Gbsn

hobbes · Mar 12, 2004

Hello to everyone,
This is my second time posting and I was wondering if there is anyone in the forum that goes to Georgia Baptist School of Nursing. I want to go there in the spring but was wondering how intense are the classes and the schedules. I am going to be a mommy and have an internal conflict because although i don't want to be away from my baby too long i also will like to start the program as soon as possible. I was wondering if there is anyone out there that goes to this school and is a mother as well. If so,
how is your schedule, how do you plan, how do you study?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I am sorta freaking out because i dont have any back up in Atlanta, all my family is in Florida and i dont know anyone here that i trust to take care of my baby when its born.
Thank you , and to everyone else wish you the best in the nursing career or education :)

I was just talking to a friend of mine who just started the nursing program at GBSN this spring. The classes are very intense. She absolutely loves it but it is accelerated and very rigorous. She is a mother of three, so she understands about juggling school and home. It definitely won't be easy because they have one of the best nursing programs in the area, but if that's what you really want - go for it.

Tilly27 · Mar 26, 2004

I was just talking to a friend of mine who just started the nursing program at GBSN this spring. The classes are very intense. She absolutely loves it but it is accelerated and very rigorous. She is a mother of three, so she understands about juggling school and home. It definitely won't be easy because they have one of the best nursing programs in the area, but if that's what you really want - go for it.

HI!

I am a Georgia Baptist College of Nursing Student. I will be graduating from the program this May 2004. I can tell you that your friend is right it is a very difficult program and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I can't tell you from personal experience what it is like to go through the program with children because I am young and single, however, I have several friends who did it. I have several friends who did it as a single mom and some friends who completed the program as a wife and a mother. I can tell you that it probably won't be easy but you can do it! You just have to decide that you are going to make it no matter what and organize you priorities through the day. I can tell you from experience that choosing GBCN will be well worth your while because they have one of the best programs in the state and you will know it when you finish the program and see how advanced you are in comparrison to some others. The faculty are wonderful and so loving for the most part. They always have their door open anytime you have a problem personally or professionaly. I would really encourage you to take the chance and try it out. I know that your children are really important to you but I think that it will all work out especially if you have a supportive family or husband. As far as finding time to study and work and have a life..... well you just have to prioritize! I think everybody is different and you just have to decide how much you need to study to get the grade. A lot of people at this school are very competetive and have to have the A! I was always just happy as long as I was passing and if I got an A it was just an added bonus. The first two years of the program are the toughest. The first year is all core curriculum your basic anatomy, english, and math stuff. These classes do require a lot of study hours because they are memorization. The second year you start your actual nuring classes and there is a big transition to go through. This is the hardest year of the whole program. The tests are different from before and the way you study changes because its not all memorization. After the second semester of Junior year and all of Senior year it seems like something just clicks and you finally start to get it. I found these some of the easier times although there was still a lot of work and the classes were just as difficult. But I think you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and you just press on. You begin to feel a little more like a nurse and like you have gained some knowledge when you think about it. All of the friends who are mothers I referred to above made it all of those four years and are graduating with me this spring. They did it others have done it and I know that you can too. You will make so many friends that will help you along the way and by the end of the program you will have life long friends. Just hang in there and don't loose sight of your goals. If you just can't study one day it will be okay and believe me we all have plenty of those days. Just decide what is the most important thing that needs to be done first and sometimes it will be school and sometimes it will be your kids. Please feel free to write back with any questions I will be happy to help in anyway I can. GOOD LUCK!

PreggersRN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2004

Tilly27,

Do you know anything about the RN to BSN program or do you know any students who completed it? If so can you tell me what it is like to get into the program(gpa requirements, etc.) Also, I would like to know if you lived off campus or on campus. I am considering relocating to ATL and I would like to live on campus while I am in the progam.

Thanks!!

HI!
I am a Georgia Baptist College of Nursing Student. I will be graduating from the program this May 2004. I can tell you that your friend is right it is a very difficult program and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I can't tell you from personal experience what it is like to go through the program with children because I am young and single, however, I have several friends who did it. I have several friends who did it as a single mom and some friends who completed the program as a wife and a mother. I can tell you that it probably won't be easy but you can do it! You just have to decide that you are going to make it no matter what and organize you priorities through the day. I can tell you from experience that choosing GBCN will be well worth your while because they have one of the best programs in the state and you will know it when you finish the program and see how advanced you are in comparrison to some others. The faculty are wonderful and so loving for the most part. They always have their door open anytime you have a problem personally or professionaly. I would really encourage you to take the chance and try it out. I know that your children are really important to you but I think that it will all work out especially if you have a supportive family or husband. As far as finding time to study and work and have a life..... well you just have to prioritize! I think everybody is different and you just have to decide how much you need to study to get the grade. A lot of people at this school are very competetive and have to have the A! I was always just happy as long as I was passing and if I got an A it was just an added bonus. The first two years of the program are the toughest. The first year is all core curriculum your basic anatomy, english, and math stuff. These classes do require a lot of study hours because they are memorization. The second year you start your actual nuring classes and there is a big transition to go through. This is the hardest year of the whole program. The tests are different from before and the way you study changes because its not all memorization. After the second semester of Junior year and all of Senior year it seems like something just clicks and you finally start to get it. I found these some of the easier times although there was still a lot of work and the classes were just as difficult. But I think you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and you just press on. You begin to feel a little more like a nurse and like you have gained some knowledge when you think about it. All of the friends who are mothers I referred to above made it all of those four years and are graduating with me this spring. They did it others have done it and I know that you can too. You will make so many friends that will help you along the way and by the end of the program you will have life long friends. Just hang in there and don't loose sight of your goals. If you just can't study one day it will be okay and believe me we all have plenty of those days. Just decide what is the most important thing that needs to be done first and sometimes it will be school and sometimes it will be your kids. Please feel free to write back with any questions I will be happy to help in anyway I can. GOOD LUCK!

Tilly27 · May 13, 2004

Hi!

In the class that just graduated we had about 6 RN to BSN students. There program is set up a little differently then mine was. There were some classes that they did not have to take I believe. I don't know what the requirements were for the RN to BSN students but I think that they don't always accept students based on GPA. They really like to get to know the person and why they want to come to GBCN. I lived on campus when the college was still in the heart of down town Atl. The campus has since moved to the Mercer University Atlanta campus. The housing provided there is very nice. They are 4, 2, and 1 bedroom apartments. They have a full kitchen and some furniture is provided like a bed, couch, chair, dresser, etc. These apartments are fairly new and very clean. I hope I answered your questions. Good Luck! Please feel free to ask anyother questions!:)

Tilly27,
Do you know anything about the RN to BSN program or do you know any students who completed it? If so can you tell me what it is like to get into the program(gpa requirements, etc.) Also, I would like to know if you lived off campus or on campus. I am considering relocating to ATL and I would like to live on campus while I am in the progam.
Thanks!!

PreggersRN, BSN, RN · May 14, 2004

Thanks,

What hospital will you be working in?

Hi!
In the class that just graduated we had about 6 RN to BSN students. There program is set up a little differently then mine was. There were some classes that they did not have to take I believe. I don't know what the requirements were for the RN to BSN students but I think that they don't always accept students based on GPA. They really like to get to know the person and why they want to come to GBCN. I lived on campus when the college was still in the heart of down town Atl. The campus has since moved to the Mercer University Atlanta campus. The housing provided there is very nice. They are 4, 2, and 1 bedroom apartments. They have a full kitchen and some furniture is provided like a bed, couch, chair, dresser, etc. These apartments are fairly new and very clean. I hope I answered your questions. Good Luck! Please feel free to ask anyother questions!:)

Tilly27 · May 14, 2004

I will begin my RN-internship in the ED at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA in mid June. They provide the internship to help new grads transition from student to nurse. It is a great hospital!

PreggersRN, BSN, RN · May 15, 2004

Tilly27,

I know where that hospital is. I used to live in ATL, but moved back to STL to go to nursing school. I originally looked at GA Baptist, but I decided to come back home to STL. It was just easier to get started. I also looked at Emory and it was just too expensive. I even looked at GA State, but I did not particularly like their program. I thought GA Baptist was the best program. Now I am considering moving back to ATL although I am not sure. I would like to work in Peds, I would like to go to the NICU, PICU or a special care nursery to start.

I have been reading some of the information on Children's Health Care of Atlanta and on Northside. I would not mind working at Hughes Spalding, but I am not sure what the starting pay is there. All of the message boards say that Northside starts off with the most pay for a new grad, they also have a great orientation program. CHOA has a great orientation program as well. So I am not really sure. I think that if I moved back, staying on campus would save me some money. I used to live in Stone Mountain, so I know how high the rents can be in ATL, and most of the hospitals are starting off with the same pay as most of the hospitals here in STL.

Well, I have until next May to decide. I will be done with my ASN program by then.

Thanks for your help!!

April

I will begin my RN-internship in the ED at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA in mid June. They provide the internship to help new grads transition from student to nurse. It is a great hospital!