Cal State Northridge CSUN Accelerated BSN Fall 2008

mnguy016 · Apr 3, 2009

softballgirl: where are the clinical locations? northridge hospital medical center?

softballgirl09 · Apr 3, 2009

softballgirl: where are the clinical locations? northridge hospital medical center?

They are all over. Some in LA and some in the valley. I'm not sure what they've decided for you guys for summer. Usually it's two groups. One at one local and the other group at the other local.

softballgirl09 · Apr 3, 2009

Thanks, softballgirl! I'm going to look into ordering one. I looked a few months ago and got the impression that some are updated yearly, so I wondered if it was worth waiting for the new edition. But, since classes start in May and I'd need it for that first semester, I'm going to go for it. I truly appreciate your advice!:urck:

You'll get a lot more info at orientation as well in regards to tips and things you might need. You'll have time to order them because you won't start clinicals that first week. Just jump on it right away once you get the info.

mnguy016 · Apr 3, 2009

thanks for all your help!!!!!! i really appreciate it.

can you describe how it was for you during your first semester? your week schedule? how many hours/days you spent in class and at the hospital?

thanks again!!!

softballgirl09 · Apr 3, 2009

thanks for all your help!!!!!! i really appreciate it.
can you describe how it was for you during your first semester? your week schedule? how many hours/days you spent in class and at the hospital?
thanks again!!!

During the week we were on campus 3 days from like 8-3 and and had clinical one day from like 7-5 or something like that. The volume of reading is intense though so the 3 days you have off generally go to catching up or working on other assignments. I believe things are changing a bit for the new cohorts though so the coursework may be a bit different. For us, we pretty much had no social life. It sucked. But things got better once we got through that first semester. Summer might be arranged different because it's only 12 weeks so you might actually be on campus 4 days a week. That's why I really suggest you relax or take a vacation or something before you start. You gotta be charged and ready to roll because things will be moving quickly. Stay positive and have good energy from the start.

levoila · Apr 3, 2009

Good news!!

I finally got a response about the 9 units of upper division GEs. According to the email, this requirement has been waived for A-BSN students. So now, I'll only have to add the epidemiology class because I already completed the Title V requirements.

Softballgirl: Thanks again for sharing all of your helpful insights with us--I truly appreciate it! :thankya: Did you complete the epidemiology requirement before starting the program? If not, are you planning to take it during the last semester?

Also, are we supposed to wait until the orientation day (just a few days before the program starts) to meet with an advisor, or is this something that we should be doing now? I'm wondering about it because the acceptance letter mentioned that we should plan on participating in a university orientation (I'm assuming that this is something other than what the department offers?) but I can't seem to find any info on a Summer orientation.

Also, do parking permits sell out? Is that something we should try to purchase as soon as possible?

I know we should be getting an email soon, but I just don't want to miss something just because I didn't know about it. Thank you so much for taking the time to clarify so many things for us!:rcgtku:

mnguy016 · Apr 3, 2009

what a relief! thanks

softballgirl09 · Apr 4, 2009

I completed epidemiology the summer before I started so I'm cleared. I know several of the students in my cohort plan on taking it their last semester though so no need to worry about it. It will work out. You can meet with an advisor if you'd like but it's not really necessary right now since the coursework is already outlined for us. They will also issue you a document with all the classes you need to complete so that you can apply for graduation when the time comes. That will show you where you are and what you need to finish. The university orientation is something separate that is put on by the associated students. It's informative but not anything you must do. If you feel like checking it out get in touch with the associated students and find out when they are holding one for the health science department. In regards to parking, I've never heard of them selling out but I would advise you to purchase it early because the line gets LONG if you wait until school starts.

vkfrig · Apr 11, 2009

hi everyone,

I'm really new at all of the a-bsn, elm process and I'm having trouble finding application deadlines on the csun website. When were the applications due for summer/fall 2009? I'm planning on applying for the 2010 start so I need to know how much time I have to finish all the pre-reqs. Thanks!

levoila · Apr 11, 2009

I think the deadline to apply to the university was December 1 and the deadline for the department was January 5.

vkfrig · Apr 11, 2009

thanks so much! and also, does anyone what the difference/benefits are between doing an a-bsn program or entry-level masters program? i know the masters usually takes 3 years, but besides the time, does it really matter which program you do?

levoila · Apr 11, 2009

I think if the entry-level MSN program that you apply to leads to the specialty that most interests you, then it makes more sense to go that route. But, if you'd end up with a specialty that wasn't really your intended specialty, or you still don't know what you want to specialize in, then going the A-BSN route makes more sense.

I don't think that there is that much of a difference. In either scenario, you'd become a RN after 12-18 months. I believe the CSUN program is a 15 month program.

If you end up with a MSN that is not your terminal goal, you can still do a post-master's certification in the area of your choice. It just seems like that might take longer and that you end up spending several years working toward something that isn't your primary interest.

I think it's a personal choice. I've asked many nurses and NPs about this and the general consensus is that it makes more sense to get more experience before starting the MSN so that you'll know a lot more about what you're going to be studying (thanks to your RN experience) and then the MSN classes will be easier since you will be more familiar with everything. Many of them have also said that either way I would be okay.