ramt13

Don't quote me on this, but I don't think there are any clinical days on the weekends, I haven't heard of anyone who has it on those days. However like I said, since my clinical day is Monday, sometimes I go on Sundays to pre plan!

So first semester we have 3 lectures and 1 lab (clinical). Clinical day is 8 hours and the 3 lectures we only go to once a week but they're about 2.5-3 hours each. So just to give you a picture, my clinical day is Mon 7-4, I have Tues off, Wed I have a class 8-10:45 and then another at 4-6:45, and Thursday one class 8-10:50 and then Friday off. But the schedules differ and I have a friend who has a class Tuesday and another friend whose clinical day is Friday. Our schedules are picked and organized by the staff so it was random. School load is a lot, but I think it really depends on how you manage time. Which I'm sure you've already heard that before, but it's really true. I like to read chapters before the lecture and take some notes so when I go to lecture I'm focused on what the prof is saying and not just the lecture slides. There are very few hw assignments, at the beginning there's a lot of online stuff to do for class but nothing that takes too much time, just don't procrastinate! I would say it's just a lot of studying so definitely do not wait to study for an exam. So school load as a whole is a lot, but there are some days that I get to relax or go out with friends. They told us that if it is possible for you to not work, then don't and just focus on school. But it is possible just not full time. Again, I think it's based on time management and if you think you can handle working a certain amount of hours + school. I know some people that are working and they are doing great! If you get into the program fall 2020 and you're in trimester, you will finish May 2022 and if you're in semester then you would finish December 2022. The only difference is that trimester students would be in school over the Summer of 2021. The nursing program as a whole is 5 semesters. ?

No problem! Glad to help. And yes you're right, more people are put into trimester than semester. There are 50 of us in trimester and 30 in semester. Also, to answer a previous question you had in another post, first semester students only has 1 clinical day a week, however once you start taking care of patients, you will have to go the day before your actual clinical day for pre planning, which is where you pick your patient/ introduce yourself to them. So just plan for about 1-2 times commuting there a week. But granted you get into the program, they will explain all this at orientation as well and give you more info too! Good luck! I actually volunteered to work the sign in table the day of interviews and I will be there from 1:30-2:30 so if anyone will be there at the time, I'm excited to meet you!

Hi! I’m currently a first semester student in the nursing program at CSULB and thought I’d help out a bit because I know I needed more info as well. They give you the option to pick your preference if you’d like trimester or semester, however you’re not guaranteed your first choice if there is an overflow in one of the programs. For example, for me, I signed up for semester but there was an overflow of people who signed up for that program. That’s when they pick lottery and they had to randomly select 16 students and move them to trimester program. Other than that, they said they do not give you an option of what hospital you go to. So if you are thinking that LBMMC is a better option for you then maybe choose the trimester program! ?