OU 2nd Degree Accelerated BSN Program Summer Cohort

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I was wondering if anyone is slotted to begin in May 2010? I was slotted for the winter but received a call today asking if I wanted to move up to the May start date, to which I said yes. I'm so excited to get going. Is there a facebook group or anything out there forming yet for students?

I would like to join if there is. I am nervous, scared, and excited all at the same time. I just want to get going to changing careers and be happy!

Dave

I have a bachelors degree in Chemistry and have been in the field for the past 13 years. The past 3 or 4, I realized I was not progressing and felt I wanted to do something more with my life - helping others vs. making the company more money. So I took the plunge and decided on health care. I just recently completed my CNA through the American Red Cross which I loved. We learned vitals and many skills which will help me later on. I hear you about being nervous. It's 12 months and that's not a very long time to pack in all the information you will need to know. But you will do great. I hear it's important to get into study groups or find someone you can rely on. Also time management is critical . They throw so much at you and you have to stay on top of it. But 12 months is not bad and you will be rewarded in the end. My sister is a CRNA and she has been super helpful to me but warned me it's a challenging program - and she didn't do accelerated.

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Does anyone know what entry level salaries are for RN's/BSN's right now?

i asked this question about 2 years ago and at the time it seemed about 24 an hour. I know someone that works at St. John Main and said it's 27-28$ an hour.

I'm very nervous. I just hope I can handle the stuff. I'm not as worried about school as I am hoping I like the job. I'm not getting any younger and I would never have chosen to go back to school if there weren't an accelerated program. But I"m on a plan to get to a CRNA position as fast as possible. I don't want to spend the rest of my life in school earning degrees, you know?

I just want it all to be worth it, that's all.

I think I"m going into this for the right reasons, to help people, but I am just so nervous. It's the unknown that really makes me this way. But it has all lined up for me in such a way that it feels like it's meant to be.

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I have heard that Hospitals are paying less right now because of the economy. When you say $ 27-28 and hour, this may be the average. For entry level nurses, I bet it's less. I had heard around $ 24-25. I too am interested in being a CRNA or Nurse Practioner. My sister said there is a big demand right now but with ObamaCare, salaries could come down. Her class started with 20 and only 6 graduated. I guess it's very intense - 2 solid years, no breaks and much much harder than nursing school. Also you need a year of ICU experience before. Wayne has a great program but highly competitive to get in. I have heard good things about Oakland too and as a matter of fact, I saw something where they were ranked even higher than Wayne's.

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It was 24-25$ so I was hearing, when I asked the same question in Feb of 2008. I got to think it's up a bit from then, but yeah, because of the economy you really don't know for sure. As far as the school goes, I'm highly confident I can make it through the academics side of things, no matter what they throw at me. Sometimes I think negatively but I have always come out on top when I have put the effort in. Plus, my sister is about to graduate Medical school in June this year and start her residency, so maybe it's in the blood.

All through high school i wanted to be a doctor, but then when I got to 12th grade and saw I'd have to be in school another 10 years or whatever to get there, I decided not to. I was young and dumb, and lazy. I didn't listen to my heart. Things are different this time, unfortunately i'm older and I don't want to be in school. So I want to B-line as fast as possible to my goal and be done with school, enjoy my career, and retire one day with a sense of satisfaction.

EDIT: regarding the CRNA program being tough: My sister (the doctor) told me it's really not about being hard in terms of learning material (in my opinion, Engineering material is just HARD to learn). It's more about the effort. If you have the effort and will to learn the stuff, you can make it. I would imagine it's the same with the CRNA program. My sister keeps telling me I'd be perfect in that role, and that there is high demand for it, and that every OR experience she's been through in her rotations it's been a CRNA running the show, and an Anesthesiologist watching over several at a time (costs less for the hospital I guess).

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I too accepted to be moved to May 2010!! My biggest problem is that the orientation is scheduled for when I will be flying home from out of state!! I have to make alternate flight plans which will cost me an arm and a leg because they are not refundable!!!Ykes

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Well, congratulations, sorta ;). Look forward to meeting you.

Dave

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Firehawk, Do you know where all the clinicals are held?? I know they use Beaumont and St. johns for sure. Do you know which hospitals they use for each term?? Thanks for your help. I am hoping I can get into Beaumont since it's really close to my house. But I realize we can't choose them but I am hoping. I am thinking St Johns was May and Beaumont was Fall. Also, I keep hearing about Riverview and everything going down there eventually - can you expand on that??

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).

No matter what, your first half-semester (the lab phase) will always be at Riverview. Some cohorts have all their classes there, others go out to Macomb for coursework afterward. As for hospital placements, it's a mixed bag - you can wind up pretty much anywhere. For example, we were nominally a St. John's cohort, but we went to WBH-Royal Oak and WBH-Troy, St. John Macomb and St. John Main, Providence, Henry Ford Macomb, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Children's, and Crittenton. Basically, you'll go wherever they can find unit and instructor availability.

Best of luck to you!

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Thanks Murphyle!! This is helpful. Were you in the ABSN or traditional?? If ASBN, how did you like the program?? 12 months seems intense but I like that it will be done fairly quickly. I'm interviewing next week and excited about it. But it's a long wait to start but it will be worth it. Thanks.

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).

Accelerated 2nd Degree, Winter 09 (graduated Fall 09).

Quite honestly, I LOVED the program. You'll find yourself alternating between thinking "This will never be over!" (first half-semester) and "Holy cow, where'd the year go?" (rest of the program). Yes, it's hardcore, and yes, you'll have days when you say to yourself "What on earth did I get into?", but if you make it through, you will know that you're prepared for anything nursing can throw at you. Then too, if your cohort is anything like ours, you will just about all wind up being each other's best friends. We had an amazingly cohesive cohort - we all went out to Dooley's to celebrate each half-semester ending, we threw a big potluck pool party at one student's house for the end of summer semester, and we all still keep in touch via Facebook.

One thing I'd advise you, if you're admitted: it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your entire life will be nothing but school. Don't. Get involved in SNAOU and/or NSNA (they just opened a chapter on campus this semester), join the Dean's Circle, whatever interests you. It looks great on a resume, and it shows that you can maintain balance between "work" (i.e. the program) and personal life. (I was kind of an overachiever in that regard - by third semester, I was involved in SNAOU, Dean's Circle, Sigma, new-student mentoring and working as a TA, and doing my preceptorship in CV-SICU. :uhoh3: It all paid off in the end, though!)

Good luck on your interview, and I hope to see you at Riverview someday! :nurse:

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I was told St. John's Main and Providence were going to be the clinicals locations. But if others are saying it could be additional hospitals, they're the experienced ones ;). Personally the more widespread exposure you get, the better.

In my opinion, if you have time for other activities in addition to this program, then it can't be that bad. I have heard horror stories, but if there is still time for other things, I'm no longer worried about making it through.

I hope to be a TA, as I expressed after my interview for the program, I would love to sit in on the Interviewing process.

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Thanks Murphyle - this was very informative and helpful. I appreciate someone's opinion on the program who actually went through it. It's a relief to know that there is time to do other things other than school. I like to keep a balance in life but realize much of my time will be devoted to the program. I do plan on getting involved in some of those campus activities if possible - but I have a family at home which is #1. I am lucky to have a very supportive wife who has been great as I prepare.

Firehawk: Thanks -you have a great plan wanting to be a TA. Good Luck to you. I am a year behind you but hopefully we can meet up someday. They are telling me January 2011 but others have said May 2011 is next open term. Regardless, it's only a few months.

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