Azusa ABSN program

Hi Belle0829,

I sent in my application for EENAP Nov. 14 (the day before one of their review dates). I received an acceptance letter from the graduate office 1-2 weeks later, but have not received a letter from the SON yet. I talked to a SON administrator (several times) who confirmed that I'm accepted for Fall 2009 in San Bernardino. I chose that location because I could get in faster, living is less expensive there, and my boyfriend will have an easier time finding a job in that area. Don't know whether competition level varies between the two locations.

Grades are probably most important. My undergrad GPA was 3.7 in an unrelated field (Studio Art). I have all A's (four A+'s, two A-'s, the rest A's) in prerequisites. A secretary told me after seeing my transcripts that I'd get in on the basis of my GPA. I am now taking my last prereq (orgo/biochem). Other considerations: my essay was well-written but very long; at that time, I had no volunteer experience; some of my work experience is related to health - only for the last year or two I taught aerobics/water aerobics (sometimes to senior groups) and ballet to little kids. The "interview" was more like a counseling session to make sure you have prereqs covered, not an interview, even though the woman I met with is on the admissions committee. For recommendation letters, two of mine were from science teachers- really good recommendations. The other was from a long-time friend (my high school dance teacher).

Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck! Does anyone have feedback about how intense the program is?? My boyfriend and I are thinking about getting 1 or 2 dogs, but he might be taking a traveling position while I'm in EENAP and I'm wondering if I can manage the added responsibility of feeding/walking/training the dogs while he is away. Thanks!

Hi,

I am also waiting to hear if I've gotten into the San Diego EENAP for Jan 2010. Last they told me was the admissions committee was meeting this month to made decisions. Goodluck! Let me know if you hear anything else.

Theresa

hi karalisa25,

congrats on getting accepted! i hear that the program is pretty intense, but you do get breaks at the holidays. when i met w/azusa to go over my transcripts it sounded like you get a lot of support from peers and teachers-which is so important. i'm sure the 15mos will fly by and before you know it you'll be done.

yeah i don't know about getting the dogs since they can be a lot of work in the beginning, but on the other hand taking walks could be your little breaks in-between school and studying...

i have a toddler so i'm thinking of maybe waiting to apply to the program. but i still need that ochem/biochem and dev psych sooo that'll give me time. do you know if the reviewing processes come up the same time every year?

thanks for all the info!! and good luck this fall.

I'm not sure if the APU SON reviewing dates are at the same time each year, but I think that their review dates are pretty frequent. They had one Nov. 15 and I think they had the next one around the beginning or middle of January. Have you heard something similar?

Thank you for the input about getting dogs - I think we will get two in the next couple of months, to give us time to adjust before we move and I start EENAP.

:)

Karalisa25 I am starting Fall 2009 at the San Bernadino campus too, I guess I will see you at orientation on wed. I am so excited.

Kalo,

I am so excited, too! See you then! :)

hi fall 2009 students Karalisa25 & Kalo,students of APU's EENAP program.

I am a recent graduate from Azusa's EENAP. I was also equally excited as you are when I was going to start my nursing school. Orientation is fun and the school provides nice lunch and speech by ex-students this day. You'll make lot of friends in first two weeks and just remember that its not necessary that the student who is good to talk is also a hard working and smart one. Choose your friends wisely as making study groups helps.

Right from first semester, set a study schedule and go thru powerpoints at least once when you get back home. You'll be surprised how fast the semester will pass and you'll have exams every other week. If you do not understand anything ask for help or tutorial from your professor right away, don't wait till you see B or C in your grade. This is a very fast paced program and only organization, time mgmt and support of family and good friends can help you.

Invest in NCLEX saunders book right away so you know kind of questions you might get in your quizzes.

Congratulations and all the best !!!!!!

WOW Jollygirl098, thank you so much for your reply, you were right about orientation: great time, great food and I have already made a lot of friends (and met some people I will try to avoid as much as possible). I am blown away by the faculty, they seem so helpful and wonderful (so different from where I got my first degree). Goodluck, hope you have found a job, that will be my next hurdle.

take care,

best wishes!

hi Kalo,

I already have a job on basis of my interim permit and my priority right now is to take NCLEX asap. Concentrate on med surg and health assessment class, they require lot of study in fisrt semester and can make a lot of difference in your GPA.

Let me know if you need any other help or advice :)

Thank you jollygirl098! Good advice. I met "Kalo" :) and many other wonderful people at orientation. I look forward to the hard work and hands-on experience. I'm also looking forward to moving to Loma Linda. Wish you best of luck with the NCLEX and future job positions. What is your specialty? I really like Neuro.

Thanks !

I myself use to live in loma linda, very safe neighbourhood as compared to the rest of county. There are some good townhomes and apts behind stater Bros.

Whenever I use to have certain rotations in nursing school, I would think oh ! this field is better or that field is best but one's opinion changes in last semester. I loved GI, ICU, TELEMETRY PEDS, REHAB, COMMUNITY HEALTH during my rotation but Med-Surg in first semester was tough as we all were so new to the floor. Gradually I found in Med-Surg Part 2 rotation that the best place for new grad to be is in Med-surg. You'll experience variety of Patients with diff pathophysiology and symptoms .if you are expert in med -surg you can handle any rotations later.

I tried to get in ICU, ER and GI but everywhere they want atleast an year experience of Med-Surg so I am going to be working in Med-Surg. Neuro is interesting too but it is a specialty and you'll probably need to have some floor experience to apply.

Nevertheless practice a lot in Skills Lab before you go on floor. Master basic skills like taking vital signs, giving IM or SQ shots, placing bed pan, positioning patients with help, transfers and most of all, get a good PDA or drug book for floor. Some clinical instructors would give you ample time to look up your meds but some expect you to know all the basic drugs which were taught in class. Besides this, you'll defintely need support of your friends on floor. When I had to take care of a patient with colostomy bag, it was one of my friends who showed me really how to empty bag as the instructor was busy with other student. Then later as I was good at med- calculations, I double checked her dosage calculations. So, team work really really really helps.

I still miss some of my friends who have moved out of area now...

jollygirl098,

Thank you so much for all your valuable information and insight. I went through and read your postings and it has helped me so much. I am starting at Azusa EENAP in January but in the San Diego campus.

I will definitely keep in mind all of your advice.

Right now I am finishing up my last prereq, ochem/biochem. I am so eager and excited to get started already; January can't come soon enough.

Do you mind if I ask you how your job search went? Were you able to find your current job pretty smoothly and quickly? You are in med surge now? Do you know much about the San Diego campus?

Theresa