Livenlearn

You are correct. They do not have rankings and you really never know where you stand as an alternate unless you get accepted. It is a very difficult place to be in and all of you on the alternate list have done all you can at this point. Try and relax. Western University attracts highly qualified individuals and must choose from this pool who they will take. Just because you weren't accepted doesn't mean you are not highly qualified to succeed in this program. There were more applicants this year than last year so the competition was much higher. I had heard they only took 4 people off the alternate list last year. The previous year they had taken all alternates. It just depends on the pool of applicants and where they ultimately decide to go to school. If for some reason you are not given a seat this year. I suggest taking more classes, volunteer and speak with the admissions counselor after the Fall semester starts. They are there to help you and can give you ideas on how to strengthen your application. GOOD LUCK to all the alternates! :heartbeat My heart goes out for to you. Livenlearn (Former Western alternate)

Do you know how many interviewed and received the scholarship at Torrance Memorial? I am really counting on the Scholarships to help pay for school. Have you heard if there are less scholarships available because of the economy?

Message for students and graduates of AccBSN. How often do you use a computer for homework or research? I'm trying to decide if I should purchase a laptop for school or share our current computer at home with my family. Thanks!

I talked to Mary about the Kaiser scholarships during the interview and I thought she said they were for So Cal. You might want to call the financial aid office and speak to Dahlia. She may have more info. I'm posting more info about the scholarship on google if you are interested.

On initial inspection I like Google. It is easier on the eyes, less advertisements and simple navigation. What does everyone else think?

I am not familiar with google or yahoo groups so either one is fine with me. Let's decide so those who aren't familiar with it can start learning the format. We can start with communication on the bioethics class. Whichever one is the easiest to share files, post and navigate is the one we should go with.

Here's one for the older, nontraditional student.:cheers: Cheers!

Does it look like a self study program with 5 papers? Do you have the syllabus for the class? I went to the website and it looked like there were quite a few books to purchase for the class.

We could run a study , present it to the college and next years students could use it to get to school in record time. I will be commuting more than 20 miles each way so I will be experimenting with different ways to get to MSMC. This is all good advice. Los Angeles traffic is just bad any way you look at it. I think having to be at school and clinicals by 7 am may help.

Here is the link to all the PT and PTA schools in the country. Most of the programs are DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) and require an undergraduate degree and many science prerequisites. Usually Anatomy, Physiology, 2-3 semesters of chemistry and 1-2 semesters of physics. You can find all the information you need about physical therapy on the APTA website. http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=PT_PTA_Programs&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=276&ContentID=31096

This is great information for me at a time when I need to decide on whether to pursue a BSN or MSN. I have been accepted to both and I am not sure if I eventually might want to work as an advanced practice nurse or in management. I want to keep my options open and am not opposed to additional schooling in the future. I don't want my license or degree to limit me in my ability to work as a manager or leader if I have the experience. I work now as a PTA and my license limits me in advancing my career. I don't want to put myself in that position again. Thanks again for your informative post.

I am interested in the Clinical nurse leader role. I have been accepted into a direct-entry MSN program and would like to know; 1)Is there anyone working as a clinical nurse leader in California? 2) What area of the hospital do you work? 3)What are the typical starting salaries for this position? 4)What are some of your responsibilities as a CNL. This information would help me and others out there who are interested in this new role. I understand this is a new generalist role in the hospital and want to know if hospitals in California are utilizing nurses in the CNL role after they have received a few years working as new grads in med/surg, telemetry, peds, ICU etc. Any information you can provide would be wonderful. :)

Hi Everyone, I received my acceptance to MSMC last week along with my t-shirt (XL). I have also been accepted to Western U. MSN-Entry program. I am researching a lot about the benefits of a BSN over a MSN. This is a very hard decision. It is especially hard because I am a MSMC alumni and absolutely love the Doheny campus. I was there for 2 semesters and we never had any problems. Many of our students stayed in the dorms which were comfortable for them. The buildings and housing there are beautiful. I am always proud to say I am a MSMC alumni.

What an informative thread! I am in the process of deciding which school to attend and am very confused by the difference of the roles between CNS,NP and CNL in California. I have 14 years exerience as a Physical therapist assistant and would like to merge my current knowledge with a nursing education and profession. I like the concept of CNS. The program I have been accepted at offers CNL or FNP. If CNL is replacing CNS, but CNL is not an APN, and not considered a nurse manager, then I am really confused. I understand the CNL role to include, expert clinician, researcher, change agent, collaborater of all disciplines and someone who has the ability to change care plans. I have read all the othe CNL threads and many other articles about CNL and I am still confused. Can anybody shed some light on all this? Sorry to expand this thread to CNL. I am having a really hard time deciding which path to take and which school I should attend.

I sent you a link to some recent research on online education. I really think it depends on how you learn and if you have the organizational skills to keep up with assignments indendently. I like the idea of working while learning. This helps assimilate the information into practice. I can apply what I learn and get feedback while I am working in a clinical setting. Yes, I plan on attending the session.

I also received an email last week stating I have been accepted! I am excited about the online portion because it allows me the freedom to study when I am at my best and I can work more hours because there is less travel time to school. I don't think employers will be concerned about whether you attended school in a classroom format or online. They are most concerned that the school is accredited and you have a degree. Zoogurl3, will you be attending the session for direct admits?

Do they offer any nursing scholarships to help pay for the 1st 4 semesters of tuition?

We have to pay for a ride to the hospital in an ambulance here in California. I pay monthly on my utilities bill so just in case I need it I don't get billed. People actually think they are free?

Just found out I didn't get in this Fall off the alternate list and must reapply for next Fall. I am sad but am applying to more programs this time around. I am 43 and waiting another 9 months to a year seems so long. I am not giving up though. I am taking 3 more classes to be competitive in more programs. When I was younger and concerned about dating an older man, my girlfriend told me: "Age is a matter of mind, if you don't mind it doesn't matter." :) hmm, Maybe I should make that my signature.

Mister Simba -I would love to work at Hoag. I am not far from that hospital. I'm not so sure I want to be locked into Kaiser. It's the only hospital scholoarship I would even consider @ MSMC due to the distance from the O.C.

I was also at the MSMC information session and was glad to hear there were scholarships available at Kaiser. Do you think it would be difficult leaving Kaiser if you find it doesn't make a good fit? After the committment of 2 years of course. (We were told there was a 2 year committment) Their healthcare system is set up dramatically different than the norm. I might begin at Kaiser if it provides a good foundation and orientation to the floor. I have heard that you will be unable to work ER or outpatient clinics while completing your comittment. Is this consistent with what you have found?

I am taking pre-requisites for nursing school and one school I am applying to says they will accept the Chemistry CLEP and I won't have to take Chemistry again. I took it about 13 years ago and earned a B. This was the second time I took it because I had received a C in the nomenclature part of the final and the instructor failed everyone who didn't receive a certain percentage correct on that part of the test. Nevertheless, I am dreading the thought of taking it again. I also started general chem a year ago, but dropped that after 8 weeks. I have looked on www.collegeboard.com and have seen the review books available. My question is... Has anybody here taken the chemistry CLEP and was the study guide sufficient to pass the test? How hard was it to pass?

I am registered for 3 online classes that start in 2 weeks. I'm thinking about applying to the Mount Saint Mary's accelerated BSN program. It starts in May and is only 1 year. Guess I shouldn't have put all my eggs in one basket. I will be applying to more than 1 program this fall. Is WU requiring the GRE this year? I didn't see it on the website.

Did they say if they would accept any more alternates this year? They told me they could call me up until the 1st two weeks of class. I'm not that hopeful though. They stated letters would be sent the 1st week of September indicating this class is full and closed. It is so frustrating to wait 5 1/2 months to be told you didn't get in as an alternate. Arggg! I was really hoping all the alternates would get in like they did last year.

The majority of PT's and PTA's are in great shape and most of us DON"T workout in a rigorous excercise program. We are way too tired after an 8... yes, I said 8 hour shift to workout 3 times a week. We get most of our workout during the day demonstrating excercises to patients. PT is physically demanding. I wake up many mornings wondering why my legs or back or shoulders are sore. Then I remember the type of excercises I taught in the previous days and there you have it. Helping Johnny jump across the gym for 10 minutes was a great workout on my quads. Now you know our secret.