Houston Baptist University Graduates

earthcrosser · Mar 4, 2009

Not hard to get into the program. Easier as an ADN, but because it is a difficult program, they're letting more and more BSN students in as well. (And yes, it's very expensive - it's a private university)

It's hard. Very, very, very hard. People will tell you horror stories (although some of the things that they complain about apply to other schools as well, such as needing a 75%+ on the final to pass the class, needing a 75%+ test average) about the school. It's not like other nursing schools at all. Since it's private, they can do more of what they want to do, for better or worse. There are a lot of people who drop out of the program (more drop than fail out). My graduating class of December 2008 had 16 students - which is a HUGE number for the school.

If you don't want to do ICU/Peds/OB, it's best to go somewhere else. The coursework is fairly intense and does a good job of grooming you to work in certain areas, but if you want to do floor nursing, there are better, less intense schools to go to. But for critical care, it's amazingly good.

I have a love/hate relationship with that school, but I'm still glad that I went there because it gave me a very strong background in critical care and pediatrics - the ICU class is much different than what other schools offer (HBU turns ICU into something that feels more like med school/RT school/grad school than a run-of-the-mill nursing class).

Faith_27 · Mar 4, 2009

Yes, I want to either go into NICU or OB. I want to do there ADN program then go to UTMB for my Bachelor's.

earthcrosser · Mar 4, 2009

I'm not sure about how the courses are scheduled with the school now being semesters, but it's well worth it for NICU. You get to go to the NICU in Pediatrics for quite a bit of time, plus with ICU, you learn a lot that's still applicable to your practice should you decide to work in the NICU after graduation. And interviewers/recruiters love HBU grads. It's a perk of going there.

There are several requirements, such as mandatory NSA membership and having to get certain amounts of NSA points in order to graduate (if you go there, do them early so you can have senior year free from them), that other schools don't have. It can be a huge pain to do, but it looks good on a resume. You'll also have to do checkoffs and portfolios - not fun, but everyone gets through them alive.

It's a lot of work, but there's several teachers who are amazingly awesome. Some are...not so good...and that's quite scary at times, but you run into them wherever you go to school for nursing. It's a tough program, but it can be done. It just takes a lot of hard work, dedication, living off little/no sleep, and tons of loans, haha.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 5, 2009

Yes, I want to either go into NICU or OB. I want to do there ADN program then go to UTMB for my Bachelor's.

Oh that's neat you get to do NICU rotation at HBU! There were only two of us at TWU that got to do NICU as a capstone course and I was one of them. The other girl didn't even want to work NICU after graduation (and doesn't) and I'm NICU or nothing.

Faith_27 · Mar 5, 2009

Do you like working NICU?

earthcrosser · Mar 5, 2009

NICU was the only place I wanted to work when I graduated. I really enjoy it. It's very different from other types of nursing, and most schools don't focus too much on the NICU. So a lot of what you learn is on the job or modified from what you know about ICU and Pediatrics. I loved critical care, but I also liked dealing with families and getting to do education, which you don't get to do a lot of in the adult ICU, as many adult ICUs really restrict visiting hours.

It's very enjoyable, although I still get nervous working with the babies who drop their sats so much that it seems like even looking at them causes them to desat into the 50s.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 5, 2009

Do you like working NICU?

LOVE it. If I'm going to be a bedside nurse, NICU is the only unit I'd work on. I don't think there's much of an in between with NICu nurses..people love it or hate it.

Faith_27 · Mar 5, 2009

Well, then it's HBU Nursing School and plenty of loans!

=]

cinnamongurl · Aug 12, 2009

I am curious about the first semester of nursing school at HBU. There are 5 NURS classes listed on the ADN Map. How does work. I would appreciate any help.

Mirichka · Jan 4, 2011

Can you tell me a bit about what the program is like if you already have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated subject? I am planning on attending the info session next week, but it would be great to hear from people who have been through the program.