Part time nursing @ oklahoma city university/Kramer school of nursing

LMT2BSN · Apr 10, 2011

I'm transferring to OKC as well, in may 2011 (still doing prereq's though). I looked into OCU too, but was a bit too pricey for me. From what i gathered from my research: You'll have smaller class sizes, a great education, and lots of skepticism from the admin. about your abilities. Most of the really negative comments about the school seemed to have a common thread of not enough effort given from the student. OU (or OSU, i confuse them) is decent and accessible but filled with a younger crowd. I'm recently interested in UCO b/c it seems to have an older, more serious crowd, cheaper and still in the area.

DISinOKC · Jun 16, 2011

It looks like I will most likely be going there part time. Maybe we'll wind up in a class together.

OKbound · Jun 23, 2011

Me too! I am planning to begin in January 2012! I can't wait to be an RN, but I am nervous about the cost and the three years it's going to take to get there. Are you guys concerned about the cost of the program? Also, how old are ya'll? I am 25, married, but do not have kids yet. Do you think it is reasonable to put school in front of children?

DISinOKC · Jun 24, 2011

Wellllll being ONLY 25, I don't think it'll be an issue. I'm 27 btw. In my opinion, it's totally reasonable to finish school first before starting to have children. You'll have a good job, great benefits (hopefully), and a pretty good schedule depending on what you do.

I'm not concerned about the student loans to be honest, if I did, I would cry too much. I'm planning on continuing to do the DFNP program part time afterwards... so i'm going be massively in debt, but by doing it this way, I get to keep a good job w/ great benefits. It evens out in the long run.

OKbound · Jun 26, 2011

Hey, thanks for the input! My husband isn't worried about kids yet at all, but I am just the type to plan out everything I can. lol. I am excited to have someone else on here who is planning on the part time program! I feel like it is very expensive, but worth it. Have you looked at working at some of the surrounding hospitals while attending the program? It looks like some of them offer tuition assistance and some even have reimbursement for part of your student loans when you graduate and work with them.

Have you had all of your prerequisite courses evaluated? I am still waiting to here about one of mine, just keeping my fingers crossed that they will take it!

Thanks again for your response!

DISinOKC · Jun 27, 2011

I totally get planning your future.

From what I understand, OCU is one of the best schools out there, and my adviser (i'll call her that, she's doing the job I want to do at the VA) really pushed me to go to OCU if possible. The other schools are good, but all the nurses (outside of the city-county health dept) really recommended it.

I'm not going to look for work at any of the hospitals. I have a really good job that is flexible. They offer some tuition reimbursement, but I am NOT going to sign my soul to the OK state health dept.... plus w/ the budget crisis, i'm not even sure they are offering it.

the main reason I'm not looking to go to the hospitals is because I'm already in the field I want to be in. I work in HIV/STD and my goal is to work at the VA HIV clinic or at the OU IDI. I'm not going to get any better experience w/ HIV at any of the local hospitals as a CNA, and I'm sure I would have to take a pay cut and lose a lot of my benefits if I were to even become a CNA and go to the OU IDI. Plus I LOVE my job... there is only one problem, there is very little vertical movement w/o a nursing degree... so here I go back to school

my prerequisites are already taken care of b/c of my nutrition, dietetics, and food management degree (I'm one class short of a biology degree... i'm really cursing that I didn't take virology) and I've already been reviewed by Julie Bartel-Biebrich. I'm currently waiting to get green lighted to take pharmacology this fall. One of the profs said I could, so I sent Julie an email asking if it really was possible or not.

I'm sure you will get in, no need to keep your fingers crossed. :)

OKbound · Jun 27, 2011

I'm soo happy to hear what you have said about the reputation of OKC University in the community. Because i do not live in Oklahoma yet, I was going off of reviews and the few people I know who live near Oklahoma City. It is wonderful to hear that I am heading for a good decision!

With my husband's transfer, I will have to find a new job when we get there. Hopefully I will be able to find one that will work well with a school schedule. I too am not fond of the idea of working as a CNA. I'm not sure I would get valuable work experience and the decrease in pay would not be ideal for the expense of the nursing program.

I am currently working in research, a BSN will also help me futher my career. I too have a degree in Nutrition, with another in Biology. My emphasis has always been public health promotion and research studies. It's amazing how being an RN can broaden one's career. I have also been evaluated by J. I never thought about taking pharmacology early, but I can see how that would be an advantage. Would you mind sharing who I might need to contact to be considered? I am not sure when we will be in Oklahoma, but that would be a great benefit!

Also, I have glanced at the accelerated program a few times. Working while attending the program is impossible and that is what concerns me about it. With you degrees and experience, have you considered this option as well?

Thanks again for all the information...I love this site!

OKbound · Jun 27, 2011

One more question. We have been looking at houses here and there and have found some interests in a few. I believe the homes are located in Yukon, and Edmond. Do you have any advice on the towns or on some cities that surround Oklahoma City?

DISinOKC · Jun 27, 2011

I went to an open house at OCU and talked with a couple of the profs in the undergrad and graduate level. I can't remember their names right now, but the undergrad said it would be possible... so I'm just waiting on Julie to email me back. I should get something back this afternoon, she's been great about responding to my emails!

I looked at the accelerated one, and it would require me to quit my job. I'm just not willing to do that. The part time does take longer, but it won't be as intense in my opinion. I don't want to screw up, so the extra time that I can dedicate to studying will give me a chance to ace all the courses.

I live in Yukon, and I like it personally. It's quiet and not as busy as OKC. If you move to OKC... I wouldn't live near OCU (NE OKC) or the south side. I've learned while at work... these areas have a high amount of drug trade and prostitution.

Edmond is good for the most part, there are some scary parts, but those are just a couple of pockets on the outer edge. Edmond has HORRIBLE traffic. I HATE driving in edmond. I went to UCO for 6 years and the driving only go worse. I just went through there this last week and it was clogged w/ traffic.

I like Moore and Norman overall. Moore is quiet in my opinion, lots of families. The big problem with Moore is that it tends to get hit w/ bad weather. I live on the border of yukon and okc, the weather tends to miss us. Norman is a college city, but it's not bad. . . I'm not a huge fan of midwest city.

it'll be a commute if you move to norman and drive to OCU. Traffic may be bad on I235 and the exit to 23rd street from I235 is PITA. . .

Now what I say about each town is in my opinion since starting my job. Some people might really enjoy MWC and the NE/SW sides of OKC.

and I love that you are a nutrition major! There aren't many of us. I just wish I knew then what I know now... I wouldn't have wasted all that time in dietetics. I never had "this is my calling" feelings while studying it.

OKbound · Jun 28, 2011

Thank you for all of the valuable information! You will have to let me know what you decide to do with pharmacology. After reading the course descriptions, and hearing from current nurses, pharmacology is the only course that intimidates me.

There is soo much to think about when moving to a place you know nothing about. I really appreciate your input on some of the towns. We have heard a lot of good things about Yukon! I imagine we will rent before purchasing, but I am happy to hear your opinion.

You are correct about nutrition, there aren't too many of us. I wish I would have decided to become a nurse prior to the last year of my college career. I probably would have done things a little differently myself. I am however sure that our degrees will help benefit us in nursing school as well as in the nursing field.

Thanks again for all of your input!

DISinOKC · Jun 30, 2011

**** sent my the dean's memo, we CAN start nursing school this fall!

I won a door prize and went in to claim it, spoke with ****, she doesn't believe I'll have a problem being accepted into the nursing school (which is good, I've been a little nervous/scared the last couple of days).

I'm a little confused because they are doing away w/ all the labels... it'll allow student to take classes as needed at their own pace. I hope they offer all the nursing classes at night... otherwise, I'll just be taking pharm on Wednesdays to get it out of the way. I don't want to go too out of order, you know what i mean?

It's really exciting. I can't believe it to be honest. . .