CSULA ELMN 2011

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Anyone else applied? I know they're supposed to notify us on April 1st but I'm curious if anyone who applied got any feedback yet. :)

Wow, thank you so much innatchka!! You and bababaowman have been so nice and helpful to us newcomers. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all of our questions :)

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you're welcome. I guess I should study some med-surg now.

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I found this on wikipedia. It calmed my nerves a little bit so I hope it does the same for you.

"Once again there are changes presently in the field, and by 2015 all new NPs will need to be trained at the doctorate level as a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Once again already established NPs with lesser education will be grandfathered in."

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Good luck, I hope you hear back soon from CSULA :). I applied to Western, CSULA, Azusa pacific, and UCLA mecn. I really liked the feel of western and my interviewers, but what got me down was mainly cost and having to move. CSULA's program fit perfectly because I also got along well with my interviewer, but I had a general " I belong here" sense. I can tell the cohort is really close and the director is looking for the best fit into the certain cohort. Also, CSULA is sooo much cheaper, and they are very well known and funded by many donations. Plus, CSULA is so clinical heavy. I'm really excited to start working with patients, I have been waiting for years and years to do that.

dewdrops,

i felt that way too about Western. i got a good vibe from them as well, but it's ridiculously expensive and i'm kinda iffy about it being distance-based. and yeah, i love the fact that csula emphasizes clinicals so much during the first year. i especially like the preceptorship during the last quarter before the NCLEX. thanks for your feedback! :)

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Hey, does anyone know if there's a guideline on the curriculum taught in the CSULA program? I can't seem to find one on their website...

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Hmm...

So I skimmed through this thread and realized A.) I was never invited for an interview (but I'm from Boston so I'm not sure if that makes a difference) and B.) I was only asked to fill out a financial aid form for the Graduate school. The deadline for the form is some point in May, but I faxed it over way ahead of time.

I'm curious where I stand at CSULA. Currently, I'm waitlisted at USCF for their MEPN (FNP specialty) as well as at Regis College in Massachusetts for their accelerated BS/MS program. I am yet to hear from five other schools in the Massachusetts area and on the west coast.

And congratulations to all who have been accepted to the ELMN at CSULA! I will let you know in April what my letter says!

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Hey, does anyone know if there's a guideline on the curriculum taught in the CSULA program? I can't seem to find one on their website...

Here is a breakdown of the classes we took this year in cohort 7 by quarter. The next cohort will take the same classes but probably in a different sequence. The schedule is determined each quarter by the clinical sites they secure and what professors are available to teach.

summer:

Nursing Fundamentals

Nursing Fundamentals clinical

Health Assessment & Promotion

Health Assessment lab (not a clinical, got to the nursing skills lab on campus and practice assessing each other)

Pathophysiology

fall:

Intro to Nursing Research

Case Management

Pharmacology

Nursing care of Women (Pregnancy and Childbirth mostly)

Nursing care of Women clinical (L&D/Post Partum/NICU)

Winter

Nursing care of Adults (general Med/Surg nursing)

Nursing care of Adults Clinical

Psych Nursing

Psych Clinical

Spring

Nursing Leadership (Advanced Med/Surg)

Nursing Leadership clinical (ICU)

Nursing care of Children

Nursing care of Children Clinical

Summer

Public Health/Community Nursing

Public Health/Community Nursing clinical

Preceptorship (240 hours of clinical time)

You will take Fundamentals before Med/Surge and will take Med/Surge before Leadership because those classes really build on each other. Beyond that, this schedule will probably change. I would think the first quarter will probably be the same for cohort 8 because you really need Fundamentals and Assessment as a foundation. Patho could be moved to another quarter but I digress.

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Thank you sooooo much innatchka and bababaowman! I super appreciate the breakdown of a typical schedule and the exact classes we'll be taking. It seems like it is manageable, which is great. I know we will be super busy but it seems like things are organized such that we have 2-4 days off. Can I ask what your stress levels have been throughout the program? Compared to undergrad, how stressed would you say you are in the program?

miss_mimi, I believe CSULA's program is impacted, meaning only CA students can apply. I'm not 100% sure on this, however. This could be a huge reason you have not heard back.

meeeshelllie, I'm also really excited by the clinical exposure. I hope we don't get too stressed after those 12 hour shifts repeatedly! eeek! I'm sort of nervous about the intensity of the program, but seeing these schedules has really helped!

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Can I ask what your stress levels have been throughout the program? Compared to undergrad, how stressed would you say you are in the program?

I personally detest the feeling of being stressed out, so I usually try to stay on top of the reading, and do any assignments I can do early way in advance. It really makes a difference towards the end of the quarter when a bunch of papers are due and people are pulling all-nighters. Then again, I'm the type of person who feels uncomfortable wasting time, so I'll do lit searches and write care plans while I stream Family Guy on Netflix. :o YMMV.

I don't think I'm more or less stressed out than I was during undergrad. I enjoy the subject matter more than I did when I was a psych undergrad because I feel like I'll actually be using it. I also have an awesome tutoring job at a community college that allows me to earn some spending money and study/read when things are quiet.

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In contrast to Innatchka, I am great at wasting time and I generally wait until the last minute to do things. I do get stressed from time to time but overall, it's not that bad. Of course if you would have asked me this question earlier this week when I was studying for finals, I would have probably answered it differently. I'm generally a pretty mellow, easy going guy though. I work a lot harder in this program then I ever did in undergrad. It is a lot of work but I really enjoy the subject matter.

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Thanks Innatchka and Bababaowman for all the information. I'm really excited for orientation to meet everyone and understand more about the program. This is a logistical question. I will be moving to LA from SF and I was thinking of staying in Phase 1 housing over the summer and then figuring it out later where to stay. Is this too far from where classes will be? Should I look for an apt now? And where is a good place to stay?

Also we absolutely need a car right?

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Rpatil88, I believe having a car is a must in LA. The school also requires a copy of your drivers license and insurance info, so I think it is required that you have a car. Hopefully, we will be able to car pool some though, cause when I asked Kathy what hospitals we do clinicals at she listed off hospitals from all around LA county.

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