National University LA thready

Elle_Guerira · Oct 8, 2009

Hello lydoaznboy,

I've noticed this is your first post, so :spnngwlcm:to allnurses!

I'm currently an ABSN student at the LA campus and start in less than 3 weeks :yeah: . I took a similar class to Biomed Stats during my former undergrad years ago and it isn't quite as bad (okay I could've done better if I had put more effort into it =P). You pretty much forumulate data and interpret stat tests and procedures relevent in a clinical setting. But it is a math class, so if math isn't your strong suit (and since you're taking it online), study study study.

I'm curious to know tho why you chose to have your prereqs done at NU instead of a community college? Is it because of NU's one month format?

lydoaznboy · Oct 19, 2009

thanks for your reply! it seemed like no one would have been able to answer my questions...thanks!

well, the reason why I chose to take the stats pre-requisite here was because its fast, and I am also missing other classes.

they are making me retake A&P 1&2 because I took it at two different colleges, my math (stats) won't transfer over because I didn't do well in it (C- doesn't transfer), and they wouldn't take my computer science course to fulfill the Internet Library Research Class. (adding to that, they're not sure whether or not my english classes that I took at UC Riverside, would transfer...and I took 1 full year of english.)

in total I have to take 4 classes, and that includes Stats. I figured the 1 month class format would fit me best to finish all my prereq's by the july application for the fall '10 cohort.

however, after reviewing the school a little more I'm scared to pull forward and go through with NU; What is your take on this school? I know this sounds weird but can I meet you up over lunch or something asap to get a little more information about the school. It would really help me out because I am thinking about going back to my original school versus taking a risk with NU. I'm not really into doing things online especially class and really I want to go on and become a cRNA. I am trying to call Calstate fullerton to see if they will accept the BSN from NU.

To begin with, I chose NU because I figured I could get my BSN and transfer since it is Accredited, but it scared me when I looked at ASSIST.ORG, compared NU's classes to other schools; For example, Intro to BIOMED STATS, Internet Library Research, they're A&P 1&2, it doesn't look like it transfers to the bigger name schools. As I did more research, it seemed like only the Nursing License would transfer and not the classes? I don't know and sorry if I sound like I don't know what I am talking about....its because I truthfully don't! I'm just trying to figure things out before i start class this 10/26/2009.... any input on this?

-James

Elle_Guerira · Oct 20, 2009

Hi James:

Kinda odd that NU is unsure if your English transfers over from a UC, & are making you re-take your English in spite of their doubts. But I can tell you one thing about ASSIST -- do not rely on it 100%. You're better off asking about transferability to a counselor from each nursing program. Here's why:

I took my Anatomy (both lecture & lab) at the university level, but it wasn't a 4 or 5 unit class as most nursing programs seem to accept as a prereq. So, like you, I went to ASSIST to determine if my Anatomy would transfer over. For some schools, "it appeared" that it would transfer over; for others, it didn't. To confirm my Anatomy's transferability, I visited each school & met up with a counselor to challenge it as a nursing prereq. I brought a copy of the course description, a course syllabus & my unofficial transcripts. From there, they relayed my docs to the Bio department to see if my Anatomy was comparable to their Anatomy class. To my surprise, some of the schools that I thought would accept transferability, didn't transfer over, while some of the schools I thought wouldn't accept transferability ... did! So yes, I urge you to see a counselor & to always follow-up on that issue.

I am aware of 4 classmates in my cohort who plan on becoming a CRNA, while a good chunk of us (including myself) are aiming towards the NP route. I'm sure most of us who have chosen to go into advance nursing wouldn't have gone to NU had it not been CCNE accredited. Most of the NP programs I plan on applying to in the distant future like UCSF, U. of Wash., Loma Linda (top notch medical/nursing/anything health sciences related) requires that my BSN comes from a CCNE institution, have adequate nursing experience & that I meet the minimum GPA requirement. I don't think they ask for any prereq courses outside nursing (maybe Stat). But, yes, contact CSUF to see if they'll accept a BSN from NU just so that you can make an informed decision. I'm 99% sure they'll accept your BSN from NU ...

Well, I haven't started the program yet (I start on the 26th), so I think it's a bit premature to make a fair judgment call on NU. I do love my advisor though cuz I keep inundating her with questions, and she's been absolute fabulous in providing me a prompt response. The BSN course (nursing courses) sets you back 37K and lord knows how much extra you would have to pay for their non-nursing courses. From what I can tell you now, I like the convenience of having lecture only on Mondays (for the exception of Health Assessment & the possibility of having a Saturday class) & labs twice a week. And towards 6 months before completion of the program, there are no more clinicals & just online lecture.

Have you tried looking into nursing programs other than NU? Since you haven't had your Bachelors, you want to pursue the CRNA route & you're still young, you should stick to applying to BSN programs.

[[sORRY FOR THE LONG POST]] :typing

lydoaznboy · Oct 20, 2009

thanks for the quick reply! very thorough!

i hate to bust your chops but I was doing a little research;don't know whether or not you'd agree, but I looked at CSUF, their pre-requisites for the BSN to MSN-CRNA program, even with a BSN, you need to have chemistry under your belt. I think the top notch schools for nursing all require physical sciences, so would you have to take it before applying to these schools for advanced nursing? I'm asking because the curriculum for NU doesn't have anything that deals with Chemistry and O-chem and Bio chem....but it is a requirement for other certain programs? So it's kind of interesting, I think no doubt they'll accept the BSN, but not having chemistry, would that retain our eligibility for higher education? It seems like chemistry will hinder our advancement...

haha, yeah.... i have a little extra cash, but definitely I'm broke now because everything is going into my school tuition....easy 5-6k extra into just to paying for pre-req's I don't have/retake. I'm really doing this because of it's fast track, 1 month, take-it-get-it-over-with type of classes for pre-req's. This wouldn't be my first choice but my other transcripts are kind of messed up with poor grades...I figured starting fresh would edge me over other candidates in the future especially since now I'm redoing/taking new classes... which I hope and believed what Yvonne said, "it'll raise up your gpa for sure if you do well in these courses."

so enough about me.... WHAT NP are you going for? I'm curious to know what you have in mind....

don't be sorry! I should be sorry because you have to read about my poor life history..HAHAHHA!

What NP are

Elle_Guerira · Oct 20, 2009

Hm, sounds pretty standard that you would need Chem, especially since you plan on becoming a CRNA. I just wonder though that if let's say that you take Chem now and you apply to CSUF 6 years later, will they accept that Chem you had taken 6 years ago? I ask since most nursing programs will only accept science courses that were taken 5,7, or 10 years from the application date. So, something to keep that in mind. I've applied to one other ABSN program (U of New Mexico) and they didn't require Chemistry either so, yea, not all BSN programs will have Chem as a prereq. The only thing on NU's curriculum where I do feel chemistry comes into play is Pharmacology. I had taken Pharm before at a community college, but it doesn't transfer to NU's nursing program. I don't mind taking it over again cuz there was a bunch of drugs to remember (their action, side effects, contraindications), plus my class didn't really touch upon calculating drug dosages. I still have my notes from that class, so at least I know what to expect.

I really wanna do Women's Health, but I'm a little concerned that getting my WHNP certificate will limit my job possibilities. So maybe for marketability purposes I'll pursue an FNP or ANP & get my WHNP later, or just get dual certification.