Northeastern Hybrid Direct Entry Nursing Spring 2014

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hi All,

I just received news that I have been accepted into Northeastern's Direct Entry online accelerated nursing program. I am wondering if anyone else is also in the spring 2014 cohort? Just thought I would get a thread going to communicate details such as living arrangements, loans, what to expect etc.

Each week is going to vary depending on what is due etc. On average I have been spending about 8-10 hours a day at a minimum doing school related stuff with maybe one day a week taken for myself if lucky. Us first semester students typically have clinical once a week for about 7 hours (clinical day / location varies). Everybody has a 3 hour lab block once a week in Boston (personally I usually just make a day of it and spend the rest of the day in the Library on campus when I have lab). There is usually 1 test scheduled per week on Friday. For your first month before actual clinical starts up you will usually have a "pre-clinical" day in Burlington once a week on Monday.

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Boston123: Thank you for the insight! I appreciate it. I am definitely doing the program so all of your information is super helpful. I am nervous about it just because of the mixed reviews but it fits best for me so I am going to give it a go. Have people typically had clinicals fairly close to or in the city or have they been spread all over the 50 mile radius they say they can be within? How are clinicals assigned... is it totally random? I'm sorry for all of the questions!!

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No worries, I remember scouring the internet for info about the program myself a few months back to no avail so I am glad to help.

So far clinical placements have been all over. The school makes full use of the 50 mile limit and it seems as though assignment has pretty much been determined by the student's last name. Students have no input regarding assigned clinical location. This semester placements have been in Concord, Lowell, Cambridge, and possibly one other location in Boston I think.

And now some unsolicited but hopefully helpful advice:

If you are def doing this program make sure you are very confident with med math stuff before you start as I mentioned in a previous post. The first few weeks are insane due in part to both the amount of work assigned and everything just being new in general. Trying to teach yourself math without instruction during that initial time period is absolutely something you want to avoid. I found youtube to be a very helpful resource for this. My preference has been using dimensional analysis to tackle all things med-math related (much harder to make silly mistakes imo).

Also try to figure out a way of easily organizing assignments that works for you. I have found that a physical weekly / monthly planner works best for me. Staples has a store brand one that I thought was great. You will be fire-hosed with assignments to record the first couple days so just be forewarned.

I know that during my first orientation day a bunch of students were still trying to figure out loans. Apparently the school is not allowed to advise which lender to go through but another student turned a bunch of us on to Wells Fargo. They have a MedCAP loan that some of us found useful. Low interest rates / fees etc...

Do not try and work and do this program at the same time! Some people have tried and it really seems as though they have done themselves a disservice. The amount of work required of this program is such that holding a job and also doing well academically is near impossible.

While not required or even an officially suggested purchases, the Nursing Made Easy series for Patho and also for Maternal-Newborn nursing has proven very valuable for myself and a bunch of the other students I study with. Something I would seriously consider getting from the outset. Not too expensive, think each book can be found online for about $20.

Find people you click with early and form a study group! I cant stress enough how helpful a support system of fellow students is.

Also strongly consider making / joining a cohort specific group on FB. One student made one for our Cohort at the beginning of the semester and it is much easier to navigate / interact with people there than on the Angel platform provided by the school. It has been a great tool.

Anyway that is all I can think of that might be helpful at the moment. Feel free to ask if you have any more specific questions.

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Boston123: Thank you so much for all the information!!! That was very nice of you to take time to answer all our questions!!!

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Boston123: Thank you so much for all of your advice, I really appreciate it! Even though clinicals are assigned without any input have you found your clinical preceptor/the experience in general to be a positive one

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My clinical instructor has been absolutely fantastic! I have heard mixed reviews from other students regarding their experiences so far.

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Boston123: have you decided what specialty you will be pursuing?

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I am planning on doing Psychiatric NP. Not sure if that is something I will be continuing at Northeastern or applying for elsewhere down the road though.

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Eburgmeier: Did you hear from them yet?

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I heard back yesterday, I've been accepted for the Fall cohort. I think I'm going to give this program a shot!

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Faith2014: no I haven't! I tried getting a hold of my advisor three different times this past week! Have you?

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Congrats edarcy1991

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