OHSU's Accelerated BSN program 2012

U.S.A. Oregon

Published

Hi! I live in Portland, OR and want to apply for OHSU's accelerated bachelor's program for nursing, but there isn't a lot of information out there on it. I've browsed their website, but it doesn't answer all the questions I have. I would love to know exactly what they judge you on in order to get in. I know your GPA and essays are extremely important, but do they care if you have had work history, or your CNA license or not? I don't have any experience, but have a 4.0 so far in my pre-reqs, and a 3.6 in my previous bachelor's degree (in a social work field). Anyway, I want to apply for the program to enter it in the summer of 2012, so I can finish up my pre-req's and what not. I am just wondering what else I need to do, because I really want in. Also, how much does it cost, and being accelerated, is it 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, or what? I have two kids I'm going to need to find childcare for while I'm in school, so I just want to know what I'm in for. anyway, if you can help me answer any of these questions, I would so greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

Previous BA in 100% non-science related subject. Entire undergrad career mainly remarkable in that it didn't completely kill my GPA. 1 year graduate work in another liberal art, did better there. Was terribly nervous when started taking prereqs, since hadn't taken science courses in 15 years, since freshman year of college.

GPA 3.84 overall, 4.0 in prerequisites. Got CNA license 3 years ago. Finished all prerequisites 2 years ago, began working as a caregiver. Then worked as med aide starting 6 months after that. Letter of recommendation from work supervisor. Wrote essay about my role in one resident's care, how it affected me emotionally, and my future career goals.

Previous BA in 100% non-science related subject. Entire undergrad career mainly remarkable in that it didn't completely kill my GPA. 1 year graduate work in another liberal art, did better there. Was terribly nervous when started taking prereqs, since hadn't taken science courses in 15 years, since freshman year of college.

GPA 3.84 overall, 4.0 in prerequisites. Got CNA license 3 years ago. Finished all prerequisites 2 years ago, began working as a caregiver. Then worked as med aide starting 6 months after that. Letter of recommendation from work supervisor. Wrote essay about my role in one resident's care, how it affected me emotionally, and my future career goals.

Wow, that's quite a long haul. Good luck with OHSU.

Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

Thank you, kamaboko! It's not over yet. I will truly relax upon getting my first nursing job. I mean, the work won't be relaxing at ALL, but my worries about my future will ~ release~ (unless I get a job in a license-endangering hellhole, but am going to try to do my research about where I apply and avoid that one like the plague. Hopefully I'll succeed...)

And plus, then I'll be able to afford massages :p I'm sure drooling blissfully while someone rubs the tension out of my muscles will also decrease my stress levels!

Hi Jessica,

I, too, am hoping to get into the 2012 program! I have three children and would be commuting from the Gorge, but I am definitely up for the challenge. My previous degree is a Business degree. Nice to *meet* you and hopefully we will meet each other in summer of 2012! :)

Tria

Hi SaraBear, I was wondering if you knew anything about the waitinglist. I got put on it, and it's really kind of sketchy. They won't give me any indication what # I am on the list, or how many people are on the list!! Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

This just in...I was looking at OHSU's pdf about the whole hospital plus School of Nursing, (found on this page: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-nursing/about/index.cfm ) and, given that there were 246 BSN positions available last year, of which 83% received grants and scholarships, and given that this 83% received 1,883,409 in grants and scholarships, each grant/scholarship recipient received an average of over $9,000 in scholarships from 2009-2010.

It isn't clear if these scholarships are only the ones OHSU disburses, or if this figure represents ALL the scholarships the average student managed to obtain.

It's official! I just sent in my deposit for the OHSU Accelerated Bachelor's Program and will be packing up for Portland soon!

A few of the other schools I was considering had some kind of online forum on which accepted students could chat and connect with potential roommates--a tool that seemed really helpful! So far I've found a housing classifieds page for OHSU, but no real way to meet other students who will be attending. I would love to live with other students, so I wanted to reach out and see who else is planning to attend OHSU this year!

Are there other ABSN or ABSN/MSN students here who might want to exchange email/FB information before Orientation?

Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

Update on financial aid: although I was correct in quoting the amount of scholarship per average scholarship recipient, only some of that may come from OHSU. Financial aid folks told me today that the average award from School Of Nursing scholarships is more like $1,000-$3,000, with rare awards of up to $6,000 being given. So maybe the rest of the scholarship $$ reported is $$ each student got from other aid sources. Plus if a few people got a full ride, that would skew the average pretty quick.

(PS- Full ride scholarship would have to be cobbled together from many sources. Wouldn't come from OHSU!)

I'm not yet 100% committed but I'm 93% sure I want to go to OHSU, and if so would definitely participate in a Facebook page! Also, a suggestion: for those of us who use allnurses to vent, we may wish to maintain the anonymity of our allnurses screenname. So, I'd favor just making a facebook group (OSHU Acc Bac 2011-2012) that people can "like" and gain access to w/out compromising anonymity here.

Also, that way we can interact but won't be receiving each other's Farmville invites/potentially embarassing party pics.

How does that sound?

I actually created a FB page a few weeks ago, but I'm the only person in it, hah! I'm an ABM student (AccBacc->Nurse-Midwifery), so we found out in late Feb. But you're all more than welcome to come and join it. It's called OHSU AccBacc 2011, I think? Let's get on there and start making some plans, people. Orientation, after all, is 2 months from today. :dncgbby:

(Just for the record, I generally shy away from emoticons but I saw that dancing baby and I really couldn't stop staring.)

Juliahd! I'm moving from SF too, would you be free to chat over the phone?

SaraBear44, have you graduated yet? Final thoughts on OHSU? What about job prospects?

I love all your posts about OHSU and your positive attitude!

Specializes in emergency.

Thanks Strider :-)

Yep graduated (technically) 3 days ago and waiting for my NCLEX. I'm taking it 9/15. Several of my classmates got hired on their practicum units. This is definitely a possibility and something to consider when choosing practicum. Many others are on the job hunt now. PDX isn't necessarily in dire need of new grad nurses; there are plenty of them. However, I will say that us ABSN students seem to be very desirable because we are : second-career nurses with prior experience and we are at the top of our game professionally and academically.

I, personally, and moving back to where I'm from--east coast--with my husband and am kind of thankful I don't have to compete with all my classmates for the limited jobs around here...

Final thoughts on the program. Loved it and SOOOO ready to be a nurse. I feel very well prepared for an entry-level job! Our completion ceremony and final party were very good ways to culminate the end of a highly energetic, rigorous academic program.

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