Hello,

This is my first post but I've been reading this forum for a while, and it'd be nice to get some advice from UTHSCSA prospective/ current/ former students. I already have a Bachelor's degree in a field very different from nursing (entertainment industry!), and I hope to get my BSN and RN license through UTHSCSA's accelerated BSN program.

My questions are:

1. What are the clinical rotations and sites at UTHSCSA? Their website is so disorganized and I can't find what order the rotations are and which hospitals participate.

2. Is it safe to assume that because San Antonio is a larger city that students get more out of each clinical rotation site?

3. Do students in the accelerated programs miss out on anything? Is anything "skipped over" or "just briefly mentioned" because there is not enough time? Are clinicals shorter in length?

4. Are new grads having a hard time finding employment? I've read a lot of posts about this and I'm wondering what it's like for UTHSCSA grads. I just don't want to commit so much time and money to a new career and end up where I am right now... unemployed.

Thanks in advance!

My questions are:

1. What are the clinical rotations and sites at UTHSCSA? Their website is so disorganized and I can't find what order the rotations are and which hospitals participate.

2. Is it safe to assume that because San Antonio is a larger city that students get more out of each clinical rotation site?

3. Do students in the accelerated programs miss out on anything? Is anything "skipped over" or "just briefly mentioned" because there is not enough time? Are clinicals shorter in length?

4. Are new grads having a hard time finding employment? I've read a lot of posts about this and I'm wondering what it's like for UTHSCSA grads. I just don't want to commit so much time and money to a new career and end up where I am right now... unemployed.

1. The clinical sites vary, first semester I don't think you get to choose though. The next 3 semesters are all your's to choose. Basically they have their picks of hospitals in San Antonio pretty much ALL of the big ones. (But, the program is being revamped.... I just graduated this MAY so I don't know the specifics to things)

2. In my honest opinion all rotations are the same. It's really what YOU put into it that makes it worth while. You can sit there and do nothing if you wish or YOU can listen to other nurses and see if they have procedures and ask if you can do them. Or you can just always offer help to them doing interesting procedures..

3. Like i said the accelerated and the regular program are being revamped.... so I don't know..... (but from my experience in the summer we just did clinicals 3 days a week and had like 8 hour classes Thur/Fri to fully fill out the clinical hours needed)

4. New grads EVERYWHERE are having a hard time finding jobs not just at this school. Basically there are so many programs churning out RNs so not everyone will get a job... at least not in the PERFECT place they want.. (But as a UTHSCSA grad I had 2 jobs lined up before i graduated...)

Hope that helped..

Thank you!

I live in Austin, so I was trying to decide whether or not I should apply to the UT alternative entry MSN program, The first year of their program is an accelerated RN program (but no BSN) and you get to choose FNP, CNS, etc., but I have no idea what I would like to specialize in.

I've already gone to visit UTHSCSA and I think it would be a better fit for me. I'm just nervous about the career change.