OHSU ABSN/DNP 2023

[mmCA]

Hello everyone! This thread is for folks applying to OHSU's ABSN/DNP 2023 program.

Feel free to introduce yourself, ask questions and offer guidance and support to other candidates. Please be respectful and kind and remember that this is a long, exhausting, expensive, stressful journey for lots of people. Let's do our best to uplift and help each other. Good luck!

[KathrynMaude]

KekePat said:

 

The hospital fund opportunity is a two year work agreement with OHSU in exchange for the cost of tuition. There are various requirements you need to agree to, ie obtaining employment within 90 days,  payback terms if you are unable to fulfill 2 year commitment. 

I received the offer, but I am unsure of how they decide who receives it or if it is sent to all incoming students. As a former OHSU employee and a resident of Portland (with no plans to relocate) it seems like a fantastic opportunity!

Which program are you attending? ABSN or DNP? Just curious :)

[birdieboo]

KathrynMaude said:

Which program are you attending? ABSN or DNP? Just curious ?

I will be attending the ABSN program and also received the offer. From the wording in the documents I received it seems as though the offer is just for ABSN students and not those on the DNP direct entry track, though I could be wrong about that! I am guessing it is focused on ABSN students just because they will be ready for work within the next two-ish years versus the longer programs. Not sure what criteria may go into the offer beyond that, unfortunately. I am curious if it is all ABSN students that are offered or just Portland campus students, etc. 

I know that I will be taking the offer. I am within a reasonable commuting distance and have already been planning on seeking employment at OHSU after graduation based on my interests and what the hospital offers in terms of training/onboarding as a new nurse, so it makes sense for me.

[KekePat]

KathrynMaude said:

Which program are you attending? ABSN or DNP? Just curious ?

I am attending the ABSN program. I just re-read the paperwork and this specific initiative is for ABSN students only. It says students entering into any other OHSU program before the completion of the 2 year service agreement are not eligible. Hope this helps!

[Sarak]

I was accepted into the ABSN program on the Ashland campus and have not received this scholarship offer. 

[Christina Lange]

Sarak said:

I was accepted into the ABSN program on the Ashland campus and have not received this scholarship offer. 

It sounded like it only went to portland ABSN students and that this was something that they had only recently rolled out. It didn't sound like it went to everyone in the cohort? I did get this offer also but am unsure due to the 2 year commitment, as I was going to move to Portland for just the program  - also,  it seems as though you are tied to the same unit for two years upon acceptance of the job. And I am worried about ending up in a less preferred unit and then being beholden to that for two years. It is definitely very enticing though, otherwise. 

[CommonGreen]

I'm a little late to the party here, but wanted to let people know that if they're doubting whether Concordia's ABSN is a decent program - let me assure you, it's actually a very strong program!  I recently graduated, and while the school in general seemed like a hot mess, organizationally, the entire time, I've worked with a lot of BSN students from Walla Walla, Linfield, etc., and the consensus is that nursing school just is a hot mess. 

Now that covid issues are improving, people are getting excellent clinical placements, and Concordia students get wonderful recommendations from their clinical preceptors.  I had three job offers to three residencies including OHSU, before graduation.  

Are you online a lot? Yes.  Is much of the learning self-directed and tough? Yes.  Are there high standards? Yes.  To my knowledge it has the highest GPA scale of any other program in the state.  But you're in and out in 16 months with a valuable degree that obviously isn't considered second rate to any other ABSN in the state. 

Don't get me wrong- I'm no Concordia spokesperson, but if you didn't get into your first choice and Concordia is your next option, it's definitely not a bad decision.  Best wishes!!

 

 

[AshleyKim]

Can anyone who has started the program tell me what your class and clinical schedule is like for the ABSN at OHSU? Looking into applying to the program but I'm curious about the schedule of the program.

[Jrod]

AshleyKim said:

Can anyone who has started the program tell me what your class and clinical schedule is like for the ABSN at OHSU? Looking into applying to the program but I'm curious about the schedule of the program.

I'm currently in the program. The schedule varies quite a bit quarter to quarter. If you haven't seen this page, it has the class schedules for current and past quarters https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-nursing/course-schedules

[birdieboo]

AshleyKim said:

Can anyone who has started the program tell me what your class and clinical schedule is like for the ABSN at OHSU? Looking into applying to the program but I'm curious about the schedule of the program.

There are five terms and they are all vary from one another, plus slight differences depending on your cohort start date. Here's a general idea:

First term is three classes (health promotion, pathophysiology 1, pharmacology 1) with clinicals only in the skills lab/simulation except for one event like a vaccine clinic or community event. Most cohorts end up doing two days of lecture classes and then two days of clinicals, but each term differs a little as to which days those are exactly.

Second term also has three classes (chronic health, patho 2, pharm 2) but you start hospital clinicals. There's typically 2-3 days of lecture classes, one day of clinicals in the hospital, and then one day for skills labs/simulations.

Third term for most cohorts is only two classes (acute health and leadership A). There are two days of lecture classes, two full days in the hospital for clinicals, and additional skills labs/simulations on the other day.

Fourth term for most cohorts is three classes (population health, leadership B, epidemiology). I haven't done this term yet, but I've heard that it's one day of lecture classes, one online class, and then two days for clinicals with some weeks having an extra day for skills labs/simulations.

Fifth term is the practicum term so you have a nurse preceptor and you work their shifts with them (so three 12's). You might be on nights, have to go in on weekends, etc. I think there are a few seminars to complete as well but I'm not sure of all the details yet.

All of the previous term schedules are posted online (https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-nursing/course-schedules) if you want to get a rough idea of schedules from those as well. Hope this helps!

[AshleyKim]

birdieboo said:

There are five terms and they are all vary from one another, plus slight differences depending on your cohort start date. Here's a general idea:

First term is three classes (health promotion, pathophysiology 1, pharmacology 1) with clinicals only in the skills lab/simulation except for one event like a vaccine clinic or community event. Most cohorts end up doing two days of lecture classes and then two days of clinicals, but each term differs a little as to which days those are exactly.

Second term also has three classes (chronic health, patho 2, pharm 2) but you start hospital clinicals. There's typically 2-3 days of lecture classes, one day of clinicals in the hospital, and then one day for skills labs/simulations.

Third term for most cohorts is only two classes (acute health and leadership A). There are two days of lecture classes, two full days in the hospital for clinicals, and additional skills labs/simulations on the other day.

Fourth term for most cohorts is three classes (population health, leadership B, epidemiology). I haven't done this term yet, but I've heard that it's one day of lecture classes, one online class, and then two days for clinicals with some weeks having an extra day for skills labs/simulations.

Fifth term is the practicum term so you have a nurse preceptor and you work their shifts with them (so three 12's). You might be on nights, have to go in on weekends, etc. I think there are a few seminars to complete as well but I'm not sure of all the details yet.

All of the previous term schedules are posted online (https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-nursing/course-schedules) if you want to get a rough idea of schedules from those as well. Hope this helps!

Thanks for this!! I did see the schedule of classes but most of the clinicals say "varies" so I wasn't sure what that meant. It seems most of the classes are on weekdays. How long are the clinicals? And are they also on weekdays? 
 

Also, how "intense" is the workload overall? Are you still happy with choosing an accelerated program? How much free time do you have? I have kids so just wanting to pick a program that will work for my situation!! 
 

[birdieboo]

AshleyKim said:

Thanks for this!! I did see the schedule of classes but most of the clinicals say "varies" so I wasn't sure what that meant. It seems most of the classes are on weekdays. How long are the clinicals? And are they also on weekdays? 
 

Also, how "intense" is the workload overall? Are you still happy with choosing an accelerated program? How much free time do you have? I have kids so just wanting to pick a program that will work for my situation!! 
 

Classes are all on weekdays and clinicals are too, until the last term for practicum. Then you are at the mercy of wherever you get placed in terms of days/times/locations. ? Clinicals are about 8 hours, give or take a bit to account for for pre-clinical meetings or post-conference with your clinical group.

The intensity is hard to describe, but I personally think it's manageable and I'm happy I went the accelerated route! I worked all the way through completing my previous degree and my prerequisites, so being able to only focus on school right now is great. The content is generally pretty straightforward, but there is a LOT so you really can't fall behind. The biggest challenge is time management and knowing how to study to apply the material instead of just memorizing. It took a few weeks to sort my strategies out in the first term, but I have my routine now and I can budget in more free time. Some weeks are still insanely busy and I feel like all I do is school, but other weeks are much more relaxed because I plan ahead as much as possible. I don't have children but several people in my class do and they are doing great!