smallz28

In person turned distance due to COVID. Yes to exams every week, sometimes/often multiple per week. Attendance absolutely required and that’s a nursing school policy. Your camera must be on if you are doing distance. I’m going to make a lot of assumptions here but if you’re asking these questions to see if you can work or get away with other things during class, you are not ready nor prepared to attend a program as rigorous as this ABSN.

This is a nice sentiment, but the problem with this path is those of us who already have our BS or BA in another field. We have already taken most of the prereqs that are part of the core programming at NOVA, and it actually takes *longer* to complete the ADN than the ABSN (that's without factoring the additional time needed to bridge RN to BSN if going the NOVA route). Additionally, the hospitals in this area are all Magnet and you will have a more difficult time getting hired into them/the high acuity units (looking at you, ED and ICU wishful thinkers!). Marymount also offers a part-time program for those of us who are unable to quit our jobs, as well as a nights/weekends program. As an aside, NOVA's NCLEX pass rates are abysmal compared to MU.

@Evelynl - The first semester you are just getting your feet wet. The workload is HARD, and that's true for all 4 semesters. They are each challenging in their own way. Semester 1 - Hard because you are getting used to being back in school, taking FIVE classes (that's a lot!), AND learning medical terminology and the nursing process. You are also switching your way of studying and testing from memorization to critical thinking, which is more difficult than it sounds. If you have medical *and* science background then the content isn't too difficult. If you don't have medical *and* science background, expect it all to suck. You're also placed into clinical during week 3 so you know nothing and are expected to jump right in! Semester 2 - This was the Summer semester for us. Hard because your semester is shortened, you still have a full courseload (12 or 13 credits), and the weather is nice so you'd rather be anywhere but inside studying. Our clinicals were canceled this semester, so it was easier for us, but I could honestly not imagine the hell it would have been had we been placed in clinicals AND taking classes. Semester 3 - The worst of all. You're taking numerous DIFFICULT classes, have three clinicals, and it all totals 17 credits. Critical care, OB, and peds are hard knowledge-wise. Then throw in all of their clinical days on top and you've got chaos. This was the semester I personally struggled with the most, and I know a lot of our classmates did too. We thought the first semester was the weed-out semester until we started third semester. Semester 4 - Hard, but in different ways. Content? It's the BS portion of the BSN. But you're in your internship. Pray that you get a first half semester internship so you aren't struggling at the end of the semester. You will definitely have some night shifts (if not all), so you're getting used to trying to juggle 2-3 of those a week on top of your community clinicals and all of your other classes. You also have to be prepared to be placed in an internship you did not request - and appear happy and willing to learn in it. Add applying for jobs, going on interviews, and the seemingly infinite amount of projects this semester, and it's anything but a breeze. If you are asking about first semester just because of the five classes and wondering what the workload is like, I highly encourage you to think long-term here. Nursing school is so much more than one semester. What's your home life like? Do you have a support system? Pets that need to be taken care of? A house that needs to be cleaned? Laundry that needs to be done? Kids to be taken care of? A job that you can't really quit because you need the money and/or benefits? All things to take into consideration, and all questions you need to ask yourself before truly committing to a 15 month program.

If anyone on here is lurking and wants a Facebook group, here it is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093770567681139/

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

@ktrimma any word? I got my packet in the mail and my student ID# online late last week

They said in one of the info sessions that they don’t have a cap on enrollment and as long as they deem you qualified you’ll earn admission. Fingers crossed for you!

I applied through the Marymount application. I assume you did too based on the date of your submission?

That is so stressful! I was incessantly checking my email today and decided to check the portal and a notification for the enrollment deposit had appeared. At least the fact that yours wasn’t instant means you probably weren’t flat out rejected? Are they waiting on transcripts or anything?

Decisions are up on the portal (no email sent) for first review submitters!