Anyone attending Shenandoah Accelerated BSN?

[StarGirl]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here. I just finished my pre-req's at NVCC and I was accepted to GMU and Shenandoah's Accelerated BSN programs but I am planning on attending Shenandoah. I like the class curriculum better and I live in Leesburg so it is much closer to my home.

Anywho...I would love to find other students who are going to be in (or are already enrolled) the nursing program at Shenandoah. So if you are please let me know....it would be great to meet some people before classes start and to get a heads up on what the program is like.

Thanks,

Jessica

[Saflanut]

Hi, I got accepted into Shenandoah's ABSN. I would love to her from anybody who is currently in the program.

My questions are:

1) Do you like your curriculum?

2) Do you get enough hands on experience?

3)What do you think about the instructors?

And anyhting else you are willing to share and you think it will be helpful. Thank you very much for your time.

[nurstudent12]

Is anyone in the program?

[Scarlettanager]

I am now currently in the program. It's a very intensive program, like all accelerated programs I assume. I am close to the end of my second semester and I really like it overall. I definitely feel like I am getting a good education, and the faculty are great. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[Saflanut]

Hi scarlettanger. Thanks for answering. I actually put down my deposit for spring 2012. So I am very interested to find out mor about the program. Especially from a current student.

How are the exams? I hear horror stories from diffrent threads etc, having really horrible instructors and non supportive faculty. Do you feel like they are supporting you?And also I am curious about the NCLEX rates. I wet to the information session and they said for ASD program NCLEX rates are higher than the regular program 95%. It sounds pretty good to me. Is it true?

Thanks for willling to answer my questions. Happy studies!

[nurstudent12]

Thank you for answering! I thought I wouldnt' find anyone. I'm so nervous that I'm going to start this and fail out. I plan on finishing my pre-req's there in the fall and starting the nursing program in the spring. Is it alot of memorization? How are your clinicals?

[Scarlettanager]

Regarding hands on experience, I don't have anything to compare my program to. So far, after my first medical surgical clinical, I have gotten to administer meds with the nurses, and put in a foley. In the beginning there was lots of patient cleaning and bed changes. We have had clinical two times a week during this semester, from 7-1, and I feel it was adequate. Over the summer, we will have three clinicals so it will be alot more intense regarding the hands on experience.

As for advice, I would say commuting to campus can be really difficult so it is best to live within a 20 min radius. The program is expensive, so definitely take that into consideration when applying, but for me considering where I live I think I definitely made the right choice as I am happy with the quality of education I am getting. Just be prepared for a very difficult first semester w/ both pharm and pathophysiology if you haven't already taken them. Pharm is very difficult, and the courses in general are not easy. You will be spending hours a day studying, and if it has been a while since you were last in school, it might be an adjustment. Come second semester, you will need to do lots of writing and group work with nursing ethics and a nursing research course, and if writing is not your strong point, then plan a head of time.

[Scarlettanager]

I am sure you will do fine. I guess some people have had bad experiences, but mine so far is very positive. I think the instructors are very supportive and available for help outside of class. Both my lab and clinical instructors are amazing, and very enthusiastic about teaching and making sure you actually learn as opposed to just pass. Like I said, some classes are just really difficult, and there is an immense amount of stress, so be prepared. Sign up for a yoga class, gym, eat healthy, and take care of yourself during the program in order to handle it all. If you already have problems in an area of your life or you are working, then it might be especially stressful, so make sure you clear out the distractions in your life and just really focus for the 15 months. I definitely thought pharmacology could have been taught in a way that was more conducive to learning, as opposed to memorization. Health assessment was also a challenging course for me and the exams were not easy. I got As in both courses, but I studied my butt off as well as went to professors for help. So it is doable if you have a good educational background, and used to a rigorous academic curriculum. I went to a very difficult undergraduate program for my first degree (uva) so I knew what it took to do well.

There is competition between students too, and some drama as it is one building with many students from different backgrounds. This especially manifests in group work, but I guess every place has it's childish drama. In my cohort, there are lots of people from Africa, so there is a racial division between the white students and the Africans and some tension there as well. I personally just go to school and come back home and study, so it's not like a campus where you actually have to be involved or talk to people outside of class.

Anyways, I would say go in with a positive attitude and excited about your chosen career and stay focus, and you will do just fine. Some classes are difficult, and while I do understand why some people would use 'horror story' to describe pharm for instance (I definitely had moments where I felt that way), I think it depends on the student's abilities and preparedness. Best of luck. :)

[gkvegan, MSN]

Hi, I am also in my second semester and for the most part i like the program. It is definitely a ton of work but you can do it. Most of the instructors are very nice and more then willing to help you. They want you to be successful. I have not had any of the professors be unsupportive. There is no weeding out or anything. From what I have hard everyone from last semester has past the NCLEX so far.

In terms of clinical it all depends on who you get for your instructor. This semester we have all had very different experiences. Some have had a great experience and some of us not so much.

The best advice I have is study, study, and study.

[Saflanut]

Thanks alot for very useful information and helpful tips. I am an exercise fanatic so, definitely need to continue with that. We live in Fairfax county, 40 min commute I am looking at. But I am planning to record some of the lectures and hope to listen them on the way.

It is too bad about the division between the students. I sensed that in GMU also, where I am finishing up my biology degree. I feel that my biology degree is preparing me really well for Nursing school. I am taking Human Anatomy and Physiology(400 level) and medical micro. I bought some NCLEX and Pathophysiology books to look over this fall. I needed one semster break after my undergrad. Plus, I am married with kids.

What do you think is the average age among the students?

One last question: What would you advice for me to do in terms of getting ready for this particular school?

Thanks a lot.:bow:You ahve been very helpful!

[gkvegan, MSN]

scarlettanger who are you? i am sure you can figure out who i am.

[gkvegan, MSN]

There are a bunch of people that live in Fairfax and I have not heard them saying they have had any problems commuting. Plus Fairfax and Fair Oaks are both clinical sites. Our cohort has the lowest average age which is probably early 20's. But the age ranges from 22 to 50's.

I think your bio degree will be very helpful. There isn't a ton you can do to prepare. But I would say know your A&P really well.

I think it is far to say that what you get out of the program is dependent on what you put into it.

[gkvegan, MSN]

UVA... I think I just figured it out, DB?