Compressed Time Frame Nursing at Western

post-it · Apr 2, 2016

Hey everyone, I'm just wondering if anyone on here has any experience with clinical rotations in the CTF nursing program at Western. Are they all located in London or are there also placements in the nearby cities? Is it a good idea to buy a car or just rent a car for the clinical days? Thank you in advance for your help!

In previous years the CTF class was only out of town in the first placement in long term care, and in London for the rest of the placements. We were originally told the same thing but there was some 'miscommunication' and it turns out we can in fact be placed anywhere in the southwest LHIN. The LHIN stretches from south of London to Tobermory. Some of these placements may be up to 2.5 hours away, in which case the administrators suggested we pool money to stay over since the placements are two days in a row.

I have yet to be placed out of town so I can only tell you what I've heard from other members of the class. So far it seems that there are usually about 2/12 clinical groups that end up placed out of town each placement, and those who were out of town they have usually been able to arrange transportation with people in the group who have a car. There is also a transportation fund allotted to each student who is out of town.

post-it · Apr 2, 2016

Just another note, I mentioned a long term care placement in the post above, but this has been taken out and replaced with lab time. There is also no family/peds placement, it is being replaced with a general acute care placement. They have made changes to the program so the website's breakdown of the curriculum is not accurate. I've added the updated placement schedule below:

Year 1, Fall - no placement, sim lab with actors

Year 1, Winter - acute care

Year 1, Summer - community health, mental health sim lab

Year 2, Fall - acute care

Year 2, Winter - integrated practicum

ltang62 · Apr 2, 2016

Thank you so much for your info.

I emailed the program coordinator, and she told me there are changes in the placements for the 2016 enrollment year. But she didn't tell me what the changes were. I wish that we could get more diverse placements instead of 2 acute care placements.

Hopefully, i can pool with somebody if the placement is far away.

Just 1 more question. In Term 2, there are 5 courses, but 1 course is a lab and another one is placement. Do you think it's wise for me to add another course?

Thanks again for your input :)

post-it · Apr 2, 2016

Thank you so much for your info.
I emailed the program coordinator, and she told me there are changes in the placements for the 2016 enrollment year. But she didn't tell me what the changes were. I wish that we could get more diverse placements instead of 2 acute care placements.
Hopefully, i can pool with somebody if the placement is far away.
Just 1 more question. In Term 2, there are 5 courses, but 1 course is a lab and another one is placement. Do you think it's wise for me to add another course?
Thanks again for your input :)

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. The program is very heavy and is especially challenging the second half of each semester when you are in placement for a couple of days a week. I am just finishing up term 2 and most of us are pretty drained. That being said every person is different; I know that I have to go through the content more then others in my class to get a similar grade. In the end I'm sure it is possible but I wouldn't recommend it unless the course is especially important to you.

I also briefly remember the lab coordinator saying there was going to be another lab course added specifically for med admin, so it's especially hard to say when there isn't a finalized timetable.

ltang62 · Apr 2, 2016

Thanks again for the input.

I have this whole summer off to relax, volunteer, and prepare for the program.

So i'm planning to study pathology and pharmacology ahead of time.

By the time i take these courses, hopefully they'll just be review for me.

I really want to take this psych course which is offered online in the second term (so shouldn't affect my placement schedule, just need to study at home).

Maybe after taking the first term courses, i'll see if i can handle the coursework and add an extra course for term 2.

Also, do the instructors advise you guys to volunteer while still in the program? or is the program too heavy-loaded to do extra stuff?

Secondchance566 · Apr 2, 2016

Have you already been accepted into the program? and if so, what was your average?

I'm a little nervous that I'm going to miss the cutoff average.

post-it · Apr 2, 2016

Thanks again for the input.
I have this whole summer off to relax, volunteer, and prepare for the program.
So i'm planning to study pathology and pharmacology ahead of time.
By the time i take these courses, hopefully they'll just be review for me.
I really want to take this psych course which is offered online in the second term (so shouldn't affect my placement schedule, just need to study at home).
Maybe after taking the first term courses, i'll see if i can handle the coursework and add an extra course for term 2.
Also, do the instructors advise you guys to volunteer while still in the program? or is the program too heavy-loaded to do extra stuff?

Np!

They advise against it, however after getting through the first year I intend on starting to work part-time. Lots of other people are also working part time or volunteering. There are definetly times it is more challenging to balance everything since it is much more demanding then your previous undergraduate degree.

ltang62 · Apr 3, 2016

My average for the last 10.0 courses is high 80's.

The course coordinator told me that the cutoff for last year was 83.1% (840 applicants for 96 spots).

post-it · Apr 8, 2016

ltang62, just thought I would let you know that the new curriculum is posted on the uwo nursing website now (if you haven't already seen it).