For those who have taken the RN-BSN Research and RN-BSN Vulnerable Population classes...what do you do think about taking the two courses concurrently? Do you think it's possible or would it be too much?

That's that decision I have to make for May. They're the last two classes I need to complete before Capstone, and I'm torn between taking them at the same time to get them over with, or taking them separately even if it pushes graduation back another couple of months.

I'm on a medical LOA right now, so at least having to work while taking class(es) in May/June won't be an issue.

Thanks in advance.

I am no help! But I'd like to know more about this as well.

haven't taken Research yet, but i took Vulnerable and it was a nightmare, but that's just my opinion. 4 papers, one each week along with the familiar quizzes and DB. paper #2 was the most time consuming for me. you need to gather statistics regarding demographics, economic data, education, infectious diseases, health risk indicators, chronic diseases, crime rates, unsafe activities and behaviors, air pollution, water quality, etc, etc, etc for 5 regions: your zip code, your city, county, state, and nation. so, multiply 5 times all the data points you need (above) and you can see how much work is involved and all of this is BEFORE you write even one word. i had to find over 70 pieces of data for each of the 5 regions ( 5 X 70 = 350!!!) it's not hard to find most of the demographic stuff, such as population, gender, age distribution, but try finding out the % of whooping cough cases in your zip code area or the % of bicyclists who do or do not wear helmets. this paper took me >50 hours to complete. it was not the writing part, but the net-searching time that killed me. final paper: 350 pieces of data, 24 pages, 10 data tables, and 30 references.

papers # 1, 3, and 4 weren't as bad, but by the time #2 was submitted, i had lost any reason to live.

BUT.....this is just the way it was for me. some others here on allnurses thought it wasn't a bad class at all. you know, everyone's experience is different.

PM me anytime if you desire additional details/help.

P.S. yes, i did get an A, but i worked for it.

Ick. My friend reports a similar horror story for the research course, except that you do most of the work as part of group projects.

Considering that I won't working but I will be juggling a newborn, I may decide against doubling up...which sucks as I really want this degree over and done with, but I also need my sanity. I'll have to talk about it with my advisor.

Thanks for the feedback--if anyone else has anything to share please do!

Ick. My friend reports a similar horror story for the research course, except that you do most of the work as part of group projects.

Considering that I won't working but I will be juggling a newborn, I may decide against doubling up...which sucks as I really want this degree over and done with, but I also need my sanity. I'll have to talk about it with my advisor.

Thanks for the feedback--if anyone else has anything to share please do!

You know, if you're not also working full time (which I am), I think you could probably do it. as I said, paper #2 was the worst, so that's really just one week that you'd be swamped. the good part is that you can work ahead, so if you have extra time one week, you could get started on the next paper. you also have to get FEMA certified by going to their website, reading some stuff, and passing a test. i had googled the class syllabus the week before class started and read about that, so i did it then before i actually got into the class. that meant that i was finished in 4 weeks instead of 5, which was nice.

maybe see what some other people say. as i mentioned, i was in touch w/ several people from allnurses who didn't think it was too bad.

Does any one know the exact FEMA certification we need for this course?

I'm taking them both together as well. I keep telling myself that it's only 5 weeks - I can do it! I hope I'm not getting myself in too deep. After this, my next 5 weeks are management and coop, then on to capstone. So looking forward to being done!!

Does anyone have the assignment instructions for the 5 weeks so I can get a head start?

if you want to see the syllabus for vulnerable, here is a link:

https://www.uta.edu/ra/real/syllabi/...5_syllabus.pdf

if you need anything else, let know.

I'll be in Research on May 20, too.