Lady of the Lake Accelerated ASN

U.S.A. Louisiana

Published

Hi. I am very interested in the accelerated ASN program at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Can anyone give me any information on this program? I've seen the information that is available online. However, I am looking for information from experienced insiders such as: getting accepted, true level of difficulty, etc. This will be a major career change for me, and I do not want to make a bad decision. I have a 3.6 gpa from SLU w/ AA in OSH and BA in Gen Studies. I consider myself a capable, hard working student but all I have heard is HORROR stories.

Thanks!

whodat1986-When it was time for payment, was a payment plan on option? I'm asking so I will know how to plan. Also, what would you wish you had known before you began the program? I'm relocating temporary to complete the program and I am trying to be as prepared as I can. Can we purchase our own uniforms ahead of time, I know some schools have particular colors but require a patch on the sleeve? I hope to begin Sept 2011 @the East Jeff location. Thanks in advance, as much info I can have before will be greatly appreciated.

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Not sure about the payment plan. Just about everyone I know in the class was offered loans that nearly covered the costs of tuition, even if they didn't actually use the loans.

What do I wish I would have known before? Hmm. It's not nearly as difficult as everyone told me going into it, although it has started to get a little time-consuming. Studying the book and notes and knowing them by heart will most likely NOT get you an A (although if it comes down to differences in the book vs. the notes, go with the notes). There are usually some questions on the test that you will be completely unprepared for no matter what you do. You have to learn to let those go. Also, I don't really think studying ahead of time would have done any good. What else? I guess be prepared for anything. The schedule is constantly changing so it's probably best to know now that you won't be able to make plans until you graduate.

As far as the uniforms, I think you can buy the tops (white with Our Lady of the Lake embroidered on the chest) at Uniforms by Bayou or at the school bookstore in Baton Rouge. You can buy the pants anywhere as long as you get the galaxy blue color they require. And I recommend this because the pants they will give you at the campus bookstore are both hideous and uncomfortable.

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To clarify, when I say studying ahead of time, I mean before the program starts. I'm not trying to tell you to procrastinate and cram for the tests!

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Whodat1986-Thanks so much for all your info. I'm so glad that you are on here and are willing to share information. I'm so anxious to begin and there are so many new questions that keep popping up in my head. Would you say for the most part, this is mainly a day program, with weekend/night clinicals here and there? I'm asking b/c I would like to work, not full time but here and there if the schedule permits, I plan on saving money but I'm a single mother and need to keep insurance, I just need to be able to work a little.

I know you can't wait until May when you're completely done!

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WhoDat1986: Thanks for helping out us here. Do you by any chance have the Pharm notes from your class that you can email to me? Any other suggestions/notes you have to share? :) Also, I was wondering if you can tell me what book is gonna be used for Pharm so I can order it and start studying from now. Do you suggest to start studying for any subject before starting? Thanks soooooo much for your help! :)

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Dream2BeNP:Which program are you applying to or have you applied already?

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CuriousKayPee: I already got accepted to Accelerated ASN at Tulane for this January start date.....what about you?

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Dream2BeNP: I'm applying this January to start september @the East Jefferson location. Congrats on your acceptance!

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curiousKayPee:

No problem! I know y'all probably have a lot of questions. It's definitely mostly day. Class usually starts at 8 or 9 depending on the teacher. We usually get out by early afternoon. But to be honest, our schedule changes all the time. We had a lot of free time with the first 2 classes (pharm and fundamentals), as in 4 or 5 day weekends, but with the adult health I class we're doing now, my weekends aren't really weekends since I spend all day studying and doing clinical paper work.

The clinical schedule changes with every class. Right now we have 2 groups who go on Th/F and have sat/sun weekends, and the other 2 groups go to clinicals sat/sun and have th/f weekends. If you're going to have a job, it would definitely have to be VERY flexible. We have only 1 or 2 people I know of who have jobs right now and seem to be doing fine. And we also have a ton of single moms who are making excellent grades and doing well in clinicals! It's just all about time management.

Dream2BeNP:

I don't have the notes. Unfortunately, mine are written. But to be honest, it really wouldn't do much good to use older classes' notes anyway. The book is Clinical Drug Therapy by Abrams. If you really want to study ahead, I would just go over your anatomy and patho really well. And the sympathetic nervous system, different types of receptors, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, just the basic things you need to know to understand how drugs work. But you really will be fine if you wait to study when you start the program.

And curiousKayPee, you have no idea how badly we all want May to be here! Classes just got more difficult and time-consuming the past couple of weeks.

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Whodat1986: I'm so glad to hear about all the successful people who have other things outside of class and are surviving, my stomach eased a little when I read that!

You are so close to finishing one more semester left, I'm so jealous, can't wait to be there almost finished.

I know your schedule is becoming very tight, but if you have any down time or it cross your mind, please send some updates on how things are going!

Thanks again!!!

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Hey,

Does anyone know what books are going to be used for the first semester classes with their respective editions? Thanks a lot in advance for your help. :)

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The book noted above is correct. I was in the class with her. The class is not "easy". There is a ton of reading. I was in the same class in east Met and got a 79.6 so will be heading back to NOLA in January to retake.

The book is Clinical Drug Therapy - rationales for Nursing Practice Ninth Edition. You should be able to buy your books online at Chimes Bookstore - based out of Baton Rouge. They shipped the books literatally within a few days. There is a CD in the book and a scratch off password that are needed if you want some extra help with problems etc

Unless you really understand drugs already, go with her recommendation. I got A's in Anatomy and Physiology, and ended up behind the gun. Anatomy was all memorization. With Pharm, there isnt the amount of memorization except what are the effects of the difference drug classifications. You have to know and understand the classifications of drugs, the primary drugs of each classification and the indicators, contra-indicators, the effects, and side effects and the antidotes for over doeses or toxicity etc.

The class is not taught in a direct chapter order. I do have copies of the old class notes. The class notes are either word or Power Point presentations. Send me an email at my scn name at the yahoo. if you would like copies. The personal notes are not on the slides. Typically I would print them at 3 slides per page in the notes fashion. That way you can add your class notes directly on the page with the notes and save 2/3 of the paper.

There are several things discussed in class that are not clear in the book. Additionally there is also a book for drug calculations. The medical dictionary isnt necessary if you have an internet phone or I phone with a medical app on it. Several in class had it and it gave you really good results and mobile so they could pull them up in class real quickly. The dictionary was good for me only if there was a term that I didnt understand.

Medical dosage is 5-15% of each of the three tests. In Fundamental I you have to get a 100% on the dosage calculations to progress. I believe you get three attempts. That was the only part I aced.

Are any of you guys moving to NOLA from out of town. I think Im the oldest in the class. 45 and still active. Have a BSIE and currently interviewing for a few plant manager positions. Have been doing that the past 6-8 years

Another note. There are a few areas/chapters of the book that arent covered if at all in the class. After 6-8 hours of Cardio, the chapter on Lipids and some of the viral issues were covered extremely quickly and briefly. The chapter on lipids wasnt covered at all but with a few issues the following day. There are only three tests. They are not really cummulative but you need to understand the concepts in ANS and the early chapters to get through CNS, GI etc. Based on the class timing, the 3rd test has the least amount of time between chapters.

Prior to coming back to class, I will reading each chapter and doing the questions at the end of each chapter. The only questions in the book with answers are the Knowledge Application question internal to each chapter.

Answer to the NCLEX questions have answers and rational on the CD that comes with the book. I dont know where the answers are for the Short Answer Exercises at the end of each question, but most you can find in the chapter.

The last think is NOTE CARDS. Start them now! I didnt do the note cards until too late. Even though you may not thick you need them, they help you retain the information by righting it the 2nd or 3rd time. Most people had their personal note cards and also a spread sheet of the drugs. We also had a guy who had been in Medical school and he truely understood the processes by which the drugs worked. Albert was a great help.

PS you would also set up a study group ASAP. You all probably have and orientation next month and then we start with what I call Nursing 101. Not sure if I will sit through that again since I passed that one, but that would be a good place to dicide who will be in your study group.

Again if you want to get copies of the notes/presentations, please send me an email - same scn name at the yahoo.

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