DeSales University Accelerated BSN 2015-2016

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Hi everyone! I received a phone call today that I am accepted to the DeSales Accelerated BSN program and will receive a letter in the mail soon with further details.

I was just wondering who else would be in the cohort. I'd love to get a Facebook group going to keep in touch until the program begins in case we have questions/concerns.

I am also still waiting to hear back from other programs and need help making my final decision. I really know nothing about PA since I have always lived in NYC. Before I commit to the DeSales' program, I definitely need to figure out where I would live and how I would get to clinical sites. If there are any members currently in the program or alumni, I'd really appreciate it if you could list the clinical sites or if you know whether or not they are accessible by bus/train. I looked up transportation in PA and found the LANta transportation authority, but it wasn't too much help since I don't know where the clinical sites are. Thank you all in advance!

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Hey there! I am a current student in the ABSN program.

So far, our clinicals have been with Lehigh Valley Health Network, St Lukes, Good Shephard, and Sacred Heart. We also have a few other hospitals we could be rotated to (Easton and Grand View I believe... it's been a while since we did the paper work so I don't remember them all). I believe they are all accessible by public transportation but don't quote me on it - I'm not familiar with public transportation in the Lehigh Valley.

As for places to live, you could stay on campus or there are a few apartment complexes in Hellertown, Allentown, and Bethlehem. Or you could even use Craigslist and find an apartment with a private landlord.

Any other questions please feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer.

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Thank for the help awilliamsesu! I'll probably look up public transportation to those places.

Since you're in the program, I was wondering what you thought of the courses provided. I saw the curriculum and appreciate the fact that we have to take pharm and pathophysiology I think, but what you think of the instructors and the content of the courses? Also, do you feel as though the clinicals are helping you practice "nursing"? Do you feel you'll be prepared and confident once you graduate and start working in the field?

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Hello Jks322! I have also been accepted to this cohort (provisionally - so long as I pass my Microbiology and Chemistry) and have come to this site looking for some advice! My boyfriend is moving to the Lehigh Valley area for work. Currently we are both living in Chicago. I have also been accepted to two schools here, Loyola University (ABSN) and DePaul University (Direct Entry Masters). I am struggling to make a choice of program, but my heart is really leaning toward DeSales. Any advice would be awesome. If I go by ranking, both Loyola and DePaul are above DeSales. But as a career-changer, I am not sure how important that really is? What I want is a program that will make me the most prepared for nursing. So anyone else who can speak to the structure of the program, how prepared they feel/felt for nursing, etc.???? Thank you!!!

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I completely understand what youre saying. I'm having a hard time picking because some schools are ranked higher and more expensive but other programs could be just as good an affordable. What ranking are u referring to? I looked at us world and news report but they only rank graduate programs.

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I also have an email of someone who just graduated and personal messaged me so I will be reaching out to them soon too and can convey their advice to you via this thread.

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Jks322, we took pharmacology over the summer but our curriculum doesn't include pathophysiology. We've had some great professors and some not so great professors - you'd get that in any program though. The content is pretty much just right from the textbooks, but you kind of have to change your study style from summer to fall since you take on more classes. I definitely think the clinicals help to prepare for nursing - we get to rotate through some fantastic hospitals. I also worked as a tech prior to nursing school and that also helped prepare me for clinical. But when it comes down to it, what you put into clinical is what you get out of it. I feel that it's too soon to know if I'll be prepared for being an actual nurse in the field - but I do know a lot of the previous class passed the NCLEX and got good jobs.

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I made a facebook group for DeSales BSN 2015! Come join! :)

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Hey! Did you go to the info session? I want able to make it and I had some questions. I was wondering if there are study abroad opportunities or research opportunities. I don't think I saw a research course on the curriculum. How quickly do students get jobs after finishing the program?

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There is a research course that you take in the Fall semester.

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Hey where is the FB group??

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I graduated from the accelerated program 6 years ago and at that time we had a nursing research class our last semester. I don't recall any opportunity at that time to study abroad.

As far as transportation goes the hospitals are pretty far from the campus (relative to NYC). I don't know anyone who used public transportation to get to and from clinicals while I was in school - I imagine it would be VERY difficult to do so. There are plenty of places to rent in the Bethlehem/Allentown area but not within walking distance to campus. The hospitals we rotated to at the time I went through the program were St. Lukes, Lehigh Valley (Cedar crest and muhlenberg campuses), Grandview, Sacred Heart, and Warren (Now part of the St. Luke's Network). Most of the hospitals were excellent and the clinical instructors were great for the most part.

Hope this helps!

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