ABSN Program

Like traditional nursing programs, ABSN programs vary their preparation for their graduates for their first nursing job. My program, in my opinion, prepared me very well for my nursing career. Also, you get back what you put into it. If you are very proactive in clinicals, looking for the next learning opportunity, it will help you when you get your first job.

Advice:

• Sit in the front of the class
• Be prepared for each lecture class
• If you are assigned term papers, complete them early in the semester while you are slow, instead of waiting until near the due date. You will get busy with clinicals and exams, so you will have little time to do a quality term paper.
• get a large calendar or dry erase board to put all of your assignments, exam dates, clinicals, term paper due dates. Organization is the key in an ABSN program.

No regrets in my ABSN program (2nd degree). I did feel like my program "taught to the test" (ie 99% NCLEX success rate). I did not find my clinical hours to be terribly useful, and generally very stressful with absurd "nursing care plans". But, after graduation, many hospitals have new grad orientation programs that help teach you to be a bedside nurse.

I finished my ABSN a year ago, zero regrets here. I went to a public university so in terms of ABSN programs it was very affordable, over in 12 months, and smooth transition into working as a new grad nurse. It did take me longer than I expected to get a job but that’s more down to my lack of networking than a reflection on my schooling.

I graduated from an ABSN program. I felt like it prepared me well - both in terms of passing the NCLEX, and in terms of being able to jump into the role of new grad RN. I had several more senior RNs and my manager all comment that my assessment and clinical judgement skills were stronger than were they anticipated me to have as a new graduate.

Advice -- become and stay organized, also don't forget to make time for the friends, family, and hobbies that sustain you - you may not have as much time for them, but making time is important for your well-being and for sustaining positive relationships!

On 7/23/2019 at 8:48 AM, Quota said:

I finished my ABSN a year ago, zero regrets here. I went to a public university so in terms of ABSN programs it was very affordable, over in 12 months, and smooth transition into working as a new grad nurse. It did take me longer than I expected to get a job but that’s more down to my lack of networking than a reflection on my schooling.

Did you enter the program as an RN ?

2 hours ago, Jazzi_CNA said:

Did you enter the program as an RN ?

No. ABSN programs are all second degree programs for people without any nursing certification prior.

I felt like it taught me the basic background information and skills that I needed. And I did pass the nclex on the first try. However I feel like the nclex is very different than actual nursing practice (especially if you decide to go into a specialty). I agree with the comment that you get what you give, because I've seen people in the same nursing class do very differently in clinical practice!

"absurd care plans" are everywhere, not just in an ABSN program. ?