LSUHSC CARE Accelerated BSN program...applicants, graduates?

[rpbsnrn]

I'm an applicant to the CARE program through LSUHSC and I was wondering if anyone else here is also an applicant or even graduate? I too, like many of the OLOL applicants have set my LIFE around getting into this program. I choose this program over OLOL because I intend to one day go into advanced practice nursing and it seems more feasible to get my BSN in 18 months as opposed to my ADN in one year through OLOL. I have a BA from Tulane.

I was told I'd receive word on acceptance later this month or earlier in May. Anyone with similiar experiences?

Thanks,

Ray

[nolamor]

Hi - I'm getting ready to apply for the CARE program in January - for entrance in fall 2011. Any thoughts on how the program looks now? How selective it has become? Thoughts of any kind on the program itself? Thanks!

[cpkRN]

Hi - I'm getting ready to apply for the CARE program in January - for entrance in fall 2011. Any thoughts on how the program looks now? How selective it has become? Thoughts of any kind on the program itself? Thanks!

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "how it looks?" As far as selectivity, I'm unsure. I have heard people say they had a 3.5 and made it in and others with the same GPA not make it in. The factors that break those "ties" are interview and application (namely your essays). I have also heard that people with higher GPA's didn't make it in because of their interviews. I had a 3.71 going in.

I have multiple classmates who never set foot on the LSU campus, so that shouldn't be a factor. All of my classes were from out of state and my pre reqs were all from Delgado.

There were 50 accepted this year and 90 applicants qualified for interviews. I'm not privy to the number of actual applicants but rumor is over 200.

As for my thoughts: we started with 55 and are now down to 36. It's not easy. You have a regular semester with the traditional students for your first semester and one of those classes is normally where people don't make the cut. Once acceleration hits you, you don't know which end is up :). It's certainly stressful, but not impossible. Things tend to be unorganized. You have to be flexible with every facet of your life because things tend to happen at the last minute and there are absolutely no excuses for not adapting to the changes. It's really just the "nature of the beast" when we have such different needs from the rest of the school and when we're moving so fast. You absolutely have to know how to go with the flow, just roll with what's given to you, and put blinders on to things that would normally bother you.

I would suggest coming to visit the school and talking with someone that's part of the administration, and then maybe snag the chance to talk one on one with a current student.

[nolamor]

Hello! Thanks very much for your response.

When I said, "how it looks" I was kinda wondering if the program has become more organized, structured, but it sounds like it has not. From a friend at the dental school it sounds like budget cuts have forced teachers to do a lot more and things have gotten disorganized. She said teachers are teaching twice as many courses as they once were. I'm speculating that that will also continue to reduce the number of students they can take for the program.

I'm less worried about how I'll do once I'm there - I've a very hard worker and I have confidence in myself that I will make it though. My biggest worry is just getting in. Any tips, advice on the essay? on the interview?

I'm wondering about other places to apply in case i dont get in. The thought of going back to school for three more years is tough, particularly if it means that I will only be able to work a part-time job during that time. Where else did you apply? Did you also apply to LSUHSC's regular track?

Do you have a job right now in addition to school? Do most people have jobs through the care program?

Having to wait until January to apply is tough. When did you get a response from the school on whether you were admitted or not?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help.

[cpkRN]

The program does become a little more structured year to year and, from what I have heard from past CARE grads, we do have it much better than what the past classes have had it. But, you don't realize that it's not that bad unless you've experienced worse, right? I don't think it's that bad because I'm able to go with the flow. If tigerlover is reading this, she can vouch for how chill I am about the most serious of things - LOL! I just judge on how my classmates are reacting. If I was the type that needed absolute certainty, I'd be upset for sure. That's why I always bring the disorganization to the forefront when I'm giving advice.

Budget cuts are a biggie right now. We are losing instructors left and right to early retirement. They didn't reduce the number accepted this year and they knew the cuts were in place, but I don't know if they'll adjust accordingly - that's something LSUHSC doesn't seem to be very good at. I can't complain about the instructors, though; 98% of them are great. They work very hard and most of them are passionate about teaching. You'll have that "rogue" instructor at every big school.

Essays are all about you. I pride myself on good writing and have always gotten good comments in composition classes so I'd like to think that helped me. Just be honest and articulate. Avoid rambling and stay to the point. Highlight how you can embody the questions they're asking. The interview: sounds hokey, but be yourself. Know all about what you wrote on your application and know how to elaborate on it.

Have you looked at OLOL's accelerated ASN? I think they have programs at both East and West Jeff and I believe it's 10 months long. There have been several threads here about both and several students you can ask who post regularly. Other schools with accelerated programs you can look into might be William Carey and Southeastern (if you can make the drive to Hammond). I only applied to the LSU CARE program and Charity and was accepted to both. The traditional BSN at LSU had several more steps involved in applying (even if you have a degree) and I just didn't want to deal with that.

I do not have a job. Those who needed to keep regular jobs are no longer with us, sadly. There are people who hold jobs where they can work when they want and those are working out just fine. The thing is, you can't have a regular work schedule because you won't be able to stick to it - you'll either be consistently late or calling off for school. If you have a great boss and the ability to keep your hours flexible, I think you'll be able to do it, no problem. There are 3 people of our 36 who hold jobs right now and one works for the school, so they don't count .

Last but not least: I applied in January, interviewed at the beginning of March, and got my acceptance letter on April 28. The interviews this past year weren't till the middle of April and they didn't find out until May, so it was moved a bit. Things have been different every year.

Feel free to ask questions. I'll do my best to answer what I can.

[nolamor]

Dear cpkrn2b2011,

Thank you once again for such a thorough response. You have been incredibly helpful! And actually this forum has been great. I'm learning so much about the profession just by reading articles and posts and hearing the rants and raves of nurses working the job every day.

A question about post-grads - a friend of mine's daughter just graduated from the ASN 10 mos program at OLOL and she doesn't have a job. Apparently only one person had a job when they graduated. I was told by an LSUHSC instructor that getting a tech job during school is highly recommended because the market is so flooded right now. Is anyone getting jobs right now? Are you worried about that? I would be fine to do a long commute in order to get that first year of experience under my belt, but I dont even know if anything's available, even if you are willing to drive a good bit.

Also, what would you recommend I do to try to prepare for my first year of nursing school? I ordered some 16 cent old textbooks from amazon and read a post recently that encouraged pre-nursing students to study medical terminology - so I just ordered a textbook on that.

Also, before you began nursing school, did you do any nursing? Were you working in a medical field at all? I would love to begin doing a tech job now and continue that into nursing school - but I'm sure I would need certification of some kind. What would be the quickest route for me to be able to get some sort of nursing experience before entering nursing school?

As for OLOL - I think I'm going to stick with trying to get my BSN instead of ASN. After attaining my BSN I figure I will go on to further specialize, maybe get my masters depending on what my interests are at that point. The delgado-charity program sounds good, it woudl be nearby for me and delgado is affordable. That may be a good alternate option for me.

Thanks again for your guidance.

Lili209

[cpkRN]

Jobs are scarce all around no matter what type of nursing degree you have. Many May graduates have not found jobs at all. Getting a tech job during our program is next to impossible which puts us at a disdvantage but some in past classes have managed. The problem with us is finding the time to do the required orientation which takes up a week. Traditionals have summers and real breaks so they don't have any trouble doing it. It can help with getting a job but my friend from Charity spent a year as a tech at an area hospital only to be told that they couldn't hire her because of a hiring freeze. You just never know. I don't know of actual numbers, but 5 people I know from the last CARE class have jobs and none or those 5 had a tech job. I'm not worried personally but if I had alot riding on having a job soon after graduation, I might be a bit apprehensive.

I did absolutely no reading. If this program is what you end up doing, reading before you start the program is really not necessary . We do nothing nursing related the entire first semester, it's all laying a scientific foundation with your anatomy and physiology. The first semester "nursing" class is all about history, eithics, and APA writing technique.

I've only set foot in a medical setting as a patient before my clinicals. I really don't know how to go about being a CNA, sorry. Someone here should know!

[kmdg28]

Hi everyone. I am currently a senior at LSU and will be graduating in Psychology this Spring semester. I know that the CARE Program is the perfect program for me; fast-paced and intense atmosphere included. I am concerned, however, that my GPA will not be high enough to compete with other applicants. I have a 3.0 now and will do everything my last year to bring it up, but I obviously will not be graduating with an extremely high GPA. I plan to meet with someone from the school to get more information, but I want to hear what actual students have to say also. Will my application even be taken into consideration with a 3.0?

[nolamor]

I dont think that necessarily matters. Big factors also include your interview and your personal statement. Also keep in mind that the GPA they are talking about is not your cumulative, but your GPA of the required prerequisites. So if you failed art history, (for example), it won't affect the GPA that they are looking at. I think you should apply bc it sound like you really want it. But have some backup schools. Good luck!