FDU 2 year accelerated program! (Fairleigh Dickinson University)

Nscorpiored, BSN · Jun 7, 2012

First, let me say congratulations to you for getting accepted into two nursing programs.

Second, FDU, now that I attend here, is not worth the money to spend to end up teaching yourself. I am in my third semester here and I feel that the professors leave much to be desired but overall compared to the work we are expected to complete and turn in, testing, and clinicals this program is much easier than compared to that of some of the local universities in the area. The major issue I have with FDU is the cost of attending the program. Just to take 10 credits this semester is going to run me about $10,000 and that does not include buying books and supplies. My suggestion is you think about cost heavily and how much it will cost you to put gas in your car, feed yourself, buy your supplies for school, instead of buying certain books rent them especially for classes you are not interested in and may not help you later in your career choice as a nurse

Finally, whatever decision you go with make sure that it is best for you and not what others think you should do (even though I am giving you my opinion). If I had hindsight, I would have applied to more schools in my home state or gone to a local hospital's program instead of spending over $60,000 in a 2 year period to attend this program

Good luck to you and hope this helps

LB_RN2B · Jun 9, 2012

@ Nscorpiored...Can you give any overall study advice for a first semester nursing student @ FDU?? How hard are the medical calculation exams?? I am terrified! :confused:

Nscorpiored, BSN · Jun 9, 2012

Sure, first don't be terrified its nothing you can't handle. My first semester consisted of Pharmacotherapeutics, Fundamentals of Nursing I, Health Assessment, and Professional Communications. But overall prepare to teach yourself. I spent the majority of my first semester in the house studying. Take it one subject at a time. You need to be prepared for Med Math which will take place in less than 3 weeks of you beginning the program. Its not hard but just know to learn everything is time consuming. They will give you Med Math exams every semester. Pharm will be your hardest class. My best advice is to go off the powerpoint and use the book. That is what helped me. Always remember don't slack off. Before you know it all the work will catch up with you

LB_RN2B · Jun 13, 2012

Sure, first don't be terrified its nothing you can't handle. My first semester consisted of Pharmacotherapeutics, Fundamentals of Nursing I, Health Assessment, and Professional Communications. But overall prepare to teach yourself. I spent the majority of my first semester in the house studying. Take it one subject at a time. You need to be prepared for Med Math which will take place in less than 3 weeks of you beginning the program. Its not hard but just know to learn everything is time consuming. They will give you Med Math exams every semester. Pharm will be your hardest class. My best advice is to go off the powerpoint and use the book. That is what helped me. Always remember don't slack off. Before you know it all the work will catch up with you

Great advice!! I definitely needed to hear the "don't slack off " part!! You make me feel a little more at ease with the program! As far as teaching myself, sad to say but I am used to it from my previous college!! Hope the professors get better as we go along further into the program! Thank you for all of your advice!!!!!!!!!!!:hug:

whattodo4 · Jun 14, 2012

condtionally admitted for fall 2012, cheers, hopefully turn that conditonal admittence to real admittence !

SaltRN · Mar 29, 2013

I graduated from FDU. I hear the same story everywhere; you have to teach yourself regardless. Going to class to take exams and hear the lecture is only 30% of your effort, the rest is studying on your own. Read the textbook, take practice exams provided by the textbook, view the videos (if given), and create study guides.

One of the most effective yet painful way I would study was to read the required chapter, and write a summary of the chapter as I read along. Takes time and dedication. E.g. I learned about the heart by drawing it out, like if I was in 2nd grade! But it works! I would draw the valves, arteries, and ventricles during dinner parties, on a restaurant paper table. That was the only way I could absorb the information. I developed neck pains and would stay awake taking guayaki energy drinks before finals. I'm sure there’s a science behind how this memorization works. Also, record lectures. I would listen to the many lectures on my 30 mins back home etc. Many times, I didn't remember half the materials the teacher covered until I heard it on the recorder. IPhone works great for this.

The sad part of it all is that once you start working as a nurse, you forget a lot of stuff you learned in school. All you need is basic knowledge (hence the reason associate degree nurses can become RN's) there are a lot of classes you take that just fill up your time and serve no purpose than to break you.

When I was studying for the nclex, I went to Kaplan and met a student from NYU who stated she didn't like the school because she felt they didn't prepare her well and didn't receive much staff support. There was another graduate from Columbia who was bragging about chest PT and how well she knows how to do it. I never learned chest PT so I was a little sadden she knew more than me. Well, what do you know, I'm a med/surg nurse and I don't have to do chest PT! And if I did, the respiratory teams are there to teach you!! At my job interview, I wasn't asked about chest PT either! lol..

So there! Don't drive yourself crazy, you will learn a lot on the job. Get good grades and be a good student.

BTW, make sure you get a good rapport with your teachers because as a new grad, every job will ask you for a letter of recommendation from your teachers!!!! :yes:

cia089 · Apr 2, 2013

I graduated from FDU. I hear the same story everywhere; you have to teach yourself regardless. Going to class to take exams and hear the lecture is only 30% of your effort, the rest is studying on your own. Read the textbook, take practice exams provided by the textbook, view the videos (if given), and create study guides.
One of the most effective yet painful way I would study was to read the required chapter, and write a summary of the chapter as I read along. Takes time and dedication. E.g. I learned about the heart by drawing it out, like if I was in 2nd grade! But it works! I would draw the valves, arteries, and ventricles during dinner parties, on a restaurant paper table. That was the only way I could absorb the information. I developed neck pains and would stay awake taking guayaki energy drinks before finals. I'm sure there’s a science behind how this memorization works. Also, record lectures. I would listen to the many lectures on my 30 mins back home etc. Many times, I didn't remember half the materials the teacher covered until I heard it on the recorder. IPhone works great for this.
The sad part of it all is that once you start working as a nurse, you forget a lot of stuff you learned in school. All you need is basic knowledge (hence the reason associate degree nurses can become RN's) there are a lot of classes you take that just fill up your time and serve no purpose than to break you.
When I was studying for the nclex, I went to Kaplan and met a student from NYU who stated she didn't like the school because she felt they didn't prepare her well and didn't receive much staff support. There was another graduate from Columbia who was bragging about chest PT and how well she knows how to do it. I never learned chest PT so I was a little sadden she knew more than me. Well, what do you know, I'm a med/surg nurse and I don't have to do chest PT! And if I did, the respiratory teams are there to teach you!! At my job interview, I wasn't asked about chest PT either! lol..
So there! Don't drive yourself crazy, you will learn a lot on the job. Get good grades and be a good student.
BTW, make sure you get a good rapport with your teachers because as a new grad, every job will ask you for a letter of recommendation from your teachers!!!!

I recently have been accepted to FDU's program. Was it easy to find a job afterwards? Did the school offer networking opportunities ?

KDSkyy44 · May 2, 2013

To those that have attended FDU....

How did you feel the program prepared you for a new Grad nurse? Do you feel the program is giving you what you need and how does it compare with other programs? What is the pass rate and how is the job placement afterwards?

Any information regarding your thoughts on the program, the professors, facilities, clinical work, and academic work covered would be extremely appreciated.

daniellebell84 · Aug 2, 2013

Hey everyone wanted to give you an update on FDU. Today I finally received information on the ABSN orientation. It will take place on August 17th and 18th from 10:00am - 4:30pm. I have already sent in my reservation for the program to the program director. My packet included more medical paperwork (that is due soon if you haven't already done it), a form to fill out for a Federal Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students, and it also says that these will be the days that we will receive counseling and register for our classes.
For those of you going you must be there for this orientation, by the way it is for students who are starting the 2 year program. The 18th month program started in May already. There are no more seats available to students, and they are now on a waiting list. If you are not going to the program you must contact the school so they can fill your seat
Hope this helps people I will be back if you need anymore information as I go

Hello..I am starting the two year ABSN program at FDU this fall. I was wondering if you could give me some feedback regarding your experience in general if you continued with the program. Classes start on August 26th and orientation isn't until the 14th so I'm really curious as to what the schedule is like. Any advice or info you have on your classroom and clinical experience would be greatly appreciated. I'd also be really interested to hear about what your job prospects are like now and if you feel the program has prepared you sufficiently for your career. For some reason I've had difficulty contacting people who have completed the program so any info you'd be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

upcomingRN · Aug 7, 2013

Hi Daniellebell84. I am interested in FDU and I want to know where did you take your science prerequisite courses?

daniellebell84 · Aug 7, 2013

Hi Daniellebell84. I am interested in FDU and I want to know where did you take your science prerequisite courses?

I actually took everything at FDU. I was a student there years ago but I never finished my degree so I was able to complete a program called Individualized Studies. It basically allowed me to finish my BA by taking the prerequisites I needed to get into the ABSN program. Hope this helps!

upcomingRN · Oct 27, 2013

Thank you for this information. Have you found a job yet