Going to National University-Fresno

Elle_Guerira · Sep 4, 2009

Hi Emichan:

Like you, I was also feeling discouraged of not getting accepted into a nursing program mostly because of my qGPA in my previous degree. Four rejections and one waitlist later, I finally got accepted into National's LA campus on the first try & will start the program in October.

Speaking from the LA campus (and I'm pretty certain it's the same for Fresno's), they do go by a point system so try to rack up as much points as possible. Assuming you haven't taken the prereqs yet (A/P, Micro, Stats), bang for As & Bs as much as possible. And as much as possible, try to not repeat your prereq classes, only if necessary. If you repeat a class, you lose points. Don't tell yourself that you will fail a class -- keep telling yourself you WILL pass the class!

Though I hate standardized exams with a passion, they just have to be done. The TEAS is no different. For the TEAS, I used Kaplan's Nursing Entrance Exam, and it was nothing like the TEAS (except I found the math section proven to be invaluble). Purchase ATI's study guide and give yourself at least a month in advance to study prior to the actual test day. Start studying on sections you feel inadequate in and allow yourself at least 15-20 hours a week to study. During the weekday, I would study on whatever section, and on the weekend I would test myself for that section. Oh, and make sure to study earth science because you will surely be asked 3-4 questions on the TEAS. Alas, it boggles the mind how earth science correlates to nursing ..:uhoh21:

Lastly, do not be intimidated by the essay -- it's not the quantity of how much you write, it's ALWAYS the quality. You are given 90 minutes, and that is more than enough time to furnish a well written essay. For the first 15 minutes, let your brain digest the essay question given to you, and brainstorm. Once you have formulated and organized your thoughts, start writing away for the next 30-60 minutes. Remember the structure of composing an essay: a paragraph for intro (which should include your Central Thesis Statement), a paragraph (or several paragraphs more) for body, and a paragraph for conclusion. Now that you have finished writing your essay (and if you have time to spare, 10-15 minutes will do), quickly glance over the essay to make sure that it's free from spelling and grammatical errors, and making corrections if necessary.

Keep your chin up high and keep telling yourself you'll get in, and do not tell yourself otherwise. The passion you have in pursuing a nursing career should drive you to do well in your classes, the TEAS, and the essay. I wish you good luck :up: !

emichan · Sep 4, 2009

Hi Elle_Guerira,

Thank you so much for your reply. Everything that you have said really motivated me. Well I am going in today to enroll to for my pre-reqs. I'm just afraid if I will be able to retain everything in my brain when the classes are only going to be one month long. Well hopefully I'll be able to pass all my classes. I'm really excited about everything but very nervous. I guess I'm doubting myself to much. I'm usually confident in anything I do but I guess it's pretty normal for me to feel this nervous. I'll keep you updated. Thank you again for your reply.

millerj · Aug 18, 2011

Hi Elle_Guerira

I'm finishing my last class, before applying to NV. Can you give me some feedback regarding the classes, clinicals and Essay. Was the program doable and have you finished already. Any information you give me would be beneficial. Thank you and hope to hear from you.

millerj · Aug 18, 2011

Hi Emichan

Can you please give me some feedback regarding the classes, clinicals and Essay. Would you recommand the nursing program from NV? Have you finished the program? Anything that you can think of, that I should be studying for, to get me prepared for the program.

Elle_Guerira · Aug 18, 2011

Hi Elle_Guerira
I'm finishing my last class, before applying to NV. Can you give me some feedback regarding the classes, clinicals and Essay. Was the program doable and have you finished already. Any information you give me would be beneficial. Thank you and hope to hear from you.

millerj,

The program is doable. I've had classmates who managed to work part-time while in the program. Also expect to do tons of papers and group projects. Since I applied two years ago, I'm unsure if the admission process is the same in the Henderson campus vs here in LA. I'm also unsure if the curriculum is structured similarly between the two campuses. After my cohort, they've rearranged the program's curriculum. They've also made Pharm a 1.5 month class instead of 1, and are thinking of adding a third med-surg class. They're also making each cohort pass each of their class's ATI exam (exit class exam if you want to call it) with a Level 2 benchmark. This is on top of the final exam, papers, etc. If you don't meet that benchmark, you don't pass the class and are therefore dropped from the program. Also, you must pass your class with a 76% or above. My experiences during my clinical rotations have been great, but be extremely flexible to possibly do weekends and/or a graveyard shift.

I finish next week and am counting the days :grad: . If you get admitted, believe me, 22 months go by....quick.

Good luck on your nursing journey :nurse: !

millerj · Aug 18, 2011

Elle_Guerira

What do you mean tons of papers? Are you talking about writing Essays? How many days of clinicals per week? I was told that classes would be 3 or 4 days per week and clinicals would be 2 per week. Approximately how many exams did you take per class? Thank you

Elle_Guerira · Aug 18, 2011

Elle_Guerira
What do you mean tons of papers? Are you talking about writing Essays? How many days of clinicals per week? I was told that classes would be 3 or 4 days per week and clinicals would be 2 per week. Approximately how many exams did you take per class? Thank you

Honestly, it depends on the class. My last few classes I had term papers due every week on top of group projects. The largest term paper I've ever written was 11.5 pages for Research. Throughout my clinical rotations, there were those annoying careplans I had to do every week. For both the fundamental and health assessment lectures, careplans were assigned as well.

No, in LA, class met one time per week 4.5 hours/day; like I said before, the curriculum may be structured differently at the Henderson campus. Clinicals were roughly 2x per week though, but for Peds i had some weeks where I had clinicals for 3-4x/week.

In respect to the exams, again it depends on your class. There were some classes where I had quizzes every week and a final exam, another class where we had a midterm exam and a final, and my class which I'm taking right now where there is none.