raethehug

Hi! Our first term we had class for a few hours on mondays, tuesdays, and fridays. We had clinical for 12 hours on wednesdays. You will start clinicals around the third week but must first pass a medication math exam in order to pass any medications to patients. ALSO! for everyone asking about the admission page saying "applicant," ours wasn't updated until the end of our first semester. It's just a computer thing; it doesn't have any meaning once you're accepted.

I haven't personally talked with everyone in my cohort but it seems like most of us had high undergrad GPAs (above 3.5s) and mostly A's, if not all A's, in prereqs. I don't personally know of anyone who didn't have volunteer and/or work experience before this program. My cohort is the next to graduate so we did not have interviews. However, I'm almost positive that everyone accepted in the later cohort was asked to submit a video during the application period. It's a very holistic cohort. We have parents, we have people not born here, we have people fresh out of undergrad, we have people who had entire lives and careers before nursing. It really seems like they wanted multiple types of people with lots of different nursing pathways to come together in their cohorts.

Hi! I'm a current student. I'm not sure what happened with the prior student. Let me highlight the good and bad that's CURRENT: Good: 1. They REALLY care about getting us our clinical hours. Other schools (according to friends in those programs and the faculty at CSUN) have had to cancel their clinicals due to covid. Now, this might no longer be a concern for the incoming cohort, but why take a chance? Some schools have made it so their students can no longer sit for the NCLEX on time due to making up hours. Our faculty has really pushed to keep us in the hospitals and we are on track for sitting for the NCLEX. 2. The staff, for the most part, seems to really care about getting you through the program and often works with you if you're struggling. Miss a sim lab because of an important obligation? Staff will meet 1:1 to make sure you make up those hours. Start crying in a simulation because you made an error? Staff will meet with you after to calm your fears and point you in the direction of how to work on any gaps in knowledge you may have. 3. Besides one clinical placement, the sites are fantastic. The one bad placement was due to being one of the only hospitals willing to keep students on the floors during the Covid peak. 4. The NCLEX pass rate. The last cohort had a 99% first pass rate and the one person who didn't pass, passed the second try. The bad: 1. The program is so accelerated, especially over the Summer semester, that we often are teaching ourselves. For instance, we are reading the chapters and doing presentations instead of the professors always lecturing. This might be a covid thing, I'm not sure. 2. It is disorganized. We are often unsure of what is exactly is happening right up until the day before the semester starts. Does this totally suck for type A people? YES. Is it unique to CSUN? NO. I got into a Masters in addition to CSUN and that program was much worse in their disorganization and communication and I gladly accepted my spot at CSUN over that school. Regardless, it is incredibly frustrating and you have to learn to be flexible or you go crazy (which a lot of us are). 3. We have to find our own preceptors for our last semester. It's stressful but if you make connections throughout your clinical placements, it'll be much easier to reach back out to that nurse during your last semester. 4. They make you think you have to buy your books/supplies through a bundle but you can find much cheaper ways to access everything you need. Overall, I am glad I chose this program. It's intense and can be frustrating, but you do move through quickly and things fall into place.

It's very different for everyone. The main thing that's been a huge takeaway is there is no procrastinating whatsoever. You have to stay on top of your work. Every day you will be doing work for at least one class. If you stay on top of your work, do everything assigned, and really put in the effort, the program is definitely doable. We all have struggled but only one person has had to leave. One thing I wish I had done- start reviewing medical math problems NOW. Master IV drip rates, flow rates, conversions, etc before the medical math exam sneaks up on you in week 4. Hi! One class has been asynchronous and the others have been set times. The cohort has been split in half for sim lab so half of us go one week and the other half go the next week. Our other lab has been split into four so each group has set times they attend that lab.

Hi! Yes, current ABSN student. Lecture online, labs every other week in person, yes to clinicals but theres a catch- some of us are at hospitals and others are at flu shot clinics.

Congrats on getting in! I'm currently a student and yes, Spring and most likely Summer will be online.

I picked the ABSN over the MSN for quite a few reasons. I can outline them here. I agonized over this decision for months but finally feel content in my choice. School Specific: 1.The MSN I got into messed up and initially rejected me based on a computer error. When they rejected me, they were incredibly rude about it and I was totally crushed. Then I was randomly allowed to interview. 2.The Dean of the school during the interview had a very abrasive way of speaking to us and it rubbed me the wrong way. There was no acknowledgement for the mistake that was made and how devastated the small group of us were for weeks over it. I was accepted after my interview. 3.Before accepting me, they strung us all along for months based on when we would hear. Admissions would grant some people info about if they would get accepted but not others. It lead to a lot of confused and hurt feelings from everyone applying. 4.The MSN was going to be 2+ hours of commuting a day which greatly eats into my study time and my time with my kids. 5. CSUNs clinical placements were also much better than the MSNs. Generalized reasons for an ABSN over an MSN: 1. It's cheaper. It's half the price of an MSN and I dont want to graduate with tons of debt during a potential hiring freeze due to covid layoffs. 2. It's faster. I am making up for lost wages by becoming an RN 9 months earlier. 3. I know I want to be an NP but there are many many programs designed for part time students/part time RNs. They're a mixture of MSN/NP and theyre the normal way a nurse progresses so there's no bias when it's time to find employment. 4. I have interviewed many MSN graduates and they are NOT paid more than BSN graduates when hired. 5. I spoke with area hospitals and the consensus about whether they hire entry MSNs at the same rate as BSNs were all over place. Some people said there's no bias, other human resources said they tend to still award BSNs first dibs due to being more trusted with their teaching and clinical process. 6. Finally, and here was the biggest turning point for me, people in MSNs tend to think they can just do a one year NP certification after getting the masters. This unfortunately isn't true. Entry MSNs do not have you take the 3P's as they call them. Which are advanced patho, adv physical assessment, adv pharm. If your masters doesn't have you take these 3 courses, you are forced to do another full MSN/NP program. Basically, it turns out to be a massive waste if your goal is NP. If your goal is management or teaching, a generalized masters could be worth it. There's my super long answer but I hope it helps others in my position as it was hard for me to decide (until my last point).

Sure, I can share! However, I remember reading on an older forum that their cohort was very mixed in terms of grades/experience so I don't think my personal stats should discourage/encourage you to apply. If you like CSUN, go for it! I finished my Bachelors in Psych 10 years ago with a GPA of 3.94. My prereqs were all done at a local community college in which I finished with a 4.0. I have 300 hours as a Health Scholar (clinical internship) and 500+ hours as an Executive Leader (leadership aspect of the program) for the health scholar program. I also did an internship with inner city youth. I TA'd for my A/P professor and for my Statistics professor. My letters of rec were very strong. I am an older applicant due to taking time off between my bachelors and prereqs because I have three young children. As you can see, I am a strong applicant but I also have drawbacks (being a mother to multiple children and being away from the school setting at a university level for some time). I also got into an entry level masters but decided to attend CSUN instead. I'm sure our cohort will be very mixed in terms of grades/degrees/work experience/age.

did you apply? or are you thinking of applying in the future?

I know it's not a direct entry FNP, but I did get into WesternU's MSNE as well as here. I agonized over what to choose but I am ultimately going with CSUN. I also know I want to be an FNP but for me, this made more sense. I can see the appeal of a Master's though. I had been gunning for the entry level MSN for the past 8 years and am now having to withdraw my acceptance. It's hard all around! Let me know if you want to talk at all about it!

I got in too! So excited to start and meet you guys!

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I will be rescinding my acceptance. I know we never met but I feel like we've all been through something crazy together during this intense ride! Anyways, that should free up a spot for someone. Good luck!

I also got in! My friend was not accepted so I'm not sure if they are doing a waitlist this year. I have to weigh this program against the other I got into so there might be a spot opening if I decide on the other program. Hopefully they will do a waitlist for everyone!

I also got in! I have to weigh this program against the other I got into so there is the potential for a spot to open. My friend received a rejection so I'm not sure if they're doing waitlists.

I want to make sure I’m seeing this correctly- we have to get the TB test twice, right?

I wonder what is going to happen with clinicals? Does anyone happen to know about that? A mix of online and in person is awesome since I was assuming we wouldn’t even get a hands on sim lab. But I am worried about not having clinicals and what that will do for the rest of our program.

This is so upsetting. I know there is so much going on but it’s hard to have some of our hugest life decisions just hanging in the balance with very little communication and such short notice.

Has anyone heard any updates on the format of fall? I’m assuming no one has but it would be nice to know if it will be online or not. If I get into another program, I might end up going there so a spot could end up opening. Hopefully classes will be in person but I am doubting it at this point ?

Yes this is what I saw as well.

I’m so confused as to how a mid to late July notification would even work for a mid August start date. I really hope we learn much before that. This is incredibly stressful.

I emailed asking when we might hear regarding acceptances and if the program is still going to start in fall or if it will be postponed/canceled. I got a response that said that “due to the current pandemic, decision making hasn’t been fully reviewed.” I’m definitely struggling with feeling like I’m in limbo. Not sure when we should hear back considering decisions haven’t been fully reviewed yet on the applications/program as a whole.

SFSU ABSN is what I’ve heard. Their program is on an indefinite hiatus. Sorry I should’ve explicitly said I’ve heard of one canceled program instead of “a couple.” I'm hoping more dont follow what SFSU is doing.

Is anyone concerned about this program being canceled for the foreseeable future? A couple other programs have canceled. I'm a little worried!

Hi everyone! I’m not sure if any of you check this page but I’d love to hear your input on the program so far! I got into a masters entry program but still leaning towards CSUN if accepted. Would love input on the quality of the program:)

Thank you for your response. This is what I’ve found through researching too! And no, I have no interest in walking away from a program as an NP right now and I’m glad it’s not really much of an option, in my opinion. That would definitely be something far down the line. I really appreciate the input though. I definitely wish the route to nursing was more streamlined and uniform so that you knew 100% that you could get hired, without bias, upon graduating!