Please, answer re CSU East Bay-Hayward school info

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2009

You should contact the nursing program directly..only they can answer how long meeting and clinical requirements will take. They should also be able to tell you how long classes will meet for.

MurseMikeD · Jun 3, 2009

I went to school not far from you, Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, but every program is very different. Contact CSU-East Bay to find out what your schedule might look like.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jun 3, 2009

Moved to California forum for wider viewing.

itsthegreeneyes · Jun 4, 2009

Hi,

I just graduated from CSU East Bay- Concord in December. Our program was modeled after the Hayward campus with some of the same teachers so I think I could give you some pertinent insight. I actually was 8 months pregnant when I started the program and then I took a week off to have my daughter so I can definitely relate to the whole childcare issue. Level I was easier than Level II in terms of arranging childcare. The only time I had to worry about childcare was clinical times because most of the time except for one Level II class, the classes were during business hours. You do not actually start real clincals until 1 month into your second quarter so you will have some time to plan ahead and get a feel for the program. The first quarter of Level I was pretty lite only Seminar, Pathophysiology, and Skills, also Nutrition if you did previously take it. Then you do a Community Service projects that requires a couple afternoons of you. In second quarter you start clinicals at a SNF, but there is not many competition from other schools for clincal slots at these facilities so these time are usually like 0700 to 1100/1200. Then in your third quarter you enter in the hospital and for me my time were 1400-1900. Our clinicals never when later than 9 pm because unlike other schools we do not stay the whole 8-hour shift. There is really no accomodation if you have children because every quarter you pick your clinical times with a ranking system so some quarter you will get your choice of clinical times and sometimes you will get stuck with the least wanted clincal assigment. Don't worry it is definitely doable, I was basically a single mother with some family support and I was able to do it. Some clinical instructors are more understanding than others, but a lot of other students were parents (at least in my program) as wells so you will probably will not be the only with this concern. If you have any more questions you can PM. Good Luck with everything and Congrats on gettin accepted because that is the first big step.

futuredream · Jun 5, 2009

Thank you very much for a such nice explanation, and huge congratulations on finishing a nursing school. Is it very hard? Were there any people who did not speack English fluently? Were they able to graduate too? Sorry for asking so many questions, but I feel it will be very challenging for me. I am very nervous about the program because I heard many student drop. Thank you very much in advance.

itsthegreeneyes · Jun 5, 2009

You will do fine. You learn to adjust to the rigor of academics. There were a couple people at my campus whose first language was not English and they all graduated. I heard there were more at the Hayward campus. We were the first class at the Concord campus so we were a little smaller than Hayward campus. We started with 40 students and ended with 36. I do not know if the policy is still the same, but students were allowed one fail which is defined as below a C, but if there was a second then they were kicked out. I felt like the whole program was a good, healthy progression. They do not just throw you in there in the beginning like I have heard some programs doing. You work your way up to doing things like the care plans. By the end of Level II you are taking on two patients a shift and turning in at least 2 careplans a week. Level II is definitely the hardest because you are going through 5 week clinical rotations then switching to another specialty halfway through the quarter. That means a midterm and final in about 5 weeks then doing it again all within one quarter. Therefore, it is definitely fast-paced, but most of us got used to it. Also it is good to make friends because that is who will help you (i.e.- tips for studying and study groups) because esp. in Level II people take the different rotations at different times so some people will have taken it before you, thus they have valuable insight to share. For example, my class divided up the theory syllabus so that everyone was responsible for certain lessons and we put together a study packet that everyone got a copy of. I was not one to stress over straight A's, because now that I have passed the NCLEX all most employers want to see in my license rather than my transcripts. If you are one to stress over grades, then you may find it difficult esp. with juggling children. Be prepared to be tired and staying up late at night, but it is not impossible and as you progress in the program you will see that its worth it and how accomplished you feel. When people ask me to describe nursing school, I say I'm so happy I did it, but it is not something I would ever want to do again. It really helps to not know exactly what you are going into, because it will keep you on your toes. Again, Good Luck and I truly believe if you did well enough to get in, then your chances of success are pretty high. Keep the questions coming!!!

futuredream · Jun 5, 2009

Thank you, and God Bless You. I wish you get a good job, and have all your wishes become true. Your comments helped me a lot...