General Ethics Course online, or in class in NJ?

jocy_anne · Mar 26, 2012

Hi there! I live in Cherry Hill, which is pretty far from you in Cape May, but Camden County College is offering an Intro to Ethics AND a Biomedical Ethics course online this summer. You should see if Drexel would accept the Biomedical Ethics course, since that seems to fit the field. Good luck and let me know if you need more info!

Kelsea1214, RN · Mar 26, 2012

Thank you for your help, I'll look into it! Are you attending a nursing program, or are you in the application process?

jocy_anne · Mar 26, 2012

I'm sort of in between the two...I've already applied to Jefferson's Accelerated Pathway to the MSN program and am now finishing up my prereqs. I started them last summer, and just have to finish up Gen Chem II (taking it right now) and Microbiology (registered for summer). It took me a long time to hear back from Jefferson, but I finally have an interview scheduled for Thursday (eek!). I'll start the nursing program in September if I'm accepted. When are you looking to start at Drexel?

Kelsea1214, RN · Mar 28, 2012

Congratulations on your interview invite to Jefferson, and Good Luck! That's really an accomplishment. I hope to be in your shoes a year or so from now!

I was originally planning on applying to the accelerated BSN-MSN there, but I've decided to stick to BSN programs only. I plan to one day go back for an advanced degree. I'd like to start a program in 2013; I'm eager to get back to school. I graduated from Univ of Delaware in May 2009 with a BS in Dietetics. Luckily, all of the science pre-reqs were completed in my undergrad. Good luck with your final courses!

Also, I did find an Intro to Ethics course in my county :) I'm debating whether or not to take the DSST Ethics in America, or just register for the Intro course. Someone replied to my post who applied with that exam, and Drexel accepted it :/

jocy_anne · Mar 28, 2012

Thank you!!! It's so great you have all your sciences done! Is Ethics the only one you have to take before applying to the Drexel program? Have you ever taken an Ethics course before? If so, then it might be worth it to try the exam and see if you can test out of the subject (I assume the DSST is similar to a CLEP exam, where if you pass you don't have to take the test. Is that right?). If you haven't taken an Ethics course before, then it might be worth it to take the Intro course. Have you already sent in your application? I think Drexel accepts students into their ACE program 2-3 times a year, so if you've met most of the requirements already, maybe you can get into the class that starts in Spring 2013. That might seem really far away, but it's actually less than a year away now! I remember when I started applying to places in March 2011 that starting in Fall 2012 seemed a million years away...and I'm amazed at how quickly the last year passed! Just keep plugging along with all the deadlines and requirements, and you will be starting nursing school before you know it! :)

Kelsea1214, RN · Mar 30, 2012

Thanks for your encouraging words! I just posted to you on the Jefferson thread. Congrats! Its nice to chat with someone while they are going through the interview/ACCEPTANCE! process. It cemented in my mind that I will be accepted, I just have to keep going!

I have not taken ethics. I think I may register for the intro course. I am taking the CLEP for developmental psych, and it is A LOT of information. I might focus on that now, and take the ethics in the fall. The only course I am missing is the comp sci/comm/pub speaking prereq. That one is frustrating me because I obviously understand how to operate a computer, and I have made multiple presentations throughout college. Im also managing a restaurant, I have to hold my composure all of the time! DSST offers and intro to computing exam as well as a public speaking exam. I will do one of the two, just have to double check with Drexel. I completed all of my sciences during my undergrad, my BS is in Dietetics.

I am eager to apply. I am concerned about medical experience. I have shadowed health care practitioners (MDs & PAs). I plan to shadow RNs & NPs. I also have my CNA license, and have volunteered a bit. I was originally interested in a career as a physician assistant (PA), but found out that it isnt for me for various reasons. Do you think there is a certain type/amount of experience they look for in accel. bsn candidates?

Anyway, Im headed towards "going on a rant" territory so I want to stop myself, haha. If you have any advice on what sets an accelerated BSN candidate apart from the herd, I'm all ears. You're an expert now, congrats again!

jocy_anne · Apr 1, 2012

Haha, I just responded to your post on the Jefferson thread! Thank you so much!

I think it would be good to take the intro ethics course. I've never taken one either, but I think it should be an interesting class. Then again, I was a philosophy minor in college, haha. I took public speaking in college, too, and had fun with that class. But if you have the option to take a DSST exam on computing, I bet that would be a breeze! Oh, and good luck with the CLEP test you have to take! That one sounds pretty intimidating.

As I touched on in the other post on the Jefferson thread, I don't think medical experience is everything for these ABSN programs. If you shadow people and have your CNA license, that's way more than I had! I don't have any medical experience, and Jefferson still accepted me. I think it is important for you to do well in your prereqs, though. Other than that, I think they just want to see that you are someone who is going into this field for a good reason. You need to show them how much you want this and why you want it so badly, especially during an interview (if Drexel does interviews?). I don't think you will have any problems getting into a program next year!

Let me know if you ever have any questions on anything else! :)

Kelsea1214, RN · Apr 1, 2012

Thanks so much for your advice. Its wonderful that we have these websites to connect with our peers, and share our support. I'll keep you posted on my status, maybe I'll see you in Philly next Spring or Summer! Don't hesitate to share your experience starting your program (If you have time, I know you will be busy!). I'm sure I will have more questions, too :).