Nebraska Methodist College Accelerated Program

U.S.A. Nebraska

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I am curious if anyone knows anything about the accelerated program at NMC. It is one of the only ones around that I can find who will accept you with an associates degree. How competitive is it to get into? How tough is the program? Instructors? I am looking for any information. Thanks!

Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.
I got my financial aid letter..I don't have enough fed loans to cover the whole thing, I will have to take even more private loans :(

That is too bad but may be necessary to reach your goal. Try to figure out the finances ahead of time so you are less stressed over that while you are in school. It is great that you were accepted! I think it is a good program and that you will succeed there if you apply yourself. You will be amazed at how much you can learn in a short time! Just think - two years from now you will be a nurse!

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I got my financial aid letter..I don't have enough fed loans to cover the whole thing, I will have to take even more private loans :(

Wow. I am still waiting on my financial aid from Methodist.. :( Every day that passes I get a bit more sad while waiting.

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I think cost is a realistic concern. When I went (I graduated in 2007), I think the tuition was about $27K with a couple thousand more for books, uniforms, etc. I think most people borrowed money since there is no way you could work enough to pay for the program while you are in the program. Have you tried calling the Financial Aid people? It may be that they are focusing on those who will be starting the various programs in August (and figure they can do the Jan students after that) but they may be able to give you information if you call.

I am not sure what the max is for student loans right now but the program spans 2 academic years (so you could borrow more than the yearly max if you want to). I generally do not borrow money and was not excited about borrowing for this program but decided it was worth it to finish my degree (and hopefully get a job!) in a short time. Methodist is well thought of in Omaha and I think their grads can generally get a job when they graduate. Many of my classmates had jobs lined up before we finished (often as a result of their preceptorship).

What is the preceptorship like? I am unfamiliar with this. I graduated from Creighton with an entirely different degree. Though I am not in debt as much as I could be, I was hoping that this degree would allow me to start a new path in life. I did try calling the Financial Aid department. They said that they are attempting to get out August financial aid and have not looked at Spring term as yet. :(

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What is the preceptorship like? I am unfamiliar with this. I graduated from Creighton with an entirely different degree. Though I am not in debt as much as I could be, I was hoping that this degree would allow me to start a new path in life. I did try calling the Financial Aid department. They said that they are attempting to get out August financial aid and have not looked at Spring term as yet. :(

What year did you graduate? I just graduated from there in May.

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Specializes in ICU.

I am currently in the ACE program. FYI, the financial aid dept. just had their director retire and a new one start, so perhaps that is why there is a delay in the awards letter. They usually get them to us quickly. Don't be afraid to call them either, everyone on campus is very friendly.

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I am currently in the ACE program. FYI, the financial aid dept. just had their director retire and a new one start, so perhaps that is why there is a delay in the awards letter. They usually get them to us quickly. Don't be afraid to call them either, everyone on campus is very friendly.

How do you feel about the program? Are the profs helpful? Does it take a lot of time/effort to do well in?

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Specializes in ICU.

I am impressed with the program. One concern I had before starting an accelerated program was that they would cut corners trying to squish everything in. I want to be a good nurse, not just get a degree. I was relieved the first week of classes when I realized they do not cut corners. I knew that first week I was in the right place.

There are some excellent instructors and some mediocre instructors. Thankfully all of the class coordinators as they call them are excellent. So the majority of the instructors you learn from are great. NMC is also a very friendly school. You get the sense that they really do want you to succeed. If you have a problem, they encourage you to come to them and they generally will do what they can to help you. I never felt like my instructors were trying to be superior to me like I have read other students say on other boards.

You will have to make a significant time commitment in this program to be successful. There is no doubt about it. I remember at our orientation when they had a panel of ACE student from the class before us they kept emphasizing that and it really freaked some of us out, but they were just being honest. It is hard, but doable. You won't have much time for socializing, so if that is a priority in your life, you may want to consider a traditional program. Something we joke about in the program is that if we do finish the program and become nurses, working 3 12's will be a breeze compared to school. We won't know what to do with all our free time.

Let me know if you have any other questions, I'll try to help answer them or point you in the right direction if I can't.

Best of luck!

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What year did you graduate? I just graduated from there in May.

I graduated in 2009 !

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I am currently in the ACE program. FYI, the financial aid dept. just had their director retire and a new one start, so perhaps that is why there is a delay in the awards letter. They usually get them to us quickly. Don't be afraid to call them either, everyone on campus is very friendly.

Thanks Mochamonster ! I called, but they don't have everything put together as yet :( yikes. .Thanks for the kind words though. :) Can you tell me a little bit about the program? What are your days and time commitments like?

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Specializes in ICU.

I saw earlier that someone said 8-7. That hasn't been what I've experienced. Sometimes clinical starts as early as 6:30, sometimes it goes as late as 10 pm. Not in the same day of course. Not even in the same class. You usually have either a day (which starts early and may go as late as 6:30), or an evening clinical which starts late too (late morning or early afternoon).

Lectures are during the day and never run as late as 5. Each semester is different, but you can count on being busy during working hours and sometimes in the evenings. Rarely we will have a Saturday clincial, but that is only one day or perhaps twice in one class.

Yes, you do have to prelab the afternoon/evening before clinical and that takes an hour or two, but it's not at a set time. I've prelabbed as late as midnight and as early as 4:30 am because I have kids. After you prelab you have to write up your careplan, look up your drugs and your patho. You don't want to know how long that takes, but that's standard at any school. It's a rough few days during clinical in an accelerated program, and if you're really lucky you'll have a test the following day with your careplan due that afternoon. ;)

Then you recharge your batteries over the weekend and try to get caught up or work ahead for the next week just to do it all over again. LOL. In an accelerated program you plan day by day, and sometimes even hour by hour (literally). It is doable though! It's like treading water. The instructors give you just enough work where you feel like your going to drown, but you keep working at it and somehow you don't.

Also, you will bail your classmates out and there will come a time where they will bail you out. There is no cattiness or competition. Your identity becomes "we" so to speak. What affects one of you affects all of you.

One thing that I find very important with NMC's program is that every 8 weeks you get a week break (except the summer semester, there isn't enough time). The other accelerated programs in Omaha don't have this feature. I am telling you, the break is the only thing that keeps you sane in a program like this.

I've never done anything more difficult, and I tell you, when I'm finished I will never be prouder of my accomplishment. I have nothing but respect for those who have gone before me or those who will follow. It takes true dedication, but it will be worth it in the end!

It will be some of the hardest and most rewarding days of your life, and you WILL come out the other side, and be a nurse!

I'm so excited for you!

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Hello all former graduates! I was wondering about the housing? Being in the ACE program- many of us are former college graduates so we are all probably older than 22? I was wondering about the on campus apartments? Do you know if they are usually younger students? Or is there an older student vibe to them? Thanks

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

One thing that I find very important with NMC's program is that every 8 weeks you get a week break (except the summer semester, there isn't enough time). The other accelerated programs in Omaha don't have this feature. I am telling you, the break is the only thing that keeps you sane in a program like this.

I've never done anything more difficult, and I tell you, when I'm finished I will never be prouder of my accomplishment. I have nothing but respect for those who have gone before me or those who will follow. It takes true dedication, but it will be worth it in the end!

It will be some of the hardest and most rewarding days of your life, and you WILL come out the other side, and be a nurse!

I'm so excited for you!

I agree that the program is doable but intense. (I graduated in 2007). I think most of the instructors are very good and willing to help. If you are having problems of any kind, ask for help sooner rather than later! Most of the instructors will go out of their way to help you. If you are feeling really stessed, talk to an instructor or counselor - they can encourage you.

I agree that having the break week after each semester saves your sanity! Sometimes I slept or went to a movie, other times I would try to get a head start on something (we often had to read a book of some sort and write a paper - I would try to read the book on break but did not do the paper - too much work on break!). Omaha is a nice city with many things to do on your off week. (I also tried to take at least a few hours off most Friday evenings - sometimes didn't happen but I tried).

One thing that is important is to keep track of all of your assignments, tests, etc. Figure out what works for you. I found that having a large laminated 12 month calendar worked for me. I color-coded classes and wrote EVERYTHING on there. It helped me see the big picture (next week is 2 tests, clincial, a care plan, and a big paper but the next week is not so bad). My study buddy couldn't do that - it stressed her out to see it all. The students really did help each other out - there is a feeling of "we're all in this together"

You will be amazed how much you learn in such a small amount of time. It is within your reach - you will be a nurse! Doing this program was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I would do it again in a heartbeat! (but am glad I don't have to!!)

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