Holy Family 2nd Degree Accelerated BSN (Fast Track) Program

Question about HFU's 2nd Degree BSN program

Published

I found out yesterday that I was accepted into Holy Family's Accelerated BSN Program for Summer 2019 (begins in late April). Is there anyone currently in the program who can shed some more light on it for me? What should I prepare for? What are some pros and cons of the program from your perspective? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the different instructors as far as you can tell? What clinical sites are typically available, and do students get to pick them or are the sites selected for them? Lastly, how would you say the program measures up to other programs in the area?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@aaronadams92 huge congratulations. I just applied for fall cohort. What is your stats if you don’t mind me asking.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Aaron, I am about a month and a half away from graduating this program. I've been all over these boards trying to help people as best as possible. If you search the boards, you'll get a ton of differing views. I can tell you from a personal standpoint, I have truly enjoyed the program. It's a lot of work, but if you stay focused and put in the time, you'll do well. You have to be flexible, as your schedule will change every eight weeks. I can truly say I have been lucky that I have loved every single one of my clinical instructors, they are all amazingly smart and experienced, I've learned so much from them. Many of the professors are amazing as well. People have their complaints about certain things, some of it is warranted and some not.

You don't get to pick your sites for clinical. The school will send you to locations within a 25 mile radius of main campus. I have been to some great hospitals - Temple, Penn, Abington. Others in my class have been to Jefferson, Einstein, CHOP etc. We have had some that weren't great, but most of them are. Clinical is what you make it - I had a bulk of my MedSurg at Nazareth and I still learned an unbelievable amount of experience. My very first semester was in a nursing home, but I learned all of the basics of bedside nursing, and I am still thankful for that experience.

Our program is known to perform very well on the NCLEX - stats have been 100% pass rates for the first time taking it. The tuition is probably the cheapest in the area. I have heard some complain at programs that are only a year or less because they don't feel they had the experience to learn much - that is not the case with Holy Family. Every program has its quirks, but it's constantly changing and evolving. I'm ready, and although I'll be singing a different tune when I begin working, now I feel ready to start working as an RN. I feel I have a solid baseline knowledge. I also worked really hard in this program.

Lastly, don't prepare now. Enjoy your free time, while you have it. Although I still made plenty of time for family and friends during this program, when I wasn't in school, I just enjoyed life and didn't think about it. It'll take up plenty of your time once you start. Your orientation should be coming up shortly, right? They will give you SO MUCH information there about the program.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations! I also was accepted to the summer 2019 cohort. It’s great to finally see someone else posting on here from the same cohort!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

@Julian20052000 I'm just seeing this. Thanks by the way. If by stats you mean GPA, my overall GPA is 2.9 and my prerequisite GPA is 3.3.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@kellyfuturebsn Thanks for your words. What particular complaints did people have, warranted or otherwise? Also, what study methods did you employ during the program? How often did you study in a group as opposed to alone? Lastly, which clinical sites would you say "weren't great"? Thanks again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@mekatu Congratulations to you as well. Have you heard anything from anybody else who has been accepted to our cohort?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I both study alone and in groups. I almost always would study on my days off, cramming this kind of content isn't possible in my opinion. It may work for some, but not for me. I like to re-listen to lecture recordings and make extra notes, and crossmatch it with my text. Typically, I would meet with my group a day before or a few days before an exam and we would just cover everything that would be on the upcoming exam - it helped me immensely. My grades improved working with a group, however, this again isn't something that works for everyone. The "not so great" sites? I wouldn't say that they weren't great because clinical is what you make it. The point I was making was that you won't always be in a big, city, university hospital. Sometimes you'll be in smaller community hospitals - all are great sites to learn in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Huge congrats on your acceptance! I just got accepted last week to the same program! I'm excited to see what orientation is all about! See you tomorrow! Hopefully!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi @kellyfuturebsn!

I would like to know what the absn schedule is like, like the times.

Thank you,

Up Vote Up Vote ×
23 minutes ago, Atunis said:

Hi @kellyfuturebsn!

I would like to know what the absn schedule is like, like the times.

Thank you,

I believe I answered this somewhere in this thread or another about HFU ABSN. What I can tell you is that your schedule will change every 8 weeks, so you must be flexible. That’s the give and take of being in an accelerated program. In the beginning you’ll have lecture and lab, then clinical will get added in. All clinical days are 12 hours, usually once a week. Some semesters are different than others.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion