LSU BSN

Published

Hi everybody,

Im new to this site and could really use some advice. Im starting LSU traditional BSN program. Was wondering if anyone has any advice about what to expect and what I should do to prepare. Also if anyone is actually a student at LSU that would help or if they are starting in the Fall as well.

Depends on when you decide to take health assessment. I believe they offer it in the summer session but if you take your summer off, you'll take it in Fall '11. That's when you'll need it.

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CPK...

If we decided to take classes in the summer, does that mean we'd graduate earlier? How do classes work, I mean... do we JUST schedule the amount of hours per semester that we want, or are there required classes that we have to take at certain times.

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Scheduling is very different for traditional, so I can't speak officially, but you won't graduate earlier, you'll just get a class out of the way so you don't have it on top of something else. The SOPH II semester usually involves Health Assessment, Foundations, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology. Some choose to lighten their load by taking Health Assessment during an "off" semester; therefore, they have one less class to stress about on top of everything else. I only know this because I had several friends do just that this past summer. I've heard that it's not always offered.

There are required level classes to take, as in, you can't go out of sequence. You can't take OB or peds before Adult, etc. I know one person who goes part time, but that means longer time in school. You're pretty much told what to register for and there isn't much choice, especially the first 2 semesters. When it comes time to register for next fall, just talk to your advisor about what's offered in the summer. It's not something that will be advertised.

Again, this is all from friends because I'm not on the traditional track. Traditionals have several more classes that we don't because they were pre reqs for the second degree program. I don't know exactly how those fall.

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Scheduling is very different for traditional, so I can't speak officially, but you won't graduate earlier, you'll just get a class out of the way so you don't have it on top of something else. The SOPH II semester usually involves Health Assessment, Foundations, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology. Some choose to lighten their load by taking Health Assessment during an "off" semester; therefore, they have one less class to stress about on top of everything else. I only know this because I had several friends do just that this past summer. I've heard that it's not always offered.

There are required level classes to take, as in, you can't go out of sequence. You can't take OB or peds before Adult, etc. I know one person who goes part time, but that means longer time in school. You're pretty much told what to register for and there isn't much choice, especially the first 2 semesters. When it comes time to register for next fall, just talk to your advisor about what's offered in the summer. It's not something that will be advertised.

Again, this is all from friends because I'm not on the traditional track. Traditionals have several more classes that we don't because they were pre reqs for the second degree program. I don't know exactly how those fall.

Hey cpkrn- let's say u got into both SLU and Lsu for the spring knowing what u know now would u still choose lsu? And what time do clinicals start ?and should we expect to go to school everyday? Or is there a possibility to schedule classes/ clinicals only a couple days a week? I'm really struggling with my decision, lsu is a semester longer but comparing courses of each school, lsu seems to have less lets read a book on nursing and more applying knowledge classes with simulations or clinicals. I know either school will provide a quality education and I just need to know when I choose LSU the semester difference is worth it. Any advice or insight is appreciated more than u know :-)

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I'm sorry, but I know absolutely nothing about SLU. It's not even a school I considered because it's too far a drive for me. However, at LSU you are going to be doing a TON of "hey let's read a book" kind of stuff. Yes, you get hands on but most of your time is spent in a lecture room. It's more of a Bachelor's degree type of thing, though and not really related to the school. A BSN is drenched in theory. Your first semester is all lecture and the first "nursing" course that semester is just about nursing history and ethics - bunch of paper writing.

You do not start clinicals until your second semester and the times for them are all over the board. I honestly don't know how the traditionals have theirs scheduled because it's nothing like ours. First semester, you won't be in school all day everyday. You actually have a ton of time not spent at school but you will need it to study for physiology. After the first semester, expect to have school happenings 5 days a week. There is no compromising on what days or times you want to be at school, it's pretty much set in stone. The classes will be offered for your level on the same times, days, etc. they don't offer more than one "section." Traditional labs and clinicals are structured very differently from ours, so I have no insight there. I will say that most clinicals start at 6 am and last until mid afternoon and they can be located anywhere around the city. I had night clinicals (3-midnight) but I don't know if those were offered to traditional students.

I didn't really have anything to compare LSU to because it was the only BSN program I was considering. Honestly, I'm too far in to have an honest opinion of "would I do it again?" Id' say if SLU gives you the flexibility to choose your schedule, that may be your winner. You have very little control over your schedule at LSU... maybe 5% of the time you're given a choice in something.

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Hi everyone, I want to thank everyone for your encouragement over these last few weeks while i have been stalking this message board lol, but it seems that a bunch of people i know, myself included are going to be suffering from budget cuts at LSUHSC-NO. Many of us were denied acceptance letters for the Spring Semester because we were in progress of finishing prereqs, like im finishing micro right now. Normally I dont think that would have been a problem for us, but with budget cuts they had to make some tough decisions. I am upset at these events,but there is not much any of us can do, but reapply for the Fall. Thank Goodness our applications roll over! I am confident I will get in the next round, until then I will enjoy another semster at LSU. Good luck to everyone who got in! and Geaux Tigers!

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I'm sorry, but I know absolutely nothing about SLU. It's not even a school I considered because it's too far a drive for me. However, at LSU you are going to be doing a TON of "hey let's read a book" kind of stuff. Yes, you get hands on but most of your time is spent in a lecture room. It's more of a Bachelor's degree type of thing, though and not really related to the school. A BSN is drenched in theory. Your first semester is all lecture and the first "nursing" course that semester is just about nursing history and ethics - bunch of paper writing.

You do not start clinicals until your second semester and the times for them are all over the board. I honestly don't know how the traditionals have theirs scheduled because it's nothing like ours. First semester, you won't be in school all day everyday. You actually have a ton of time not spent at school but you will need it to study for physiology. After the first semester, expect to have school happenings 5 days a week. There is no compromising on what days or times you want to be at school, it's pretty much set in stone. The classes will be offered for your level on the same times, days, etc. they don't offer more than one "section." Traditional labs and clinicals are structured very differently from ours, so I have no insight there. I will say that most clinicals start at 6 am and last until mid afternoon and they can be located anywhere around the city. I had night clinicals (3-midnight) but I don't know if those were offered to traditional students.

I didn't really have anything to compare LSU to because it was the only BSN program I was considering. Honestly, I'm too far in to have an honest opinion of "would I do it again?" Id' say if SLU gives you the flexibility to choose your schedule, that may be your winner. You have very little control over your schedule at LSU... maybe 5% of the time you're given a choice in something.

Thanks so much for getting back to me! I'm so thankful that i have choices but its definitely difficult choosing between these programs. Having some insuder knowledge is beneficial for sure!

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I live off-campus now!

I highly recommend getting out in New Orleans, but avoid online stuff. I scoured nola.com and craigslist, but wound up finding a really cheap, very huge apartment by just driving around the neighborhood I wanted.

Also, does anyone work right now? I have been waiting tables for a long time now, and worked 3 jobs often while finishing my first degree. I know nursing school is harder, but does anyone have any advice on working while in nursing? At the very least, during the first semester? I need advice on what to tell my employer, as I want to give them a heads up.

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For those of you who have gotten accepted, I know it said on our letter that new forms, etc. would be available starting November 1st. I'm wondering if anyone has contacted the school about these forms, or are we all just hanging out waiting?

Kaitlyn, good luck next year! It probably had NOTHING to do with you as an applicant, and all had to do with the budget cuts.

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New forms are always posted online. Just give it a bit of time and keep looking on the website under "New Students." It doesn't look like the website's been updated yet.

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New forms are always posted online. Just give it a bit of time and keep looking on the website under "New Students." It doesn't look like the website's been updated yet.

Hey cpk,are there a lot of busy work time filling classes? How many days a week are we going to be doing clinicals? What times are clinicals offered on weekend clinicals available ? Thanks for the info :)

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Depends on when you decide to take health assessment. I believe they offer it in the summer session but if you take your summer off, you'll take it in Fall '11. That's when you'll need it.

also cpk, do you know of any rules against pda's on lsuhsc campus or in the class rooms. I know that some schools ban them but I've seen a few threads on this site that say it would be a good idea to get one for reference.

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