Accelerated Nursing

bitter_betsy, BSN · Feb 9, 2020

Excuse my ignorance - can you explain more about the program? What is your education level and experience prior to starting the program? Also - how is the program laid out - 15 months straight, do you have clinicals, time parameters, any breaks? I'm not familiar with Masters Direct Entry. I am in an ABSN program though - so I just want to understand to be able to compare for you.

Gmilitar · Feb 9, 2020

11 minutes ago, bitter_betsy said:
Excuse my ignorance - can you explain more about the program? What is your education level and experience prior to starting the program? Also - how is the program laid out - 15 months straight, do you have clinicals, time parameters, any breaks? I'm not familiar with Masters Direct Entry. I am in an ABSN program though - so I just want to understand to be able to compare for you.

The Masters Direct Entry (MDE) program is basically the same as the ABSN, except that you graduate with a masters degree (MS degree in nursing). Just like the ABSN, it is for students who already have a bachelors in another field thats not nursing, and clinical experience is not required (although it is recommended). After graduation, you are permitted to take the NCLEX and get your RN license; from there, you’ll be an RN generalist just like anyone with a BSN or ADN, except you’ll have an MS in Nursing. The benefit of having an MS in nursing over BSN and ADN is that youre allowed to teach and it might make you more competitive in gaining a higher position later on in your career.

Aside from that, I think that it’s accurate to assume that the rigors of this fast paced program is similar to that of an ABSN program.

I graduated with a degree similar to bio with a concentration on premedical courses. But, you don’t necessarily have to be a science major to get into this program. You just need to finish the nursing pre-req.

Gmilitar · Feb 9, 2020

24 minutes ago, bitter_betsy said:
Excuse my ignorance - can you explain more about the program? What is your education level and experience prior to starting the program? Also - how is the program laid out - 15 months straight, do you have clinicals, time parameters, any breaks? I'm not familiar with Masters Direct Entry. I am in an ABSN program though - so I just want to understand to be able to compare for you.

It’s broken down to 4 terms. Approximtely, Summer 1 (16crdts), Fall (20 crdts), Spring (20 crdts), Summer 2 (15 crts). Total of about 71 crdts. I believe we have about 2.5 months of vacation. So, in reality, the whole program is about 12.5 months short. The clinicals also run throughout the whole program. With some terms having more clinical requirements than the others. From what I hear, classes and clinical alternate from mon-fri. Mostly 3 days designated for classes and 2 days for clinicals. Classes are generally from 8-5. Some days are shorter and others are longer.

bitter_betsy, BSN · Feb 9, 2020

I'm in a 16 month ABSN program at a Medical University. I've gotten approximately 40 days off since I started the program total (not including weekends). They warned us not to work. Some people have. I have managed to work 1 day a week most weeks - sometimes that is too much. My grades are ok (above 85% - but 75% is failing) but if I didn't work that 1 day - it would be better. We have had over 800 clinical hours as part of our program. I'm sitting here now drowning because I worked overnight, slept until 2, I have a 6 page document of pre-work to complete for lab by noon tomorrow - except I have a 12 hour clinical rotation that I have to leave for at 4:30am... and if I don't turn the pre-work in on time - I have to pay a $250 penalty and reschedule at the instructors convenience and incur a professional and/or academic warning. 2 of those in a semester and they can boot me from the program.

Honestly - I cannot imagine throwing another year or 2 whatever it takes for the BSN-MSN into this program coming from a non-nurse background into the same amount of time. Maybe our program is different than others. We have no life. That whole - for every hour you are in class - plan to spend 3 outside of class??? Its more like 5-7 hours per hour outside class for us. You are expected to read what they assign and are tested on it - even if it isn't covered in class. Just yesterday I completed a policy paper that was only 3 pages long but took me over 20 hours to write just because of meeting the instructions and rubric guidelines. If the paper could have been 5 pages long, it would have taken me 5 hours. The material just didn't fit in 3 pages and figuring out how to make it fit took way too much time. FYI - policy is a 2 hour course.

Maybe my program isn't the best to compare to because I have read other people in 12 month ABSN that hold down full time jobs. See if your program has mixers or any way to hook up with upper class students - they will be your best source of information. Also check to see if there is a cohort facebook page. I can tell you that my program is hard - its cheaper to not work than to repeat a course.

I wish you the best of luck. Rest now while you can!!

bitter_betsy, BSN · Feb 9, 2020

22 minutes ago, Gmilitar said:
It’s broken down to 4 terms. Approximtely, Summer 1 (16crdts), Fall (20 crdts), Spring (20 crdts), Summer 2 (15 crts). Total of about 71 crdts. I believe we have about 2.5 months of vacation. So, in reality, the whole program is about 12.5 months short. The clinicals also run throughout the whole program. With some terms having more clinical requirements than the others. From what I hear, classes and clinical alternate from mon-fri. Mostly 3 days designated for classes and 2 days for clinicals. Classes are generally from 8-5. Some days are shorter and others are longer.

I hope all your clinicals are during the day. I only have 12 hours this semester but I have to switch from day classes to night clinicals - puts a whole new meaning into tired.

You need a good planner. I use a month layout and a week layout (I actually make them myself). The weekly lists EVERYTHING I have to do (except reading assignments) and all my courses are color coded. My monthly layout uses color coded dots - so if there is a purple dot - I know I have a policy assignment due that day and I go to that "week" layout and can see the assignment. So when I'm trying to schedule my life (groceries and showers) I know when I can actually do that. For the most part my monthly is a series of dots with life appointments thrown in (and no dots for normal courses because that gets confusing). Clinicals and appointments get written out so I know that its something to show up for (besides class). Each week is labeled 1-16 and then I have tabs I can flip to for quick access. I also use iStudies to keep track of all my assignments. I create a course for clinicals separate from my course work and another separate course just for the reading assignments (because all that gets messy quickly). My planner is an event in itself but it keeps me sane. I have 8 assignments due within 36 hours of midnight tonight and without my calendar I would have no idea what is going on. iStudies links to my ical and so does my course calendar. So I have a paper copy and an electronic copy no matter where I am.

Going by the number of hours in your program - I certainly would not work. The most I did was 19. We had 17 hours mandatory and then they threw in the stupid classes that we didn't get credit for and had to spend a considerable amount of time on. If those summer semesters are short (our summer was short by 2 weeks) then your program will be similar to mine (just guessing). Organization will be your best friend.

I use the Happy Planners because I can make the pages and add stuff in and take it out easily. A binder option would also work (making one isn't as hard as it sounds. I keep mine small so it goes everywhere with me. I tried a larger one and it didn't work. It may seem dumb - start looking now. Hold things, carry them. Determine what size person you are. Make blocks on a page and try to write stuff in them.... how much space do you need?

I am a digital person. I spent years as a programmer. HOWEVER - I cannot live without a paper planner. Its something about being able to see all your assignments at a glance. Flip back and forth. Color changes - font changes. It took me a minute to figure it out.

Sorry for the books..... lol.

Gmilitar · Feb 9, 2020

11 minutes ago, bitter_betsy said:
I'm in a 16 month ABSN program at a Medical University. I've gotten approximately 40 days off since I started the program total (not including weekends). They warned us not to work. Some people have. I have managed to work 1 day a week most weeks - sometimes that is too much. My grades are ok (above 85% - but 75% is failing) but if I didn't work that 1 day - it would be better. We have had over 800 clinical hours as part of our program. I'm sitting here now drowning because I worked overnight, slept until 2, I have a 6 page document of pre-work to complete for lab by noon tomorrow - except I have a 12 hour clinical rotation that I have to leave for at 4:30am... and if I don't turn the pre-work in on time - I have to pay a $250 penalty and reschedule at the instructors convenience and incur a professional and/or academic warning. 2 of those in a semester and they can boot me from the program.
Honestly - I cannot imagine throwing another year or 2 whatever it takes for the BSN-MSN into this program coming from a non-nurse background into the same amount of time. Maybe our program is different than others. We have no life. That whole - for every hour you are in class - plan to spend 3 outside of class??? Its more like 5-7 hours per hour outside class for us. You are expected to read what they assign and are tested on it - even if it isn't covered in class. Just yesterday I completed a policy paper that was only 3 pages long but took me over 20 hours to write just because of meeting the instructions and rubric guidelines. If the paper could have been 5 pages long, it would have taken me 5 hours. The material just didn't fit in 3 pages and figuring out how to make it fit took way too much time. FYI - policy is a 2 hour course.
Maybe my program isn't the best to compare to because I have read other people in 12 month ABSN that hold down full time jobs. See if your program has mixers or any way to hook up with upper class students - they will be your best source of information. Also check to see if there is a cohort facebook page. I can tell you that my program is hard - its cheaper to not work than to repeat a course.
I wish you the best of luck. Rest now while you can!!

that seems like a lot. there’s a visiting day coming up soon for my school. i’m hoping to connect with some of the current and former students from the program. my closest experience that i can compare this to is my experience in med school. i’ve attended medschool for about a month and my schedule was pretty much waking up at 6am to prep and study. class 8-12. eat and nap until 1, study 1-5, class 5-8, then study until 10pm sometimes til midnight. during the weekend, there are no classes, i have to study at least 8-10hrs on sat and 8-10 hrs on sunday to catch up.

bitter_betsy, BSN · Feb 9, 2020

Yup - thats about my schedule. Sleep is sometimes a series of 20 min naps.

Gmilitar · Feb 9, 2020

8 minutes ago, bitter_betsy said:
I hope all your clinicals are during the day. I only have 12 hours this semester but I have to switch from day classes to night clinicals - puts a whole new meaning into tired.
You need a good planner. I use a month layout and a week layout (I actually make them myself). The weekly lists EVERYTHING I have to do (except reading assignments) and all my courses are color coded. My monthly layout uses color coded dots - so if there is a purple dot - I know I have a policy assignment due that day and I go to that "week" layout and can see the assignment. So when I'm trying to schedule my life (groceries and showers) I know when I can actually do that. For the most part my monthly is a series of dots with life appointments thrown in (and no dots for normal courses because that gets confusing). Clinicals and appointments get written out so I know that its something to show up for (besides class). Each week is labeled 1-16 and then I have tabs I can flip to for quick access. I also use iStudies to keep track of all my assignments. I create a course for clinicals separate from my course work and another separate course just for the reading assignments (because all that gets messy quickly). My planner is an event in itself but it keeps me sane. I have 8 assignments due within 36 hours of midnight tonight and without my calendar I would have no idea what is going on. iStudies links to my ical and so does my course calendar. So I have a paper copy and an electronic copy no matter where I am.
Going by the number of hours in your program - I certainly would not work. The most I did was 19. We had 17 hours mandatory and then they threw in the stupid classes that we didn't get credit for and had to spend a considerable amount of time on. If those summer semesters are short (our summer was short by 2 weeks) then your program will be similar to mine (just guessing). Organization will be your best friend.
I use the Happy Planners because I can make the pages and add stuff in and take it out easily. A binder option would also work (making one isn't as hard as it sounds. I keep mine small so it goes everywhere with me. I tried a larger one and it didn't work. It may seem dumb - start looking now. Hold things, carry them. Determine what size person you are. Make blocks on a page and try to write stuff in them.... how much space do you need?
I am a digital person. I spent years as a programmer. HOWEVER - I cannot live without a paper planner. Its something about being able to see all your assignments at a glance. Flip back and forth. Color changes - font changes. It took me a minute to figure it out.
Sorry for the books..... lol.

being more organized is certainly something that i need to work on. lol i plan on using my ipad for everything. this way everything is more accessible. my only reason of wanting to keep this job is that it’s really easy. my patient literally sleeps the whole day lol. if i counted the total number of hrs that i actually spend working in a day, it would be no more than 3 hrs.

but then again i’ve heard of ppl working while in this program. in medschool, i never did. lol just wasn’t possible.

bitter_betsy, BSN · Feb 10, 2020

I use my iPad and iMac for everything. I have an icloud account and everything syncs - if I forget a device - another device can still get to it. EVERYTHING gets saved there if it has ANYTHING to do with school. Even my immunizations. You never know when you have to provide proof.

I still have a paper planner. My ical is filled with stuff - but my paper planner tells me what I need to know fastest.