Cedar Crest BSN

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Hi everyone. I recently joined this forum and have been hooked since I consider it to be a very helpful resource. I am currently a candidate for summer track BSN program at cedar crest which begins in May. I am starting this thread with the hope of finding current students or students applying there to share their experience, worries and stories as well.

Brief description about myself. I am a 31 year old male with a current GPA of 3.81 transferring from a CC. I am yet to take the teas exam and will be taking my last prereqs in the spring semester at cedar crest. I work three jobs and have a family. I will be commuting to school (about 70 miles both ways). I know it sounds crazy but didn't have that much options. I am pretty excited about the program. However, I do have some concerns which I hope any current student could help me with.

How intense is the program? Do you have access to useful resources? How is the clinical aspect like? What are the pros and cons of the nursing program ? I know the school is dominated by female. What are the chances of males making it in the nursing program? Anyone in or from cedar crest should please respond .

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Hey

I just finished my first semester and it was crazy, but crazy good. Literally everyone felt like having panic attacks during the first week, (we were all full time), but the semester flew by so fast

The program is intense, but well worth it. The teachers are amazing, some more than others, but that can be said about any school. But they are truly supportive, and try and make sure you utilize all your resources. They definitely push you farther and try and make you a better student, so there is some tough love but I enjoyed it all.

We do get access to lots of resources, ATI it the ONE BIG ONE that you should always use, HINT HINT.

I really liked the clinical s, I had 2 already for my first semester, a fundamentals one and a mental health one. The teachers ease you into it and there are lab portions with the fundamentals one too, so you definitely learn your skills and stuff before they let you lose. My teachers was amazing during the first clinical s, always checking in on us, offering support and pushing us to think on a higher level with patient care.

You might not have a mental health clinical until much later, since you are going in the summer, and will be part time.

Pro/cons, i like that we can switch to full time or part time as our classes and schedules need to be adjusted, such is life, very unpredictable so this program is flexible in that aspect.

You are only allowed 2 repeats during your entire program, so dont waste them in the beginning with the "easier courses"

there are some "weed out" courses, and you'll quickly find out which ones are which, like pharm or geriatrics, but that will come later for you, but fundamentals is your base, dont be that guy/girl who has to waste a repeat on that. USE ATI and practice questions and everything you can, and do well on all your exams so even a cumulative final wont kill your grade.

Yes there is ESTROGEN everywhere, but there are quiet a few male students as well, dont let that hinder you

PLUS, we went from a 92 to 94% pass rate this semester for NCLEX, so being a cedar crest grad will help you.

We have hospitals come to us and do little presentations with us, like Lehigh Valley, and they help you along. They offer loans and such too, and job opportunities to work as a nurse aid or professional student nurse or something, which helps you along in experience.

I heard someone that most grads already have a job before they graduate or know they are going to be working at a specific hospital.

As far as the 3 jobs, and a family, props to you, wishing you all the best, and part time is probably the best best choice for you, although I know some crazy people doing full time with families.

This program will take up your time, it will be stressful, it will be hard, youll have to put in the time and work to pass.

It will all come down to a balancing act and SCHEDULING everything and sticking to that schedule and prioritizing.

But it can be done, I did it, a lot of others did, very very very very few students did get weeded out or have to repeat or something, but that is life and how it goes.

And yes I was in your position once, there is like NO information on here regarding Cedar crest, its crazy since its HUGE program in the Lehigh Valley

Just keep your head down and to the books and study hard, and its SOO doable, but very tough to do.

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P.s I just saw your post on the LCCC thread too, sorry I havent logged on in a while, but yea send me any questions or whatever, and I'll try to help!

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Thank you so much for the info. It is so much helpful coming from a current student. I really wanted to go full time but my nursing advisor adviced me against it. Well, we will see. I am glad you are doing well and wish u all the best. Will keep in touch.

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Hi! I was just accepted to Cedar Crest and was thinking of doing the part-time program beginning in May as well.

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Nice to know. Sorry for getting back so late. Been working all day. I am happy to finally find someone gearing for the same program. I will be taking my teas exam on Monday the 9th of February. Really hoping to do well because I have one shot at it. I guess you are in the same situation right.

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Hi Angela. I am wandering if you is going for the summer program. Kindly PM me.

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