Drexels ACE clinical locations and advice

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

Published

Hi, I was accepted to 's ACE program for the Spring 2009. I was wondering where their clinical placements are located. I'm debating moving (I live in Bryn Mawr right now, but was wondering if north of Philadelphia would be a better location). Currently, I live off of the 100 line (a trolly that goes to 69th street) and a few blocks from the R5 stops. Basically, I'm about 4 blocks from Bryn Mawr hospital.

Moving into the city isn't an option. Does anyone know of a list of the hospitals used, or the general locations (Montco, Delco, Bucks, NJ)? Also, when you have to go to Drexel 'the night before' for pt info, what time frame is that (8pm, 11pm?)

Also, how about 'getting ahead'. Now that I'm sure all my prerequisites are done, what should I study for the next 8 months till the program begins? Should I pick up a pharmacology book, or maybe try to learn some Spanish with my old textbooks.

I still feel like I have 10000 more posts till I can do the whole PM thing, but I'd like to hear from current students to see what they find the most challenging part of the program (hardest classes). What about administrative help for figuring out what you want to be when you grow up (or at least get the RN). I think I want hospice care, but I realize there are a lot of other options out there.

Thanks for the insight. Hopefully the application process won't be too painful. How was your year of med-surg? Did you get out of it what you'd hoped?

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i dont know what i had exactly 'hoped' for. i just thought it seemed a little weird to jump into something like icu and not even have the basics down. i like doing things gradually, i dont like just jumping into something scary and learning it that way. i have definitly learned to balance time, prioritize, etc.. i have friends who went RIGHT to the icu from ace and say they cant imagine having 6 patients at a time like i do, so i guess it will be hard for them to ever leave ICU ( which you will eventually you cant do that job for life)...so i personally am glad i did it. it gives you more time to learn the basics and reinforce them. For instance my floor has telemetry so ive got to learn and see a lot of different rhythms and can pick them out easily now. `An ICU friend spends so much time learning way more complicated things so she is not exactly a pro at tele...but HELLO! that could be the difference between a patient living and dying that is so simple to comprehend with enough practice. to each their own i guess...

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I graduated the drexel ACE program. The hospitals i was at were :

In NJ - marlton rehab, underwood hospital, virtua hospital in marlton

In PA- shriners hospital, Hosp of the Univ of Penn, hahnemann, nazareth hospital, watermark nursing home, 11th streethealth clinic,

Yes youll take tons of HESI - the final comprehensive one being very difficult. There were roughly 130 in my starting class ( MUCH less as a final number haha) and for lecture we were divided alphabetically into 3 sessions.

For the first quarter u are in class 4 days a week and 1 clinical

The other 3 quarters are class all day mon and tues and 3 out of the 4 next days are clinical days ( meaning yes you could have a saturday clinical..but then off a tues or wed etc )

Looking back yea it was a quick 11 months, but i would not do the program again. For the amount of debt i am in from the program, it has completely hindered my life moving forward. Drexel tells you how much nurses make in the city etc and they always add an extra 10,000 to the actual number. Im a first year grad with a salary of roughly 48-49,000 with a takehome base pay of about 38,000. I work now in Camden, on the other side of the bridge outside of philly, and my philly friends only make about a dollar more than me an hour so its now that big of a difference.

My hospital i work at is one of the only around who give a starting bonus to new grads 10,000 which i got and was glad to get. HOWEVER

if i had went to the nursing school that school offered i could have had FREE TUITION with only a 1 year contract to work after.

I definitly would have gone back for 2 years instead of just the 1 to not have this looming debt.

Just so everyone knows - b/c people always ask me this : I have standard student loans through sallie mae and some state ones and pay about $500 a month in loans for drexel. And thats $500 a month for 30 years. ( i try to pay more each month, b/c if i actually took 30 years, with interest etc ill have paid almost 100,000 for drexel.

MAY I REPEAT

$100,000 for 1 year at drexel! i laugh at how stupid i was to sign up for that now. Its a quick fix to getting done school yes, but any regard for your future and you will not go here. Its a horror year that you have to give up your life for. In a crappy falling apart building in center city, its just a miserable year. I passed no problem, but many many people didnt make it out alive :)

I only say this because i wish someone had told me before i decided i wanted to go there. I just want all to know both side of the story. Feel free to email me with any questions.

Hi,

Can you explain what you are talking about in regards to FREE Tuition and going back for 2 years...?

Thanks for all the advice!

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Hi,

Can you explain what you are talking about in regards to FREE Tuition and going back for 2 years...?

Thanks for all the advice!

Hey,

I am no financial expert and don't know your whole situation, but if you buy a house you could take a home equity loan out to pay off to get a fixed interest rate etc. Then just pay off the home equity loan over time as opposed to paying a school loan off for 30 years. Just food for thought..

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A home equity loan is based on you having 'equity' into the home... which either mains principle paid off or the value of the home suddenly increases. If you had money to pay off principle then just get student loan / it would be a huge gamble to assume you could buy a home and value would increase....just ask millions of home owners over their heads now.

I think a key aspect is to look at the cost of the education route you are choosing and the value of that route post-grad.

I was accepted to ACE BSN and chose not to attend - the cost : value ratio was way off and I'm very glad I made alternate plans to attend elsewhere. Even though I was a prior BS grad I chose to either attend a local ADN or BSN program due to cost, travel, life location, etc. For me it worked out great. Also now in school I'm much happier having 2 years to complete vs 11 months - I think it not only saves me money, but it will make me a better nurse and having a more sane process. That being said I'm sure some people will prefer the 11 month... for their own reasons. But timeline aside I couldn't justify the cost...and despite getting an RN title in 11 month the duration to gain personal freedom from loans will take much longer and I knew I didn't want to stay in PA.

best of luck.

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