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| No. 20 | 
Jun 10, 2009, 10:45 PM
 Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites Originally Posted by sholmsen  Hi CalBear-
First of, congratulations! Thanks for your input. That's great to hear about the patho and pharm being reviewed during the program. Just out of curiosity, are you having great trouble finding a job now that you've graduated? I hear this area's not hiring many new grads. Congrats again!
Just to clarify... they don't really formally "review" pharm and patho, but there is ample time to solidify your knowledge as the program goes on. One of the instructors used to give a pharm quiz on the first day of the program and stopped because the results were too depressing. As for jobs, you pretty much need your license before being hired right now. Probably 5/45 of my class are starting a job this summer; the rest of us are still looking!
 | | No. 21 |
Jun 10, 2009, 10:52 PM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites Originally Posted by carolc415 hi CalBear...thanks for sharing your experience and stats.
One interesting tidbit: I was told by a SMC admissions counselor
that many successful applicants for the ABSN program have NO healthcare experience. She said that many applying to the ABSN (like myself) have been WAY too busy working, getting their degrees, and getting their prereq's done...no time to volunteer...no time for anything else.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Thanks 
If that is the case, definitely show admissions how your degree/job/past experiences have uniquely prepared you to be a nurse. Relate your current job to nursing.
I would also say that there is a difference in the learning curve for students who have exposure to the hospital/healthcare and those who do not before beginning the program. Everyone ends up at the same place after the first clinical class, but do be prepared to work harder during that first clinical because you will be working in an unfamiliar environment and learning a whole new "language". If you've never worked in a hospital, think about getting a medical terminology book or taking a class.
| | No. 22 |
Jun 10, 2009, 11:19 PM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites Originally Posted by CalBear06 If that is the case, definitely show admissions how your degree/job/past experiences have uniquely prepared you to be a nurse. Relate your current job to nursing.
I would also say that there is a difference in the learning curve for students who have exposure to the hospital/healthcare and those who do not before beginning the program. Everyone ends up at the same place after the first clinical class, but do be prepared to work harder during that first clinical because you will be working in an unfamiliar environment and learning a whole new "language". If you've never worked in a hospital, think about getting a medical terminology book or taking a class.
That's GREAT advice...I worked in corporate admin/management for ten long long LONG stress-filled years, so I did let them know in my essay that I juggled a crazy job and school for a long time. I am SOOO ready for this crazy program---bring it on! I did take a Med Terminology course, and even though it's a different world, I worked in veterinary clinics. Although I didn't write about it in my essay, I know how to set up a Lactated Ringer's IV rig, read lab reports, document vitals and treatments, and various other commonalities...I'm not saying a vet clinic is anything like a human hospital but it does have parallels. Hmm, maybe I should have put it in my essay after all!  | | No. 23 |
Jun 13, 2009, 11:19 AM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites Originally Posted by CalBear06 I just finished the ABSN. To those of you worried about your patho & pharm knowledge (or lack there of!)... you do not need to feel comfortable with this material to do well in the ABSN at SMU. You will learn it as you go. The instructors do not expect you to know everything (at least the instructors I had). What did help, or at least I felt it did, was really having a solid A&P foundation... I took both of those classes the year before starting, so it was all still fresh in my mind. If for some reason you do really want to take pharm again, I have heard good things about the on-campus Foothill-DeAnza pharmacology class.
And, since someone will ask: Undergrad GPA 2.7, Science GPA 3.3, NET 94, TONS of undergrad leadership, and 2 years non-nursing acute care experience. If I have one suggestion, that would be to get healthcare experience, whether it be work, internships, volunteering, etc. Barely anyone in my class was without it!
CalBear--if you don't mind sharing, where were your clinicals located?
| | No. 24 |
Jun 13, 2009, 05:24 PM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites
I'm glad you asked! You need to be prepared to travel to clinicals, and you also have to be prepared to "not get what you want" all the time. That means that a clinical site might be 5 miles from you, but they would rather have two people travel 30 miles each than have one travel 5 and the other travel 60. Each campus decides clinical assignments differently, though; I was at the Peninsula campus, and, except for our first couple assignments, the faculty left it up to our class to determine a decision making process and make assignments.
I did clinicals at Mills-Peninsula, El Camino, Kaiser Santa Clara, Kaiser Redwood City, and San Francisco General. Other sites included: San Mateo Medical Center, Kaiser San Jose, and Kaiser Hayward, plus we were offered rotations at Children's Hospital Oakland, Kaiser SF, and Marin General, but those were all either cancelled or not enough students had interest. I believe the more recent classes have rotations at Valley Med and Good Samaritan as well.
If you are thinking about the Peninsula campus, then do be prepared to be in the south bay a lot! For senior preceptorship, you do get to request your unit and hospital... I would say that at least half of us got nearly exactly what we asked for.
| | No. 25 |
Jun 14, 2009, 08:35 PM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites
Thanks for the info!! I'll definitly be investing in a medical terminology book!
| | No. 26 |
Jun 15, 2009, 11:55 AM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites
CalBear,
Thanks so much for taking the time to post all this helpful information.  | | No. 27 |
Jun 16, 2009, 12:34 PM
Updated
Jun 16, 2009 at 12:42 PM by Silverdragon102
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites
Hi Casey11. Sorry, but I don't seem to have the option to PM with my account... not sure what's wrong. Did you have micro at COM? That's where I took it in spring '08.
| | No. 28 |
Jun 16, 2009, 12:41 PM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites Originally Posted by sholmsen Hi Casey11. Sorry, but I don't seem to have the option to PM with my account... not sure what's wrong.
You need 15 or more posts to be able to send a pm. You can however read any that are sent to you
| | No. 29 |
Jun 16, 2009, 07:42 PM
Re: Samuel Merritt University ABSN Program Prerequisites Originally Posted by sholmsen Hi Casey11. Sorry, but I don't seem to have the option to PM with my account... not sure what's wrong. Did you have micro at COM? That's where I took it in spring '08.
Sorry wrong person. I went to BCC with someone from Marin who I was planning to apply to SMU's fall program. I thought you were here.
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