Forgive me if this thread already exists (and feel free to point in me in the right direction) but I am curious about comparisons between programs and degree types.
I'd like to actually see what the different programs include. We have all of these discussions about the benefits and downfalls of different degrees, and I'd like to join the discussion, but quite honestly I know very little about non-BSN programs, and I wish I did. Will you share details about your program?
Type of program:
State:
How many months or years are you in nursing classes? (so no pre-reqs or gen eds - nursing classes ONLY)
How is the program structured? (semester system with summer and winter breaks, year-round, etc.)
List what classes are included, in order:
Do you feel like your program could do something better?
For me:
Type of program: BSN
State: Maryland
How many months or years are you in nursing classes? 2 years (4 semesters)
How is the program structured? Semester system with summer and winter breaks
List what classes are included, in order:
Semester 1: adult 1 lecture, adult 1 clinical, health assessment, intro to nursing practice
Semester 4: community lecture, community clinical, leadership and management lecture, internship clinical
We are also required to take a 3-credit elective. Their choices quite honestly are not that great. I decided to do an independent study instead. There are externships they allow students to do, and there was also a study abroad opportunity between semesters that students could do, but it was crazy expensive.
Do you feel like your program could do something better? As we've seen expressed on here, I don't feel like I have had enough hands on experience, although my internship really did help that a lot. I am in a rural area, so quite honestly, the lack of exposure wasn't something that could be helped, and the ADN program here locally has the same trouble.
How many months or years are you in nursing classes? 1 1/2 yrs (18 months)
How is the program structured? (semester system with summer and winter breaks, year-round, etc.): I go to school Summer, fall, spring, summer and fall I graduate. So I will be graduating in Dec.
I get I think two weeks winter break, one week of spring break and a one month summer break (after my summer classes). I am pretty much in school all year round!
List what classes are included, in order:
Summer 1: Nurse 101, Foundation of nursing practice one + labs, Nutrition in health and disease, Foundation of nursing practice two + clinical, Health assessment + labs.
Fall Semester: pharmacology, pathophysiology, Med-serg + clinical, Gerontology,
Winter: Transcultural health and Wellness 1(online)
Spring Semester: OB + clinicals, Phych. nursing + clinical, Nursing research
Summer 2: Nursing Practice community + clinical, Pediatrics + clinical
Fall Semester (last semester): Med-serge 2 + clinical, Transition into professional nursing + practicum, Transcultural health and Wellness 2, and Nursing Comprehensive exam.
Do you feel like your program could do something better? For the accelerated program, definitely not! I like the way the program is setup and a lot of students that graduate from the accelerated part pass the NCLEX. Maybe its because it is so demanding.
How many months or years are you in nursing classes? (so no pre-reqs or gen eds - nursing classes ONLY):
Depends on if you're starting fall or spring. I was a fall start and my program was 5 straight semesters. The spring start extends to a sixth semester.
How is the program structured? (semester system with summer and winter breaks, year-round, etc.):
We had winter and a partial summer break.
List what classes are included, in order:
Semester 1: 15 weeks of Fundamentals, lab and clinical
Semester 2: 7.5 weeks of Med Surg 1 - lecture, lab and clinical and 7.5 weeks of Pediatrics - lecture, lab and clinical
Semester 3: (Summer) 10 weeks of Pharmocology
Semester 4: 7.5 weeks of Mother/Baby - lecture, lab and clinical and 7.5 weeks of Psych - lecture lab and clinical
Semester 5: 7.5 weeks of Med Surg 2 - lecture, lab and clinical. Concurrently 5 weeks of Leadership lecture and then our final 7.5 weeks of Med Surg 3 -- lecture, lab and our capstone preceptorship.
Do you feel like your program could do something better?
I absolutely loved my program. It was nice to have ONE class at a time and be able to submerse myself in each individual section before moving on to the next. The staff has been amazing and done everything they can to ensure our success. We have a 100% pass rate for NCLEX which is a pretty comforting feeling.
Success4all
49 Posts
Type of program: Accelerated BSN
State: Maryland
How many months or years are you in nursing classes? 1 1/2 yrs (18 months)
How is the program structured? (semester system with summer and winter breaks, year-round, etc.): I go to school Summer, fall, spring, summer and fall I graduate. So I will be graduating in Dec.
I get I think two weeks winter break, one week of spring break and a one month summer break (after my summer classes). I am pretty much in school all year round!
List what classes are included, in order:
Summer 1: Nurse 101, Foundation of nursing practice one + labs, Nutrition in health and disease, Foundation of nursing practice two + clinical, Health assessment + labs.
Fall Semester: pharmacology, pathophysiology, Med-serg + clinical, Gerontology,
Winter: Transcultural health and Wellness 1(online)
Spring Semester: OB + clinicals, Phych. nursing + clinical, Nursing research
Summer 2: Nursing Practice community + clinical, Pediatrics + clinical
Fall Semester (last semester): Med-serge 2 + clinical, Transition into professional nursing + practicum, Transcultural health and Wellness 2, and Nursing Comprehensive exam.
Do you feel like your program could do something better? For the accelerated program, definitely not! I like the way the program is setup and a lot of students that graduate from the accelerated part pass the NCLEX. Maybe its because it is so demanding.