Baptist or UALR Arkansas

feralnostalgia · Jan 12, 2009

I'm starting at UALR this semester, so there's my bias. I've heard, second hand, that Baptist tends to view nurses as much more doctor's assistants than anything else. I've heard that Baptist also talks down to their nursing students and kind of spoon feeds them information, and that it can be both patronizing and boring.

From a different person I heard that Baptist is the best option because it will prepare you better than UALR will. Baptist is also the largest nursing school in the state. It's also more expensive.

The main reason I went with UALR was that their accelerated track only takes 18 months, whereas Baptist's fastest track is 2 years, but it can be 3. I could see either program working for different people, though, and I don't have enough experience with either one to give you any first hand information. good luck!

LME21 · Jan 12, 2009

I went to ualr and graduated from there last may. It has its issues as do all schools but over all i felt prepared for the real worls as much as you can be. i think no matter where you go your going to be nervous until you are out for awhile. I applied and was accepted to baptist first a couple of years ago but i found that they would not answer questions about financial aide and after coming up with the money found out it wasnt enough. The pass rate for ualr and the hesi as far as i know in my class only 1 person didnt pass that year and 1 as well from the year before. My advice is if you choose baptist make sure you find out the financial situation.

srleslie · Jan 18, 2009

This is not meant to knock anyone who went to or is currently at Baptist, but why someone would want to spend 16,000 in tuition to get a 2 year diploma is beyond me. UALR is less espensive AND you get an Associates degree. I'll be sending my application in next week. One of the things that also makes UALR's program attractive is that you only are in classes and clinicals 3-4 days a week, which will leave me some free time and time to work part-time. Just my 2 cents.

Edit: I just wanted to add that when I went to UALR to get advised, I was told they accept 190 students every year, so those are really good odds. You can also take classes at the main campus, at St. Vincent in Little Rock, or at the UALR campus in Benton. That gives you a lot of flexibility.

av8tor · Jan 19, 2009

One of the things that also makes UALR's program attractive is that you only are in classes and clinicals 3-4 days a week, which will leave me some free time and time to work part-time.

Thanks for the info. Thats good to know. I will be working part time so more free time is definatley a big plus.

humanity · Mar 27, 2009

I am in the UALR accelerated program one of friend is in baptist and she doesn't like it. UALR it starts with 190 students then classes start to shrink as the year pass by. But, their main goal is to prepare for you nclex from outside most of the instructors are strict they have been their for a long time. I realize that Nursing school is totally different than any other classes you take in the college. In nursing school do not make you think that if you got an A on the first test you will gone a get an A on the next one too. Take each exam seriously each points make a huge difference there is no bonus points or so. As you progresses to semester the test questions will be getting harder and harder. When i say questions gone a be harder means it doesn't mattter how much or how long you gone a study there will be more application questions which you have to figure it out how to analyze them in most of the questions you will have a 2 answers which is right but, you have to choose the priority answer. only way you can do that is by practicing nclex questions. there are lot of students who are not a good test taker but will be a good nurse and there are some who are good in test but does not care about patients. Here are some tips

1. Do not fall behind in the class

2. Attend the class

3.Practice nclex questions

4.Do not get sick

5. Take care of yourself

Good Luck

BethT · Mar 28, 2009

What is a typical schedule for UALR? I noticed that you said you were in class/clincals 3-4 days a week, so I am just curious what it's like. I will be applying next year.

humanity · Mar 29, 2009

every semester is different after you passed your summer class which is nurs 1300 then you will be taking nurs1805 in fall this class lecture is 8 credit hours i think in on monday 9-12am and wednesday 9-12am and you will choose one day clinical for 8 hours you also have to go to the clinical site a day before to pick up your assignment so if you need the clinical site which is closed by your house then you have to register on time otherwise you will be spending lots of time on travelling only but, they will provide a calendar which tells you what to do.

polkadotpony · Apr 10, 2009

For those who applied to the UALR accelerated program, had you taken all of your support courses prior to applying? I am on the waiting list and still have A&P II, Chem, and Micro to take. I'm wondering if I will not get in b/c I don't have enough quality points.

feralnostalgia · Apr 10, 2009

For those who applied to the UALR accelerated program, had you taken all of your support courses prior to applying? I am on the waiting list and still have A&P II, Chem, and Micro to take. I'm wondering if I will not get in b/c I don't have enough quality points.

I'm in the same boat, actually I'm missing exactly the same classes you are, I'm in algebra and A&P I right now. my advisor told me back this spring that I had a very good chance of getting in, since I made almost all As...I think they put me on the wait list because I haven't completed A&P I yet, which is the only official pre-req to admission. I'm really hoping I get in, too! I don't know what I'll do if I have to wait an entire year to get in...

polkadotpony · Apr 10, 2009

I know how you feel. I was kinda surprised when I didn't get a first round acceptance letter. In advising, they acted like it wouldn't be a big deal. I really don't want to hang around and wait until next year to apply either, but that's just my impatience about starting nursing school. Good luck! I hear that they send out letters in "waves" so hopefully we'll have some good news next week. :yeah:

feralnostalgia · Apr 10, 2009

I know how you feel. I was kinda surprised when I didn't get a first round acceptance letter. In advising, they acted like it wouldn't be a big deal. I really don't want to hang around and wait until next year to apply either, but that's just my impatience about starting nursing school. Good luck! I hear that they send out letters in "waves" so hopefully we'll have some good news next week.

that'd sure be nice. when I heard my friend got an acceptance letter I was checking the mail twice a day for about a week before I called to see if mine go lost...haha. they told me it might help if I brought my transcript from this semester up for them to see after we're done with class this time around. their website says they re-evaluate after the spring semester and summer semester...so I guess I'll just take as much as I can this summer and see how it works out. my advisor was exactly the same as yours...although she also told me I could take A&P II before A&P I, which is definitely not true, so who knows