comprehensive review for the nclex-rn by evolve. that is supposed to help for the hesi tests. also, i just got another book, fundamentals success 2nd ed: a course review applying critical thinking to test taking. i wish i had gotten it earlier and followed the advice of others, but i just got it this weekend. this is mostly for 1st semester nurse students on how to answer test questions. you still have to have the knowledge base to answer the questions, but you can get that from your books.. you will see what i mean as far as the questions (you think you got the answer right, and you end up being way off! ) just ask umashtangi, hahaha:hdvwl: so far i am having the hardest time in this class because i worked alone, i am a business major and this is a whole new language to me!

another piece of advice, for pharm, as soon as you get the first set of powerpoints for lecture on blackboard, start making note cards on the drugs. i know this is ahead of time, so don't worry now, just do as you go, don't wait till the last minute! his study guides are excellent though. unless you don't like studying notecards, maybe start recording lectures and listening on the way to class. i have vangonotes pharmacology from itunes, and for me i think it helps, it's just personal preference.

recap: need all texts (pharm, patho, fundamentals, health assessment), all online access codes (including math, but the book is repetitive, i never used mine because the info is presented online, just personal preference) no study guide books that go with the texts, too time consuming (the pharm one is the only one that is helpful, i guess) recommend: saunders, hesi/evolve comp review, and maybe fundamentals success (davis's success series).... get these last cause the books alone are a lot as it is.

:mad: anyways, good luck, don't freak out you guys, i don't want to say this just yet because i haven't taken all my finals yet, but it's not all that bad, it's doable. don't stress out and expect to be straight a if that's what you were used to in the past. remember: c=rn , it is true! (well, a high c because at um a c- is failing, lol) as and bs are doable.

ps. oh before i forget: get a pocket sized drug book, like davis' or one for nurses, a current year edition, for clinicals. if you have an iphone/ipod touch/ pda, you will use it for clinicals, a big help! i have nursing central by unbound medicine (you can go to unboundmedicine.com, register and get a 10% discount code, download the app off of itunes, then buy the bundle off unboundmedicine using the code, saves a lot. it comes with taber's dictionary which is recommended by hlth assessment, davis's drug guide which is a must, diseases & disorders, journals, etc). there is also another bundle off itunes, forgot the name though, it has rnnotes on it too. you can also use epocrates for free, but doesn't have enough as far as dosage recommendations, nursing implications/dx, etc. sorry i am rambling now, feel free to contact me if you have a question, i can ask around for you.

bluemartian, BSN · Jul 27, 2009

Dont forget Sikemma, I know its only 314, but she can be tough she requires to read the book, our senior year we had her for 429 medsurge and she is tough, not to scare you she is a great professor , she also teaches the advance practice classes so she expects you to be thinking at a higher level. Best of luck

jerrylundergard · Jul 27, 2009

About the books, IMO, they are a total ripoff. I spent 800 dollars my first semester on all those books. The program goes soo fast that theres almost no way your gonna read all those chapters and remember everything. Even if youdo it wont help you negotiate the NCLEX style questions. After 3-5 pages of reading Im in outer space. I never religiously ready any books the entire program. I basically didnt even open 90% of them. I did study guides, power points, and millions of any types of questions I could get my hands on. Questions really helped me the best and is what I studied the most.

I went from a hangin on for dear life to aceing exams as soon as I switched to only studying Saunders. No baloney! The program does a very good job of teaching to the NCLEX. Saunders does the best job on teaching you to take NCLEX style questions. If you follow the systems in Saunders that you are studying in class and do all the questions in the CD and do them well, not just flying thru them but also read rationels, then the exams wil become a breeze...

Sikkema was tricky for me at first cause I wasnt armed with Saunders, then, I just started to smoke those exams. Unfortunately, I didnt use that for Ms. Mccay, who btw had some very tricky exams.

bluemartian, BSN · Jul 28, 2009

I was amazed how much money was spent on books, and with the exception of a few classes, I went off the powerpoints most of the time. when I graduated I listed all of my books on Amazon.com and made back about $1600 in about 2 months.

red-cross-nurse · Aug 10, 2009

Hello,

I am really excited to go to the Mandatory School of Nursing Orientation and meet my peers and finally know which hospital I will get for my clinicals!!! :clown: However, does anybody recall which of the General UM Orientation dates are a "must" go? I work until the end of this month and cannot attend all General UM Orientations.

Were those other orientations really that beneficial? Can i get away with just skipping those?

UF-UM · Aug 20, 2009

Hi,

I think it is fine if you do not go to the General Orientation. The way I see it is; if you already have a Undergraduate Degree you know the study skills and strategy required to make it. I am not going to the General Orientation only to the Mandatory School of Nursing Orientation.