Pitt Accelerated BSN

spore2008 · Aug 30, 2011

Hi,

How did your first day of classes go? I am supposed to begin your program next semester and am curious about your entire experience! How is the organization? How are your classmates? I know it is just the beginning for you but any nuggets of information will be gobbled up kindly. Good luck!

tothc2 · Sep 3, 2011

Well, my first week is done. It was LOOOOONG! But so much fun! The program is going to be really intense. This first week we've covered sterile technique (gloving, field, etc), Vital Signs, cardio and pulmonary assesment, perioperative nursing, oxygenation, and more! We have our first competency exam next WED. And on top of the regular nursing courses we have pharm, research and nutrition. Plus clinicals on Thurs and Fri. But they really try and make sure you know what you're doing and you know what's coming. The professors are great so far. Very helpful and they really want you to learn it! The rest of the students are awesome for the most part too. We're all a little older than traditional students, obviously, so we are interested and want to learn everything. You have a lot to look forward to next semester!

tothc2 · Sep 3, 2011

OH! And make sure, that if they tell you to do something before you come to class or clinicals or something, YOU DO IT! Stay ahead of the work! Don't fall behind because you will not catch up. You have to make sure you learn everything because if you are unable to pass any part of a course (lecture, lab, clinical) you will be dismissed from the program! It's only 1 year so you can't mess around! But, anyways, good luck!

Columnist · Sep 3, 2011

Moved to PA Nursing Programs Discussion forum.

spore2008 · Sep 4, 2011

Thanks for the heads up! How many students are in your class? Do you have any contact with the regular un-accelerated students? What is the age range of students in your class? I was told that there is no attrition rate in the program. I understand this to mean the school picks its students carefully and the students are well-prepared and highly motivated. Have you heard about independent study for nutrition class? Why did you choose this program (I am assuming you had choices). Again, thanks for your response. I am insanely curious what awaits me in January!

tothc2 · Sep 4, 2011

There are... 27-ish people in the program. The age range is pretty large. There are some people that just graduated this year and there are people that are in their 40's and have children. I graduated undergrad a couple years ago myself. We do have classes with the traditional students. Since each of our semesters is one year for the traditional students, this first semester we have one nursing class, pharm and nutrition with them. The school definitely picks those applicants that they feel can handle the program. Everyone so far is really into this and they are trying really hard - myself included. We all have a degree already and we are all aware of what this year is going to hold for us and we are committed. But, about the nutrition, I don't know about any independent study, but there are some people who have taken it already and I think they just have to do a 1 credit seminar for nutrition which is a paper or something. The rest of us are taking the normal lecture. The programs I was going to apply to were Pitt, Waynesburg and Duquesne. Pitt was my number one choice because it was close, cheap, shorter than the rest and a really well known and highly ranked program. I applied to Pitt for the Spring semester but was given the chance to start in the fall so I took it. It worked out really well in that I didn't have to sit around and wait and apply elsewhere. If you want to know anything else I'd be more than happy. I'm just studying a little this weekend. We have our first competency exam next WED!

tothc2 · Sep 4, 2011

And we also have a class with the CRNA students. It's called Research for Evidence Based Practice. Which is basically reading research studies and determining how to apply them to clinical practice. And writing PICO questions...

spore2008 · Sep 4, 2011

Thanks so much for the insider information! Also, good luck on your first exam on Wednesday. I am currently taking my last prerequisite course, Pathophysiology, online. Coincidentally, I have exams on Wednesday mornings so I will "feel" your pain. Some more curiosities: All I received so far were health assessment records to hand in to the school (immunization titers, physical). I was not asked to pay for a criminal background check etc. At what point did Pitt help you get ready for clinicals (background check, uniform etc.)? Finally, did your cohort have an introduction? Does the program seem to want your class to succeed? Do the professors seem excited to instruct? So far, how does your first week compare to your undergraduate experience? Also, I am wondering if you know how quickly ABSN grads get hired in Pittsburgh. Again, I appreciate your time.

tothc2 · Sep 4, 2011

There is an orientation day where they will tell you all that stuff. There are 3 background checks you need to do. You can find the info online if you go to the undergrad students tab of pitt nursing. The uniforms are purchased from American Discount Uniforms. They definitely want the class to succeed. During your lab times there are a ton of professors that come in to help and they are all giving you advice and little tricks and hints to make everything easier and more understandable. They are joking around with you and they make you feel really comfortable and they also increase your interest level! My undergraduate experience was unsatisfactory so I guess for me, maybe, I have a falsely elevated view of the program. But everyone in the program is really liking it so far... so I don't think it's just me. The only problem I've had with the program thus far is the organization of courseweb online - hence my original post. But once you get there the first week the professors will help to make everything you need to do much more clear. And as for hiring of the Pitt ABSN grads, a few other students and I were asking one of the professors about this and it sounded pretty good. She was saying that all the students that were seeking jobs were hired at some place or another. Most of them were in ICUs. Neuro, surgical, general. I want either ICU or ER so that was really encouraging!

spore2008 · Sep 7, 2011

Thanks for your insight tothc2. Your remarks have been quite helpful in explaining the program. I picked Pitt "out of a bag"-I am not from the area. I know the school has a fantastic reputation but it was all gloss. Thank you for giving me some meat! Good luck on your first exam. And I'd love to read your comments about first semester (you will be 33% completed!).

tothc2 · Sep 8, 2011

Well, if that's how you picked it then you are lucky! It really is a great program. By the way, I forgot to mention one thing. The way Pitt presents their nursing classes (at least in the first semester) is that you do your learning before coming in to class. You have to do the assigned readings and homeworks before you come in to class. They have you watch these videos by Taylor (have to purchase) and videos by Bates (can be purchased but also free online through pitt) to demonstrate assessments and skills, then you come in to the lab and you basically have to know what to do. They'll go through it with you again, but it's more just to answer questions. This makes fitting the program into a year more doable! HAha. But that is why I said you have to keep up on everything because they won't wait for you if you fall behind. We've already had 1 person drop from the program and it's only the first week...