USN ABSN July 2011

confuzhn · Jun 15, 2012

Hi Confuzhn!
I don't know if the website includes money needed for room and board and other personal expenses. If you have funds to live on, then of course your loan amounts wouldn't be as high. I just know that my loan totals for the 14 month program to date are right at 85K...
:-)
:)

I see. Ok. That makes the program even more expensive!!

NoBadDays · Jun 16, 2012

Hi all,

I'm flying out for the interview next Wednesday and I was REALLY excited about it until reading the previous comments!

I'm a little nervous about this program - it's not so much the workload because I can put in the hours! My main concern is that if I do have questions, is there help available? I know one person mentioned heading up to the main campus and asking for help there, but is there any other help available?

Additionally, some of you mentioned that the program goes so fast that you are unable to fully grasp the concepts and it's out of pure luck that you pass! Can you give me an idea of a typical week in the program? I went through an accelerated program for my 1st bachelor's and I was successful while working full time. Prior to reading these comments, I believed that if I do nothing but eat, sleep and breathe this program-I should be fine. I am absolutely dedicated to doing well in this program but some of the posts make it sound like its essentially impossible to learn anything in this program. I could be misinterpreting your postings so I do apologize! I'd really just like to get an idea of what I could be getting myself into!

Also-if I am accepted to the October '12 cohort, I'll need a roommate! :) Let me know if you are interested!

Thank you,

Ashley

Tex201 · Jun 17, 2012

Hi Ashley,

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but I feel that everyone deserves honest answers to their questions so they can make an educated decision. If I had received factual answers to my questions, I probably would have gone some place else. But we only found out how everything really worked after leaving our lives, signing apartment leases and taking out student loans and woke up in an environment that we never imagined existed.

We all have at least one degree before coming here and we were all prepared for the usual read, study hard and be a hermit for 14 months and we can do it! Just realize that you must be good at teaching yourself and taking exams. Even then, you will experience exams and questions that will leave you pulling your hair out even after studying 24/7. The stress is tremendous and no one ever feels like they are "safe" because they studied so much. (The administration keeps saying things are much better now and that there is always help available.......but then you won't realize you need help until after you get an 89% on an exam and fail.) This is not to scare you, but to let you know that it isn't your typical school, tests or stress levels.... it's just not.

Each Block is different in length. You will do 2-3 weeks of didactics. During that time you will have a mid-term and a final plus labs, (labs are on campus). Lab skills are practiced and "taped" and turned in to be reviewed and graded as well. If the lab skills are not passed, then you must do a "re-taping" of those skills, which will require another day on campus. Clinical rounds are scheduled after the final.

There is one remediation day for anyone who did not pass the mid-term &/or final. If a person does not pass either the mid-term or the final on remediation they are dropped from the program. They can then decide if they want to wait for the next cohort (behind them) to take that Block again with them or go to another school. If that person decides to try again with another cohort and they fail to pass another Block then they are out and can not come back.

The clinical rotations are usually 3 weeks but some are 2 or 4. These are 3 days a week for 12 hours/day. The days and hospitals change with each Block and so do the clinical instructors.

You are also required to do daily posting online on various topics in each Block. There will be some group projects as well...these vary from Block to Block. Every Block is different and has different challenges. Everyone settles into a study routine that works best for them and their learning styles.

Anything is possible, so just keep your chin up and go with your gut. We have 40% of our original cohort with us and we intend on finishing whatever it takes.

If you have any specific questions, post them.

Best wishes!!!

:nurse:

NoBadDays · Jun 17, 2012

Hi Tex201,

Thank you for your response! My main reason for applying to Roseman is because including prerequisites, I've been working towards this for the last 7 years. It took me 2.5 years to do prerequisite work and I've been on waiting lists for the last 3 years.

Your posting was very detailed and it gives me an in depth look as to what I should expect and honestly, it sounds EXTREMELY overwhelming! However, the benefit to me seems to be the trade off of getting in and out in 15 months. But, aLos if only 40% of the students in your cohort have survived to the point you are at-it might not make sense for me considering the financial commitment. I consider myself a reasonably smart person but I can't afford to become apart of the 60% who haven't made it through. This is a lot to think about!

I'm amazed that you'd only get 9 study days to get through pharmacology! I'm taking it right now in a 6 week course and that is intense. I guess I will have to give this more thought. I plan to attend the interview and will wait to see if I get accepted to decide. How long do they give you to accept their offer?

Thank you again for your honest response and best of luck in finishing your program!

-Ashley

Tex201 · Jun 18, 2012

Hey Ashley,

I understand working toward nursing and wanting to move onward and actually become a nurse! I was working 40+ hours in the corporate world (and hating it) while I was taking pre-reqs nites, week-ends and online. Then I found each school had different requirements just to apply. After spending over twelve hundred dollars in application and transcript fees, just to be told to re-apply next term, or get "no" after "no" I jumped at Roseman and 14 months to a BSN.

You will definitely be ahead of the game already having pharmacology! This will be a big "leg up" for most of the Blocks. I'm sure if you are determined to make it through, you will do it! You will certainly be accepted, no doubt! Knowledge is power, so just understanding what is ahead will be a big help. The group you are assigned to the for duration of your time at Roseman will be your greatest source of support and stress relief.... They will be your "family" while at Roseman, and probably for the rest of your life.

I received my acceptance within a week after interviewing, but then my interview was in early June, orientation was the third week of June and our cohort started July 10th. With that said, I think it's pretty quick. Let me know what you decide and if I can be of any help. You can always PM me too.

Best wishes,

:nurse: