National University San Diego

Nenigurl2011 · Feb 1, 2009

Thank you sooo much! This was very helpful .. Best rate I've seen so far...I should apply for this soon!!! Hope everything is going well with you and getting requirements completed!

prettyinpink57 · Feb 1, 2009

It was just the basics that they checked...eyes ears yada yada. Quick and painless. (Although they did do a pap, lol). They had to draw all the blood for MMR and Varicella titers. And they also took some to check my thyroid because I have a very fast pulse so they were checking to see if that could be why. If you look on the immunization form they don't give you an option to put when your MMR vaccine was, they are requiring actual blood titers. (i guess proof of immunity). So that's why I had all the blood drawn. I work across the street from the RB National campus (where our nursing theory classes will be) and I see a lot of National Nursing students. :rolleyes: I saw a couple of them today and they told me they started in the January cohort and just finished their first class! They said it was super intense and that you have 2 days of theory and 2 days of clinical a week....! Will you girls be working??

gnomik79 · Feb 1, 2009

It was just the basics that they checked...eyes ears yada yada. Quick and painless. (Although they did do a pap, lol). They had to draw all the blood for MMR and Varicella titers. And they also took some to check my thyroid because I have a very fast pulse so they were checking to see if that could be why. If you look on the immunization form they don't give you an option to put when your MMR vaccine was, they are requiring actual blood titers. (i guess proof of immunity). So that's why I had all the blood drawn. I work across the street from the RB National campus (where our nursing theory classes will be) and I see a lot of National Nursing students. I saw a couple of them today and they told me they started in the January cohort and just finished their first class! They said it was super intense and that you have 2 days of theory and 2 days of clinical a week....! Will you girls be working??

Yikes! :uhoh21: So, that's 4 full days a week dedicated to school, huh? Wow... :uhoh3: My head is spinning already and I haven't even started... I am planning to request an academic leave at work (cause I have a full time day job now) and see how long they approve it for... they said two months at most. After that, I will probably quit, which I was planning to do anyways b/c I knew I wouldn't be able to hold a FT job and go to school FT at the same time. And at the cost of school so high, I can't afford to fail the classes or have them repeated. :nono: So, for the next 2 yrs, my focus will be my studies... I may get like a very part time simple job in healthcare (anywhere) just for more hands on experience, but that's it! I think of school as an investment. :twocents: The return will come in 2 years (hopefully) :grad: For now, we must be strong and face this upcoming battle! :smiley_ab

h0n3ybee · Feb 2, 2009

Hello all,

The assessment class is four days (2 theory and 2 clinical). Fundamentals and the rest of clinicals are 3 days (1 theory and 2 clinical). Most are our class quit working after fundamentals. Here are some things to consider: Once you start clinicals in the hospital, your clinicals do not have a fixed schedule. Some clinicals do 12 hour shifts and some do 8 depending on the hospital. Also the days change. you might have clinicals tues and thurs for one class and then switch to mon and wed. also remember, for some clinicals they make you go to the hospital the day before to research your patient's meds and diagnosis. The work required for clinical is insane on top of theory. My advice: Be prepared not to work. The program is an accelerated and is not easy. our cohort started with well over 40 people we ended our leadership class with 23 original people and had about 5 transplants(people who joined our cohort because they did not pass the previous classes). Good Luck!!

prettyinpink57 · Feb 2, 2009

WOW......that is nuts!!! Thanks h0n3ybee....If you don't mind me asking, how many hours of studying a night did/do you put into the classes?

gnomik79 · Feb 2, 2009

h0n3ybee : wow! thanks for giving us an idea of what it would be like. so, if i understood correctly: what you are saying is that most people are able to work while taking those fundamental classes with clinicals, right? what kind of work are we talking about here: full time/part time? so, then once people are enrolled in those "community" courses, they quit working? because the clinical work is too much?

h0n3ybee · Feb 2, 2009

The students that worked in my class had part-time jobs that had flexible hours. If your employer does not mind schedule changes, then it might work out. in fundamentals your clinicals are on campus for the first six weeks and then in the hospital for the last two weeks. The rest of the classes the clinicals start right away in the hospital with the exception of OB where you do one or two clinicals on campus. As for studying, I studied about 2 hours a day. Care plans take a while to do... formatting and writing the care plan takes alot of work. once psych nursing is over most people start working or looking for externships. unforunately, NU does not have an externship class, so you are completely on your own for that.

gnomik79 · Feb 2, 2009

The students that worked in my class had part-time jobs that had flexible hours. If your employer does not mind schedule changes, then it might work out. in fundamentals your clinicals are on campus for the first six weeks and then in the hospital for the last two weeks. The rest of the classes the clinicals start right away in the hospital with the exception of OB where you do one or two clinicals on campus. As for studying, I studied about 2 hours a day. Care plans take a while to do... formatting and writing the care plan takes alot of work. once psych nursing is over most people start working or looking for externships. unforunately, NU does not have an externship class, so you are completely on your own for that.

Thanks, honeybee... :) yes, I plan to find a flexible job. Did you work in healthcare BEFORE you started the RN program? See, for me it will be a major career change. Did you know students who were exposed to healthcare setting for the very first time in the program? If so, how did they handle it? I am sure that the students that worked as CNA's or LVN's are at an advantage.... Unfortunately, I am not one of those lucky ones...

h0n3ybee · Feb 2, 2009

I am not one of those people either. this is a second career choice and have never worked in the hospital setting. the first two classes, get you prepared. you learn how to do the skills in fundamentals and then in med-surg you do it. the key to clinicals is don't be afraid. try as many skills as you can. if your patient needs a foley, iv, ng tube... try and do it. if you just step back and watch the nurse do it you missed the opportunity. ask your clinical instructor to go over the procedure and then help you as a guide. remember you are only on the floor for a short amount of time. clinicals are what you make it.

gnomik79 · Feb 2, 2009

I know... I am just so nervous that I will look like an idiot not knowing anything... And I'm nervous to start too... I mean, I have been waiting for this for a while now, but now that it's actually almost here... makes me anxious a bit. Maybe once I start, I will feel more comfortable... It's nice to know that it was a second career choice for you as well - calms me down a bit, and reassures me that I can do it. I am not a quitter - if I made a decision, I stick to it and will do my very best to succeed at whatever I attempt... Good thing I am planning on quitting my job... :)

prettyinpink57 · Feb 3, 2009

Awww Di, we are in this together! I am nervous I will look like an idiot too, but we can do it!!!

And honeybee, again you are amazing and thank you for all the information!!!

gnomik79 · Feb 4, 2009

OK... so I went to pee in the cup yesterday:rolleyes: - for drug testing... That was interesting.:stone... I've never had a drug test done before...

h0n3ybee, thanks again for all your input...:lvan: