OU Accelerated BSN 2014-15

Jenrn2b88 · Nov 13, 2013

Just got my acceptance email for the OKC campus today. Anybody else hear back yet?

I did too, OKC campus:) Congrats!

OklahomaState'13 · Nov 14, 2013

If you guys have any questions let me know! I'm currently in the ABSN program in OKC. :-)

outriton · Nov 14, 2013

I'm sure I speak for Jenrn2b88 and myself when I say any tips and advice you have would be greatly appreciated OklahomaState'13!

Jenrn2b88: What's your background (if any) in nursing? Is this a total career change, or something else?

outriton · Nov 15, 2013

Hi OklahomaState'13. I've been poking around the nursing site more and have some questions for you.

I was looking at the course descriptions online and was wondering if you take all the classes listed, or if you pick and choose to some extent? If there is some choice, is there a lot of flexibility?

Also, how high are the standards to get into the honors stuff like the honors reading, research and mentored research?

OklahomaState'13 · Nov 15, 2013

We get automatically enrolled each semester and everyone takes the same classes, so no we don't get to choose our classes. There are 38 people in our class, which I think is really nice since we all know each other and feel comfortable with each other. The teachers are VERY helpful and really do want you to succeed.

In my opinion (and I know lots of other people think this as well), the schoolwork isn't bad at all. I thought I would have no life and would be extremely overwhelmed at all times and it's definitely not like that. Of course, some things can be overwhelming but it is much easier than I thought it would be. For instance, this semester I had class/clinicals 4 days a week for the first 4 weeks and from then on I've only had class 3 days a week.

I honestly have no idea what you are talking about regarding any honors courses, so I can't help you there!

OklahomaState'13 · Nov 15, 2013

Oh and one big thing! At orientation, people will be there with order forms to buy scrubs. I, along with lots others, thought we had to buy those scrubs since they have to be a specific color but you don't! I didn't have any problems with mine, but a lot of people had issues with the sizes once we got our scrubs in so I would recommend either buying scrubs on your own in the maroon/red color or atleast go to a scrub shop and try on a pair in the brand the school sells (I don't remember what brand they sell at the moment, but I can look tomorrow and post it.)

outriton · Nov 15, 2013

Thanks for all your help OklahomaState'13!

Are the scrubs that OU sells at oritentation more expensive or something? Or did you just mean that it's easier to buy them at a regular store so you can try on then and there and find ones that are comfortable?

Is there a lot of flexibility in picking your clinicals, or is that all pre-determined too?

I thought the OKC campus accepts 68 students. Did they up it this year, or were you guys split into two classes to make the 38 people in your class?

CDEWannaBe · Nov 15, 2013

Thanks for the great information OklahomomaState'13.

I was just accepted in the the Accelerated BSN at OU-Tulsa. Now I have to figure out how to pay for it!

Have you found scholarships (outside of those listed on the OU Nursing page) helpful. Did you have to pay for the summer semester out of pocket or was it covered by Financial Aid?

RDMStoFNP · Nov 16, 2013

Hey! I'm currently in the ABSN program in Tulsa. All of your classes and clinicals are all prearranged. You have no say so until clinical 4 during the last summer. As for scholarships, St Francis has a pretty good scholarship 7,000 for a 2 yr work commitment. Congrats! Enjoy your normal life before school starts, it does change things - but it's not as bad as everyone tries to tell ya! :)

Jenrn2b88 · Nov 17, 2013

Hi Outriton: I grew up in a medical family and I have some basic hospital experience out her in CA, so I am pretty comfortable in that setting. I realized about 5 min after I graduated I hated my desk job and started taking the prereqs while working and well I'm sure you know how that story goes. What about yourself? Are you currently in OKC? Looks like we will have plenty of time to get to know each other since it sounds like we will have a small class: ) Also the honors classes you were seeing online I think are for the traditional program:)

OklahomaState'13: I am currently in California so I am not very familiar with OKC, except from what I remember visiting family almost 10 years ago. Where do a lot of students live, in the village or off campus? I have a little dog, so on campus for myself is out of the question...where would you recommend me starting that search? Is there a place close to the campus but conveniently located to activities, nightlife ect or a location where everyone tends to live? I'm flying out next month to try to get the lay of the land since it would be a pretty big move, so ANY tips regarding where to live or OKC in general would GREATLY be appreciated!!!

Also are any of your classes online/hybrid, especially the intersession courses? Did most of your classmates attend undergrad at OU or in Oklahoma in general or do you have a few from out of state? Is your class mostly new grads or a fair mix of people?

So many questions....thank you so much :up: :)

outriton · Nov 17, 2013

Hi Jen.

What part of CA are you from? I moved from SD to OKC about 3.5 years ago.

I currently work in a biology research lab at the same campus where our classes will be and have extensive lab experience. I just realized a year or so ago that I didn't like it as much as I thought I did while I was in school and that the future doesn't look bright with the sequestration cuts the NIH is facing and the recent government shut down. Funding is a major issue, and it just didn't seem practical to start a PhD program to become another one of the 238493024 people post-doc-ing forever trying to become a professor.

Sounds like we did the same thing: keep working but go back to take the pre-reqs we missed the first time around. I'm currently finishing up A&P II and have microbiology lab next semester.

Regarding the OUHSC campus, besides the University Village, the surrounding neighborhood is low income and run down. It's the thing where large public health centers are often built in poor neighborhoods to provide care for the under served, e.g. Johns Hopkins.

The nearby area where Mutt's Hot Dogs, Big Truck Tacos and Tucker's Onions Burgers are has a lot of houses for rent. It's an older neighborhood, but out of the poorest area and is quickly becoming gentrified based on that list of new hipster foodie restaurants. :-P

If you'd rather have nicer, newer digs, living in the Deep Deuce and Bricktown areas would be really close too. There are brand new urban condos around there that are very big city-ish. It's also the hip, happening place to be in town since OKC has made a big push in recent years to revitalize its decaying urban center. The Thunder arena is there as well as a lot of bars, restaurants and clubs. It can be kind of barren during the day though since they don't have boutiques and daytime-type restaurants.

I've also heard Lincoln at Central Park Apartments is nice, and it's not a far commute - mostly just annoying since it's all surface streets with a lower speed limit in some parts.

All the spots around campus aren't particularly close to big grocery stores, convenience stores and bigger chain stores/restaurants though. OKC is very sprawled out, so you have to go about 15-20 minutes outside the middle of town to get to a Target, CVS, etc.

When are you going to be in town? I'd love to get together. You can even meet my two little dogs. :-)