National University San Diego

ExPharmaGirl, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

To EvyValdez - I know who you are! I'm the blonde who sat next to you at orientation and ate lunch with you during our lunch break of our first class. Know who I am?? It's great to see you chatting it up on here, too! Now you know that I was the one asking all of the silly questions on this message board. And now you know my level of nervousness, too!
To ExPharmaGirl - So, the first day is nothing like the rest of the program...do you mean it only gets better from here, or....? Please expand on this - thanks! In my opinion, iIt seems like my cohort might need a few more class meetings until the ice is officially broken with our group (I suppose just like any other class I've taken). We all seemed pretty nervous that day, especially with all of that philosophical talk, and I could sense some competativeness (we should only be competing with ourselves. We already made it into the program, why compete with anyone else?). I hope National continues to approach us as if we are starting from the ground up, in terms of medical experience. How are your classes going, and what has been your favorite class so far? Now that you are further into the program, is it seeming more difficult for everyone to balance school, work, life, etc? In other words, has the intensity of the schoolwork load increased so much that it is nearly impossible to work? Thank you so much for your insight!

It gets better! We all HATED the first class! We didn't all really get to know eachother until the 2nd class. Classes are going good. Last couple of weeks of med-surg I. I liked health assessment best. I want to be an NP, so I really liked the diagnostic aspect of it.

I work. Only a couple of people work. You need to find a balance. I'm still learning to do that. There is a lot of material! You'll find that you don't need to read every book, or every chapter for that matter. I have a background in pharma, so I didn't even open the pharmacology book. You use other resources to gain the info that you need. Some nursing books are full of a bunch of garbage that you don't need!!

Don't worry, you guys will form your little cliques soon. But, everyone in the class will be friends (for the most part)! My entire cohort is tight!

Ivylove · Jan 21, 2011

I got my letter and was accepted into the April 2011 class. I was kind of worried but glad I got in... I guess I know what I'll be doing for the next two years.

Wow congrats to you! I took the TEAS in november and still anxiously waiting for their respond whether I'm in or not. How long did it take them to send you an acceptance letter? Thanks!

leixlani · Jan 29, 2011

Hi everyone,

Wow I've been going to National (taking pre-requisites) for a long time and just discovered this thread. I finally applied to the LA campus this week. Does anyone know how long after they receive your application that you'll be scheduled for a TEAS test? The nursing advisor told me they had a test today but I obviously missed that.

I definitely would like some time to study so if anyone knows how often they have TEAS tests, it would help give me fair warning.

Thanks for your insight! :)

CAli2384 · Feb 2, 2011

leixlani- I'm in cohort 24. We applied in Feb 2010 and TEAS tests were all scheduled by late March. I don't envy being in your place- for me that was the most frustrating time! Time seems to pass slowly, BUT- a good thing to do in the meantime is study for the TEAS. ATI puts out a study book for the exam that I'd highly recommend. This really helped me do well on the TEAS, and it's a big plus because all of the modules that we do online for the nursing classes are thru ATI, so it's a good way to get familiar with their system.

I haven't been on here in a while, just wanted to give an update. Cohort 25ers- if memory serves, you are already starting Health Assessment, right? I hope you're enjoying it. I had your theory prof for my lab and she's amazing! Health Assessment is a lot of work, but a lot of fun. Take advantage of the lab time to really hone the assessment skills, and read the text. It's been the most helpful of all the ones I've encountered so far, and you will be expected to know that material in future classes.

Hopefully you all will have a chance to bond a bit more in this class, too. Lab is a good forum for that, and gives you a chance to get to know each other. Try not to get too competitive, you're all going to be together for 2 years, so it's best to make friends now! :) Our cohort is starting to really get cohesive, and it's we have blast together. I'm sure with a little more time you'll notice the same thing happening.

Good luck to all of you, and to those of you waiting to hear about cohort 26!

tutubalu · Feb 3, 2011

Does anyone that is in the program right now have any information on the teachers? How are they and are they all pretty consistant? I'm starting in April and just thought I would ask =]

rishle · Feb 3, 2011

leixlani- I'm in cohort 24. We applied in Feb 2010 and TEAS tests were all scheduled by late March. I don't envy being in your place- for me that was the most frustrating time! Time seems to pass slowly, BUT- a good thing to do in the meantime is study for the TEAS. ATI puts out a study book for the exam that I'd highly recommend. This really helped me do well on the TEAS, and it's a big plus because all of the modules that we do online for the nursing classes are thru ATI, so it's a good way to get familiar with their system.
I haven't been on here in a while, just wanted to give an update. Cohort 25ers- if memory serves, you are already starting Health Assessment, right? I hope you're enjoying it. I had your theory prof for my lab and she's amazing! Health Assessment is a lot of work, but a lot of fun. Take advantage of the lab time to really hone the assessment skills, and read the text. It's been the most helpful of all the ones I've encountered so far, and you will be expected to know that material in future classes.
Hopefully you all will have a chance to bond a bit more in this class, too. Lab is a good forum for that, and gives you a chance to get to know each other. Try not to get too competitive, you're all going to be together for 2 years, so it's best to make friends now! :) Our cohort is starting to really get cohesive, and it's we have blast together. I'm sure with a little more time you'll notice the same thing happening.
Good luck to all of you, and to those of you waiting to hear about cohort 26!

Hi Cali2384!

Yes! We just started Health Assessment. Today we start learning vitals and some of us are heading to the SNF this weekend. I think I can say that everyone loves the theory teacher. She's got a lot of really great knowledge and experiences to pass along!

We're definitely all still getting to know one another. I'd say for myself I probably know only about 1/3 of the people in our cohort and that a majority of people are into making friends since they realize that we've still got another 21 months to go...Although there are a few exceptions, some who are a bit competitive or a very few who are downright unpleasant. =/ But there's always bound to be a few like that.

I was wondering...24 is starting fundamentals now and just finished pharm? I hear pharm is awful from some people and easy from others. What was your experience?

CAli2384 · Feb 7, 2011

Actually- Fundamentals is actually an 8 week course, so we (cohort 24) have been in there since the beginning of the year. We have 3 weeks left, then get into med/surg.

I'd love to meet the person who said Pharm was easy! It's 6 months of information crammed into 4 quick weeks and I don't think there was anything easy about it. I know who will be teaching it for you guys, too, and I don't expect it'll be a walk in the park for anyone. My advice is to just try your best to stay sane and not get burnt out. Do the best you can, and understand that it is 100% impossible to learn all of that material by the end of the class. I know that's not very encouraging, but it really is what I wish someone told me before I started it. It's stressful and a LOT of info, but you WILL get through it :) Make sure you have some outlet to destress, too (gym, friends, kids, etc). I let myself get burnt out during that class from all the studying, and it's much healthier to just get done what you can, and try to not let yourself go into freakout mode too much.

As for the people in your class, give them some time. There were definitely people in my cohort that rubbed me the wrong way at first, but who I love now. Hopefully anyone who is being nasty will recognize that having a bad attitude will only hurt them, and will start to embrace the rest of you. It's just a lot more fun when you have the support of your fellow students!

Tutubalu- Some students spend a lot of time complaining about the profs. Many would tell you that they are not very consistent (and I'd agree with that), and that can cause some frustration sometimes. My advice for dealing with them is to keep an open mind and not let yourself get caught up in the drama of complaining about them too much because 1) they are all nice and fair people, just have different teaching styles, and 2) there's nothing you can do to change the things about them that you don't agree with, so it's kind of pointless to spend too much time dwelling on it. I know- that's also not very encouraging. But really- I think they're all good people and want to see people to well, and that's all I can really ask!

Hope this has helped some of you! :)

rishle · Feb 7, 2011

Actually- Fundamentals is actually an 8 week course, so we (cohort 24) have been in there since the beginning of the year. We have 3 weeks left, then get into med/surg.
I'd love to meet the person who said Pharm was easy! It's 6 months of information crammed into 4 quick weeks and I don't think there was anything easy about it. I know who will be teaching it for you guys, too, and I don't expect it'll be a walk in the park for anyone. My advice is to just try your best to stay sane and not get burnt out. Do the best you can, and understand that it is 100% impossible to learn all of that material by the end of the class. I know that's not very encouraging, but it really is what I wish someone told me before I started it. It's stressful and a LOT of info, but you WILL get through it :) Make sure you have some outlet to destress, too (gym, friends, kids, etc). I let myself get burnt out during that class from all the studying, and it's much healthier to just get done what you can, and try to not let yourself go into freakout mode too much.
As for the people in your class, give them some time. There were definitely people in my cohort that rubbed me the wrong way at first, but who I love now. Hopefully anyone who is being nasty will recognize that having a bad attitude will only hurt them, and will start to embrace the rest of you. It's just a lot more fun when you have the support of your fellow students!
Tutubalu- Some students spend a lot of time complaining about the profs. Many would tell you that they are not very consistent (and I'd agree with that), and that can cause some frustration sometimes. My advice for dealing with them is to keep an open mind and not let yourself get caught up in the drama of complaining about them too much because 1) they are all nice and fair people, just have different teaching styles, and 2) there's nothing you can do to change the things about them that you don't agree with, so it's kind of pointless to spend too much time dwelling on it. I know- that's also not very encouraging. But really- I think they're all good people and want to see people to well, and that's all I can really ask!
Hope this has helped some of you! :)

Hello Cali2384!

Thanks for keeping it real about pharm! I would much rather have the hard truth than some fluff, so I really appreciate that. I'm also super Type A personality and I know I can't expect to get straight A's so it's better if I get myself mentally prepared and just start wrapping my head around that now. LOL For pharm, did you get any additional study aids to help you? I know there's a pharmacology made easy or some kind of book like that. Do you think it's something worth investing in or is it more like stick to the book since there's so little time to learn the subject?

Thanks so much for all your advice! =) Good luck finishing off fundamentals!

ExPharmaGirl, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2011

Hello Cali2384!
Thanks for keeping it real about pharm! I would much rather have the hard truth than some fluff, so I really appreciate that. I'm also super Type A personality and I know I can't expect to get straight A's so it's better if I get myself mentally prepared and just start wrapping my head around that now. LOL For pharm, did you get any additional study aids to help you? I know there's a pharmacology made easy or some kind of book like that. Do you think it's something worth investing in or is it more like stick to the book since there's so little time to learn the subject?
Thanks so much for all your advice! =) Good luck finishing off fundamentals!

Hi from cohort 23! Your pharm will get a lot easier than our pharm was. We were in class 3 times a week with the head of the dept. who was something else! Yours will be online from what I understand and you will have the teacher who I had for my clinicals (a nightmare in clinicals, but should be ok as an online instructor).

Your assessment theory instructor is AWESOME. I had her for assessment and med surg I! I wish I could have her for the whole program!

Glad people are finally opening up!

tutubalu · Feb 26, 2011

Hey...just wanted to see who all is in cohort 26? Orientation is soon and I'm getting excited/nervous!! Does anyone want to meet before orientation, Starbucks or something?

PMHNP2023, RN · Feb 26, 2011

went to another info session. they didn't even mention the cost this time!! I'm sure they didn't want to scare people away! From what it sounds like, they're trying to convert to more of an "online" model. Curious from people who are currently enrolled, what percentage of your classes were online only?

nulvnbsn7 · Feb 26, 2011

Hey...just wanted to see who all is in cohort 26? Orientation is soon and I'm getting excited/nervous!! Does anyone want to meet before orientation, Starbucks or something?

Hi there! When does cohort 26 start? I am waiting to get my results from the December 3rd, 2010 ap period (we should know by next week). If you don't mind me asking, what were your scores (Teas, etc.?) and how were you notified (email/regular mail). Does the acceptance letter come with orientation info in a big package or just a regular envelope.

Sorry for all of the ?'s - I just want to know what to look for. Thanks!