Concorde

Coloradogrl · Jan 13, 2010

I would love to hear some feedback too :)

IrishMama · Jan 13, 2010

Well, I did apply for it and will hear back by March. I work closely with a nurse who did it a few years ago and she loved it. The only other info I've found on it is on these boards and they are a few years old. I do work in a hospital, but I don't have patient contact. I do program coordinating and have done health education in the past.

It is a very small program, they start 24 students only once a year and the admissions counselor said it is just as competitive as their other programs (4-5 times the amount of applicants as they have spots for). It is a two year program, but is similar in cost to the Accelerated BSN. This will work out great for me since I currently have two, but will have 3 little ones in daycare. I don't want to have to finance that expense, so I can work and pay for daycare and take out a loan only for school expenses. I suppose if I didn't have kids, it would still give me the opportunity to work and pay for my living expenses and only have to finance my education.

I'm crossing my fingers I get in, but since I don't have direct patient care experience I'm thinking that will be a huge drawback on my application.

ashaffer · Jan 13, 2010

Thanks for all the info, it is helpful! :yeah:

MarL85 · Jan 27, 2010

Hi everyone!

I was accepted into the CSU Pueblo Accelerated nursing program for Summer 2010. I live in the Northeast and I flew to see the campus and meet some of the staff in Pueblo. I still have some concerns about the program though. If any of the current students could answer my questions that would be great!

Katie-You mentioned they are disorganized and the program is frusterating....because of this do you feel like you are not learning or they are not teaching you the material well enough? Also, are the clinicals at decent hospitals and do you feel like you could get a job once out of the program? I found out at least five students dropped the last program and the NCLEX score was only 63% passing for the year 2008. For 2009 I guess they said it was 93% which is much better but I'm still concerned. I am paying out of state tuition so it would be over 30 grand and I want to make sure I am getting a good education.

Also, is anyone looking for roommates?

Thanks! Good luck everyone!

ashaffer · Jan 27, 2010

I have been wondering the same things. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

denverstudent · Jan 30, 2010

So I just had a finicial aid appointment and I came up with about $15,000 left to pay but it depends on mulitple facters that they will go over with you. Also, unlike my previous undergrad they tell you how much you can get to live off and it equal about $1000 every 3 months. Any suggestions on how to get money would be a great help!! Thanks

cmbrown07 · Feb 4, 2010

I applied to the CHOICE program in January. I had previously applied to the Accelerated program and didn't get in. I re-took some science courses to boost my GPA and completed all pre-reqs aside from the ethics class. I've worked for Planned Parenthood, which I thought would be a highlight of my application since its non-profit. Now I work for UCHSC and have some direct patient contact as a Health Tech. I was told that the CHOICE program was slightly less competitive than the Accelerated program, actually. I have never been able to get anyone to tell me what the median GPA of accepted applicants is though, has anyone else had any luck getting that special piece of information out of anyone?

IrishMama · Feb 4, 2010

That's good to know what others have done who applied to the program. The admissions counselor told me it was just as competitive as their other programs and GPA's are well above 3.0. I've asked on other threads and ABSN students from Regis have said that they knew people with below 3.0 cums, but the pre-reqs were a 4.0 (for ABSN). I'm sure they don't want people thinking one of their programs is easy to get into. The fact that they only start once a year with such a small cohort makes me nervous. Also, no one on these boards has yet to reply that they've attended or applied. I'm hoping that means less applicants.

Where did you take your pre-reqs? I'm thinking if I don't get in this round, I'll get my CNA certification, get some more experience and re-apply.

Good luck! I'm sure having patient contact will strongly help your application this time around. I doubt they discriminate, but it is a Catholic school and Planned Parenthood is pro-choice.... I'm just saying.

WalldancerNIT · Feb 5, 2010

In AZ, there is the Banner Nurse Fellows program through the Maricopa Community College system. It is very competetive, but if accepted, they waive your tuition in exchange for a 3-year commitment to work in the Banner Health system after becoming an RN.

My plan was to apply to that program, but unavoidable reasons, had to move to Colorado and am scrambling to find a program. Would love to find something similar to what is being offered in AZ.

Does anyone happen to know of an employment-commitment program that waives or reduces tuition in Colorado? I am in SW Colorado now, but would also be interested in northern CO.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! :)

JenniferSews · Feb 5, 2010

Those program are long gone in CO. The last I heard of was 2+ years ago. I would call all the hospitals and ask if they have something like it though. It was a well kept secret when I started nursing school and although it was discontinued by 2008 it can't hurt to ask.

Otherwise the community colleges offer a decently priced ADN program, which will be competitive based in 3-4 years (they are finishing their wait lists now.) There are several state and private programs which will give you a BSN. Those may be your best bet here considering the wait on the ADN programs and the current job market.

jilliemazz · Feb 6, 2010

here is a response to an inquirer about the csu pueblo accelerated program:

-in your opinion do you feel like the program is giving you a good education and you will be ready to work as a nurse once you have graduated?

i really do. they tell us that it's their job to get us ready for the nclex/state board exam and we really learn to be nurses once we begin working. it's a lot of information to take in and you won't retain it all, which is normal, but much information comes back in future classes that you'll need to review in order to understand the new material. i'm equally scared and excited to become a nurse but again, i hear that is normal. rn's and teachers are more concerned about those who are too confidant and feel like they know it all.

also, do you feel that they have academic support available if you need it and that the faculty is willing to help if needed?

there are tutors available but i'm not sure if anyone has used them. i found most helpful was my classmates. everyone has a different background and area of expertise and my class has been very good at helping each other out. one of my classmates held an ekg session for a few of us because we weren't understanding it and he did (he's a paramedic). also, myself and others are not the greatest at math and when i said something in class about it, a large handful of my classmates came up to me saying they could help me. i accepted and did better on the exam than one who helped me! most of the teachers are very open to questions during their office hours, email, or walking in when they are around. some are more available then others but at the beginning of the semester, they should announce their available times for questions and concerns.

once they sent you out to your clinicals are you paired up with other students or just on your own for the clinicals?

you are paired up with less than 10 other students and a clinical instructor but each clinical day you are assigned a patient (or more than one, depending on the class and your instructor) and the nurse responsible for that patient. usually you are alone with that nurse but sometimes you and a classmate have a patient that the nurse is responsible for both patients. i actually didn't mind that occasionally because you get to see two opinions on a situation and you can help each other out. they do offer in the spring semester a "passion track". this is the first time they are offering it to accelerated students. it is an extra 135 hours (3 credit class) of you and a preceptor alone all semester. you get paired up with an rn who wants to have a "follower" and you work with her/him during those hours one on one. i just started mine but feel i'll get so much out of it because i'm doing what she is doing all day. she's asking me questions throughout the day and can see my areas of weakness and strength. i believe this is also offered during your last semester as well.

do you think the hospitals they send you to give you a good feel of what nursing is like and that you are prepared?

yes, definitely. there are different sites you have your rotations in so get a feel for their differences. i did work in a hosptial prior to this program and even though they all have their differences, the "feel" is very similar. clinicals can be a lot of what you put in to it as well. ask questions, grill the nurses, talk to the staff, jump in to any opportunity you can (and are allowed to!) to get the most out of it. being a wallflower at all times won't give you the idea of the career.

i have a degree but no experience in nursing, hospitals, etc. do you think i will be trained enough on taking blood pressure, giving shots, etc before they send me to my clinicals?

i would have liked a little more experience but feel i was mostly prepared. your first semester should have an assessment nd fundamentals class and the lab portion is where you learn these skills. i should have taken the opportunity to practice more so that's partially my fault. you do have opportunities with the scans group if you join (nurses club) to do these in the community. the last two semesters i got practice with free blood pressure checks at walmart and giving vaccines for an h1n1 clinic. this, again, is where your classmates help. maybe not so much for the shots :) but the blood pressure. just like any skill, it takes practice to get really good at it.

if you could give me any extra tips or information on the program that would be great...pros and cons, etc.

pros-the curriculum. this was one of the deciding factors in my choice of schools. having ob, pediatrics, & psych were enjoyable. many other schools only offer one or two of those classes. length of the program. i couldn't see me being in school for another 2-4 years after attaining a degree. the intensity-many people see it as bad but i like it. it's good practice on prioritizing and being commited. the teachers-most of them are very intelligent and super supportive. there are, of course, a few who i could have done without. they all seem like great nurses and nice people, but not everyone was meant to teach.

cons-for you, the $. i'm a resident so that's the other main deciding factor in my decision but there are a bunch of out of staters footing a large bill. pueblo-not a bad town, but definitely not the best. actually, this is probably a pro because there isn't much to do so that means less distractions. it has some negative stereotypes to it but i honestly don't see it more than any other town i've lived in. i've heard not to live in the south or east side. many people live downtown and enjoy it; i live on the north side of town (1 mile away from school) and like it as well. i perhaps would have rented a house instead of an apartment so close to school...

there are some classmates who really don't like this program. it's not for everyone and no program is going to be fault-free. they don't allow any grade lower than a b whereas beth-el in colorado springs they accept a c. i believe it's a great education and most people pass the nclex exam. you have to take advantage of your opportunities and as hard as it can be sometimes, just deal with the cards you get. you may not get the best clinical instructor or get stuck with a nurse who does not like nursing students but that's part of life and this career. it doesn't mean your semester or day will be crappy, you have to adapt and learn through each circumstance.

all in all, i do recommend csu pueblo. it's a decision you'll inevitably have to make on your own regarding your own circumstance. i'm almost 30 and feel i was in a great spot in my life for this. my classmates are probably equally younger and older than me; some with families, others single. very few people work and those that do are mostly prn status (with a few exceptions).

i hope to see many of you in may! :)

future rn

proudtobehismommy · Feb 6, 2010

I was wondering what schools in the Springs or Pueblo offer an accelerated RN program. Has anyone attended CTU? They said they have an entrance exam, HESI, but they don't really have any information on it. If you have taken it, please help me out and tell me what to study! LOL! Thanks! :)