MNU ABSN Fall 2019

Nursing Students School Programs

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Has anyone gotten accepted into MidAmerica? I would like to ask you some questions! I have been accepted but am curious as to how YOU will afford the program, etc.

20 hours ago, shortyy said:

hello! for mnu absn program would you recommend investing in a laptop/tablet for note taking during lecture? are you allowed to audio record? would a rolling backpack be more convenient?

Hi! You do need a laptop/tablet for the program. The assignments and materials are all accessed online. I use a laptop, and I know that some people use tablets with keyboards attached or they use a stylus to "hand write" notes on their tablets; it's really up to personal preference! I wouldn't be able to get through without my laptop.

You don't need a rolling backpack, but I know one person who uses one. Some of the textbooks are heavy...but I ended up not bringing those in most of the time, or sometimes bought the ebook version instead. Again, personal preference!

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18 hours ago, BethAnn24 said:

@radiate I am so glad to hear that you can still have a life while in the program! Can you give us an idea of what a normal school week looks like? Do you spend a lot of time studying outside of class? Where have you gone for clinicals? Are they 12 hour shifts?

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! ?

Of course! I remember scouring the internet for info when I was in your shoes.

So, the program is divided into 6 separate "semesters"/modules Every 7 weeks, you start a new module with new classes and sometimes new clinicals. Each module is kind of unique. For the first couple of mods-ish, you just have class and no clinical, Mon-Friday, usually from around 8am to 3:50 or so. Starting a few months in, you get to start clinicals, which are 6:30am-5ish (depends) on Thursdays and Fridays, with class Monday-Weds for 4-6ish hours per day.

I'm about to start mod 5 so we're switching to having clinicals on Tues/Weds, so again it depends on which mod. Generally, though, it's clinicals twice a week for 8-12 hours and classes three days a week for 4-6 hours.

There are a lot of good clinical sites, and some not so good ones, but in the end I've been able to learn a lot from all of them. You start your first clinical in a nursing home, and then for HR you do med-surg and peds clinicals. Next, we have OB and then each person got a unique assignment, I'll be doing Hospice. Everyone gets to do peds at Children's Mercy, which is awesome! Other sites include KU Med, Olathe Med, St. Joseph, Overland Park Regional, and some others.

With studying, it depends a lot on personal time management and study strategies...I, for one, am a huge procrastinator and usually do assignments the day before and study for tests 2-3 days before (depending on how hard the class is), and I've gotten all As/A-s. I wouldn't necessarily recommend waiting that long because I always get really stressed right before but that's kind of how I operate and I know it works for me, lol. We have exams most weeks and I'll usually study most of the day on Saturdays/Sundays but still go out on Friday/Saturday nights. Again, it kind of depends on the person, but I'm definitely able to do social things 1-3 times per week and still have time for studying and assignments.

It's taken a while to figure out the balance, for sure, and it's kind of a constant process to feel out if you're giving yourself enough mental health/rest/social/personal time and if you're studying enough, and I do get that guilty feeling a lot when I'm not studying. But, it is doable!!! I'm a super anxious person and I haven't ever felt like the program is too much for me.

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So, I still have not heard anything. I love reading all of the advice and stories you’re sharing! They’re making me so much more excited/anxious though. Lol!

I’m wondering if they send the rejection letters and out at the very end all at the same time? My current semester is ending next week and my grades will be posted shortly after. I would hate to receive a rejection letter right before completing this semesters courses with A’s/B’s.

I just wish wish I could hear something so I could know how to plan my next few months. I can barely sleep at night because this is ALL I think about. ???

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@radiate Thank you so much! I have been so worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up, but I feel much better after reading about your experience!! ?

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@LoveMyDoodle I agree, waiting is so hard and I have only been waiting a week, haha. Don't lose hope!! I bet you will hear back from them in the next few weeks. If you aren't accepted for the fall will you reapply for the spring cohort? My enrollment specialist said there are usually more applicants for the fall cohort, so I will apply for the spring if I am not accepted this time.

Do they send a letter to notify us, or do they call??

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@radiate I thought of a couple other questions. ?

Is there anything you wish you would have learned before beginning the program? Or anything you are glad you had already learned? Do you use the ATI curriculum? Do you have any other tips for us??

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1 hour ago, BethAnn24 said:

@radiate I thought of a couple other questions. ?

Is there anything you wish you would have learned before beginning the program? Or anything you are glad you had already learned? Do you use the ATI curriculum? Do you have any other tips for us??

Ask away!

Hmm, I think the most helpful piece of advice would be to trust the process and trust that you will be a good nurse at the end of everything. There are a lot of aspects of accelerated programs and just nursing school in general that can make it feel like you're "behind" or like you aren't learning well enough or fast enough. I wish someone had told me to chill and trust the process. A lot of nurses have explained to me that every new nurse feels like a fish out of water, regardless of what type of program they did or where they took it.

We do use ATI, and it's a really good program. The questions take some getting used to but they are very similar to NCLEX questions and prepare us very well. MNU's program has a very good pass rate (one of the reasons I applied), and ATI is a huge part of that.

Other things...The books and online resources that MNU makes us buy are super expensive. Like, to the point where it's infuriating. Be prepared to hash out a lot of extra cash in addition to the tuition...

Don't buy scrubs before they tell you to because there are specific requirements. Also don't go crazy spending money on any nursing supplies aside from maybe spending for a Litmann stethoscope (one of the cheaper ones!!)

This goes without saying but...don't cheat. Multiple people in my cohort have gotten caught and it's really not worth it.

Hmm...Other than that, I have advice regarding specific assignments and studying and stuff but it might be too early for that...I don't want to overwhelm you too much or anything! You can always contact me closer to your start date if you want more info. Or I can give you as much detail as you want lol. Just let me know!

I hope that's helpful!

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11 hours ago, radiate said:

Hi! You do need a laptop/tablet for the program. The assignments and materials are all accessed online. I use a laptop, and I know that some people use tablets with keyboards attached or they use a stylus to "hand write" notes on their tablets; it's really up to personal preference! I wouldn't be able to get through without my laptop.

You don't need a rolling backpack, but I know one person who uses one. Some of the textbooks are heavy...but I ended up not bringing those in most of the time, or sometimes bought the ebook version instead. Again, personal preference!

thank you for your response ? i noticed several nursing students in a fb group use the app Notability, do you or anyone you know utilize this app for note taking? do you wear scrubs/uniforms everyday for lecture or just for clinicals? only traditional bsn students are required to attend chapel correct? i think i read something about community service for absn students?

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@shortyy I think the community service you are talking about is the mission service thingy. I spoke to someone and the individual said that attending the mission (this means going to a different country) is absolutely voluntary. I believe it happens during winter break. You don't have to attend.

Our uniform color is going to be grey this semester. Last semester was navy blue.

Chapel attendance is only for traditional BSN students.

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18 hours ago, shortyy said:

thank you for your response ? i noticed several nursing students in a fb group use the app Notability, do you or anyone you know utilize this app for note taking? do you wear scrubs/uniforms everyday for lecture or just for clinicals? only traditional bsn students are required to attend chapel correct? i think i read something about community service for absn students?

@shortyy you’re welcome!

I haven’t heard of that app, but our cohort used Google docs a lot towards the beginning to share study guides and stuff. I usually use Google docs too so that I can access notes on any device and I can share/collaborate on study guides with classmates.

We only wear scrubs on days that we have skills/simulation lab or clinicals, not on regular class days. Our cohort had the dark gray scrubs too like whoAmItoSay mentioned.

There are no community service hours or chapel requirements for ABSN. There is an optional trip to Guatemala that satisfies your requirement for community health clinicals if you choose to go. 3 people from our class went.

There is a required biblical studies class but you can get out of it if you’ve taken a biblical class previously. And it’s only 5 total days of class!

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@radiate may I ask which module has been the most challenging so far and why? Also, can you suggest ways to prepare for pharmacotherapy?

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On 4/30/2019 at 11:07 PM, BethAnn24 said:

@radiate may I ask which module has been the most challenging so far and why? Also, can you suggest ways to prepare for pharmacotherapy?

@BethAnn24 Each mod is pretty unique and has its own challenges. Most people find Health Restoration (HR) I and II the most challenging classes, which are in mods 3 and 4. Mod 3 was the hardest for me, but others would say 2 or 4. All of the mods have periods of less homework/exams mixed in with really stressful weeks where it feels like you'll never be able to cram enough. If you can develop good time management and study plans, you'll be way more relaxed (aka not me).

Also, mod 1 is the most classroom-heavy. Once you start clinicals, you're only in school 3 days a week, which is a super nice change! Get ready to do a lot of annoying busy work during mod 1 like poster presentations, flyers, group projects, etc. There's less of that later on.

I do have advice for pharm and patho!!!

1. If you have prof. Blanchard for these classes like we did, she posts "Blueprints" for her exams, which list EVERYTHING you need to study for the tests, which makes these classes way easier than they could be. Instead of cramming hundreds and hundreds of pages of info, you're just filling out her blueprints that end up being maybe 10-12 pages of information.

2. USE CATHY PARKES' VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE. SERIOUSLY, SHE IS THE BEST EVER. At the end of each mod, you take ATI proctored exams. So far we've had them in pharm, concepts, mental health, nutrition, med surg, and peds. The scores for the ATI exams are factored into your final grade and they are also used to prioritize who gets top choice for their capstone in mod 6 (which no one told us at the beginning). Cathy Parkes' videos are incredible for studying for these ATI exams! DEFINITELY use her videos for each test and start at least a week beforehand. I know medsurg had like 103 videos...She also has flashcards that you can buy for pharm!! I never bought them but they would probably be helpful. A lot of people in my class bought "Pharm Phlash" flashcards and those were helpful.

3. You will quickly meet the bane of your existence, PrepU. Get ready to cringe every time you hear that word. It's this site where we get assigned practice questions for homework in patho, peds, and maternal health. You have to keep answering questions until you get to a certain mastery level. Know that you can do all of these IN ADVANCE! A lot of people in my cohort did PrepU for patho before we even started the program, once we were given the info on how to purchase and access it. For patho, you need to get to level 3 on most of the chapters, some level 4. You can totally get started on these early to get them out of the way. Another thing, don't stress about them. PrepU questions are stupidly hard and detailed and you will not be a bad nurse if you don't memorize the rational behind every question. Focus on ATI for that type of learning.

4. If you're anxious like me, it's helpful to know that you'll learn way more pharm in clinicals and in practice than you'll learn from the class. Don't freak out if it's too much and it seems like you'll never memorize anything. It all comes with repeat exposure and experience. You'll get better at it eventually!

5. The ATI books that correspond with the online curriculum are super helpful. They are basically cliffnote books that give you a super strong foundation for everything that you need to learn. These are the books that Cathy Parkes goes through in her videos. Concepts of Care I will be your first pretty legitimate nursing class, and I would recommend starting her videos for that right off the bat. On each day, you'll get assigned ATI chapter readings, and you can go on youtube and listen to her lecture on those specific chapters. It will help you with the quizzes and exams throughout the mod!

I hope I didn't overwhelm you too much....Let me know if you have more questions! I'm on break right now and am super bored so you're helping me feel useful :D

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