George Mason Accelerated BSN 2009

Estrella55 · Jun 14, 2010

*I meant to make a correction on my above paragraph about the number of days that you will be in class for the first semester. My apologies, you will be in class for three days a week and will receive a free day "off" every week. I usually used this day for studying and catching up with projects but it is also handy for doctor's appts, grocery shopping, etc.

However, I couldn't help but notice that the same question kept arising over how the professors in this program are. I don't think that anyone has answered this so I'll do it as honestly as I can.

No one is perfect. No matter what program you go into, there will always be "good" professors and there will be what some people think of as "not so good" professors. In my experience, there are several professors who have really helped me on my "journey" and have made a very positive impact on my nursing education. There have been other professors who have frustrated me, as they have to others as well. All in all, everyone is only human and mistakes are always bound to happen.

If I find myself frustrated, I just work harder. This is an incredibly hard field to go into and anyone who chooses this career needs to understand that from the start. There are going to be days where you'll come home feeling "on top of the world" and there might be other days when all you'll want to do is quit the program and move to Bali. (I had plenty of those days!) When I went into this program, I had no idea how much I'd be challenged to grow as a person. In a way, that and having the ability to make a positive impact on people's lives are the biggest gifts that I have been given during these past ten months.

Now I'll be honest, I am not a fan of the old-school "nurses eat their young" way of teaching. It's tough, it's frustrating, and it's unfair. Like I said, no one is perfect-and I'll leave it at that. However, whatever you go through, just know that you're not alone, there are resources out there, and whatever you're feeling is completely normal. It's hard to understand or know what I mean about this until you're in the middle of it but I wish that someone had written me this when I was just starting the program.

My best advice is to make some good friends once you're in the program, study together, maybe get to know each other outside of the program, and rely on each other for emotional support. Your classmates will become like your sisters/brothers and can be one of your biggest sources of strength when you need it.

Nursing school alone is not easy for ANYONE and an accelerated program can be incredibly exhausting. At the end of it though, you'll look back and see how much you've grown from both your good-and your not-so-good-experiences. Whatever it is that you go through, just see it as preparation for the "real world." While you're in school, just know that you're there to learn and soak in as much knowledge as you possibly can. You'll encounter various different types of instructors with all different forms of teaching, and though it will be tough (and I won't deny it) your ability to cope will serve you well during and after nursing school.

I hope that this post helped. I wanted to be optimistic but realistic at the same time. Please don't hesitate to message me!

mew56 · Jun 15, 2010

I really really appreciate when any students take the time to make a post, so thank you so much Estrella55. I am really nervous about starting the program since everyone's reaction that knows the program is how hard it is, but hearing what its actually like makes it slightly less daunting.

shinobi, BSN · Jun 15, 2010

Thanks hokiemama78 for the info. I am unsure if they will raise the cap for next year, but I will be trying it anyways just in case.

mew56 · Jun 17, 2010

This is sort of a silly question, but what would be the best parking lot to choose? I know when you buy your parking lot pass you just buy it for a certain lot.

hokiemama78 · Jun 18, 2010

the cheapest one. i got the $150 one that pays for the A and K lot, as well as the lots in PW campus.

bohoduex · Jun 22, 2010

hi everyone! i will be attending gmu for fall 2010 accelerated nursing as well :) i graduated from gmu with my bs in 2008 and was/am very happy with the school overall. has anyone applied to scholarships/grants for this upcoming year? if you have any information regarding financial aid, please share! thanks :)

mew56 · Jun 24, 2010

My understanding is you have to fill out FAFSA at FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

GMU will contact you later when they receive the info, I think it took a month or so before I heard from them.

Since you already have a degree, you won't be able to receive any grants, only loans. As for scholarships, the ones I was most interested in were already too late to apply for, which is kind of funny they had to be turned in before you even knew if you'd got into the program.

bohoduex · Jun 29, 2010

i noticed that about the scholarships as well, good thing gmu is not private! i submitted my fafsa and have been checking my account but still no financial aid activity. has anyone purchased their required textbooks for fall yet? i don't know what the better deal is for purchasing textbooks; buying the books through sites like amazon, renting the books, or purchasing a custom package through elsevier?

estrella55: what did you do for purchasing your textbooks? did you need access codes/cds for the texts? i ask that bc if we do need the access codes, the books must be new. did you find any recommended books especially useful? i appreciate any input/advice you are willing to share :)

mew56 · Jun 29, 2010

The Financial office is probably pretty busy this time of the year, I wouldn't worry unless they take longer than the month it took me to hear from them.

I bought 14 books for 750~$ and I got the majority of them through amazon's used section and made sure they came with the CD if they were suppose to have one. But in all honesty I probably wont use the CDs unless they are required. I really doubt I could do better price wise than that. (12 that are required, 1 winter and 1 drug book). In terms of access codes I'm pretty certain if you really really need them you can go to the publishers site and buy it.

If you buy that package deal its 7 books for 620ish dollars. So I think used books are the better way to go. I imagine when I have them all stacked up it'll hit me how much stuff we have to learn in a semester.

Oh yeah, and I did notice that the booklist they gave out isn't necessarily correct in all of its info. Even though edition, author ispn, and title is correct. It might say 2010 on the booklist and be 2009 on amazon. Also the ISPN #s are written a little different in terms of where they place the dashes, so I would play around with the names/authors of the books.

I wanted to buy the books asap because I know the closer it gets to the start of the semester, the used sections is not as cheap and has less options.

mew56 · Jun 29, 2010

Please tell me you aren't required to bring these books into school, I just got a couple in and I think they each weighed 10 pounds.

I'm pretty surprised no one has made a facebook group yet. Well there is a general nursing one for FB for Student Nursing Association - George Mason but I dont know if anyone wants to just have one for the future trials and tribulations of just the class of 2011 accelerated students.

Estrella55 · Jun 30, 2010

Hey, sorry it took me so long to respond. We're in the middle of our final clinicals and classes.

Honestly, you do not really bring your books in to classes. They're wayyy too heavy. You don't really need to buy all of them but the ones that I do recommend buying (at the least) are the Med-Surg book, Pharmacology, Health Assessment book and lab book, your Peds, Psych, and Maternity books, the Community Health book, and the 'Nursing as a Profession' book. (You may not read much of the last book but I'd recommend doing so.) I had some friends that didn't buy their books and then ended up paying for it (literally) when an exam came around, the book was nowhere to be found, and they could not scan the pages.

In terms of the program, just try to "stay afloat." That's probably the best advice that I could give. Everybody has their own opinion but I wish that someone had told me this before I went into the program.

bohoduex · Jul 2, 2010

Hi!

I bought my books yesterday, 16 of them (ugh). I am waiting to buy the January book just so I can save some money in my pocket. I got them off of amazon for ~$780. I also signed up for amazon prime and will be getting them today/tomorrow. Thought I'd share some random insight from my friend who is in the program now;

Questions I asked her..

Do I have to buy new books with access codes? or can I buy used ones/rent them?

you can buy used books but you need to double check with the book list that the school sent you for ISBN # . There are classes that require new books, it really depends later on when you are actually in the class.

Should I do anything to prep myself for August?

The best way to prep yourself up is to read a head of time once you get your schedule. Most of the teachers will send an email to you letting you know. It's always good to stay ahead of yourself ( there are tons of reading later on, you do not want to stay behind of your reading)

Does the color of my stethoscope matter (I was offered many colors at NOVA uniforms) or should I stick with black?

Stethoscope's color doesn't matter but just buy one with an okay price, we tend to lose our stethoscope quite often so you don't want an expensive one. Range around 20-40 is good. You can get them at Nova Uniforms (offers a GMU discount 10%). Also get a pen light and a pair of kelly forcep.

How is the INOVA comp testing?

The inova comp test is really easy, you just have to go through the tutorial once or twice by yourself the the week before you take it. When you are actually there to take the test, the instructor will actually goes over most of the tutorial again before you take the test so it's really nothing to sweat over. You'll do great. No one failed it yet ~ haha.