Applying to Sacramento State's ASBSN Summer 2008

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Hey!

I just wanted to know if there is anyone else applying to Sacramento State's ASBSN program. I'm just waiting on my Fall 2007 grades before I get my application in. I'm pretty nervous! I just want to get that application packet to them already!

Anyway, I just wanted to open this thread, to get in touch with other people who have applied or are applying.

-Jake

I went through the "regular" Sac State BSN program, but it's almost the same. Let me know if you have any specific questions. Other expenses aren't too much--books, uniforms, a few supplies at the beginning, a lab fee most semesters.

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Kitsune -

I never really looked into any out of state absn programs, so I'm not familiar with those two programs. Its good that Portland has no sales tax though. :p I'm also planning on asking the coordinator if I can tour the campus.

JakeyWakey - Congrats! Now you can finally relax. Is Sac your first choice?

Wendy - Thanks for offering to answer our questions. :specs: I have a bunch of questions for you! How did you like Sac's BSN program and how long ago did you go through the program? Can you tell us the structure of your program including where and when you completed clinical rotations? Did you like the faculty and preceptors? What was the estimated cost of the other expenses? Thanks again for offering your help. :D I wish they provided more information to us, but I guess we'll just have to wait til the new student orientation.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic.
Kitsune -

JakeyWakey - Congrats! Now you can finally relax. Is Sac your first choice?

Yes, it was definitely my first choice, and also the only local asbsn program that I can actually AFFORD!

I hope they give us more information soon!

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I graduated last year. I don't have a lot to compare it to, to tell you whether I liked the BSN program (I'm sure you've noticed around here that most people don't love nursing school), but I feel like I got a good education and I have a lot of respect for the professors.

The structure has changed somewhat already, but generally the clinical sites are around Sacramento--UC Davis, a few of the Kaisers, three Sutters, Mercy San Juan. Clinical starts off fairly light (a few hours once a week) and gets more intense (maybe 24 hours in a week). A big thing is that for most clinicals, you have a LOT of prep work to do beforehand--several hours each week, and usually you have to go into the hospital the day before too. Clinicals are structured with ~10 students in a clinical group with one Sac State instructor; the instructor supervises, but you really work with the actual nurses on the unit, and that's always hit-or-miss. (Usually it's good.) You rotate through medical-surgical, mental health, obstetrics, pediatrics, and community health; in your last semester you choose a specialty and spend your clinical time there. There are also other short-term experiences, like spending a few hours in a clinic, that kind of thing. You also generally get to spend a short time in ICU, ER, and/or OR. You don't generally get to choose your clinical sites, by the way.

Other expenses--there's a book for almost every class, expect to spend ~$150 on uniforms for the whole program, a stethoscope is about $100, a few other inexpensive supplies, the ~$50 lab fee each term.

A couple of you have mentioned wanting to see the facilities--they don't look impressive, to be honest; the building is small and old, and some classes are held in different places around campus. But the equipment is good (like the patient-simulator dummy) and I didn't feel like that made a difference in my education.

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Yes, it was definitely my first choice, and also the only local asbsn program that I can actually AFFORD!

Yeah, tell me about it - Samuel Merrit's tuition is insane.

Thanks Wendy, your information is really helpful. So it's one of the programs where you get your patient assignments the night before? Also, how are clinicals scheduled? Are they all weekdays, or do they also schedule them at night or weekends? Do you have any say in where you go for any of the rotations? (like mental health or community health)

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge - they really haven't told us anything.:eek:

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Oh, get used to THAT... again it really isn't unusual in nursing schools, but it's rare to know much about your schedule until each term starts. At the orientation you'll have a chance to ask current students anything you want--but I know that's not necessarily helpful for those of you who are choosing between programs.

You have to get your patient assignments the night before for some rotations and not others--it varies--since obviously for rotations like obstetrics, it doesn't really work.

Clinical schedules are different for ABSN--I know that the first class did have some weekend clinicals, but the program (and the generic program) has been tweaked so I don't know the current status. I'd say there's a possibility for evening/weekend, definitely. After finishing the regular rotations, you get to make your own schedule for the last semester. And there are often 12-hour shifts, 7 AM-7 PM.

We got to express preference on clinical site for community health rotation, and to choose on some of the "extra" experiences. You can also try trading with people for different clinical rotations, but people don't want to trade very often.

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Yeah, I wouldn't expect to know any schedule details or anything, I just with they'd sent some more basic information with the admit letter. I downloaded the student handbook, which has some helpful information. It's just that they seem to give a bit less info than some other schools I looked at. It does seem to be a good program though.

One more question - how did you feel about sac state's pharmacology class? I've heard that some schools teach it better than others. I'm definitely going to start studying pharm ahead of time but I'm wondering how much I need to worry.

I also noticed they don't have a separate pathophysiology class like some programs do. Did you feel like that was an issue? I have a bio degree and feel good about anatomy and micro, but not as confident about some systems in physiology.

Thanks again for all your help :)

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Well, the pharm class wasn't hard, if that's what you mean. It's sort of a get-what-you-put-into-it situation. For some reason I was really scared about pharmacology when I started prereqs, but really it came naturally then and throughout nursing school.

Pathophys--I think at Sac State they put more emphasis on weaving it throughout the program, especially the first two semesters, as opposed to having the separate class required.

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Well, the pharm class wasn't hard, if that's what you mean. It's sort of a get-what-you-put-into-it situation. For some reason I was really scared about pharmacology when I started prereqs, but really it came naturally then and throughout nursing school.

Pathophys--I think at Sac State they put more emphasis on weaving it throughout the program, especially the first two semesters, as opposed to having the separate class required.

Thanks for the thorough response Wendy. It was really helpful. In terms of doing some studying for pharm prior to the start of nursing school, how do you go about in doing that especially when there are a gazillion drugs to pick from?

I know I definitely need to review A&P since I took these courses a while ago. That's my main concern at the moment.

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megamiepona - did you hear back from your other programs yet? I found out I'm waitlisted for colorado, still waiting to hear from oregon.

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megamiepona - did you hear back from your other programs yet? I found out I'm waitlisted for colorado, still waiting to hear from oregon.

Still waiting for a response from SFSU's Generic MSN & Sam Merritt's ELMSN-FNP program, but I'm most likely going for Sac State's program since it's only 15 months long. :p

How far up are you on the waitlist for Colorado? I know you mentioned that you are most likely going to stick with Sac State to avoid the out of state fees. :uhoh3:

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Still waiting for a response from SFSU's Generic MSN & Sam Merritt's ELMSN-FNP program, but I'm most likely going for Sac State's program since it's only 15 months long. :p

That's why I only applied to accelerated bsn programs - I do want a masters, but I'm not sure about which specialty, so I'd rather get the rn quickly and work for a few years, then go back when I'm sure what I want.

How far up are you on the waitlist for Colorado? I know you mentioned that you are most likely going to stick with Sac State to avoid the out of state fees. :uhoh3:

The letter I got just said I'm on the waitlist, and I have to tell them if I want to stay on it. I'm going to call them tomorrow to find out more. I will probably stick with sac state because of the cost, but ucdhsc would be tempting if they offered me a spot for summer because it's supposed to be an excellent program. And even with out of state tuition it's still considerably more affordable than any of the private schools.

I just found out today that oregon won't notify people until april - I was thinking they were march as well, but I researched so many programs that I got a little confused about timelines:uhoh3:

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