Full time nursing students at CSN

tccjknv · May 25, 2008

They have schedules already made up and one by one based on the number you draw, you go up and select a group of classes. I don't know how but I lucked out and drew #2, so I got exactly the schedule I wanted. The 6:45am start time does suck if you child goes to CSN daycare since they don't open until 7am. I keep telling them they need to open at 6am, maybe you should too. It might just help. I wouldn't worry too much about the clinical times, most people got which time they wanted.

smallnurse10 · May 25, 2008

This is my first post on this board. I am looking to apply to CSN for spring 2009 and I have a question. I was wondering if it is possible to take classes in the summer during the full time program? It is mentioned on the advisement sheet for the full time program that classes may be available in the summer, but on this board no one has touched on this yet. I would prefer to take classes year round and get finished sooner rather than later. Thank you in advance for answering.

napahills · May 25, 2008

Thanks for all this info! I'm really learning a lot and feeling more confident :)

hmck32 · May 25, 2008

Thank you for your response. If you don't mind me asking, were you on financial aid? Did the part time program effect your loan status? I'm on financial aid, but part time status is 6 credits, so I'm wondering if I would still qualify.

Is anyone in the part time program that was accepted with only 25 points on their first try???? I'm a little concerned that I am cutting it too close and should apply for full time. I am in the same boat as you being a SAHM, if my kids get sick I need to be able to be home with them. My husband's job is flexible though and I think we could make it work. The 6:45am clinical would suck. Do they allow people to switch?? Has anyone ever done it??? I guess I could make that work with my husband if it were the case. I haven't been to the Cheyenne campus, did you like taking classes there? What about security? You are there at night and it's kinda a scary side of town.

For those that are in the full time program, do you get confused doing the 2 different clinicals in the same semester? Do you have to do both clinicals (2nd semester and on) on the same day? What are clinicals like? I know you have to do patient care plans, but what do you do when you go to the clinicals? Are the staff you work with helpful? :nurse: Do you feel prepared and know what to expect when you go, or is it more like flying blind?

Once again, I apologize for ALL the questions, but this is so helpful!!!! You have all been WONDERFULL in answering my questions. This is such a life changing decision for me, so all the info. you have given me is helping. I'm glad it is helping others that are looking to apply as well.

bcyogi · May 25, 2008

I didn't have financial aid, so I don't know how the part-time status would effect that. We only did one class per semester in the part time program (for most semesters), so the cost was about $100-150 for books and $250-350 for the class, so it was doable for us.

I didn't mind the Cheyenne campus. I was more frightened on my drive to the campus than when I was actually on the campus. We were a pretty tight group and we always walked to our cars together, so I never felt unsafe.

The point system has changed so much since I was admitted, so I can't help you there.

Whether you chose full-time or part-time, I am sure you will make the adjustments just fine. All the chaos and hectic schedule of either program soon becomes your new "norm" and somehow it just works!

hmck32 · May 25, 2008

Thank you so much!!! I wish this wasn't such a hard decision. Overall, did you like the program? Was it easy to get a job after you were done? Were the boards hard? By the way, I want to say Congratulations on graduating! :yeah:I don't know you, but I feel like I can relate to you. Having children and deciding to go back to school has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. It's been rough, but I have made it this far! Human Anatomy 224 was the hardest class I have ever taken, so I feel like if I was able to pass that, I can do it with the RN program.

tccjknv · May 25, 2008

I know that the course schedule mentions some courses are available in the summer, but for the most part they are not. For my class, they had a lottery for those interested in taking mental health over the summer. I think about 60 put in for the lottery and there were 8 spots available. I got lucky and was drawn, so I will take my lab, lecture and clinical for mental health this summer over 6 weeks. That means in the fall I will only have lab, lecture and clinical for med surg. I am extremely excited about that. I won't graduate any sooner than my fellow full-time classmates, I will just have an easier load in the fall. My schedule in the fall will be a 8hr clinical day at UMC, lecture for 3hrs and lab for 3 hrs (lab only lasts for 1/2 of the semester in med surg).

Once you select your classes for first semester you can not change them, they are very strict on this. After the first semester, you register for the remaining semesters just like normal on the web according to your last name.

You can't do 2 clinicals in the same day. I think you have to have either 8 or 12 hrs in between the two.

I am not on financial aid, so I can't answer any ?s in regards to that.

hmck32 · May 25, 2008

Wow, you got lucky for the summer course!!! :up: So did you pick UMC, did they assign that hospital to you, or was it chosen by lottery?

tccjknv · May 25, 2008

The clinical time and instructor that I wanted for med surg teaches at UMC. The schedule doesn't say which hospital they are at, but I asked some second semester students where each teacher taught at and that is how I found out where I would be. I was told that at least for 2nd semester med surg all of the clinicals at either St.Rose or UMC and I think that there was only one at Sunrise.

I did want to give everyone that is getting ready to apply one suggestion. They now offer an optional class that lasts for 2 weeks immediately prior to your first semester. If you get accepted you get a welcoming packet and the info for this 1 credit course will be included. It fills up in one day because there are only a limited number of spots, so i highly recommend taking it and signing up that day. It will give you a head start on what is expected of you as far as how to write nursing care plans and it also teaches you how to complete the medication calculations required each semester. At the beginning of each semester you have to take a med calculation quiz that pertains to the meds you will be passing that semester and if you don't pass after 2 tries with a 90% they kick you out of the program. I took Math 100B at CSN and got an A, but I still felt this optional course helped me out even more. It helped prepare me and calm my nerves down as far as what to expect since I had no clue what a nursing care plan was.

bcyogi · May 25, 2008

Thank you so much!!! I wish this wasn't such a hard decision. Overall, did you like the program? Was it easy to get a job after you were done? Were the boards hard? By the way, I want to say Congratulations on graduating! :yeah:I don't know you, but I feel like I can relate to you. Having children and deciding to go back to school has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. It's been rough, but I have made it this far! Human Anatomy 224 was the hardest class I have ever taken, so I feel like if I was able to pass that, I can do it with the RN program.

Yes, I did like the program. I became a NAP (nurse apprentice) during the program, and that made getting a job a bit easier. I haven't taken my boards yet, I think I will receive my ATT sometime this week and then I can schedule for mid to late June (hopefully).

224 was really HARD for me too. I barely squeaked out with a B-. I was able to make mostly A's in the nursing program. Once you figure out the format (NCLEX style) that they use for the test questions, it gets easier to score decent.

Good luck! It is so exciting and scary to take on nursing school, but well worth it!

hmck32 · May 25, 2008

Thank you so much for all the information. I feel a little more prepared now. I am excited and terrified at the same time because this is so new to me. I guess you could say I'm afraid of the unknown. I will register for that class, I'm glad you told me about it. Well, I guess now it's just a waiting game. I will apply in August as soon as I finish my History course.

Oh, do they issue scrubs to you? I see so many people wearing different scrubs and I was wondering how that works?

RegNurstobe2008 · May 25, 2008

Thank you so much for all the information. I feel a little more prepared now. I am excited and terrified at the same time because this is so new to me. I guess you could say I'm afraid of the unknown. I will register for that class, I'm glad you told me about it. Well, I guess now it's just a waiting game. I will apply in August as soon as I finish my History course.
Oh, do they issue scrubs to you? I see so many people wearing different scrubs and I was wondering how that works?

As i know if u will apply in august for spring 2009 u have better chances to get in because point cut off is low in this semester.

For scrubs, for RN program it is white, except in third semester for PEDS class u can have whatever u want like cute scrubs (except for UMC they want Peds students to have dark green scrubs no print) otherwise for whole two years u will be in white scrubs.

Scrubs are only for clinicals, for classes and labs street clothes are ok.

Best of luck!!!!!!!! the time will fly when u will get in nursing program.

The people u saw on campus in different scrubs they all are from CNA, LPN, RN bridge, and RN programs, i think everybody have different color scrubs.