CSU Sacramento's BSN program and Sonoma State's FNP program?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2011

Does anyone know if they're good programs? Like will they prepare me well for nursing, because I think people graduate out of them rather quickly.

It's not the school you attend that prepares you well for nursing. Rather, it's the first year of actually working as a nurse that prepares you well for nursing.

And also will it be hard to find a job if I go to these schools, say, compared to UC Davis or some prestigious school? Thank you! :)

It is extremely hard to get a nursing job in the state of California as a new grad, regardless of where you attended school. Since the economy started slowing down in '08 and '09, California schools have been producing lots of new nurses and very few new jobs for them.

Mossback · Sep 26, 2011

Does anyone know if they're good programs? Like will they prepare me well for nursing, because I think people graduate out of them rather quickly. And also will it be hard to find a job if I go to these schools, say, compared to UC Davis or some prestigious school? Thank you! :)

As a Sac State grad, I can give you some perspective on the program. Seats in the BSN program are highly sought, with only about a quarter of the applicants being admitted. Those entering the program typically have very high pre-req grades and strong test scores. The program is rigorous, but offers a thorough nursing education. Many members of the faculty continue to work part time as nurses in order to keep pace with developments on the clinical side of nursing.

Sac State has agreements many of the major hospitals in the region, and can provide clinical placements for students at the U.C. Davis Medical Center, the Sutter and CHW hospitals, and a number of the Kaiser facilities.

It's worth noting that the Sac State program moved into spacious new quarters early this year, with state-of-the-art patient simulators and the largest computer lab on campus.

I graduated from Sac State in May, passed the NCLEX in June, and was hired by a major hospital in early September. Thus far, about 60% of the May graduating class has found hospital jobs.

It is worth noting that although the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at U.C Davis is very highly regarded, it has yet to implement a bachelor's degree program. Such a program is planned for the future, but currently the focus is on master's and doctoral level nurisng programs.

Best of luck in your pursuit of a nursing education.

nicole8584 · Sep 28, 2011

As a Sac State grad, I can give you some perspective on the program. Seats in the BSN program are highly sought, with only about a quarter of the applicants being admitted. Those entering the program typically have very high pre-req grades and strong test scores. The program is rigorous, but offers a thorough nursing education. Many members of the faculty continue to work part time as nurses in order to keep pace with developments on the clinical side of nursing.
Best of luck in your pursuit of a nursing education.

Hi Mossback,

I am applying for Sac State's BSN program for this spring. I have a 4.0 in the prereqs, 3.95 overall gpa, and 91.3% on the TEAS, so I am feeling optimistic about my chances. Did you enjoy your time at Sac State and in the program? I've heard it is a very good program, but I'm interested to know how you liked it overall - even though you said it was rigorous.

Mossback · Sep 28, 2011

I am applying for Sac State's BSN program for this spring. I have a 4.0 in the prereqs, 3.95 overall gpa, and 91.3% on the TEAS, so I am feeling optimistic about my chances..

I think your grades and scores will make you a very competitive candidate for Sac State's program.

Did you enjoy your time at Sac State and in the program? I've heard it is a very good program, but I'm interested to know how you liked it overall - even though you said it was rigorous.

I generally enjoyed my time in the nursing program. It can be stressful at times, and it requires a huge time commitment, but overall I was quite pleased with it. The program is reasonably well organized and sensibly laid out, although the volume of material is high and the pace is very fast.

I liked most of the faculty and felt that they cared deeply about producing safe and competenet nurses. On many occasions I saw faculty members go out of their way to help students thrive and succeed. However, the standards are quite strict. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that a number of students either failed out of the program or were forced to repeat a semester.

Clinical placements begin relatively early in the first semester, so you'll get "hands on" experience almost right away. Most people don't like clinicals much at first, but they find it gets more enjoyable as they gain experience. As students move through the program, they spend more and more time in clinical, culminating in a 255-hour nursing preceptorship in the fourth semester. The clinical placements were generally quite good, with those at UCDMC providing a particularly good learning environment.

As is common in many nursing programs, my class became quite close during our two years together. You'll find yourself spending much more time with your classmates than with family or friends, so I suppose it is natural for the group to become quite tightly knit. I came out of the program with many friends of the sort that only shared adversity can produce.

I certainly wish you the best of luck in Sac State's program.

nicole8584 · Sep 29, 2011

I generally enjoyed my time in the nursing program. It can be stressful at times, and it requires a huge time commitment, but overall I was quite pleased with it. The program is reasonably well organized and sensibly laid out, although the volume of material is high and the pace is very fast.
I liked most of the faculty and felt that they cared deeply about producing safe and competenet nurses. On many occasions I saw faculty members go out of their way to help students thrive and succeed. However, the standards are quite strict. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that a number of students either failed out of the program or were forced to repeat a semester.
As is common in many nursing programs, my class became quite close during our two years together. You'll find yourself spending much more time with your classmates than with family or friends, so I suppose it is natural for the group to become quite tightly knit. I came out of the program with many friends of the sort that only shared adversity can produce.

Thank you so much for the information! I'm so glad to hear the faculty is good. I know it'll be even harder than I realize right now, but I really want to do well in the program. I'm scared/excited/nervous, but your reply makes me feel better about the school.

TLS11 · Sep 30, 2011

Mossback, I finally figured out who you are by reading some of your other posts. I still can't believe we both ended our job search in the same place.

To others who are reading this post, Mossback was a very a thoughtful and studious classmate of mine. I second mostly everything he wrote in the above posts. Although Sac State's program is very rigorous, it is definitely doable. Some of my classmates had children (myself included) and/or worked while attending the program. It definitely requires more organization and planning if either of those situations exist in your life.

Heartsoarr, are you planning to get your BSN before going back to school and getting your FNP? I think you need to be an RN in order to be considered for the FNP program. Please disregard my message if I am stating something you already knew. Good luck with your decision.

aggie313 · Dec 8, 2011

I don't think where you went to nursing school really matters as much as the connections you make in clinicals.