I cannot seem to find much information on MidAmerica Nazrene's ABSN program online, so after attending an information session today, I thought I would share some of the program details with those of you in the same position I was in.
I have applied to the Spring 2016 session at MNU which starts on March 7, 2016. Anyone else applied to begin in the spring?
Pre-reqs, application requirements, etc. can all be found on their website, but I was mostly concerned with the actual ABSN schedule. According to our enrollment specialist Jennifer, you should expect to be in the program M-F 8am to 5 or 6pm. She said that during the second 7-week module you begin clinical, but still spend most of the time in class. During the third 7-week module you spend a good deal of time in clinical usually on Thursday &/or Friday working a 12-hour shift at a hospital. These hospitals can be within 70 miles of MNU. During your last 7-week module you are working full-time at a hospital & can choose to work day or night shifts. There are 6 7-week modules. On another allnurses post, someone said that students get a 1-week break between modules. Anyone know if this is true? Please correct me if any of this information is incorrect. I'm simply going by the info we received today at the ABSN info meeting.
Jennifer said that most of the TEAS V scores she has seen come in were in the 70s.
She also said that no offers of acceptance have been sent out yet. Once you are accepted they will 1) call, 2) email, & 3) mail your letter of acceptance. You then have 2 weeks to reply to guarantee your spot.
They usually accept 44-48 accelerated students & have around 150-200 applicants per cohort. There is a mandatory orientation the Thursday & Friday before the first week of school.
The rest of the information we were given can be found on their website, but I hope this extra info was helpful to you all!
SORRY guys - totally forgot to mention breaks to you -
There is a one week break between each module, so you go seven weeks with the eighth week off and then start the next module. You get a month off for christmas (!!!) and a week for thanksgiving. You also a one week spring break for the school. Honestly, compared to other accelerated programs this one gives you the most breaks. However, my cohort gets no one week break between mods 5 & 6, so it's 14 weeks straight through.
My clinical experience has been pretty good, but everyone's is different and I definitely think that depending on where you get placed you see different things. For example, I've only been given the opportunity to start a couple IV's, whereas some of my fellow students who were at a different clinical setting were starting several every shift. Some of us have gotten to do foleys, place NG's that sort of thing well others just haven't been given the opportunity. However, I'm one that believes that clinical isn't just all about skills.†You can learn a ton from your nurses about time management, prioritizing and even just understanding different disease processes that maybe you've read†about but now you're actually seeing. Overall, I've had great clinical experiences. Are you going to get a nurse that you know right off the bat doesn't want a student with them, unfortunately yes. Have I had a lot of those experiences, no. I truly believe this is in every program but granted most of these nurses remember what it's like to be a student nurse and want to teach and have you do things. The clinical sites include places like Olathe Med, Overland Park, Shawnee Mission, Saint Mary's (this one is far and although those that had to make the drive weren't happy, many of them got to do skills that the rest of us didn't). KU and Shawnee for OB. Everyone does Children's Mercy for Peds either at the downtown location or the South location. Community clinical has tons of different sites including Salvation army, a birthing center, different children's mercy clinic locations, Truman clinics, places of that nature although I feel these places can change from cohort to cohort. We just received our capstone assignments last week. Lets just say there are some really happy people and some really unhappy people. My philosophy about clinical is you get out what you put in. Have a smile on your face, be helpful/engaged and remember that at some point in time you will graduate and get to do what you want to do but until then be productive and LEARN all you can at your different sites.
You are amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing this information! I was under the impression you could actually choose your clinical site? Is that not true?? Obviously I would want to choose a hospital close to me!
Of course - happy to share :) The only time that you have some say in your clinical setting is for capstone. You give your first priority, whether that is to work days or nights, be at a specific location/hospital or be on a specific floor/unit. Other than capstone, you really don't have any say in where you go. I know on the schools site (or maybe in paperwork or something) I read that you have to be prepared to drive up to 70 miles from the school for clinicals. The only one that was far was St. Mary's which 7 people had to go to. But that's 7 people out of our class of 42, otherwise the other sites were pretty close (I'm obviously basing this off of the schools location.)
Hi guys! I was just accepted to MNU's ABSN program starting in March next year. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some further insight on potential apartments that are close by (I'm moving from WA!), if I will need a car, and maybe any tips about how the program is going for you all thus far/what things did you buy that helped the most. Really any extra insight beyond the modules would be helpful! Lastly, if anyone knows if they reuse the same books and is wanting to get rid of theirs I am open to buying some from y'all. Thanks again, and keep pushing. You'll be done before you know it :)
Hey there, I can help you out! I am a current ABSN student set to graduate 08/2017, and I also moved from WA. First of all, the move from WA to KS is a huge culture shock. The climate is totally different, both in terms of weather and people. I came here specifically for this program, and many of my cohort are local or within 45 minutes of campus.
I would recommend a car, as you will probably need one for clinicals. I live in Olathe, about 0.5 miles from Santa Fe and about 1.5 miles from the actual campus, so I tend to walk as much as possible. But clinicals might send you all kinds of places, so easiest to have transportation.
The program is a lot of work. The material isn't the biggest challenge - the amount of the work is what gets tiring. The Fall 16-17 cohort has done very well - we've lost a couple due to money and personal issues, but none due to poor academic performance.
From my perspective, the program is the most academic stress I've undertaken, but a lot of that is because I am very "Type A", and I have been trying to earn a high GPA. I'd say that if you're coming in with a high GPA, you've already got the necessary study skills to do well. It's honing that skill to succeed in nursing school that may become challenging. That means lots of critical thinking, and picking the best answer out of a few correct answers.
The rate and speed of the program is a challenge. You'll spend lots of time outside of class doing your studies. The lectures are sufficient to provide a good idea of what is covered. However, you'll need to come prepared, and have questions in hand if you're to make best use. During orientation we were told that the program is like drinking from a firehouse, which is an apt description. It's doable, and you're certainly given enough time to complete your work, but you will also do the majority of your learning outside of class.
The books for first and second mod are quite expensive (~$700 plus PrepU and ATI). I bought all the mod 2 and 3 texts new for less than $400. ATI is important and proctored exams will be worth appx 10% of your grade in the related course.
Senior seminar clinicals are assigned based on GPA - so if you want a competitive one (ICU, OB-GYN) you'll need to keep your hustle on and strong.
Working is possible. There are a few people who have kept their jobs and been successful. I'm not one of them.
The time goes by very quickly. You're busy, busy, busy. Luckily, the library on campus has a 24/7 room and this is something I utilize almost daily. Professors are very approachable, and the program is designed for you to be successful if you put in the work and keep a positive attitude. That last part can get tricky - especially with the pace. Nursing school is totally different from pre-reqs. I can't stress that enough. Bottom line, though, if you want to do it, the program is doable.
The only huge negative I can think of is the lack of a decent fitness center. There is one, it's just kinda... meh. I think this is probably because MNU is private and sports compete in NAIA instead of NCAA. My previous institutions were all NCAA and public, so there was more funding for "extras". I could be totally wrong on the rationale for the fitness center - I'm making an assumption. Not that you'll have a tremendous amount of time for working out. Again, lots of people do it, I'm simply not one of them.
Let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have.
Sure... Mod 2 you have 36 hours of clinical in a long term care. It was mostly shadowing, not much to do really. Mod 3 & 4 you have 360 hours of clinical in either Med/Surg or Telemetry. You're busy working 12 hours shifts twice a week. In Mod 4 you also have 36 hours of Pediatric clinical too. Mod 5 you have 72 hours L&D and 72 hours of Community Health. Then in Mod 6 you have Capstone which is 168 hours of whatever specialty you qualify for. Your Capstone is assigned based on GPA, test scores, class rank. I did mine in Tele only because we didn't have a contract with the hospital where the ICU is that hired me. If you are hired before Mod 6 (which half of the class was) you can do your Capstone hours where you will be working.
My clinical experience has been pretty good, but everyone's is different and I definitely think that depending on where you get placed you see different things. For example, I've only been given the opportunity to start a couple IV's, whereas some of my fellow students who were at a different clinical setting were starting several every shift. Some of us have gotten to do foleys, place NG's that sort of thing well others just haven't been given the opportunity. However, I'm one that believes that clinical isn't just all about "skills." You can learn a ton from your nurses about time management, prioritizing and even just understanding different disease processes that maybe you've "read" about but now you're actually seeing. Overall, I've had great clinical experiences. Are you going to get a nurse that you know right off the bat doesn't want a student with them, unfortunately yes. Have I had a lot of those experiences, no. I truly believe this is in every program but granted most of these nurses remember what it's like to be a student nurse and want to teach and have you do things. The clinical sites include places like Olathe Med, Overland Park, Shawnee Mission, Saint Mary's (this one is far and although those that had to make the drive weren't happy, many of them got to do skills that the rest of us didn't). KU and Shawnee for OB. Everyone does Children's Mercy for Peds either at the downtown location or the South location. Community clinical has tons of different sites including Salvation army, a birthing center, different children's mercy clinic locations, Truman clinics, places of that nature although I feel these places can change from cohort to cohort. We just received our capstone assignments last week. Lets just say there are some really happy people and some really unhappy people. My philosophy about clinical is you get out what you put in. Have a smile on your face, be helpful/engaged and remember that at some point in time you will graduate and get to do what you want to do but until then be productive and LEARN all you can at your different sites.
Hello,
I really appreciate all your detailed responses regarding the program at Midamerica Nazarene but i have a question.
You mention that some people are REALLY UNHAPPY. What would be the reasons for this? I can see driving 70 miles (probably more than an hour im assuming depending on the roads/highways in that state) could be a source of unhappiness but are there any other factors that you may think caused them to be unhappy. Maybe the fact that ATI exams are worth 10% of your grade?
AnmlLover25
17 Posts
SORRY guys - totally forgot to mention breaks to you -
There is a one week break between each module, so you go seven weeks with the eighth week off and then start the next module. You get a month off for christmas (!!!) and a week for thanksgiving. You also a one week spring break for the school. Honestly, compared to other accelerated programs this one gives you the most breaks. However, my cohort gets no one week break between mods 5 & 6, so it's 14 weeks straight through.