[KatrinaPM]

Originally Posted by Pachinko

No, I didn't know that...though with a good grad ranking, I'm assuming the undergrad can't be all that shabby I've spoken to some boards of nursing in other states, asking about the viability of extending my license should I wish to move, and all of them had great things to say about U of M undergrad.

Katrina, were a good number of the clinicals at Ann Arbor-based hospitals, or did they branch out to surrounding cities? I'm trying to plan for transportation and wasn't sure.

Also, how the hell do you park near the nursing school?!? Every time I go down there it is absolutely jammed!

It is a good school. But nursing schools are really variable depending on where you've got clinicals, your nurses you are paired with, who your clinical instructors are, etc.

For ME, I did use my car a lot. I have most of my clinicals at UM hospital, but my community health clinical was in downtown detroit, my maternity was at St. Joes, my management was at Oakwood Dearborn. I would have a car available or make friends with someone to car pool.

Parking, ah, parking. There are a few options. You can get an orange lot pass and take a bus in to the hospital and walk to the nursing school from there. Some people just walk. Also, if you look in the Michigan Daily (I think you can access it online) you can also purchase parking spaces near the school for a 40 or 50 bucks a month I think. OR, you could take the bus. The city bus system is free for students so some people get around that way.
I happened to lease an apartment that is within walking distance of the hospital and the nursing school. If you have any questions feel free to PM me and I'll give you my email.

[Pachinko]

Thanks, Katrina--I did IM you with my email and had a few other questions. Thank you again for the offer!

[protogeintraining]

Originally Posted by AnnaN5

Has anyone on this board attended or is currently attending one of these programs at GVSU, Wayne State or U of M? I am looking into applying to these programs and just wanted to get some personal opinions on the different programs.

The University of Detroit Mercy (location also in West Michigan) is an excellent school, however, it is true that GVSU is a faster route via the 2nd Degree Program. Buyer beware, ask any experienced nurse in the hospitals here and I usually don't hear of GVSU topping the list of turning out the best (most prepared) grads. Personally, I do wish some other schools would find ways to get more 2nd Degree Students through the program more efficiently and with less red tape.

[utahliz]

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[TLC RN]

Originally Posted by utahliz

I'm in the new program and it's been, to say the least, disorganized. I'd do it all over again, because it fits my needs to a T. It's a top name institution, and I'll be finished just in time (late August) to earn money to pay for my oldest daughter, who'll be attending U of M in the fall. I really wondered up until the last minute whether the program would be ready as a 12-month program. Even for the current semester, we don't always know our clinical locations or schedules when we register. There are 24 of us this year, and most of us have jobs, children or long commutes that make it a real problem to not know ahead of time. I'm making it through, and my grades are great, despite commuting from Lansing and having 3 children. Some are having an easier time of it because they don't have the outside responsibilities I have. The School of Nursing is quite disorganized, in my opinion, and unwilling to admit it to themselves. I've had fabulous instructors and lousy instructors. Some of the lousy instructors will not be teaching in this program next year. I've had one clinical at Mott, U of M's children's hospital. My others have been at St. Joseph Mercy/Ann Arbor, Foote Hospital in Jackson, Hawthorn Hospital (children's psych facility in Northville) and Jackson County Health Dept. Some students have had more clinicals at U of M, it's mostly the luck of the draw for our group since we registered blindly. Parking is a definite problem. In this program, you qualify for an orange parking pass which allows you to park about a mile from the School of Nursing if you get there early enough in the day to find a space (before 8am) or 2 miles away otherwise. There are lots of shuttle buses to campus from either lot. There is paid parking next to the SON but it's often full, and street parking is challenging, to say the least. I do think that the program will be better organized next year, simply because now they've done it once. At a minimum, they'll know where clinicals will be. It's not the quality of education I expected from a top-name school, but I'm a self-starter and will find a way to get out of it what I need. In-state tuition is a great bargain at U of M. Incidentally, Michigan State is starting an accelerated program in the fall. I don't know what their application deadline is. I met with some of the faculty in January because they wanted to get a student's perspective on how things should work, which I found refreshing.

I have a question about your program. Do you do all your class work the first half of the semester and then the rest of the semester you do clinical? Or do you do clinical and class all semester long?

Thanks

[utahliz]

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[nurseabc123]

The 2005-2006 school year will be the first year for the MSU's 2nd degree program. They actually started with one class this summer (pathophysiology). The whole program is only 12-months long. The application deadline, I believe, was March 1, 2005. They took 40 students.

[joyzeegoyl]

MSU nurse07

I will be applying at MSU's accel. BSN program...i have an LPN certificate from LCC and have a degree from another university...how is the program it like? how are the semesters broken up....i was to apply for the 2006-2007 school year but found out that it was too expensive and decided to apply in 2008 after 2 years of working/saving as an LPN....i still can't fathom how you can learn all that stuff in 12 mos.

joyzeegoyl

[UMichSCN07]

Tooty-
As of right now, the only thing that has changed for the Fall 06 semester at UM from Liz's class is that the clinicals for the 4 week Maternal and Reproductive Health class are 2 12-hour shifts per week ONLY, no more 3 8-hour shifts. Oh, and we get the pleasure of "working" through the Thanksgiving holiday... guess we get our intro to new hire hours a year early!

Mike in Michigan

[utahliz]

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