National University San Diego

U.S.A. California

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Has anyone had any luck with applying at National University for their nursing program? I applied back in Oct 06 and have been waiting to hear from them. They are supposed to notify in 3 months. I have called and called and written email upon emails with no response really. :banghead: Please, if anyone has applied and received some sort of letter, I would greatly appreciate your reply.

Thanks

Hi kamsmom~

Congratulations!! It's exciting isn't it? Kind of scary too with everything that is going on, but hopefully things will work out in the end for everyone. Can't wait to meet you ! :)

P.S. I just started posting to this site, so I'm not sure, but I think it always posts at the end of the thread.

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Hi Happymommy3,

Yes being accepted to the program has me sooo excited and nervous at the same time! I have 3 kids so just thinking about juggling the work load and the kiddies scares me a little. I think when we're done we wont have much of a problem finding a job. The important part is networking. If we can manage to make some friends along the way and keep some connections, maybe that will help us in the end. Enjoy your summer and I can't wait to meet you in October:):yeah:

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Hi kamsmom30~

I have 3 kids too, so I am a little stressed about how to manage the childcare/workload issue. That's why it is so important to me to go to NU--the accelerated BSN 3 day schedule beats any other school! I totally agree with you that networking is the key to finding a job, and I keep thinking (and hoping!) that the economy will improve by the time we graduate, so maybe more jobs will be available by then. You have a wonderful summer too and I'll see you soon! :)

P.S. How old are your kiddos?

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Hi all,

I am currently in cohort 18 and have about 9 months left to go. I would just like to say that I feel like I have been greatly prepared throughout my clinicals. I put a lot of effort into understanding and learning new things... Maybe I was just a lucky one but I got a LOT of practice starting IV's, putting in catheters, NG tubes, passing MANY meds (which most instructors quiz you greatly on what you are giving which helps learn). Yes NU does have its flaws, but I can't imagine a school that doesn't. ALL new grads no matter where you graduated from are having a tough time finding jobs right now, even the ones that do complete externships/preceptorships. While doing a rotation at Pomerado Hospital I met a volunteer that graduated and got her RN license and even did an externship and still could not find a job. I just believe if you try your hardest, get good grades, get certifications, you will find a job. Maybe not right away, but it will happen. GOOD LUCK TO ALL! :)

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Hi Happymommy3,

I thought you might have three kids seeing as your screen name is happymommy3:) My kids are 9, 4, and 3 and they all keep me really busy! How old are yours? I have a feeling by the time we graduate things should be a little better in terms of getting a job. I agree with Prettyinpink75 in that as long as you work hard, get good grades and are passionate about it, you will find a job eventually. In completing my pre-reqs, I learned that there are A Lot of people that are choosing to go to nursing school because they are currently in a career that has been hit hard by this bad economy. There is nothing wrong with wanting a change, but I believe there is a certain passion that comes along with the desire to be a nurse, and I'm sure prospective employers can see that. Going to interviews and showing you have what it takes to be a nurse should help a little! (I hope) I have a friend who is a nurse in Texas and she said that National is a great program (everyone has their own opinion of course) it will also be a plus that we will graduate with a BSN. A few years ago a lot of people said that wether you had an RN or BSN didn't really matter, but now that so many people want to become nurses its a little more competitive out there, hopefully the BSN will be a plus on our side.;)

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Specializes in Near Future: ED, Future Future: ACNP!.

Hey guys, if you want to direct your reply to someone in particular, hit the "quote" button so it includes the original post in the reply. It will still post at the end, but it will at least show what you are referring to.

Congrats to all who got in to the October cohort!

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Specializes in Near Future: ED, Future Future: ACNP!.
Hi all,

I am currently in cohort 18 and have about 9 months left to go. I would just like to say that I feel like I have been greatly prepared throughout my clinicals. I put a lot of effort into understanding and learning new things... Maybe I was just a lucky one but I got a LOT of practice starting IV's, putting in catheters, NG tubes, passing MANY meds (which most instructors quiz you greatly on what you are giving which helps learn). Yes NU does have its flaws, but I can't imagine a school that doesn't. ALL new grads no matter where you graduated from are having a tough time finding jobs right now, even the ones that do complete externships/preceptorships. While doing a rotation at Pomerado Hospital I met a volunteer that graduated and got her RN license and even did an externship and still could not find a job. I just believe if you try your hardest, get good grades, get certifications, you will find a job. Maybe not right away, but it will happen. GOOD LUCK TO ALL! :)

Thanks for this reply prettyinpink! I'm glad to see some positives :)

I'm sure the market will start to open up soon.

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Thanks for everyones replies about the program and all the advice =] I was really exciting about NU and then I had seen the not so positive post the day after I received my acceptance letter so it kind of made me a little dissappointed. I agree that if you are dedicated and have a passion to be a nurse that you will find a job eventually. I am going to be starting in the October cohort so I look forward to seeing others there!

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Specializes in Near Future: ED, Future Future: ACNP!.
Thanks for everyones replies about the program and all the advice =] I was really exciting about NU and then I had seen the not so positive post the day after I received my acceptance letter so it kind of made me a little dissappointed. I agree that if you are dedicated and have a passion to be a nurse that you will find a job eventually. I am going to be starting in the October cohort so I look forward to seeing others there!

tutubalu, I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS :yeah:

As with any school, I think our education will be what we make of it :) As far as jobs go, we have quite a while to go before we even need to think about that. I'm just happy I can keep my current job while going to class because of the way the program is set up.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
happymommy3,

NU has NEVER had a preceptorship as part of their RN or BSN program. Those are programs that all other universities and ADN programs provide to their students. It is an unpaid position that counts as a class and is usually in an area of the student's choice such as OB, peds or med-surg. As far as I know, every other school has a contract with a hospital that allows for this type of agreement, except for NU. This is a chance for the unit to become familiar with the student and vice versa as the committment is usually a full semester. NU does not have this as part of their program. Their reasoning is that NU students spend more time in the clinical setting than other programs and there isn't a need for it. I feel this is completely wrong because while although we spend 136 required hours in the clinical setting, it is for a shorter period of time and with multiple units or nurses because we float. Never one-on-one for 4 months straight (the length of most school program semesters).

The externship is a separate issue, but with the same end goal in mind...an RN job. Externships are paid student nurse opportunities provided by the hospitals...there are plenty of these jobs available right now online, just not for NU students anymore. You apply online and if selected, go for an interview and are paid by the hospital. Along with employment, it is required that students enroll in a class at Southwestern college, but the BRN recently made it impossible for all schools (NU, SDSU, etc.) to enroll in this class at SWC. NU has never had a class that enables students to take employment as a student nurse, supposedly because of liability issues (?). This was a major hit for many students currently enrolled in the class with paid employment. They now have to quit their jobs and terminate a promising relationship with a hospital that could have provided an RN job.

As you can see, NU students are at a disadvantage esp. in this current economic climate and it's going to get worse before it gets better. I'm a realist, not a pessimist by nature and finding a job in nursing right now is scary. It's not a good time to be entering the field at all. I would have attended a different school, but with a degree from a major school in SD, I wasn't allowed to attend their nursing programs. Just do your homework, ask NU why they don't have these programs and be educated about the process. Good luck!

I concur 100%.

Do not make the mistake that many (and I mean many) of us have made. In addition, the curriculum is not any easier than similar programs, so make your life easier and give yourself less roadblocks to deal with.

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Hi everyone!

Just FYI, Palomar Hospital just hired some NU students. I am in their internship program and I see NU students all over the hospital. The nurses also feel that they are the most competent (even more than CSUSM). I also heard from "a source" that Scripps does not like SDSU nursing students. Why? I was told it could be their "party school" affiliation. They put their applications in the "revolving folder" (trash can). BTW, the source is credible. Don't get me wrong though, I have many friends that go to SDSU.

So far, I love the program. I really like how the classes seem to fly by because they are only a month long (sometimes two). I feel that I am learning a lot! No scheduling problems thus far. I will update later when I complete more classes!:)

Anyways, many hospital staff are absolutely certain that the hiring freeze will let up in a couple years, just in time for some of us! Good luck to us all!

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Hi everyone!

Just FYI, Palomar Hospital just hired some NU students. I am in their internship program and I see NU students all over the hospital. The nurses also feel that they are the most competent (even more than CSUSM). I also heard from "a source" that Scripps does not like SDSU nursing students. Why? I was told it could be their "party school" affiliation. They put their applications in the "revolving folder" (trash can). BTW, the source is credible. Don't get me wrong though, I have many friends that go to SDSU.

So far, I love the program. I really like how the classes seem to fly by because they are only a month long (sometimes two). I feel that I am learning a lot! No scheduling problems thus far. I will update later when I complete more classes!:)

Anyways, many hospital staff are absolutely certain that the hiring freeze will let up in a couple years, just in time for some of us! Good luck to us all!

Some of my classmates who did their clinicals at Scripps Mercy said that some of the nurses there told them that NU nursing students are by far the most hard working and knowledgable students. They also said that they did not like SDSU nursing students, said they always seemed lost. So just another positive thing I'd like to share. Mercy hires lots of NU grads! :)

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