Anyone Starting At UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing?

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

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This thread is for anyone who is trying to get into, currently at, or graduated from Shadyside School of Nursing in Pittsburgh!

Srun.....good luck on the entrance exam. I would highly recommend getting the review books that they tell you to get. They were very helpful......especially with the science.

For anyone who is currently a student at Shadyside........how many evenings do the classes meet when you are in the PT program? If you take a job as a CNA, what are the hours.......are they flexible(as in shifts), or can you only work daylight hours? Thanks in advance for any help you can give:)

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Also, I remember that we had 1 hour for the science questions. I think that we had a half hour for each of the other 2..........for a total of one hour.....the first was math and vocab combined, and the second was reading comprehension.

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Specializes in PCT.

I started out in the part time program and recently withdrew so that I can join the class of 2008 graduating in December. The E/W program meets two evenings a week and Saturdays for about the first two years. I think it increases after that.

I work at Shadyside as a Nursing Assistant and my unit has been very good about working around class. I tell them when class is and they work around it. We have a ton of students here so every now and then they mess up my schedule, but it always gets fixed. They realize that school is priority one.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Hi,

I am in the E/W program. I graduate Aug 2008. I am just ending my last 200 rotation. We go 1 night a week and every other Sat/Sun for clinicals in all the 200's. It will be the same for next semester with psych.

Jenn :smilecoffeecup:

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care as PCT.
Also, I remember that we had 1 hour for the science questions. I think that we had a half hour for each of the other 2..........for a total of one hour.....the first was math and vocab combined, and the second was reading comprehension.

That doesn't sound to bad. I'm very excited about nursing school. Do you have any summer plans involving nursing?

I would really like to work in a hospital over the summer, but it seems like getting hired at a full time position is going to be tough (it offered training-no exp. needed). I would have applied to a part-time position but the prereq. said previous nursing assistant experience strongly preferred. If I can't find something I will definitely volunteer at the hospital.

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No, I don't have any summer plans. I have young children, so my summer will be spent with them. If I am accepted, I plan on trying to get a nursing assistant job while I am in school. I am very excited about nursing school, but very apprehensive about getting accepted. I did very well on the entrance exam, but I'm not sure what they are looking for other than that. If you have any questions about the exam, just ask!

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Specializes in PCT.

I started out with no nursing assistant experience and did just fine. Apply online and if they don't call you talk to someone at the school and get the recruiters name and phone number and leave them a message. It seems forward, but it worked for me. The ball rolls slowly in HR and sometimes you need to be aggressive to move things along. Just looked over that job postings and there are plenty to be had. If I were you I'd try something in an ED or perhaps a post op or ICU. In my experience you will learn more there.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

One of my classmates said she didn't get a response until she followed up by phone also.

The faculty strongly discouraged us fulltime day students from working fulltime while in school, though parttime was encouraged.

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I am new to this whole chat thread stuff so bear with me...

I will be taking the entrance test this May through UPMC Shadyside and I am sooo nervous. Does anyone have any advice? Study tips, or how to prepare mentally because I am going out of my mind with these darn nerves?

I hope there is someone out there who can help me....:eek:

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I took the test at Shadyside in December. Study the books recommended by the school....they helped so much. The science is the hardest part but if you study, you should do fine. I did really well on all 4 parts of the test. The best advice I can give is to study every day until the test. When you go in, you will feel confident because you are prepared. Good luck!

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That is Great information. I have been studying the Barron's Nursing School entrance exam booklet for a few months now so I hope it helps. Thank you so much for your reply. It's good to talk to someone that has "been there, done that". How do you like the school?

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The Barron's book is good.....but the Arco "Nursing School and Allied Health Entrance Exams" by Marion Gooding is even better in preparing you. I am waiting to hear about Fall acceptance....I am looking at the Evening/Weekend program, and even though I took my test in December, they only start this program in the Fall......so I'm still waiting to hear.....I think they start letting you know sometime in May. When are you taking the test?

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