opinion on humber second entry program

marie12

As a staff nurse who has worked with nursing students from all of the various Toronto programs, I can tell you that the curriculum and workload is equivalant and there are mediocore and excellent instructors in all of the schools. Don't waste your time focusing on the pluses or minuses of any particular school. Focus on planning your career by setting goals to successfully enroll in and complete the educational program. Keep in mind that as a nursing student, your attitude is being observed at all times, and you are expected to think and and act professionally at all times. If you are not sure how to do this, suggest you read Career Development for Health Professionals, In School and On THe Job, by Lee Haroun.

regards

dishes

Hi Dishes

Thank you so much for posting your reply. You give very good advice; a lot of people seem very concerned about which school is better, which gets the best clinicals etc etc. What I take away from your post is: what is most important overall is attitude and personal application. I agree.

On that note though, I would like to ask: do you feel that students on second entry/accelerated courses get adequate preparation when compared with someone on a traditional four year course?

I've looked into it and the full four year course is really only two semesters longer than the accelerated. As I have two young children I sometimes wonder if it would be better for me to go the traditional route and apply to Ryerson as well as Humber, with perhaps less 'pressure'.

Do you have any insight on this point?

Thank you!

Hi Marie

Acceptance into nursing school is competive and nursing school applicants usually list more than one program on their application, if you apply to Humber second entry and Ryerson traditional and are accepted into one, than that's the program you are meant to be in.

You will need to dedicate much of your time to school and homework, if you have help with your children, housework, meals, and finances, the pressure is manageable. If you do not have help, you will be juggling roles and responsibilites and the pressure will be intense. You will have to give up some resonsibilities and alot of sleep, in order to get through school.

The course material is interelated, you are meant to study it intensively, it helps you make connections and synthasize the information, you will not be less prepared if you take a second entry program vs a traditional program. You will feel more prepared if you repeatdly practice the nursing skills in the lab, and at home before actually doing a procedure on a patient, but there is nothing like hands on experience, so take every opportunity to do every procedure while attending clinical placements.

dishes

Thank you so much for your advice. It is much appreciated.