CSU vs. Akron vs. Ursuline vs. Kent

[yochana8]

Hi there, I am trying to decide between CSU, Kent, Akron, and Ursuline for an accelerated BSN program. They all have such different prerequisites that I really need to have one school as my top choice in order to plan what courses I will take. I have a few specific questions I would be really grateful if current students/graduates answered:

1. How big are class sizes? Are professors caring/do they get to know their students?

2. Do you feel like your clinicals prepared/are preparing you well? Has your school given you good technical skills?

3. What sort of relationship does your school have with area hospitals? Do you have good job connections?

Thanks so much!!

[Roman1]

I believe all of these schools have very good ABSN programs. I personally can only speak for Ursuline's (that's where I graduated from)

1) classes are small, I would say approx 20-25. The instructors are awesome, they really do want to see you succeed and do get to know there students.

2) Yes I do feel clinicals prepared me very well. I also was very fortunate to have great clinical instructors who allowed us to have great hands on experience. In a lot of my clinicals the instructor would let the nurses know that the students would start all the IVs for patients that need it. I worked with trachs, vents, CVP monitoring,art lines, ng tubes, g tubes, chest tubes etc. I was the student who volunteered to do everything in clinical, and made the most of my time there.

3) Ursuline has contracts with all the area hospitals (CC and all their community hospitals,VA,UH, Metro, and I believe even Akron). It is a very we'll respected program.

As far as jobs the northeast ohio area like every other state has an over saturation of new grad nurses. It took me about 2 1/2 months to get my first job after passing NCLEX, but I wanted to start out in critical care or step down. I may have gotten a job sooner if I had not held out to get an ICU/ step down job.

Hope this info helps with your decision. Best of luck!

[IMAFoodi]

Hi! How well respected is the ABSN program at Ursuline College? Are they only known in the Northeast region of OH, specifically the Cleveland area? I am interested in knowing the program's credential prior to applying for it. I've heard the great things about the ABSN at Ursuline College, but why is it not ranked on USNews for "best nursing school?" Which hospitals are Ursuline affiliated with? I thought Ursuline has a magnet program where students are supported to find employment after graduation, or at least it was posted on the website? Do you also happen to know the NCLEX passing rates? Thanks!