Do you have questions about Nursing School? (BSN Program)

OBGYN*RN · Nov 12, 2008

Well actually if you have an ADN they have programs that are "RN to BSN programs" where you just go back for 2 years to get your bachelors. From what I heard..these programs arent as competitive as the regular BSN program for people who do not hold a nursing degree. And I think if you already hold an ADN, the BSN work might be a little easier since you have already had alot of experience in the field.

srleslie · Nov 12, 2008

Well actually if you have an ADN they have programs that are "RN to BSN programs" where you just go back for 2 years to get your bachelors. From what I heard..these programs arent as competitive as the regular BSN program for people who do not hold a nursing degree. And I think if you already hold an ADN, the BSN work might be a little easier since you have already had alot of experience in the field.

Missouri State University has an online RN to BSN program and their website states they admit everyone who meets the requirements. Admission is not competitive.

http://www.missouristate.edu/nursing/54386.htm

OBGYN*RN · Dec 2, 2008

if anyone has anymore questions feel free to ask

laura06baby · Dec 2, 2008

Thank you for all your help

I have some questions....did you know you want to do OB before clinicals or after? what is the process for getting a job? do you apply during school etc? what was the worst rotation?

thanks

OBGYN*RN · Dec 2, 2008

Actually when I first entered nursing school I was sooo sure I wanted to be a pediatric nurse. All through high school thats what I wanted to do because I love kids and always have. But after my OB rotation..I fell in complete LOVE with it. And I decided thats what I wanted to do and have stuck with it ever since.

To answer your 2nd question..you usually start applying for nursing jobs during school. I graduate in june & and I have started the job search now. A lot of hospitals have told me to start applying in january or february. They like for soon-to-be grads to apply early because you will be put through orientation as a new nurse and since there are often a lot of new grads competing for the same jobs..they like to get their new grads interviewed & placed in orientation groups early.

Lastly..the worst rotation for me would be Pediatrics (which I just finished). OB was great for me because I didnt mind studying because its what I love & want to do when I graduate. Psych wasnt bad because the clinical was very easy..all we did was do interviews on our patients..there was no patient care involved. And the class was pretty interesting so It wasnt too bad studying for the class either. Peds was harder for me because there was a lot of material. The clinical wasnt bad but for class we had to know A LOT and it took a lot of studying and dedication. So for ME..peds was the hardest. But for many of my classmates..a lot of them thought OB was hard and some thought Psych was hard..so I think it really depends on what you like and what interests you. I also didnt like the regular adult rotations because I didnt find it interesting. I always knew I wanted to specialize in a certain area of nursing and not just be an adult nurse..so I never really liked those rotations..but they werent really hard..just boring for me lol

msdeannah · Dec 2, 2008

Can you give an idea of a typical weekly schedule? Do you have days off from class or do you go Monday- Friday 8-5 like a work week? Anyone in a nursing program can chime in here.

Thanks

OBGYN*RN · Dec 2, 2008

Well this past quarter (im on winter break now) I had class mondays & tuesdays..had clinicals wednesdays & thursdays and had friday off. During my OB rotation last year (my junior year) I got lucky because I got my classes scheduled for mondays & tuesdays and only had one day of clinicals on wednesday so I had thursday AND friday off :). My freshman and sophomore year I had classes almost everyday..but once you get closer to graduation a lot of time you will get more days off. BUT those days that you do have class are JAM PACKED with hours of class (atleast for me it is)..so its no cake walk lol. But it is nice to have a couple extra days off during the week to study.

OBGYN*RN · Dec 2, 2008

heres an example for you

My schedule this past quarter:

Monday:

10am-12:20pm Pediatrics CLASS

Tuesday:

8am-9:50am Nurse as Professional Leader CLASS

10am-12:20pm Pediatrics CLASS

Wednesday:

7:30am-3:30pm Ambulatory Care CLINICAL

Thursday:

7am-7pm Pediatrics CLINICAL

FUTURE_ER_RN · Dec 3, 2008

is your program 2 years or 3 years? I am hoping to get into the BSN 2 year program, and even though many people have told me that condensing the 3 yr into a 2 yr was a good thing I am still worried. I am just curious if you ever felt like you had "free time" during some of your semesters that you could have taken more classes. Just worried I am going to have so many classes every semester that I wont have time to breathe and wont have time to study all the material I need to study.

I was also wondering if your skill labs were hard because you had to do your check offs and the entire class plus your teachers were staring at you. I'm worried that I am going to be doing a procedure and be talking to my manniquin patient and am going to start laughing because I am talking to a doll. Or be so nervous that I have 30 people staring at me that I am going to do something like forget to put on gloves when taking blood or something like. You ever had this problem?

OBGYN*RN · Dec 3, 2008

ok for your first question: my program is 4 years...I actually thought that all BSN programs were 4 years unless 1. you already hold a bachelors degree in another field and want a bachelors degree in nursing (in which you can enroll in an accelerated program which may be 2 or 3 yrs) or 2. if you are already an RN (2 yr RN) and want your bachelors. Other than that I was under the impression that all BSN programs required 4 yrs of college.

For your 2nd question: In my skills lab it wasnt too nerve racking for me because we never really had to do anything in front of EVERYONE. My instructors would do a demonstration during the first half of class of the skills we were learning that day & after she was finished, we would get into partners or groups of 3 or 4 and practice the skills on the dolls. The instructor would then walk around and help each group and check off the students that way. There would be times when the instructor would ask if there was a student who wanted to volunteer to do a skill in front of the class,but most of the time it wasnt a requirement it was a volunteer thing. But honestly, you get so close with the students in your class that even if your instructor does make you do skills in front of the class, you will be fine. Everyone is learning and nobody will intimidate you. And if you do make a mistake..its no biggie..thats the best place to make a mistake because its only a doll...its not a patient. So thats the best time to ask questions, mess up, freak out..all of that. And all your classmates will be learning & making a few mistakes too..so dont worry about being embarassed or nervous..I promise you after one or two classes you wont even be phased by it. When I 1st started my skills lab my classmates and I needed help with everything..even small stuff like the correct way to bathe a patient lol. So trust me...you are not alone.

FUTURE_ER_RN · Dec 3, 2008

well thats good to know. :) And my program was a 3 yr and they just last semester condensed it from 3 yrs to 2 years. I suppose they wouldn't of condensed it from 3 years to 2 years unless they thought it was doable. Nursing school sounds like so much fun! I know there is a lot of information and there are lots of classes but i have been volunteering at my local ER for a while now and and watch all the nurses and can't wait till I get to be one of them! I always feel bad because I follow the nurses around and watch them do everything because it all fasinates me.... hehe. Hope I can make it through all the classes and tests.....becauses critial thinking is scary since all the classes you need to get into the program are memorization. ;( Not a good way to prepare for nursing school!

OBGYN*RN · Dec 3, 2008

Thats good you are excited! And you're right a lot of the prereqs are alot of memorization. Good luck with everything!