Any IUPUI Nursing Students?

wishNhopeNdreamN · Nov 18, 2006

I have a cousin going to IUPUI right now and working he has his masters in social work. I'm not sure what his work and school load is though. I'm pretty sure he is still working full time. I haven't seen him since May. He lives in Indy and we live about 2 hrs. from there. Sorry couldn't be more specific.

ETA: I could email him if you want to know something in particular.

IUNRSINGSTDNT · Feb 5, 2009

I go to another IU campus I am in clinical. Our usual schedule is m/w class 8-11 or noon and clincal on the weekend for a twelve hour shift. Last semester (my second semester of nursing school) we had class Monday 8-12, Tuesday 13-1515, Wednesday 12-1700 and Thursday 13-1515. I don't know how IUPUI does it but I assume it is similar???? The first two semesters you are not in clinical at all but rather labs on campus. Some labs are offered at night but they fill fast to register early. The labs are 4-5 hours. You also have lecture classes with your lab and one other lecture class a semester that does not have a lab with it. Once you start clinicals, you can schedule weekend clincals but the lectures that go with the clincal are during the week and in the morning. I am sorry I couldn't give you more information! Good luck!

BNE103 · Feb 15, 2009

Hello!

I'm in the accelerated BSN program at IUPUI (previous BS in neurobiology/physiology from Purdue! Boiler Up!).

Several classmates and I work while in the program, but only part time. For instance, I work one weekend a month. Others I know work 1-2 days a week in the evenings. You can NOT work full time while in this program; we even have to sign things when we're accepted that states we recognize the program will take up a lot of our time and are advised not to work.

Not only is it time consuming, but the courses for ABSN are already set up, so you can't change sections or anything (in other words, the schedule isn't too flexible).

We're only in clinicals once a week on certain weeks during the first semester, but time in the hospitals increases every semester.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining; personally, I think this is a great way of getting a BSN if you are able. I really love it so far!!

Please let me know if you have any more questions at all about the program! :)

roadrunr · Feb 20, 2009

bne03

I am taking Microbiology this semester (last pre-req for accelerated BSN) and had a few questions about the program.

What semester are you in right now? What makes it so time consuming? Tests, papers, clinicals, etc...?

How are the instructors? Are they supportive, knowledgeable? Where do you do your clinicals (which hospitals?).

I am planning on applying for the January 2010 semester. I am still not sure I want to make this change (I work as a software developer and have a degree in Computer Science).

Thanks in advance for the info.

Also what is average age in your class? How many males?

BNE103 · Feb 20, 2009

roadrnr,

I'm in the first semester of the program (there are 5 semesters), and that correlates to 3rd and 4th semesters of the traditional program.

It's definitely time consuming because there are a lot of assignments and we have about one exam/quiz/checkoff per week, sometimes a couple. We only have about 6 weeks of clinicals this semester (1 day/week), but that number increases each semester until the very end (the capstone) where you "work" full time on a unit.

From talking with people in other semesters, the first semester is the most basic out of all of them. We do a lot of assessment, basic skills (moving patients, vital signs, health histories, SubQ/IM injections, dressing change, Foley cath, trach suctioning, etc.), community and patient education, as well as learn about nursing as a profession in general.

We have about 15 credit hours per semester (which includes summers), and there's a good amount of outside work that goes along with the class (for instance, the day before clinicals you have to go to your assigned unit to do the paperwork...this semester that means Sundays for us).

The instructors are WONDERFUL. Extremely supportive, helpful, and willing to help everyone learn and do well. I don't know what kind of school you went to but, for most of us, we came from previous degree programs that were really competitive and tried to weed everyone out. Here, they stress that it's not a competition anymore; they really do want everyone to succeed who has the dedication for it. Not to say that you can slack off by any means, but they will be there for you if you need/want. We have instructors from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Many of them still work or are involved on different units in addition to teaching. You can really tell that they care about making their students good nurses.

Clinicals can be at just about any area hospital....Methodist, IU, Riley, St. Vincent's, Community....to me, it seems like there are more at Clarian (Methodist/IU/Riley) than the others.

Out of 38 people we have 3 guys. As with a lot of nursing programs, guys are a minority, but here a lot of them are very active in getting involved. As for average age....we have a good amount of those in their mid-20s, but also a lot in their 30s and some 40s, married, some with children...it's a variety. Also a huge variety in backgrounds...I think I'm one of maybe 2 or 3 in my class who actually has a healthcare-related background.

If you're thinking about whether or not it's for you, try considering why it is you want to be a nurse. I've noticed that the people who go into it thinking "hey whatever, it's a job" are the ones who get burnt out the fastest. It helps if you have a personal investment in it.

Hope that helped! Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions!

roadrunr · Feb 21, 2009

Thank you for the very nice, informative response. I really appreciate the information.

The reason for my considering a switch is that after 25 years of software development it gets a little stale. I feel I do not touch anyone's life in what I do for a living.

I have been volunteering at Methodist Hospital for over a year now and like helping out with some of the patient care. It is rewarding.

Thank you again for the response. I wish you the very best.

BNE103 · Feb 21, 2009

You're welcome! Hope to see you around the nursing building soon! :)