alumni/student from sac city??

kdun12 · Nov 5, 2011

HI!! I know this post is older, but I just wanted to know if you went through their program? I just got accpeted for Spring 12 (YEAH)!! Just wondering if you can give me a heads up on how the program is ran? I would love any little tid bits I can get!! Thank you!

Columnist · Nov 5, 2011

Moved to CA Nursing Programs Discussion forum for increased response.

09nurse · Nov 9, 2011

Sorry it took me a few days to respond. First let me say CONGRATULATIONS on being accepted into Sutter's nursing program! You should be very proud of that, as they have high acceptance criteria and high expectations. I graduated from there May 2010 and passed NCLEX in June of 2010. It is a highly esteemed, exceptional quality program. I received an excellent education with Sutter and you will too as long as you apply yourself 100% from the get-go. :)

It is an intense program but honestly in speaking with other nursing students what nursing program isn't? Yes, it is accelerated, however the content isn't crammed or skipped, it just does not have the same long time-consuming breaks in between semesters that traditional schools have. I graduated with honors ( I just saw that on my transcripts when I got an unofficial transcript from SCC online last month-I was jazzed!) I am married with 4 children, I had a high-schooler, junior-highers, and elementary kids while in the program and it is VERY do-able. I did not work during nursing school, although a handful of fellow students did, they usually worked PT or less than PT during weekends in between clinicals. One piece of advice I now give nursing students or students doing their pre-reqs is work at a hospital while in school if you are able to. Try to get a job as a unit secretary, orderly, CNA (if you can-that is more difficult unless you have experience.) If you absolutely cannot work while in school because you cannot find a job or don't feel that you will be able to juggle both then get on with a hospital as a volunteer for a few hours each week.

This is very important, as nursing jobs are now few and far between. It is extremely difficult these days to get hired as a new nurse because hospitals have more than enough applicants with experience, either nurses re-entering the field due to spouses not having work or even nurses not retiring like they were planning to. Please consider taking my advice here, we were told we would probably not have any trouble getting hired because we were "Sutter-trained" ....not true (I submitted well over a hundred applications last summer in acute hospitals and got only one interview.) There is still some students from my class who are not working as nurses. I am working in long-term care in case management. I am very thankful to have my job, however it is not what I went to school for so many years for, and I don't even make enough to start paying on my student loans

I am so not trying to be a downer, I just wish I had known and had done things differently! The first nurses in my class who were hired had jobs throughout school as an orderly, monitor tech, CNA, and unit secretary. Two girls got their dream jobs by working in LTC full time as an RN, then volunteering for months at the hospital, so try to get in as a volunteer BEFORE you even graduate, while you are in school.

You will do well! Just kiss your family and friends good-bye for 18 months and put your head down and work hard and study hard. I'm teasing about the kiss goodbye lol just forewarn everyone around you that you can't plan the big family dinners or go out with the girls like you used to! Remember, this is for a short time in your life and you CAN do it! Go ahead and email me with any questions or if you need a cheerleader at any time. [email protected]

Best Wishes, Congratulations!

Carrie