Evening/Weekend RN program in or around Nashville, TN?

editingeyes · Sep 24, 2010

Cumberland University (located in Lebanon, TN - about 30 min from Nashville) has a night and weekend program. The classes actually meet in Mt. Juliet, TN, which, depending on where in Nashville you live could actually be closer. I applied there and am taking my entrance exam tomorrow but have spoken the the advisor for the program. She states that classes are 2 to 3 times a week and Saturdays (usually this is for your clinicals). Some classes are also online. This is the only night/weekend program that I have found anywhere near here. Most other schools do not cater to full time workers. When you graduate you will have your BSN. Some community colleges might offer night courses if you just want to get your Associates.

hallberry · Sep 24, 2010

Thank you so much for the info. I will request some information online. That takes a bit of concern off my plate. THANK YOU!!!

editingeyes · Sep 24, 2010

Not a problem! I will say this though - they are a private college so it is expensive.

hallberry · Sep 24, 2010

oh... hmm :/ What is the annual tuition?

hallberry · Oct 7, 2010

how did you do on your entrance exam?

SouthernPsy · Nov 17, 2014

Hello,

I just want to offer answers to anyone that might have questions about Cumberland's nights/weekends program for working adults in Mt. Juliet. I have one semester left before graduation, so I have a good understanding of the program.

I know when I was researching BSN programs, I was frustrated because I could find little info about this program specifically. So, if there is someone out there with questions, feel free to respond or send me a PM, even if it's an extended period of time since this message was posted. Thanks!

jeakes · Nov 19, 2014

Hello southernpsy, I have been doing a lot of research trying to find a nursing program, for a full time working adult. And I need something that's offered during the evenings/weekends. So how long did this program take you to finish? I have been looking at associates programs. And how does tuition compare to a community college? Please feel free to let in me on any info. It'd be very much appreciated. I've been doing research on programs for a few years, and there just not much for working people. And it's very frustrating! Thanks!

SouthernPsy · Nov 19, 2014

Hi jeakes,

First of all I wanted to mention that I started a Q&A thread here for the program, so you can check it out if you'd like. Feel free to ask me anything :)

So, Cumberland is a private school, so it is more expensive than community college, but it was the only one I could find that offered the schedule I needed. I'm finishing up semester 4 now, and tuition is $9,600 for this semester. They do offer a few scholarships, but I would check into that with a CU employee. I have the Stockton scholarship, which is knocks off about $1,700.

The program is 5 semesters long without a summer break. Fall, spring, summer, fall, spring for me. Pursuing a BSN vs ASN probably depends on where you want to work after graduation. Some hospitals, like Vanderbilt, are moving towards only hiring BSN nurses. The job market for new grads is becoming a little more competitive in the Nashville area, so a BSN will probably help you in getting a job. I'm not implying you can't find employment with an ASN, but just that it would be easier to find one with a BSN. Also, if you're wanting to go to grad school to become an NP, I would just go ahead and get a BSN, but that's just my opinion.

During each semester, there are 3-4 classes during the week that start at 6:00 pm and typically last until 9:00. We've had one that ended at 9:55 and a few that ended at 8:00. We've also had one course that was completely online (gerontology), which was very nice.

During the first semester, your labs or clinical days are on saturdays in Lebanon at the McFarland campus. This is where you learn skills and do check offs for the nursing foundations and health assessment class. I think the hours were something like 8:00-3:00 maybe or 7:00-4:00. I can't remember exactly. The way we did check offs for this program, is we would record ourselves (usually another students would do the video) performing our skills on a dummy in the lab in Lebanon or sometimes in Mt. Juliet and e-mail the video to the professor. For health assessment, check offs are done in person with the instructor there.

Towards the end of that first semester you'll do 3 or 4 days of clinical in a nursing home in Lebanon, which is no fun. You will basically be doing work similar to a tech. ADL's, bathing, feeding, etc. In my opinion, the first semester is the most demanding and the most difficult because you're trying to adjust to the ways of nursing school i.e. dealing with check offs, NCLEX style questions, the scheduling of classes, finding time to study, etc.

Don't get me wrong, after the first semester it is still difficult, but in my opinion, the first semester is the most challenging and time consuming. For the last 4 semesters, clinical days and time vary each semester, depending on which hospital will take students. Typically, they try to get them on Saturdays, but we've had some on Fridays (for only 5 weeks) that started in the evening and lasted until 2 am. There was one semester that we had adult health clinicals, aka med/surg, on Sundays.

Hopefully this will help. I'm going to copy this and post it in my thread, so that others can see it. Please feel free to ask any more questions you might have. Thanks.

LR15 · Jan 6, 2015

Have you taken advanced topics? If so what is the class like?