****** off at CSCC

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Specializes in Women's Health NP.

So!

I applied for both the traditional track nursing and online track nursing at CSCC. I have heard great things about their program and it was really my first choice out of all the schools I applied to (others being Mt Carmel and OSU). I was told to apply for traditional, that way in case you don't get into the online program you have a backup.

I got my acceptance for traditional track, to start in Fall of 2012. I have to accept or reject the offer by March 15th. Now, I already know that I won't find out about my status for the online application until April. I called the office and they said I have to decide now -- I can take my chances with trying to get into the online program, and reject the traditional offer. Or I could accept the traditional offer, but then my online track application would be null and void. And she confirmed that I won't find out about being accepted/rejected from the online track until late April.

This really seems wrong to me. When I pointed all this out, her response was "you can always reapply to the traditional track in August". Seriously? That's all you've got for me? Surely I'm not the only person applying to both programs here.

Long story short -- should I just wait until Fall 2012 (and go back into repaying loans as a result)? Try my chances with the online track? Check out other schools or try to see if I get in to Mt Carmel or OSU? Oy vey. Sorry for the rambling ranting. :mad:

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Personally I'm all about actually showing up for a class. I try to avoid the online only programs/classes. I feel that I learn more by actually going to a lecture, plus if I have any questions I can ask them in lecture and get an immediate response rather than waiting around for the instructor to get back to me via email if they even get back to me.

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I applied to the traditional program for the same reasons you did. I plan to apply to switch tracks for second quarter. It is on a space available basis, but I have heard it is never a problem. To me, spending one quarter attending classes and then switching to online is well worth the guarantee. Plus, like ScottE said, there is a huge value to attending classes, especially in nursing. If my job permitted me to stay in the traditional track I would.

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Specializes in Women's Health NP.

Sure, I understand going to class and all that. But is it worth waiting an entire year for? Or are you saying I should scrap CSCC altogether and just pony up the money for Mt. Carmel? I decided that I'm rejecting the offer for traditional track and waiting to see if I can get in online. If I don't get in, there are other options. It just seems insane that they wouldn't let you wait until you found out whether or not you got into the online track before accepting or declining the traditional track option.

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They have more than enough qualified students so no reason to let students wait. I recommend doing what I did -- accepting the offer to the Traditional Program, attending classes the first quarter so you can get your feet wet and really get to know the faculty members and your classmates, then switch to the online program for quarters 2-7.

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Specializes in Women's Health NP.

Just an update - I got into the Fall 2011 online track! Very excited to start at CSCC and be done by June 2013. Hopefully the switch to semesters won't screw up that timeline...

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Just an update - I got into the Fall 2011 online track! Very excited to start at CSCC and be done by June 2013. Hopefully the switch to semesters won't screw up that timeline...

It will certainly be interesting. I am getting out just in time. I graduate December 2012 so my last "quarter" will actually be a semester. Luckily, it will literally be just that - the last quarter will be the exact same for me, but will just be an extra 5 weeks long and my 6th quarter will be a few weeks short (less psych - oh darn :p).

I know once the switch is complete, they are going to be combining classes. For example, first quarter, NURS 100/110 will be combined into one class which I think will be great. They classes blend together anyway and I can never keep them straight.

NURS 100 = lecture about head to toe assessment & lab to practice head to toe assessment

NURS 110 = lecture about the fundamentals of nursing, seminar to enhance lecture with small group discussions, and clinical to practice the NURS 100 skills after you are successful in NURS 100 lab

They should give you some information on how the switch will affect you at orientation - I know they went over that with us. Our orientation was about 1.5 months before we started the program.

Congrats on the acceptance! :yeah: I will be an online classmate just ahead of you so feel free to ask any questions you have (my first quarter, this one, is traditional and I will be starting online next quarter). There are a few others of us on this forum and knowing people ahead of me in the program has been an invaluable resource.

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Specializes in Women's Health NP.

Thanks foreverLaur! Our orientation is sometime in July. It'll be a bit disorienting having half the program in quarters and half in semesters, but whatever I need to do in order to get that RN, you know? The online part of it was crucial for me since I have a full-time job as an MST and need it to stay full-time for the pay/benefits. I'm really excited and can't wait to start!!! I know the first quarter we're at LTC, do you know if we do any of the STNA stuff like vitals, etc, or do we just do assessments? I really hope we can skip the whole vitals/emptying foleys/etc since that's what I do 40hrs/week. . . . .

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Thanks foreverLaur! Our orientation is sometime in July. It'll be a bit disorienting having half the program in quarters and half in semesters, but whatever I need to do in order to get that RN, you know? The online part of it was crucial for me since I have a full-time job as an MST and need it to stay full-time for the pay/benefits. I'm really excited and can't wait to start!!! I know the first quarter we're at LTC, do you know if we do any of the STNA stuff like vitals, etc, or do we just do assessments? I really hope we can skip the whole vitals/emptying foleys/etc since that's what I do 40hrs/week. . . . .

We pretty much just did assessments. It gets pretty repetitive. I watched a few baths, but just for the purpose of doing a skin assessment. We were not expected to do any STNA type skills. The first hour is pre-conference where we essentially talk about the clinical focus for the day. Then we have two hours to do our assessments. Then we spent an hour discussing how the day went and preparing for the next week. We had to do at least two complete health histories and I wrote up assessments at least 3-4 times so far this quarter on the systems (EENT, integumentary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pain, peripheral vascular, neurological, respiratory, etc). We did do vitals every week though. First quarter isn't very hands on since you are mostly looking at the patient. I busted out my penlight for a few assessments and my stethoscope for a few, but that was about it. I'm looking forward to being more involved 2nd quarter and beyond.

I take it you work at Mt. Carmel since you are a MST? This first quarter was rough for me since I was in the campus based program and I also work 40 hours a week (have to to support myself and have benefits like you said). I will be glad to switch to online!

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Specializes in Women's Health NP.

Yep, Mt. Carmel (didn't realize they were the only ones who had MST's, although I think I remember OSU only uses the title of PCA even though they do phlebotomy as well). I know the Mt. Carmel students who come on our floor take one patient and do everything for them (bath, vitals, ac/hs glucose, etc) so I'm just wondering how that's going to compare to CSCC. I'll definitely be talking to you more, as we're only 2 quarters apart and both doing the online track!

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Yes, I believe Mt Carmel is the only one with MSTs. OhioHealth also uses PSAs and they aren't allowed to do anything anymore - they literally just act as a STNA.

Columbus State is a bit different in how they set up their clinicals. Since we took NURC 101/102 prior to starting nursing school, they expect us to already know how to do that. They prefer for us to spend our time learning the new nursing skills and not re-doing skills we have already mastered (mostly the NURC 101 skills). It does happen - if the need arises or someone needs help you are fully expected to step up (because nurses do have to check glucose, vitals, help with baths, etc) but it isn't an expectation that you will be the nurse and the nurse aide for your patient. They also expect you to be able to step up and inset a foley if asked (although probably rare first quarter) or any other NURC 102 skill. It was rather refreshing actually to not spend my first quarter as an acting nurse aide and actually getting to do nursing.

I was lucky and unlucky first quarter. I ended up at an amazing clinical site (brand new, very nice/neat/clean, great staff, great residents) but ended up with the worst clinical insturctor. You just have to get to know her though - it all ended up okay :). First quarter was very different than I anticipated.

I wouldn't worry about the online program. I was worried about switching my first few weeks because the lectures and seminars seemed so valuable. Then I realized that lectures are just that - a big lecture hall. They are recorded and placed on Blackboard so I stopped going and listened to them on my own time (but DO listen to them as they are a HUGE help for exams). Seminars can be extremely valuable but the online students get a lot of extra exercises and projects to simulate the same type of learning. Most online students also meet with their advisor or instructor once a week. Your clinical and lab will be the same as traditional (just at a different time).

Feel free to ask away - I wish I had made more use of the recources I had first quarter, especially early on!

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Columbus State is a bit different in how they set up their clinicals. Since we took NURC 101/102 prior to starting nursing school, they expect us to already know how to do that. They prefer for us to spend our time learning the new nursing skills and not re-doing skills we have already mastered (mostly the NURC 101 skills). It does happen - if the need arises or someone needs help you are fully expected to step up (because nurses do have to check glucose, vitals, help with baths, etc) but it isn't an expectation that you will be the nurse and the nurse aide for your patient. They also expect you to be able to step up and inset a foley if asked (although probably rare first quarter) or any other NURC 102 skill. It was rather refreshing actually to not spend my first quarter as an acting nurse aide and actually getting to do nursing.

FYI - you may find this not to be true in furture quaters depending on where you are for future clinicals. Lots of units in local hospitals do not have sufficient PCAs (or whatever they call them on that unit) for them to perform all those functions. On those floors the nurses do am care and the like and if you are there, you will be expected to function in that capacity as well. But, that's a good opportunity to do some in depth assessment.

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