Innovative Nursing Program

Streamline2010 · Feb 15, 2012

That's interesting. Here's the program info, to save others looking it up: http://www.edinboro.edu/dotAsset/631038.pdf Pitt does something like that, but has more prereqs.

15 months of 5 days/week plus all of the reading and memorizing and paperwork you'll have to do probably will mean you give up your entire life outside of school. I think if one has the extreme desire to become a nurse, finds all of the coursework interesting, and can skim-read and pick up concepts fast, that it might be a great accelerated program to pursue. I did one year of a diploma school program that was really intense and a huge, huge, monopolizer of our time like that, and I totally burned out and will probably never go back to nursing, ever. 5 days per week, all day every day, and grind away at it all the time every weekend and evening really killed my desire for RN. Every time I look back on that, I feel the flogging that I took. I will run up & down the floors and scrub patients and do physical work all day, but try to make me to sit though 6-8 hours daily of yapping lectures and then demand that I go home and sit all night and every weekend reading, studying, cramming, and doing paperwork, and I will have to keel you. ;-D

You from the West Coast: Erie and Meadville and Edinboro and Northeast (that's a town) all of that region are in a huge snow belt that gets lake effect snows from Lake Erie. Deep snows, that stay on the ground for weeks or months, even. This year seems to be a mild winter (I'm in NW PA) but my advice to you is:

1. Bring a good reliable vehicle that has 4WD or is front wheel drive.

2. Plan on buying some Blizzaks or Winterforce snow tires if you have a car. Use 'em Nov - Mar.

3. Or get some AT (all terrain) tread tires if you have a truck or SUV.

Input your vehicle on TireRack.com and look through all of the tire selections reviews to find out how people rated that tire for winter / snow / ice and rain ON YOUR ACTUAL VEHICLE. Why? Because handling characteristics vary, and good on one car may be abysmal on a different car. Maybe you can find a good all-season compromise tire, but if you're not used to snow/ice, it's best to go with a dedicated winter tire those months. But if you don't have a friend w/ a garage to store your extra wheels & tires, all-season might be what you'll have to settle for.

4. Remember, always, that the key to driving on snow and ice is always have really good tires, and SLOW DOWN.

I'm serious, don't come here without a vehicle that is suitable for winter, because the ice, freezing rain, and snow can make driving a real ordeal. I'm particularly thinking about having to drive to Meadville for clinicals. Meadville is a rural area, and in a rural area, everyone has trucks & 4WDs and you don't want to be the person w/ the lil' flimsy car that has no traction.

Aside from that, I don't know what the student lifestyle is like up there. I'm older and out of that loop, but I do know that proximity to Erie does offer some culture and activities that Meadville & Crawford Mercer County don't have. Most people's kids here go to Penn State Behrend or to Edinboro, and they prefer to stay up there and work during summers, for the social life.

Columnist · Feb 15, 2012

Moved to PA Nursing Programs forum where you can network with and get responses from other members who will be attending this school.

alb8952 · Feb 23, 2012

I'm from Kane---small little town south east of Erie. I hold BA in Dance with a minor in gerontology. I've been a cna since I was about 18 and have been working in a nursing home since. However, a couple years ago, I switched to a position with the Office of Human Services and am now a senior center director.

Have you had any experience in the nursing field?

I'm sure you will be fine :)

We can use each other as study buddies

I'm surprised no one else has posted on here. Would be nice to meet some other people as well

Have you talked to anyone else who was accepted into the program?

I'm Amanda by the way. . . what's your name?

biys75 · Mar 16, 2012

Hello everyone, my name is Robert and I have applied to the Innovative Nursing program. I received an acceptance letter from Edinboro University, however it appeared very generic and didn't mention any specific program, just that I had been accepted to the University. I was curious if any of you also received a similar letter? Thanks!

alb8952 · Mar 19, 2012

I received a generic one from admissions saying congrats on your acceptance to edinboro. I called admissions and the woman said that I was accepted into the innovative program.

biys75 · Apr 2, 2012

Thanks Amanda (alb8952), that is the same type of letter I received. I also spoke with the admissions department and they told me I was accepted as well.

In response to Streamline2010, with any accelerated program you take the risk of buring out. I was in an accelerated medical school program where we did the first two years of didactic book work in 15 months and it was hell to be frank, but I got through it. It's important to take time for yourself and to relax, and yes there is time for that if you organize your time appropriately.

I'm really looking forward to this experience, although the pace will be similar to medical school the information learned and class size will be different. My medical school class was over 600 student all starting as freshman. This nursing program is around 20, so the learning experience will be much richer. Learning is so much easier with a study and support group!

For those that didn't read my post above, my name is Robert.. I'm from Illinois btw, but also lived in Florida for 10 years and the Caribbean for a year and a half. I've never been to Pennsylvanian, but I'm so excited to check it out. Anyway, I'm ready for August to get here and really looking forward to meeting all of you.

alb8952 · Apr 10, 2012

For any of you who are attending this innovative program, does anyone need a roommate? What have you all found for living arrangements?

jordancoltura · Apr 13, 2012

Hi guys!! Congratulations to all of you who have been accepted into Edinboro's program for the fall. I am a current Innovative student at Edinboro graduating in December. I just wanted to let you all know that we started a facebook group for our class last summer and found it very helpful because there was not much information out there regarding the program and relocating to the area. I also started a group on Facebook "edinboro innovative nursing" for you all to be able to ask any of the current students questions as you prepare to start in the Fall. PLEASE do not hesitate to email me as well [email protected] if you need anything at all. I remember how excited and nervous I was to start the program and the lack of resources out there. Good luck to you all and I hope to meet you all in the Fall!

biys75 · Apr 14, 2012

Good question regarding the living arrangements Amanda. I am curious about this as well.

Jordancoltura, maybe you can offer some advice on this. Is it best to live on campus or off campus, based on things such as commuting needs, campus resource accessibility, housing options in the area, food options in the area, etc. Also, do you live with a roommate, say a current nursing student and if so how has that worked out, has it been beneficial.

If you could offer any advice, things to prepare for or what to expect during the next 1 ½ years that would be great.

Thanks - Robert

jordancoltura · Apr 19, 2012

I actually live in a townhouse about a mile from campus with two nursing students who are in my class. It has worked out amazingly. We actually met on an allnurses thread last summer. I would highly recommend living near campus for the central location for clinicals and class. First semester you are on campus 95 percent of the time with a couple 4 hour clinical rotations for a few weeks at the very end of the semester. And then second semester you are at clinicals three days a week in Erie and third semester is half in Erie and half in meadville (30 min south of edinboro) Erie wouldn't be a bad area to look either. As far as on campus there are places that rent per semester called college park apts and Darrow place, but they are pretty expensive for the basic amenities and overly saturated with undergrads but for the close proximity to campus might not be bad. Hope that helps a little!!

Lummie07 · Apr 30, 2012

Has anyone out there been selected for Edinboro University's Innovative Nursing Program starting Fall 2012? I have just been accepted and am eager to get in touch with others who will be entering the program as well

Hey guys, I too got accepted into the Innovative Nursing program starting this fall 2012. Im still trying to figure out what to do about housing. Like is it better to live on campus or off campu.. Anyone here decided on what they're going to do concerning housing? or know anyone looking for a roomate ..etc?