Stony Brook Accelerated BSN Class of 2014

Emer1234 · Apr 9, 2013

I'm just curious. Have any physician assistants completed the bachelors of nursing at stony brook? Sounds crazy.

Does Sound a little crazy o_O lol I don't see why someone would do both unless they are just unsure of what they really want to do at the time they start. If this happens to be you (not saying it is) then I suggest you simply do a little more research and decide which you think is your best fit. Keep in mind that as a Nurse Practitioner your scope of practice is pretty similar to that of a PA, so you can go down the Nursing route and subsequently pursue a degree as an NP and practice in a similar fashion as a PA would.

lb88 · Apr 9, 2013

I have a quick question for those currently in the program or those that have completed ABSN. I ran into a pre-req professor earlier today and told him I have been accepted and am going to SBU. He obviously told me it was a great choice and great school but said they are famous for "weeding out" their students. I was just wondering if you find this to be true for the nursing program or just other classes such as pre-reqs for nursing, pre-med etc. Did many people drop out of the program? I'm not going to lie- he freaked me out a little! I'm a good student but hate the idea of a school that tries to make things harder for their students.

Emer1234 · Apr 10, 2013

lb88, what your professor told you is absolutelly untrue. One thing is the intensity of the program and the hard work you're going to have to put in order to succedd, and another thing is that they purposely want you to fail. It is beyond my understanding why your professor thinks any program would try to purposely set a student up for failure, when that would just ruin the reputation of the program, and possibly cause them to lose funding (don't forget it is a State University). Last year SBU ranked 2nd in NCLEX passing rates in NY, only behind Columbia University. It is a lot of work, but they definitely know what they're doing.

That being said, 63 other people started with me in 2012, and so far only 2 people will not finish with us. The year before I am not sure the exact numbers, but from what I can remember 1 person had to decelerate due to military responsibilities, another person had to put the program on hold due to health issues, both were guaranteed a spot back this year. There was another girl from last year that was with us in the Fall, but I stopped seing her so I don't know what her status really is. That is really it as far as I know.

Again, it is hard work, but you applied to the program knowing that's exactly what it would be so it should be expected. Do not be scared, just be prepared.

lb88 · Apr 10, 2013

Emer, thank you so much for the super detailed response! That is kind of what I figured but hearing it from a professor was a bit unsettling as you can imagine. I've never heard a bad thing about Stony Brook so who knows what this guy was talking about!

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2013

Emer, thank you so much for the super detailed response! That is kind of what I figured but hearing it from a professor was a bit unsettling as you can imagine. I've never heard a bad thing about Stony Brook so who knows what this guy was talking about!

The professor is just jealous because he did not get into the program LOL

I can speak to the class of 2012 stats, started out with 64 in the ABSN and graduated 58 (there were about 180 grads total because the ceremony also includes the 2-year BSN and the RN-BSN program). Out of the 6 that did not finish with us, 5 decelerated to the class of 2013 for different reasons and one voluntarily dropped out after the summer session, deciding that nursing was not for her even though she did well. 4 out of the 5 that decelerated will be graduating next month, the one that won't was removed from the program because they could not academically progress as expected.

As long as we are talking stats, out of the 58 that graduated, 52 so far have passed the NCLEX on the first try and are now licensed RN's. One person failed, not sure if they retook yet. The other 5 have yet to take the exam for various personal reasons. But as you can see, 52 out of 53 taking the exam is excellent!

If anything, Stony Brook HELPS you succeed rather than weed you out. If they did not, they would not offer the deceleration option from the ABSN to the 2-year, and you'd be out the door the first opportunity you failed a test. But as you can see, after a couple of opportunities to try to do better, they do ultimately decide not to keep you if you continue to fail. But that is rare, most people do graduate and "survive" the program.

I remember Emer1234 and some of his classmates had similar concerns one year ago and I am glad to see him write confidently about his experience now as they are ready to be done with this. You guys in the class of 2014 will get there too :) You just have to put in the work, seek help when you need it, and you will be just fine!

Someone asked me last night if I would do the ABSN all over again, and I emphatically stated OH HELL NO ... and it's true, I would not go through that madness again. But am I glad I did it? Absolutely! It was a whirlwind year intended to be a means to an end and that's exactly what I got. I did not want to spend 2 years doing what I could do in a year, and I don't feel I am less of a nurse now doing the program in a year. School mostly prepares you for the NCLEX, and (now I can say this), clinical experiences in nursing school only give you a window of what to expect as a nurse. You really start to learn nursing from the first day you are orienting at a hospital as a new grad RN, which for me was 12 weeks, and then the first day you're off orientation you're like OH ****, these patients are ALL MINE and I don't know what the hell I am doing yet!! That's when you realize how much nursing school did NOT teach you

But again, be honored you will be a Stony Brook nursing grad :) We have a great reputation out there!

lb88 · Apr 10, 2013

Paco, those stats are amazing! Thank you for the deatiled response! You guys are great at lessening my anxieties. It's also great to hear how much you know about your classmates--after surviving that hellish year together i can imagine that everyone became pretty close!

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2013

Paco, those stats are amazing! Thank you for the deatiled response! You guys are great at lessening my anxieties. It's also great to hear how much you know about your classmates--after surviving that hellish year together i can imagine that everyone became pretty close!

Yes, my class was pretty tight and we got to know each other pretty well (of course, there are exceptions always -- there are some classmates that I will be lifelong friends with while others I am overjoyed to never see again). The experience bonds you to each other, and even though you will always have those that only look out for themselves, for the most part you will find a collaborative and supportive group of students in your class. I believe the entering class is now 80 students, up from 64, but that is only what I have heard in passing, not sure. But for the most part, if you got in, you have what it takes to graduate (and ultimately pass NCLEX).

Emer1234 · Apr 15, 2013

80 is correct, confirmed by the director. The program keeps growing, they must be doing something right!! :sarcastic:

spiritedkidd · Apr 15, 2013

@lb88 : CLASS OF 2014, WOOT! even though i have yet to start the program, i really dont think what the professor is saying makes any sort of sense. stony has a great great reputation, particularly when it comes to the success of the ABSN students. when i tell people i got into stony's 1-yr nursing program, all the responses are like "wow thats amazing! youre so smart!" and stuff like that, cus everyone knows how competitive, yet successful, stony's ABSN program is. maybe what the professor was trying to say, but used bad wording for, was that the teachers and staff prepare you for how real-life nursing will be, which is the impression i got when i went to the nursing open-house orientation and one of the 2-yr nursing students spoke about the nursing staff/program.

but as always, with anything that comes with a reward, hard work is a must. i think you'll be fine!! so let them nay-sayers and haters say what they want, 'cause im sure you'll be a part of that %-of-1st-timers-passing-NCLEX-on-1st-try stat :) :up:

lb88 · Apr 17, 2013

@ spiritedkidd -- Thanks! I hope the rest of our class is as supportive of eachother as you are!

Derekc2077 · Apr 19, 2013

Hey Everyone! Congrats on getting into this program! It's going to be an awesome year! My name is Derek Cope and I am a senior at Stony Brook also entering this program this summer! Some of us have made a facebook group and we would love for all of you to join it. Feel free to friend me on facebook or click on the link to join the group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/345787702196479/

Has everyone found where they are living at yet?

HopefulSRNA1234 · Apr 19, 2013

Welcome Derek! We finally have a male in the group! :) We also started a fb page so I think we have duplicate groups. I just sent a request to yours