Any advice for a newby starting AP BSN??

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I am super excited to get started with the fall 2014 AP BSN program! I have re read my acceptance letter several times... I know there have been other threads started for fall 2014 but seems like they aren't being followed anymore. So I was just curious if anyone currently in the program could offer some more student inside? How are you doing so far? What are clinicals like? Is there ever a break or does it just go nonstop? How rough is the coursework?? I know a lot of these questions will probably be answered at orientation, but I can't wait that long! I'm so nervous!!

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Boo I was really hoping to connect with others that had been accepted or could offer advice!! Well good luck to everyone anyway :)

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Congrats on getting accepted holly.lowry12 (and all the others too)!

I am in Cohort 8 and graduate in 24 days as of this posting (May 10th). I can't believe I'm here and truly in awe of all the hard work that I've done, not to mention all the others before me who had to do the same to get here too.. It's definitely not for the faint of heart.

You asked how I'm doing? I'm tired. Exhausted. Excited. Proud. Humbled. All at once. It is an accelerated program (even though AP doesn't stand for that) and so yes, you go pretty much all the way through with very little in what could be construed as "breaks" between semesters. The longest break we had was between Senior 1 and Senior 2, and that's because it was during the Christmas timeframe.

As for clinicals, do you have a medical background now? I didn't and I can tell you it was strange to be in hospital for the first time, but you get used to it. The first semester for me was the best and worst... Best because I had one of the best clinical instructors for Foundations, but worst because I felt so out of place at first. But I did make it through that semester, learned a lot, and was allowed to return.

Now I'm performing my final clinical rotation in ICU (where I want to be when I graduate) and have an interview for an ICU internship next week.... It's all starting to come together and feels like I am finally able to reach my goals.

Long and short of this is that all the hard work, all the pain, all the difficult times will be worth it in the end.

The best advise I can give you (and seems like common sense) is to stay organized and USE A CALENDAR! Let me repeat that... USE A CALENDAR. You need to know when your assignments are due so you aren't working frantically at the last minute to turn in something. It sucks. Don't ask me how I know. Seriously.

Good luck,

Don

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Thanks you so much and congratulations Don!! You have no idea how much I needed to hear that :) did you work while in the program? And good luck with your interview!

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Yes, I have worked full time since the beginning and commuted for my clinicals since I live 2 hours away. I've put 48k miles on my 2 year old car... that's a lot of time sitting on my butt... haha...

In regards to the interview, thanks, I'll take and need all the luck I can get.

Don

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Hey Holly,

I am interested in the AP program could you possibly email me? I just wanted to pick your brain about a few things as I am starting on the few pre-reqs i need to apply for the AP route. Thanks!!

[email protected]

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