I am looking for other students who will be starting Concordia University's Accelerated BSN program in fall 2010 in Irvine. I would love to network as soon as possible and trade preparation tips, such as whether or not you will be buying a PDA, what kind of stethoscope you will be getting, what kind of backpack, etc. etc.
I really want to develop a good, strong support group - I think it's going to be necessary! I am also always thinking about the future and I want to prepare as much as I can while I still have free time, before the program begins!
So tell me, are any of my future classmates out there???
I'm so excited to meet you also!!! Are you starting the program in the SPRING 2011 term? I noticed you mentioned that you took the theology courses already, I am kinda nervous to take these 6 units!!Thank you for the disclaimer and all the info you gave regarding the pre-req, this makes me feel a little better about taking them. Im registered into the classes but it doesn't show up on the blackboard portal yet, hopefully it will show up soon so I can get started on the hw's as well. I'm so happy I found this forum because I get to meet such nice people like you and romney!! I look forward to working with you guys throughout the program!! Goodluck!
Thanks Romney! I will definitely keep you guys posted!
Blueberry, I'm in the fall 2010 cohort, or cohort number 5. Thus, I took the theology classes over the summer and I start the actual nursing program on Monday. I'm glad I could give you some helpful info. :) It will be amazing having you guys to rave and rant to - people who understand and who will actually be interested in hearing about my nursing school experiences. I will also want to hear all about your guys' experiences! I'm very grateful for having found this forum and being able to connect with other students such as yourselves. Please keep in touch! :redpinkhe
Blueberry - I'll send you a PM if you can get them and we'll exchange e-mails. I was planning on ordering my books and and uniforms soon, however since I live so close to campus I wonder if I can grab them from the bookstore? As for a stethoscope, I might get it soon. I start a CNA course on Monday and I might want to get one for the program.
Hopeful - Should we only order the "required" textbooks for the 2 theology classes, do you recommend getting any of the "optional" ones? Ahh you start so soon! Please update us on your first day/week!
Hopeful - Should we only order the "required" textbooks for the 2 theology classes, do you recommend getting any of the "optional" ones? Ahh you start so soon! Please update us on your first day/week!
Yeah, just get the required textbooks and make sure you have a good Bible handy. That was all I needed.
I can't believe it! I'll try to write Monday to tell you about the first day If not Monday, then next weekend about the first week. SO excited/nervous/anxious!
Hi Romney, Thank you for the email address, I will email you later today. You can order the books online, but pick them up from the bookstore, that way you won't have to pay the shipping and handling. I wish I lived close to the program, I'm so far!!
HOPEFULSTUDENT, congratulations on starting the program on MONDAY!!!! You must be so happy and nervous, but its an amazing time and you should be very proud of yourself!!!!!! Good luck!
Ahhhhhhh I'm so excited to finally be starting!!!! Our first day today was great - it was all orientation. Class went from 8AM to around 345PM today and we had a lunch break and a 15 minute break in between.
The faculty introduced themselves (most of our interviewers from our March interviews) and then each student had a chance to stand up and tell a little bit about themselves to the rest of the class and to the faculty. We also of course went over some rules and expectations, our schedule, details about clinicals, etc. No syllabi yet - I believe actual lectures and class will begin on Thursday. And Tuesday and Wednesday we will be spending all of our time in the skills lab, I'm assuming learning about taking vital signs.
Some "senior" nursing students in the CNSA also came in to talk to us and give us a tour around the campus. (We are currently "sophomores" in my cohort; the seniors are starting their last semester in the program.) We were able to have alone time with the senior students without the faculty present so we could ask any questions we wanted about the program, and get honest answers, which was great. They were very helpful and informative.
The faculty really seem genuinely interested in getting to know us - they were taking notes as each of us was talking about ourselves to the class. I love them all so far, but of course, instruction hasn't begun yet...
Our schedule is a bit all over the place, and they emphasized that it is subject to change. Our clinicals are set dates, however, as far as we know. There are four separate groups for clinicals - each one at a different hospital. One group has clinicals on Sundays, two groups have clinicals on Tuesdays, and the last group has clinicals on Wednesdays. Clinicals are always 12 hour shifts (7AM-7PM) so your class schedule actually depends on which clinical group you are in. Mondays are Med/Surg and Pharm, Thursdays are Fundamentals and Pharm Lab, and Fridays are Fundamentals and Pathophysiology. And since my clinicals are on Wednesdays, I will have Skills Labs on Tuesdays.
The tough stuff hasn't really begun yet, but at least now I can see what's coming our way. If you guys have any questions, just ask, and I'll do my best to answer them. I can let you know more details after instruction starts and then in a few weeks, after clinicals start. Very exciting!!!!
WOW! That sounds amazing and also a LOT of work! I love that you said the teachers took notes while you spoke. I really felt like they cared about us and really want to get to know us while we were interviewing. They seemed very genuine and I hope you continue to have good experiences with them. Also, that is really neat that you got to sit with the "seniors" and ask questions without the faculty standing around.
The schedule sounds intense and like they said, barely time to sleep and study! How do you go about selecting clinicals? Is it fair, did you get the one you want? Did any of the "seniors" say which classes were the hardest? Or how unmanageable or manageable the course work is? I have taken a pharmacology class before and I would study for HOURS on end for those exams.
Anyways, keep us updated, I love hearing about all of it!! Also, which nursing shoes did you buy?
So excited for you! Congrats on your first day! :anpom:
omggg!!! that's intense! i'm so excited for you, it must be a really good feeling to finally start!!!!! i’m sure you will do just fine, it’s very hectic at first but you will get used to the schedule in no time! i'm amazed at how much the staff cares too, i've been to other school orientations and some schools really don't care about their students, but concordia is very caring and supportive! we are very lucky to get into this amazing program! i am curious as to which shoes you got also, i can't wait to order my supplies! anyways, if you find time to post more details, we would love that! best of luck to you and your goals!
The schedule sounds intense and like they said, barely time to sleep and study! How do you go about selecting clinicals? Is it fair, did you get the one you want? Did any of the "seniors" say which classes were the hardest? Or how unmanageable or manageable the course work is? I have taken a pharmacology class before and I would study for HOURS on end for those exams.
Anyways, keep us updated, I love hearing about all of it!! Also, which nursing shoes did you buy?
So excited for you! Congrats on your first day! :anpom:
Thank you ladies for your interest and support! :redpinkhe
For selecting clinicals, once you actually register for your first semester nursing classes, you choose one of the four med/surg clinical class codes and that's the clinical group you are in. You won't find out what day or at what hospital your clinical is until the first day of class. I actually was lucky and did get the one I wanted, but I would have been fine with any of the four. It sounds like all the seniors agree that Advanced Med/Surg is the hardest class. You take that in the second semester, and apparently it weeds out the weaker students. The seniors say that the program is of course VERY difficult and VERY time consuming, but it is definitely doable. And one of the seniors told us she was still able to maintain a social life and go out on some nights - not that I will be though, lol.
Also, I have some advice. I was told we wouldn't need our tools for clinicals until we actually STARTED clinicals, but I recommend having your stethoscope and a watch with a second hand by the time you start classes, or at least by the second day of classes. Today we learned and practiced taking vital signs on each other and many people didn't have anything to measure the 15 seconds out for measuring pulse and respirations, which makes it a lot harder. I don't think anyone used their own stethoscopes, since the faculty had several that we could share - however, a lot of the class stethoscopes were really hard to hear out of when it came to measuring blood pressure. I think tomorrow I'll be bringing in my own stethoscope. I haven't bought my shoes for clinicals yet. They have to be all or at least mostly white, close-toed and close-heeled (no slip-ons), and not have any holes in them (no clogs). I'll probably buy shoes this or next weekend, and I can let you guys know then if you want. :)
Of course let me know if any other questions pop up. It was so fun actually getting to measure vital signs on each other today. It's nice switching back and forth between lectures and lab days - keeps things interesting. I love my classmates and the two teachers who have been instructing us so far. Exciting stuff
And Blueberry, we are all indeed very lucky to be attending Concordia's program!
Btw, it looks like my cohort (Fall 2010) will be mentors for your cohort (Spring 2011) once you guys start. So I'll probably be meeting (and maybe mentoring???) you girls in person next year!
Thank you for the review of your first few days...That really helps me out and makes me less nervous! I'm so excited about this whole process. Okay so I have made a note of the things I should take with me..Also, did you have to wear your uniforms to class the first day?? I ordered my uniform already just so I can see how one pair is before ordering another one. How many did you get? Wow, I'm so happy you are here helping me. You are done with the first week, Congratulations! I would love to have you as a mentor as your are so detailed oriented and friendly. Thank You for your help.
If not Monday, then next weekend about the first week. SO excited/nervous/anxious! 
Blueberry86
40 Posts
Hi Hopeful!,
I'm so excited to meet you also!!! Are you starting the program in the SPRING 2011 term? I noticed you mentioned that you took the theology courses already, I am kinda nervous to take these 6 units!!Thank you for the disclaimer and all the info you gave regarding the pre-req, this makes me feel a little better about taking them. Im registered into the classes but it doesn't show up on the blackboard portal yet, hopefully it will show up soon so I can get started on the hw's as well. I'm so happy I found this forum because I get to meet such nice people like you and romney!! I look forward to working with you guys throughout the program!! Goodluck!