Got accepted to Univ of San Francisco's BSN Program...advice???

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2014

I'm a junior I at USF and I can assist you with all of that information.

1a) They want money. Hate to say it. But, they do. The first semester's clinical is rehabilitation and serves no purpose other than getting your feet wet. You will pass meds that semester, but, not until around week 8 or 9.

1b) It is "easier" paced in that it's spread out more. Most schools will have you doing Medsurg AND OB (or something like that) in a single semester. USF is different in that one semester is one whole rotation, by itself. Be prepared to write complicated care plans and have simulation lab in where you make a serious stupid mistake, you will get written up and potentially expelled from the school (if done 3x).

2) I use Wells Fargo MedCap (high interest rate...ugh) as well as unsubsidized loans. The school gives me a grant of 8k/semester as well.

3) Be prepared to be unhappy in some of your classes. Some of the teachers just flat out stink and some of them are just AMAZING.

You will have to do HESI exams every single semester, with the HESI Exam at the end before you graduate. You will be doing medication calculation tests every single semester, as well. You must get a 100% in order to pass. If you fail 3 times, you fail the semester.

LatinoHealthNut · Mar 11, 2014

Thanks, Kuriin, for your reply. That sounds stressful! Happy to hear that it's a little more spread out, though. I'd never even heard of the HESI exam until now. I wonder if that ultimately makes the NCLEX a bit easier.

How many people get expelled for making 3 bad mistakes?

I've heard from others that there are good/bad teachers. I guess that can be said for any program.

Are you, in general, happy to have chosen USF for nursing school?

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2014

I'm happy that I'm at USF in that the education I'm getting is good. However, I am not happy in how much I am paying. For that, I am very, very upset. Lol.

HESI exams are supposedly predictors for success on the NCLEX. Obviously, it's not always accurate as people can do bad on HESI but still do well on NCLEX.

Not many people get expelled for making the mistakes. I only know one or two people that have gotten two UBA (unprofessional behavior something...) in a single semester.

LatinoHealthNut · Mar 11, 2014

Thanks again for your reply. How large is the cohort?? Also, have you thought about/looked into tuition forgiveness programs? I hear there's a lot of that for nurses.

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

You're talking about being employed and that employer paying for your tuition?

The cohort is very, very large. I think it may be the biggest in the country, rofl. The current freshmen cohort is like 120 or something.

LatinoHealthNut · Mar 12, 2014

Yeah, apparently there are a few ways of obtaining tuition forgiveness, some institutions have agreements with hospitals that will pay a portion of your tuition if you commit to working there for 2 years, etc. Also the military.

Damn that is a large cohort!!!

You're talking about being employed and that employer paying for your tuition?
The cohort is very, very large. I think it may be the biggest in the country, rofl. The current freshmen cohort is like 120 or something.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 12, 2014

Congrats on making the cut! Glad you are connecting with a helpful network here on AN.

PLEASE - if you are using your picture as an avatar.... change it. It is very important to maintain anonymity on any social network but here on AN, it is even more important. AN is a HUGE community with membership from all sectors and geographic areas. You don't want to expose yourself to 'incidental' HIPAA issues or come under scrutiny due to your comments about instructors or program issues.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

I didn't go there, but I know the program well. It has an excellent reputation.

One very large advantage to spreading out clinicals over three years is that you get more experience in actual patient care settings. I know that people will say, "We all get the same number of clinical hours," and, more or less, they may be right.

But compare, say, three days a week for 8 hours each day with two days of 12 hours. The hours are the same in number, but the chances of seeing more and different situations, patients, dynamics, and other staffers is greatly increased; your chances for followup of a given patient or seeing the flow of a unit is increased by 50%, and therefore your chances of solidifying your clinical learning is much better.

If the increased time also gives you less pressure and more time to reflect, study, and integrate material, that's much to your benefit too. I really loathe those, "Which is better, faster or slower?" ads using the kindergarten kids on TV. Everybody thinks that faster is better. Well, compare a fast-cooked burger to a slow-cooked pot roast. Think about which one really makes you sit back at the table and say, "Boy, that was good!"

RunBabyRN · Mar 13, 2014

The CSU programs were 3 years long not that long ago. I attend SSU, graduating in May, and we're only the second class that's been in 2 years. I would assume that USF and other private universities enjoy the tuition income they receive from 3 years' worth of tuition.

As you may know, the market here for nurses is one of the most competitive in the country. If you plan to stay up here for your first nursing job, network as best you can while in clinicals.