Anyone in OLOL New Orleans?

ecbnola · Feb 7, 2007

By stipend, you mean that while you are in school, you get paid something? That's one of my biggest fears-not having any money at all while in school...of course no one can work while doing such an intensive program.

Dallas_RN, BSN, EMT-P · Feb 8, 2007

When I say disorganized, I mean disorganized....BUT we always seem to get done what needs to get done. I think a lot of it is that they just moved the program back to NO from BR. There seems to be a lack of communication from the main campus and the NO campus and Tulane. Our class has a lot of type A personalities and this is hard when it comes to scheduling. We don't get our schedules until right when the class starts. A lot of people get very upset by this. THis means no planning in advance for anything. You are basically their's for the duration of the program. If you think about it, it is sooooooo much that has to be done in nine months. I love my classmates, and that helps...we are almost like family. Tulane has a stipend and pays new nurses well. hmmmm....I can't really think of anything else. If ya'll do get in ....survive the first two months and for the most part, the rest gets easier.

I hate to say it, but that's nothing new (lack of communication). That was my one and only complaint, but we got the job done none the less. At the time it wasn't their fault, he had to deal with evacuating w/ Katrina on top of school.

My other advice is to not get too comfortable towards the end. Last year we lost 2 students second the last class and 1 in the final 3 weeks of the program because of grades.

Best of luck to everyone...

--Corey

OLOL/Tulane grad '06

hs2005 · Apr 13, 2007

Sunshine0425 and CoreyTKE- you both mentioned the reduction of your class sizes during the program. What do you think happened to those students that did not pass? Were they not studying enough or do you think some people are just not cut out for an accelerated course of study? I am terrified about not being able to keep up if I am accepted into the program.

Dallas_RN, BSN, EMT-P · Apr 17, 2007

Sunshine0425 and CoreyTKE- you both mentioned the reduction of your class sizes during the program. What do you think happened to those students that did not pass? Were they not studying enough or do you think some people are just not cut out for an accelerated course of study? I am terrified about not being able to keep up if I am accepted into the program.

Well we had a lot more stress than ANY other OLOL program because we were all New Orleans residents who just 3weeks into the program had to deal with Katrina. So many of us lost our homes and had to pack everything up and relocate to Baton Rouge. We were then 1month behind so they accelerated the accelerated program so we could graduate on time. If school wasn't hard enough we had to deal with the added stress of dealing with morgage companies, insurance companies, etc. Can't vouch for the other students, not sure if they were studying as much as they should have to be honest.

It's not an easy program and usually will lose 30-40% of the students to grades, but it can be done. It all depends on how bad you want it. I think another shocker for some students is the grading scale. Most are used to the 10pt scale in college and now have to face a 7pt grading scale. You may think 3pts isn't much but when only 1pt can determine if you fail out or pass you want every point you can get.

ecbnola · Apr 17, 2007

Thanks for the helpful info. Any more suggestions on how to succeed in the program?

studying tips?

Sunshine0425 · Apr 17, 2007

Pay attention in class, get a good NCLEX study book like Saunders, find a few people to review/study with (once you have already studied on your own) If you have support from family and you have kids, enlist them to help you so you have ample study time. DON'T wait until the day before to study. There is way too much material. Ask for gift cards to coffee shops for birthday/holidays. YOU WILL NEED IT. Good Luck:balloons:

SELUchic · Apr 21, 2007

Hey thanks for you information Sunshine425!!! I plan on applying this fall for the New Orleans program. Let me know how you did on the NCLEX though. I just hope that I get accepted into the program. Good luck with your new career.

hs2005 · Apr 21, 2007

Sunshine0425- Just curious what kind of projects you had to do during the year? I am just a nervous wreck about all of this. Thanks for all of your replies to those of us in the application process. I know you are thrilled to be so close to the end!