HELP / OPINIONS REQUESTED--BEST 2nd Degree Accel. BSN program in US?

frankyfern22 · Feb 24, 2009

I am an ABS student at the University at Buffalo in New York. The price here isn't too bad since it is a Public University, scholarship is also available. Depending on where you are in Canada, this might be reasonable since we are close to Toronto. You can easily find a job in the area. There is an aggressive recruitment effort, which is nice. As an accelerated student, it is difficult to adjust to the undergraduate mentality of the professors. I think the grad school would be much better. Upon graduation, you will have approximately 15 graduate school credits. The ABS class is large, 50 students this year, but I believe that anyone pursuing a second degree in nursing, the attrition rate is low. We only lost 2 people. The program is a year long, 12 months. It is EXTREMELY intense and you should prepare more so mentally than academically before starting! I wish I would have known. If you are more interested in clinical experience, I might suggest going to a 2 year school or doing a regular track program, which would be 2 years but then you get a BSN, because speaking from my experience, we are more oriented to theory and management, moving up in the workplace. That does not mean you have to of course. The program has already accepted students for the 2009-2010 school year, but takes applications in August 2009. If you want to know any more please feel free to send me a message and Id be happy to share info, even if it's not about UBuffalo! Good Luck!!! :bugeyes:

Rook · Feb 27, 2009

Best, who knows? There are alot of RN schools out there.

Went to Salisbury University in Maryland accel BSN program. You can get in with a 3.0. Program is stingy about giving A's (prev 4.0 students got like 3.5s) but will let you into their RN practionshiner or MSN program if you get at least a 2.75 in their BS program. For the cost my belief is the program lies somewhere between very good - excellent. However I've never been to another RN school to compare it with.

1. Total Costs -- 3 semesters (Fall-Winter-Fall 16 months summer off). $7300/semester in state $3400 in state. If you agree to work in MD (for at least 2 yrs?) I think you can get in-state rates not sure if this applies to international students but can't see why it doesn't.

2. Number of Clinical hours --12cr, 13cr, 16cr not sure about the C. Hours but its more than enough. The last semester is hell, the other 2 I was able to work about 20hrs/week.

3. Instructor knowledge and capability / care -- not great but good: the insturctors are knowledgeable

4. Private or Public (either) -- public

5. International Students --yes they have exp about 2 in a class

6. Technology - the library sucks and closes way to early but other than that its adequate

7. Clinical rotations -- yes they are varied. Part of your Psych rotation is at a homeless shelter, Comm health is both rural and urban etc.

8. On campus living space -- do you want to live with 18yr olds? Though there might be some international dorms but I'm not sure. There are some decent managed apts around the Univ. just don't bring a pet alot of places won't take them. Housing is pretty cheap.

9. Job Club or help after grad to find job -- yes but you shouldn't need it

10. NCLEX score-- accel BSN's at SU had a 100% 1st time pass rate 24/24 in 2007. overall the program had around a 95% 1st time pass rate in 2007 (something like 88/92 or something). We have the best 1st time pass rates in the state of MD (which includes Johns Hopkins and the Univ of MD). Whether that means we have a good RN program I'm not sure but I guess it doesn't hurt.

12. Students drop out rate ---low 1 out of 24 dropped out in my class

13. Number of months to complete for most students

etc. (16 months and May-August off)

Just wondering. My brother lives in the Toronto/Brampton area and was thinking of going to Canada to work there. How hard is it to get a job as a RN in Canada? What is the pay like? Do they accept an American RN licence and how do you go about getting a canadian one?

frankyfern22 · Feb 27, 2009

http://nursing.buffalo.edu/academics/abs.asp[url=http://nursing.buffalo.edu/academics/abs.asp][/url]

m2theRZA · Mar 10, 2009

cool - i'm glad i came across this post because I'm from canada as well :) I grew up in Toronto - but moved to LA for college. I'm trying to get into an accelerated BSN program as well. I just wanted to share some of my thoughts as I'm assuming you are still a Canadian citizen.. (if you're dual, this wouldn't apply to you!)

1) Most international students are NOT qualified for financial aid or assistance here in the US (yes - even though you're from canada - you are considered an international student). A lot of private schools will state this as part of their application process (eg NYU, USF). They expect you to be able to pay for the tuition and submit proof of your finances to cover tuition costs. I actually spent about $200,000 USD for my undergrad degree/board at a private school (USC) - but fortunately, I have extremely supporting family members (even though I wish I stayed and did my undergrad at UofT instead - would've saved a LOT of money).

On top of this, you will be under an F-1 visa and you will not be permitted to work outside of campus. If you're pursuing an accelerated BSN degree, they highly encourage that you don't work during the program, so you have to ensure that you're financially able to support yourself here in the US during your program. 15 month programs in private schools, such as NYU and Georgetown, are about $65,000 - $70,000 (from what I've read). I think it might be a little cheaper for public universities - but still would be relatively expensive considering you will need boarding as well.

2) Obtaining work after can be a bit tricky. After completing your degree, you can apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) which is a work extension to your F-1 student visa. However, this is only limited to two years I believe (it was only 12 months when I graduated - but I know they extended it). After your OPT expires, you're going to have to find a company/hospital that would be willing to sponsor you so you can get issued another working visa. For Canadians, its a TN visa which you can renew every year - which will probably be your means of establishing work here unless you plan on applying for citizenship. From experience, it may be hard to find a place who will help "sponsor" you another working visa. Right now, I work for a University and they've given me a J-1 research scholar visa but its only limited to 5 years! So, I'm hoping that I can get a TN visa as an RN after I graduate from an accelerated program (I'm talking a bit ahead of myself - I need to get ACCEPTED into a program first )

But a lot of this is based on my experience as well as college friends who were also international students who went through the same process. I could be inaccurate, but its my current understanding of the whole working visa process for canadian citizens! its amazing how we really are treated as foreigners

Good luck!

jjjoy, LPN · Mar 10, 2009

its amazing how we really are treated as foreigners

US citizens who wanted to go to school or work in Canada would also have extra barriers, wouldn't they? Anyway, I've met many nurses from Canada in the US so I'm thinking there must be, or at least used to be, some kind of special work visa just for Canadian nurses. There's got to be more folks here at allnurses who have experience with that.

I have no idea how licensing works if you're not a citizen of the country in which to you're going to school... such as a Canadian in US nursing school. And don't forget to find out how credentials transfer back to Canada if you want to practicing nursing back home.

Finally, regarding the original question... I don't think there's any clear ranking of the quality of the various 2nd degree accel BSN programs. Besides the fact that most accel BSN programs are fairly new, I'd question any ranking there was as what exactly would the ranking criteria be? NCLEX pass rates? Just because a school trains students to do well on the NCLEX doesn't mean that they are training up competent practitioners. Accolades graduates go on to earn? Any school with a prestigous name will attract strong students and have their pick of the best of the best. Thus their graduates will likely go far no matter the quality of the specific program.

When it comes to choosing a nursing program, I think what counts most is your own learning style and your own career goals. If you know you want to work in an academic medical center, then choose a nursing school which is affiliated with such so that you'll get to do clinicals there and make potential job contacts as as student. If you want to ensure that you'll get a strong hands-on clinical experience as a student, try to talk to graduates of the various programs and find out how well prepared they felt clinically. Many student nurses graduate feeling like their clinical experience wasn't intense enough, due to having to share clinical instructors, unclear expectations of students at clinical, limitations on what they were allowed to do as students, working with harried preceptors who didn't have the time to take a student under their wing, etc. Each program is different so you can't assume just because one BSN program offers a well-structured one-on-one preceptorship that all BSN programs do.

Good luck!

jenn8500 · Mar 31, 2010

sasagrrrl,

I'm from Canada and I'm currently going to school in NYS. I will be graduating in May with an ADN nursing degree and I'm thinking about applying for the OPT. As a new grad I'm sure that it would be very difficult to get a TN visa in this economy so I am hoping that I can find work through the OPT. I'm just wondering if you know how the OPT works. Would the hospital that I apply to work at have to be affiliated with the school? If you have any info on the OPT process that would be greatly apprecieted. Thanks

m2theRZA · Mar 31, 2010

Hi Jen8500,

If you are thinking of applying to OPT and graduating in May, I suggest that you apply ASAP. The paperwork can take a couple of months (I believe mine took 3 months)--which I didn't realize. For my first undergraduate degree, I applied for OPT around this time (early april) with my graduation date being in May -- and they got back to me in July returning my documents because I filled it out with a *blue* pen -- then I had to refill the application in black pen and didnt get my card until September. It was such a waste because I spent the whole summer unable to do anything (literally)! You can't work legally until you get that card, so really consider the potential time frame it may take to process your documents.

Also, do you have a social security number here in the US? It makes the paperwork a LOT easier. If not, you should look into applying for one soon too. I highly suggest that you apply for OPT and use it to stay in the US during your job search -- if you do not apply to for OPT, then I believe you have to go back to Canada once you complete your degree (3 week window I believe)-- so OPT will benefit you in this way. The hospital doesn't have to be affiliated with the school -- you can essentially apply anywhere under OPT. The only thing you should follow up on is that the hospital would be able to provide a TN visa once your OPT expires. I don't believe switching to a TN visa would be a problem either-- I think the hospital would just have to pay a fee.

PS congrats on your impending graduation and good luck on the job search! I'm actually in my second semester at NYU doing their accelerated program and graduating in December. Unfortunately, though, I am not qualified to use OPT anymore once I receive my BSN as I've already used OPT in my past degree. Apparently, you are only able to use OPT once at each educational level

Good luck and feel free to let me know if you have any other questions!

jenn8500 · Mar 31, 2010

Sasagrrl,

Thanks so much for the information. I talked to my advisor today and I am going to apply for the opt ASAP and I'll make sure to use a black pen! I wont be taking the NCLEX until sometime in June so I think the timing is good right now if it takes around three months. I do not have a SSN number right now, I'm not too sure if I can apply for that on the F1? That would be good if I could apply for one so I would be able to get a license.

How do you find the job situation in NYC? I've been reading all over that they are closing down hospitals and not hiring..NYC would have been my first choice, but unfortunately I don't have a chance with an ADN degree as they only want BSN nurses. I'm sure you wont have a problem finding a hospital willing to sponser for the TN visa (if you plan on working in the U.S.) with a BSN from NYU!

Buran09 · Apr 21, 2010

If I were you I would not apply for OPT until one week before the last day of the class. And I would request a start day to be 3 month from the last day of the class. Passing NCLEX is not enough, you should obtain a license as well and that may take quite some time. You may end up in the situation when your OPT has already started but you have no license.

blessed87 · Sep 19, 2011

I am an ABS student at the University at Buffalo in New York. The price here isn't too bad since it is a Public University, scholarship is also available. Depending on where you are in Canada, this might be reasonable since we are close to Toronto. You can easily find a job in the area. There is an aggressive recruitment effort, which is nice. As an accelerated student, it is difficult to adjust to the undergraduate mentality of the professors. I think the grad school would be much better. Upon graduation, you will have approximately 15 graduate school credits. The ABS class is large, 50 students this year, but I believe that anyone pursuing a second degree in nursing, the attrition rate is low. We only lost 2 people. The program is a year long, 12 months. It is EXTREMELY intense and you should prepare more so mentally than academically before starting! I wish I would have known. If you are more interested in clinical experience, I might suggest going to a 2 year school or doing a regular track program, which would be 2 years but then you get a BSN, because speaking from my experience, we are more oriented to theory and management, moving up in the workplace. That does not mean you have to of course. The program has already accepted students for the 2009-2010 school year, but takes applications in August 2009. If you want to know any more please feel free to send me a message and Id be happy to share info, even if it's not about UBuffalo! Good Luck!!!

Hello I recently applied to SUNY Accelerated Program for the Spring 2012 semester and had a few questions.

Were the job prospects high after graduation?

NCLEX passing Rates?

I saw that you stated that the program is more "oriented theory and management," does that mean you didnt get good clinical experience? how many clinical hours did you receive?

What were the highlights of this program?

Your help is greatly appreciated!

frankyfern22 · Sep 19, 2011

Hi Blessed87!

I have been out of school for 2 years after my BSN and I have had SO MANY opportunities in nursing that I never thought I would. They're not always immediate, but with patience, they do present themselves.

Job prospects in Buffalo were great after graduation. I have been reading online alot of new grads are having difficulty finding opportunities (not necessarily Buffalo). I'd say start early ( I started looking for jobs in May, and there were a lot of other nursing schools in the area). May is too late. My program didn't really guide us in that aspect. I got a job on a telemetry floor, yikes! Was I nervous. I think having another degree and being older than 21 years shows your employer you're a responsible person off the bat. NCLEX pass rates weren't tip top, I think 89%...BUT don't let that dissuade you!!! Take KAPLAN!!!! I was the best $800 ish dollars ever spent. I passed boards... and that's all that matters!!! No one cares you got an "A" in microbiology haha, unless you're applying to grad schools . I don't think ANY nursing school prepares you for real nursing, looking back. Nursing school prepares you to be a safe and competent nurse, you'll learn all the technicalities on the job. The first year is quite the learning curve on the job. My clinicals were actually good. The only down side was we all did not get to do psych, ob, peds, due to limited slots. If you REALLY want peds, ob rotation etc, unless they've changed it, UB is not the place. BUT again, you're probably not going to get peds right out of school. If you do, wow! There is great opportunity in Buffalo with a Level I trauma center, ECMC, and many other facilities to do clinical and your final preceptorship. I think we had around 750 hrs of clinical? Not sure anymore.

I think highlights were graduate school credits, you're done in 1 year, and a good school behind your name. People who say the school you go to doesn't influence your job application, is lying. The University prepares you for research and teaches you to decipher good from bad research. And since we are moving toward evidence base practice, it's very important. Please ask me any other questions if you like! I gotta go for the day! :monkey dance: