Any Accelerated BSN at IUPUI Fall applicants?

michelios19RN · Oct 11, 2009

anomaly,

Sorry, that was a typo on my part. I meant Spring 2011. I had originally hoped to start this May. I had started taking courses through Ivy Tech. When I met with the adviser at IUPUI, she let me know that I had more two more sciences to pick up besides the microbiology I am already scheduled to take. Also it was highly recommended that I retake a class since I had earned a C in it and an A would help with my GPA. There's an extra psych class I have to take (Life Span Dev) and Statistics. Statistics from Ivy Tech won't transfer so I'll have to find a class to take in the Summer I suppose.

Jones

csab · Oct 11, 2009

I honestly do not know at this point if I would ever want an advanced practice degree. Right now my main desire is to be a nurse in L&D and/or Post Partum, probably starting out in med-surg at the Women's Hospital though. (realizing of course that it might be a case of you take what you can get wherever you can get it).

My neighbor who graduated last Dec. from Ivy Tech ASN works at St. Vincent and she says that she loves her job, can't imagine doing anything else, and has no desire at this point to get a BSN or anything further. Of course give her a few years and she might change her mind.

anomaly · Oct 13, 2009

I also know someone who has their ASN and was contemplating going back to school, but has decided not to--at least for now. Her goal was to move into a management position, and she's already done that, so she has other objectives she'd like to accomplish instead.

My reason for asking about advanced practice was the change they are scheduled to make in the licensing exam as of 2015. I like the thought of skipping (the LPN) and ASN stages and going straight into an 18 month BSN program and then later, straight into a DNP program, but it's also reassuring that there are many different avenues that can be pursued.

I've talked to someone who said that L & D is a field in fairly high-demand. Have you heard similar reports (and is that why you mention Med-Surg)?

What sparked your interest in L & D? I'm drawn more toward an ER type setting, but I'm excited to get to experience a number of different settings in clinicals and have even given some thought to geriatrics (given population dynamics and the likelihood that I will be caring for my mom and relatives at the same time I am raising my own children).

csab · Oct 13, 2009

What sparked my interest in L&D was just having my own children. I am fascinated by pregnancy, labor, and delivery and I loved every minute of my pgs (except for when I was barfing for 6 wks LOL). Then with my first son, I had preterm labor at 29 wks and went on bedrest. I ended up in the hospital for 3.5 wks before he was born at 34 wks. While I was there, I just really started to think that I might like to be involved in the birth process as an RN. All the nurses who took care of me seemed to really love their jobs. With my other two kids, they were full term so I only spent 2 nights in the hospital, but I just really felt a desire to be there in the L&D and PP areas. I never really thought I would do it though (go back to school for RN), I've been thinking about it for 12 yrs now, and finally decided that maybe I can actually do it.

The reason I mentioned med-surg at the Women's hospital is because every job posting I ever see for L&D requires experience so I don't think too many new grads get into L&D around here.

anomaly · Oct 13, 2009

Aww. I'm really sorry to hear you had to go through all of that. I'm sure that was an emotionally draining experience. I just finished studying and writing a paper about prenatal development (so pregnancy complications and outcomes are fresh on my mind right now). All three of your children are doing well now, I hope. :)

It seems like at least part of the impact of that experience has been positive. I hope you're excited about your choice to pursue nursing. I'm excited for you!

csab · Oct 13, 2009

Oh yes the experience definitely had positive aspects. That son is now 12yrs old and is taller than me! I think that is why my body tried to kick him out early--at 6 wks early, he already weighed 6 lb 1 oz at birth and was 19" long. If he had been fullterm I would have been looking at probably a 9+ pounder. He was off the charts for height and weight by the time he was 2 mos old (which age-corrected was only about 2 wks old). Anyway, I experienced a lot during that pg and my other two (preterm labor, mag sulfate, terbutaline, bedrest, spinal headache after delivery, NICU; then with my second pg I had natural childbirth; with the third I had Group B strep+/antibiotics before delivery, pitocin, another spinal headache; and breastfeeding.) So I figure I've got a lot of personal experience to share with other women going through some of the same things.

agetroe · Oct 13, 2009

Csab:

The Equivalent of IUPUI's math 118 at Ivy Tech is Math 135 (finite mathematics), which is acceptable as a prereq for statistics and for the science cluster. It took me a while to figure it out, but I understand it works ok...

jlynn80 · Oct 14, 2009

anomaly,

Thanks for the info. I had just estimated the program cost based on tuition per credit hour and a high-level estimate for books and other fees, but I didn't include living expenses in the $20K. That's what I'm most nervous about paying for, since I don't want to have to sell my house while in school. My husband and I are trying to save like crazy right now. I haven't heard anything else about scholarships. I called Clarian the other day to get more info on their scholarships, but the person in charge of the program was out. I'm going to try and call again later this week. Since I was lucky in that my parents were able to pay for my first degree out of pocket, I am now clueless about loans. Do student loans cover living expenses (to a reasonable extent) as well and how do they determine how much will be covered?

Also, to everyone wondering about the new requirement for science courses, I was told by an advisor that the science courses do have to be completed two semesters prior to that for which you are applying. So, for example, if you're applying for Spring 2011, the science pre-reqs must be completed by the end of 2010 summer sessions. I think the reason is so they can make sure that these courses are included in the GPA that they consider for admission. Even though applications can be submitted before the end of the summer semesters they state in the program admission criteria that the GPA through the end of that semester is used for your application consideration. Makes sense, since they don't send out acceptance letters until December.

jlynn80 · Oct 14, 2009

Jones,

Statistics (E270) is offered at IUPUI via an Internet course I believe every semester. I actually took it as an undergrad but have to re-take it because it's now over seven years old. I find that pretty humorous considering I'm a financial analyst and use statistics every day. Oh well. :)

anomaly · Oct 14, 2009

Jlynn,

I believe loans depend on a number of factors. I was extremely lucky and received a full ride for my undergraduate degree, but have always filled out the FAFSA because my family's income level fell under the poverty line. As a result, I have always been offered federal loans including Perkins, Stafford, and Plus loans.

This website seems to have some good information regarding federal loans:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp

Federal loans appear to have different interest rates and payment stipulations than private loans, which I have even less experience with. They also require you to fill out a FAFSA. It appears that your school receives your FAFSA information, evaluates which federal loans you may be eligible for, and then reports those to you.

FAFSA forms typically have priority deadlines between February 1 and March 15, depending on which school you are applying to, and cover entire school years from Fall-Summer. So, say you submitted a FAFSA application on Feb. 1, 2009 for the 2009-2010 school year, it would cover Fall '09, Spring '10, and Summer '10. It is based on your tax return for the prior year ('09-'10 is based on 2008 tax return), your age, marital status, and a variety of other factors.

You might want to check out the FAFSA website at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

When you fill out a FAFSA, if you meet certain requirements, it may also render you eligible for certain federal grants, such as Pell, SEOG, or SMART grants, which do not have to be paid back.

In the past, my financial aid packages, regardless of my scholarship packages, have always covered tuition and all estimated expenses (including books, transportation, general fees, and room & board).

I'm not sure what else might be different about a private loan, but I'm sure you are considered based on the same criteria that would make you eligible for a credit card or any other form of credit. I would guess that you could take out as much as you estimate you would need to pay your tuition and cover monthly expenses, as the responsibility is yours to repay the loan.

I'm sorry if you were already familiar with any of this. Hopefully it is helpful. I know that some people have never filled out a FAFSA before and have no experience with federal loans or grants.

anomaly · Oct 14, 2009

Jlynn,

I had planned on contacting Clarian and Community once I was finished with my midterms, but perhaps we could each contact one of the hospitals and share notes?

anomaly · Oct 14, 2009

csab,

It definitely seems like you'll have a great ability to empathize with your patients given the diverse experiences you've had with your own children.