CSUSM ABSN Fall 2019

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Hi everyone! I've been following a lot of the previous threads for CSUSM's ABSN program. I'm finally ready to apply for the Fall 2019 semester, so I figured I should start this thread and talk to the rest of you who are in the same boat! :) I currently just have to take the TEAS, which I'm signed up to take next week! Has anyone already submitted their apps yet?

1 hour ago, futurernmelne said:

@alore94 did your evaluation get sent to your personal email?

Hi! Yes, I received my evaluation through my personal email. I just logged into MyCSUSM and did not see any communication from the school on that website. Hope this helps and good luck to you!!!

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Specializes in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist (SRNA).
On 2/4/2019 at 10:08 AM, coco1320 said:

@WAboundSN Thanks for the info and for offering to answer questions!

Since you are not finished with the program, I understand if you cannot fully answer my question, but I'm just wondering how well you feel the program is preparing you for the workforce and how you feel your job prospects upon graduating will be. My #1 goal is to stay in the San Diego area after graduating and work in a large hospital... but I know the job market is very competitive for new grads. Any insight you have would be very appreciated!

This is a worry of mine too, but I'm open to going anywhere within a 2 hour drive or certain out of state locations (moving to Washington is actually one of my top choices right now), so it opens up opportunities for me. It is very competitive for jobs, and the more picky you are in regards to location, hospital, and unit, the more difficult it will be for you to get a job. A lot of the job search is based on who you know and not as much of what you know. As an example, I work in an ER as an ER/Trauma Tech - our manager doesn't even look at your application for positions, whether it's a tech position or an RN position, unless you were personally referred by someone she knows.

The program does have a good reputation in the San Diego area and with our clinical partners, so that is a plus, but there are lot of other programs out there too. San Diego is more competitive and I've heard of graduates having better luck at some of the Riverside County hospitals that we have as clinical partners as the competition isn't as high for jobs. Some people get jobs very quickly, others, not as quickly. This really goes for any program and based on my knowledge and experience, it's not going to matter so much what school is on your diploma.

We do have a very high first time pass rate for the NCLEX, right around a 97%. That is really the only objective way to measure a nursing programs success. The program is very rigorous and if you put in the effort, I think you'll be pleased with your results. A lot of people in nursing school have the motto of "C's get degrees" because it doesn't matter if you get an A or a C, you can still sit for the NCLEX. I am very against this mindset and I think it sets you up for failure. Strive for the A. If you end up with a C, analyze what you did wrong, what you can do better, and move on, but why set the bar so low? You'll hit some bumps and get some bruises along the way, but this is going to happen at any nursing program.

Not sure if that helps or not.

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@@WAboundSN Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I am pretty set on CSUSM. I have applied to UC Irvine's MEPN program as well though and if I am accepted there it will be a difficult choice between the two. CSUSM would allow me to stay in SD and hopefully make connections during clinical rotations. I will also be completing a CNA program soon so I hope to be able to work and make connections that way if I can eventually land a job in a hospital.

UCI's admit rate is so low that I will honestly be shocked if I get in, so its more than likely that the decision will be made for me anyways ?

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Specializes in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist (SRNA).
2 hours ago, coco1320 said:

@@WAboundSN Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I am pretty set on CSUSM. I have applied to UC Irvine's MEPN program as well though and if I am accepted there it will be a difficult choice between the two. CSUSM would allow me to stay in SD and hopefully make connections during clinical rotations. I will also be completing a CNA program soon so I hope to be able to work and make connections that way if I can eventually land a job in a hospital.

UCI's admit rate is so low that I will honestly be shocked if I get in, so its more than likely that the decision will be made for me anyways ?

When I looked at the Entry Level Masters programs years ago, the big issue was hospitals want you to have a BSN to meet their requirements for Magnet status; however, with an ELM program, you only get an MSN and not a BSN. While you'd think an MSN would fill the requirement because it's a higher degree, it technically didn't, so jobs that said they wanted a BSN would not hire you with only your MSN. Again this was several years ago, so I'm not sure if that's still the case, but might be worth looking into.

Also keep in mind if you're applying for the ABSN program at CSUSM with a Fall start date, you'll be at the Temecula campus, only spring start is at the San Marcos campus. This also affects clinical placements. While you'll still very likely have clinical placements in San Diego County, the cohorts at the Temecula campus are placed in Riverside County clinical sites first, so almost all of your clinical rotations will be Riverside County. The furthest clinical site for you coming from San Diego County would either be Riverside Community Hospital or Hemet Valley Medical Center, and we do have students who have to commute from San Diego. Placements are done with no preference given to the students, location is not taken into consideration, and you are not allowed to switch placements with other students, so what you get is what you get.

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@WAboundSN thank you, the info about the MSN wasn't something I was aware of so I'll definitely keep that in mind. Although I know the SFSU EL-MSN program which I also applied to actually does confer a BSN part way through the program. UCI doesnt do this though.

My plan is to decline an acceptance offer from SM for fall and have my app put back into the spring pool (as long as my evaluation score is high enough that I'm 100% confident I'll be admitted a second time).

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On 2/2/2019 at 3:29 PM, WAboundSN said:

The sooner you apply, the faster you'll get your evaluation. Since those of you who have already applied are well before the priority deadline, you should get them back quicker. As time goes on and more and more people apply, things slow down.

I'm half way through the program, let me know if you have any questions.

Hi, I have a super random question, hope you don't mind - my husband wanted to get me a nice stethescope for my birthday. Is there any reason not to get one now (was looking at Littman Classic III or Cardio IV though seems like the latter may be overkill)? Also shoes - was going to start shopping around for some. We just need all white shoes right? I'm just a bit of a planner, and have always been excited to get new supplies for school =) thanks for your time!

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Hi All,

I will most likely be joining the Fall 2019 cohort... just waiting on my last transcript to be sent (has to be a paper copy boooo). Expecting around 43 points so pretty confident I should get in (hope that's not presumptuous). I've seen some people getting admitted to the summer cohort pretty late so if that happened I would also consider summer. Excited to be done with prerequisites and TEAS and applications and everything, can't wait to meet people and start the program!

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Specializes in Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist (SRNA).
6 hours ago, polyacik said:

Hi, I have a super random question, hope you don't mind - my husband wanted to get me a nice stethescope for my birthday. Is there any reason not to get one now (was looking at Littman Classic III or Cardio IV though seems like the latter may be overkill)? Also shoes - was going to start shopping around for some. We just need all white shoes right? I'm just a bit of a planner, and have always been excited to get new supplies for school ? thanks for your time!

You won't need a stethoscope or shoes until second semester. First semester is all pre-nursing, you won't be performing any hands on skills and you'll just be wearing regular clothes to class. So you have a year before you'll need any of these items.

Almost everyone goes with the Classic III, it's good quality for the price. I have been an EMT and ER Tech for a while and a lot of the RNs use a Classic III also. I used my Classic III that I've had for years during second semester, but recently decided to upgrade to a Cardiology IV. While the sound quality is better, is it also more sensitive, and I have heard both from experienced nurses and some of my friends in class who have tried it that it is too sensitive. For example, when listening to heart sounds, it easily picks up bowel sounds too, which can be distracting to some. So for some it's good, others not so much.

Again, shoes you won't need until second semester and they will discuss uniforms at your orientation, which is usually the Friday before your first week of class. Yes they need to be all white, but I'd recommend holding off on buying anything for now until after orientation.

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Hello all,

I am planning to apply to CSUSM Fall 2019 ABSN also . I will continue to follow this thread

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Quick question,

I noticed on the website the priority deadline is 3/15/19. Is that the absolute last day to submit the application? Maybe the way it's phrased is confusing me

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@WAboundSN Thank you for taking the time to answer, that is very helpful!

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8 hours ago, ecobliss said:

Quick question,

I noticed on the website the priority deadline is 3/15/19. Is that the absolute last day to submit the application? Maybe the way it's phrased is confusing me

You can still submit after that deadline, but if you have your heart set on starting in the fall semester, definitely submit prior to the deadline. If you submit after then you will likely be rolled over to the spring semester.

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