MamaMagic

Just did a phone screen for ICN, they said they are narrowing it down to 12 candidates and will schedule a panel zoom interview by the end of the week. Finally something is happening!

Hello! Does anyone have a name of someone to contact at UCSF if we have questions?

I'm going to update here! I just finished my preceptorship in a level IV NICU and it was absolutely wonderful. I loved all the aspects of the job and everyone I worked with. I am now just trying to figure out a way to get a job!

When I was trying to make this same decision all I heard from people was how awful it would be to do an ABSN program. I think it depends on the program, but honestly mine hasn't been bad at all. It's busy, but I rarely feel overwhelmed. I agonized over the decision to do an ABSN program because I have two small kids at home and people made it sound like I would be missing out on a year of their lives. In the end, I'm so glad I chose to do the ABSN and would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to do it.

Hello, I'm a nursing student interested in NICU nursing. There are so many things about it that I feel like sound like a dream job, but I'm also trying to think critically about the challenges as well. One thing that has stood out to me is the stress of dealing with fussy babies who may cry for the entire 12 hour shift, like what I've heard many NAS babies do. I know from dealing with my own children how stressful it can be to handle a crying baby for hours on end and mine were relatively easy. Is that a significant issue that NICU nurses face, or is just something you get used to? Are there other components of the job of a NICU nurse that are particularly difficult compared to other areas in nursing? Thanks so much for your input!

Hello! I am going to answer my own question for other prospective students. I am in my second semester of the SMU ABSN program and now have some perspective on the ability to do it with kids. The first two terms were a lot of work- class (online since COVID) 4 days a week with exams on top of that. I studied after the kids went to bed and also on the weekends, but it was manageable- I was never up past 11 pm studying. But after the first 10 weeks, it's been surprisingly light. For this 5 week term I have one 4 hour lecture day and two clinical days, with two days off. The material for the class is about as complex as what we had for pathophysiology- which is that it's tough, but not impossible. I am able to study, spend time with the girls and I don't feel at all overwhelmed. I was really anxious about doing an accelerated program, but now I'm so glad I decided to do it. Hope that helps anyone who is on the fence!

I’m in for Oakland!

That's fair, I apologize for my response. Things sometimes don't have the same nuance as if we were in person and I certainly don't mean to be snarky. There is still a possibility I will go if it doesn't work out with Oakland, but Oakland is a much more convenient location for me.

My first response: No way! I was only considering Oakland. Then looking back at my application: ?‍♀️ Oh yeah, I guess I did check the box for San Mateo too. Still waiting on Oakland then...

I just got an acceptance letter... to the wrong campus! I was apparently accepted for San Mateo but only applied for Oakland. I waiting to for a response right now to make sure I'm still being considered for Oakland ?

Hi Rachel, From the Samuel Merritt ABSN summer 2018 thred it sounds like in 2018 decisions started to go out the first week of Feb, and in 2017 it was around Feb. 24th. So it could be soon hopefully?

Hi Christina, I would recommend contacting the admissions department directly to see what they think you should do. I'm sure they have run into this issue a lot!

Thanks, Christina! One factor in my decision was that I would rather be with a cohort that was similar to me- that is, "more mature" (I'm 38- today is my birthday!) and going through the same kid/spouse/mortgage stress that I am so that we can support each other.

Hello again! I've turned down the CSUEB offer so all my eggs are in the Oakland ABSN basket. Hope to see you in May!

Thanks so much for the input! Since I would be getting out of school a full year sooner with the ABSN program the cost is actually less with SM than CSUEB. I've decided to turn down the CSUEB offer and go with an accelerated program. Good luck to the next on the waitlist!!

I am leaning toward CSUEB, mostly because an accelerated program just sounds miserable. But your question of which program would be stronger in one particular field of nursing is an interesting one, and I'm wondering if you have any specific knowledge of the strengths of SM vs. CSUEB. I am interested in going into ambulatory surgery, so I figured one program wouldn't really be that different from another. I do live in Oakland and would prefer to do clinicals at hospitals I would like to eventually work at, but I still don't think it would be worth the sacrifice of having to take NINETEEN UNITS. The financial aspect is tricky, because I would have to be in school for an extra year at CSUEB, where as the accelerated program I would graduate earlier and be able to start working as an RN.

I just found out I got into CSUEB off of the waitlist! Now I just have to decide if I should accept, or do the Samuel Merritt 12 month ABSN program?? Such a hard decision! Any advice?

Hello! I also applied for the Oakland cohort and have been gearing up for the program, but I just found out I got into CSUEB off of the waitlist! Now I'm not sure if I should accept and do their 2.5 year non-accelerated program, or suck it up and just hope to get into SM. I have two young kids so I was dreading the accelerated program, but now I'm feeling like it might be good to just get it over with. Any advice on CSUEB vs. Samuel Merritt?

Hey guys, just got an email that I was waitlisted. Oh well!

Hi OakRNland, Yes it is my first choice. I thought I had a pretty good chance of getting in, but since I already have a degree from somewhere else I'm not going to be considered a local applicant. Now I think it's a long shot!

The admissions department just told me that decisions would be sent out Nov. 1st. Only a couple more weeks!

Following! I'm a second bachelor's applicant with a 3.8 GPA, 92 TEAS, and volunteer experience. I'm planning on also applying to the Hayward program and Samuel Merritt ABSN. I just emailed to see when in November they plan to send out decisions- I'll let everyone know when I hear back.

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful and in-depth responses! A month ago I was not going to consider applying to the ABSN program at all and was just going to apply to the CSUEB program, but after reading your comments I'm all in for ABSN! There are so many things to consider: -Three semesters vs. 2.5 years of school is a huge difference, and CSUEB is much farther from my house. So that's an additional year and a half of commuting, paying for full time child care (sounds like we will have to get an au pair), clinicals, and the stress of being in school. -It's more expensive to go to SM than CSUEB (80k vs. 50k), but I'll be able to get a job a year and a half sooner -The admissions councilor at SM said the ABSN program is "a two year program compressed into a year" but that's not true, since it's a three semester program with 15 units less course work, so at least on paper it should be somewhat comparable to their regular BSN -I think it will be easier to get into the SM program than CSUEB Thank you!

Hi Autumn! Thank you so much! How would you compare the difficulty of the classes compared to the science prerequisites? How much studying do you think you generally need to do outside of class? Congrats on being almost done!

Thank you, that's so helpful! It sounds like it's busy, but my kids won't forget who I am. How hard are the classes compared to the science prerequisites? How much studying would you say you have to do outside of class?