UCCS and OHSU Accelerated BSN grads:How did you feel going into your 1st nursing job?

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Hi=). I was accepted to both the Accelerated BSN programs at OHSU in Portland and UCCS in Coloradto Springs. I am excited on my acceptances, but I am unsure which program would best prepare me for my nursing career. I know both of them will be intense and are good schools, however they have their differences. UCCS is less expensive, 16 months long, has great instructors, and has a 99% NCLEX post-graduating pass rate. OHSU is ranked 7th in the US for nursing schools and has one of the highest amount of total clinical hrs of any school (1100hrs, 360 in the integrated practicum the last term, UCCS only has 770 cumulative hrs). UCCS doesn't have a 'capstone' or 'integrated practicum' like OHSU. Do alumni from either school have insight? Also, anyone who has or hasn't had a 'capstone' last term in nursing school have an opinion one way or the other? Basically it's where you work entire 12 hr shifts alongside an RN from what I understand. Lastly, did any alumni from either program have trouble getting a job?

Thank you very much for your insight!!!!!

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Congrats on being able to decide between two amazing programs!!

I graduated from Beth El's accelerated program in August 2013.

I can't give you insight as far as capstone (we didn't have it). But I have no clue how I could have done it with how time intensive our program was.

As far as getting a job after post graduation my situation is different. I gave birth to my twins late October 2013, two weeks after passing my NCLEX and so did not even think about job hunting till January 2014.

There is a pediatric home health company in town that hires new grads and that's where a lot of my classmates have gone. I started working for the company in February and kept applying for other positions, mostly at the hospital I wanted on the floor I wanted.

I was persistent and I have to admit, it was hard to get rejection after rejection. (I only had one interview). However, I was just offered a position at the hospital I wanted, on the floor I wanted (the one place I had interviewed for about a month ago). I'm still reeling from the shock because it happened so serendipitously, and honestly, the field is my passion, and I really wanted to work for THAT particular hospital and on THAT particular floor.

In short, if you want to work in Colorado Springs go with Beth El. I asked around as far as nursing programs in town before I started this journey and a lot of RNs I talked to told me that Beth El has a great reputation in town.

All of my classmates are working. But the job market is tough. Some are still doing the pediatric home health, some work at the hospitals, some moved out of state for new grad programs (NICU, L&D, and OR), some are working psych nursing in town, and one is doing rehab at health south rehab which pays fantastic and really really loves!!

I hope that was helpful and I didn't ramble off topic. Haha.

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Thank you so much New808BornRN for your reply! I have decided to come to UCCS. I think you are right, from what I've heard, the UCCS program will be super packed! Thank you for the insight on the post-school job market. Congrats on getting your dream job! I am thinking I won't stay long term in the Springs, I may move back to Oregon. That is awesome that all your cohort classmates have jobs, that must mean all of you passed the NCLEX! I am not sure where I want to specialize yet, but I'm not worried. I think that both schools are excellent and even though UCCS has a lot less clinical hours, you all have jobs and that's what counts! Thank you!=D

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