CSULB Nursing Program Fall 2023

brookiebird, EMT-B · Mar 1, 2023

Mrod3434 said:

Yes, I'm one of them! I live in Costa Mesa so for clinical days I usually wake up around 4:30-5am and leave by 5:45am to make it to pre-conference at 6:30am. It's not horrible because for first semester you only have clinical one day a week. You do have to do pre-planning the day before clinical though, which is where you go and pick your patient for your clinical day. This is also at the hospital and your group has an assigned time of 2.5hrs to get that done. My pre-planning is on Sundays which can sometimes be a pain due to weekend traffic, but it's usually not that bad.

hi!! thank you so much for all of the info, I think we all really appreciate it!

as someone who would be commuting from HB and is extremely not a morning person, that schedule sounds a little rough, haha, almost enough to make me reconsider staying at home during the program. I'm wondering how much flexibility, if any, you have in scheduling clinical shifts? are there any options to do night shifts, maybe?

also, you mentioned that you quit your job due to the demands of the program. I'm planning on working an average of one 12 hr shift per week, and I'm lucky to have a lot of flexibility with my work schedule. I'm curious to know if you think that this would be doable during the program, based on your impression so far?

anaphylaxis222 · Mar 2, 2023

Mrod3434 said:

Yes, I'm one of them! I live in Costa Mesa so for clinical days I usually wake up around 4:30-5am and leave by 5:45am to make it to pre-conference at 6:30am. It's not horrible because for first semester you only have clinical one day a week. You do have to do pre-planning the day before clinical though, which is where you go and pick your patient for your clinical day. This is also at the hospital and your group has an assigned time of 2.5hrs to get that done. My pre-planning is on Sundays which can sometimes be a pain due to weekend traffic, but it's usually not that bad.

This is refreshing to hear because I would be in a similar situation!

Mrod3434 · Mar 2, 2023

brookiebird said:

hi!! thank you so much for all of the info, I think we all really appreciate it!

as someone who would be commuting from HB and is extremely not a morning person, that schedule sounds a little rough, haha, almost enough to make me reconsider staying at home during the program. I'm wondering how much flexibility, if any, you have in scheduling clinical shifts? are there any options to do night shifts, maybe?

also, you mentioned that you quit your job due to the demands of the program. I'm planning on working an average of one 12 hr shift per week, and I'm lucky to have a lot of flexibility with my work schedule. I'm curious to know if you think that this would be doable during the program, based on your impression so far?

Don't worry, the schedule sounds rough but is completely doable! I honestly think I could have worked and completed the program just fine (I worked two 8 hour shifts a week), but there's other factors in my life that we're making it harder to work and go to school at the same time, plus working wasn't a must for me since I have supplemental income from my VA disability. It was just the easier and more sensible choice for me.

You do not get a decision in your clinical day/time/group. That will be decided for you and they will not take into consideration your commute, job, etc. They expect you to put school as the priority and everything else second. I think towards the end of the program they might have the option of a night shift clinical if I heard correctly during orientation. During the first half of the program though I know that clinical is only offered for day shift.

I would definitely stay at home in HB (especially if you live with your parents). The commute is one thing but I know room and board prices are pretty expensive plus my experience living at home has decreased my stress levels because I have a support system in my parents as well as home cooked meals each night. I give them money for rent, utilities, and grocery shopping and them being able to take care of that for me alone is a huge weight off my shoulders. I live close to the fair grounds in Costa Mesa and my commute to school averages around 20-25min, whereas clinical is around 25min as well. It's only really 2 days a week that you have to wake up early! The earliest time for preplanning (which would be your third day) is like 9am I think.

anaphylaxis222 said:

This is refreshing to hear because I would be in a similar situation!

Yea it's not too bad! ? Any other questions?

Mrod3434 · Mar 2, 2023

Simo1224 said:

When do you chose trimester or semester or is it already chosen for you? Also when you get your nursing schedule is that something you have to go through and sign up for yourself or is it predetermined for you?

You choose trimester or semester at orientation. They'll give you a notecard to fill out which one you want and then I think they notified us like a week later. There's more slots for the trimester track, so it's kind of a lottery if everyone wants semester.

Your nursing schedule and clinical group are predetermined for you and you don't get a say in it. They won't accommodate you, you just have to switch your schedule around to be able to fit it. They send you a sheet with everyone's assigned class sections and clinical groups and then you have to register for those specific sections by yourself.

Mrod3434 · Mar 2, 2023

Simo1224 said:

When do you chose trimester or semester or is it already chosen for you? Also when you get your nursing schedule is that something you have to go through and sign up for yourself or is it predetermined for you?

The only thing you would choose on your own is the upper division GE category C course if this is your first degree and you're a transfer. Second degree students don't have to take one. Here's the link, it's all the way at the bottom! Just click the drop down arrow.
https://www.csulb.edu/student-records/upper-division-c-courses

mcb26 · Mar 2, 2023

So happy I found this thread!
I was also invited to the comms exercise.
My stats are:

4.0 GE GPA

4.0 Science GPA

89.3% TEAS composite

95.4% TEAS reading

Impaction score: 9.694

Simo1224 · Mar 2, 2023

Mrod3434 said:

You choose trimester or semester at orientation. They'll give you a notecard to fill out which one you want and then I think they notified us like a week later. There's more slots for the trimester track, so it's kind of a lottery if everyone wants semester.

Your nursing schedule and clinical group are predetermined for you and you don't get a say in it. They won't accommodate you, you just have to switch your schedule around to be able to fit it. They send you a sheet with everyone's assigned class sections and clinical groups and then you have to register for those specific sections by yourself.

so it would be 1.5 years for trimester compared to 2.5 years semester? What has your experience been like with the trimester program? It sounds appealing to me since I'm already 26 and I'd like to start working sooner rather than later. I'm just wondering if there is additional stress that comes with the program and what some pros and cons are to choosing trimester over semester. Do you feel like it's doable and you're learning the same? Do you think you made the right decision? Also when is break and how long?

Mrod3434 · Mar 3, 2023

Simo1224 said:

so it would be 1.5 years for trimester compared to 2.5 years semester? What has your experience been like with the trimester program? It sounds appealing to me since I'm already 26 and I'd like to start working sooner rather than later. I'm just wondering if there is additional stress that comes with the program and what some pros and cons are to choosing trimester over semester. Do you feel like it's doable and you're learning the same? Do you think you made the right decision? Also when is break and how long?

So the trimester program is 1.5 years long (5 semesters including summers). From what I've heard, you get Spring break, and like a month in the Winter I think. I think you also get a week or two in between semesters. I'm only first semester so I couldn't tell you much because at this point in the program, it's not really different than the semester program. Both semester and trimester students have lecture together. Semester students have multiple clinical sites where they have the chances to network more as well as learn different charting systems which can look good on your resume. Trimester students have one clinical site the entire program (Long Beach Memorial) and from what I've heard, end up having more autonomy. There's a great blog by a former student that goes over pros and cons of each program.
https://www.thetinynurse.com/trivsem

Mrod3434 · Mar 3, 2023

Simo1224 said:

so it would be 1.5 years for trimester compared to 2.5 years semester? What has your experience been like with the trimester program? It sounds appealing to me since I'm already 26 and I'd like to start working sooner rather than later. I'm just wondering if there is additional stress that comes with the program and what some pros and cons are to choosing trimester over semester. Do you feel like it's doable and you're learning the same? Do you think you made the right decision? Also when is break and how long?

I personally think I made the best decision for me. I'm 27 and I'm also just wanting to get into the field as fast as possible. It honestly depends on your lifestyle and how much time you can dedicate to studying.

Simo1224 · Mar 3, 2023

Mrod3434 said:

So the trimester program is 1.5 years long (5 semesters including summers). From what I've heard, you get Spring break, and like a month in the Winter I think. I think you also get a week or two in between semesters. I'm only first semester so I couldn't tell you much because at this point in the program, it's not really different than the semester program. Both semester and trimester students have lecture together. Semester students have multiple clinical sites where they have the chances to network more as well as learn different charting systems which can look good on your resume. Trimester students have one clinical site the entire program (Long Beach Memorial) and from what I've heard, end up having more autonomy. There's a great blog by a former student that goes over pros and cons of each program.
https://www.thetinynurse.com/trivsem

That post was really helpful thank you! and also a bit discouraging haha

Mrod3434 · Mar 3, 2023

Simo1224 said:

That post was really helpful thank you! and also a bit discouraging haha

Oh no, don't be discouraged!! Why do you say that?

Simo1224 · Mar 3, 2023

Mrod3434 said:

Oh no, don't be discouraged!! Why do you say that?

"I was a victim of this but I was mostly jealous and upset that the trimester students were drowned in paperwork whereas semester students could actually learn instead of Care Plan during class."

"I was definitely placed under more stress. Sammy and I both agree that the workload trimester students are given is unfair since both programs get the same degree at the end."

"Care Plans are expected to be about 60 pages just for one patient."

"They create a very anxiety riddled environment at times because they question everything. They will take a look at your Care Plans and can even send you home if your Care Plan is not up to par."

"Instructors will still teach but they don't drill you as much compared to LBM instructors. You get more sleep, and are actually able to enjoy clinicals in a healthier environment where you are not anxious all the time."

to quote a few