Firehawk734

In short, I decided not to change careers.

Hi. I dropped from the summer. Sorry. Would have loved to though. If you need any help, I put considerable time into studying and may be able to help. Let me know.

It just made me really think about how lucky I am to have what I have. I did not want to start over and prove myself again by starting at the bottom. It's tough to do that when you have put all this time into one thing. I would basically be throwing that away and taking big risks on something that I was not 100% sure if I really would like. I'm sure i would get more out of it personally, but I would bet the same crap that bothers me at my job now would bother me in that job as well. So it becomes a risk vs reward debate in my mind. I did not really sit down and begin thinking about every little detail until I had to make the decision. I don't have any regrets. I made a great couple of friends when I was taking prerequisites and I learned a lot of great information. Part of me wishes I could go back to high school and go the doctor route, which is what I always really wanted to be. But at the time I was not willing to work hard enough for that, and right now I don't feel like I have the drive to do that either, nor the finances. So, while I don't like my job, it's cozy, pays well, and I'm good at it. I don't think I will ever regret the decision, but at least if I ever get laid off or something, I know what I will be pursuing!

I just could not part with my job. It made me realize how cozy and lucky I have it, to be honest. No, it's not what I want to do really. But I've been in my career now for 10 years and with everything I've worked for, it's hard to leave that for a ton of risk and uncertainty. I was in a unique position from most people. I didn't want to have to struggle financially for the next 4 years minimum to get to where I wanted to go, in the hopes that I would like that more, when I really don't even know if I would or not for sure. Sometimes you don't see the whole picture until a major decision like this is staring you right in the face and you have to make a permanent decision to lose what you have already.

I was signed up for the OU Accelerated BSN program but decided not to pursue it. I had already enrolled in an American Red Cross CPR course for the professional rescuer, which is a requirement prior to starting the program. Well, since I have decided not to pursue a career, and since I cannot get a refund, I would like to offer my spot, free of charge, to anyone that would like it. The cost was 75$ but I do not want anyone to pay me. I give it as a gift to another student. I just do not want the 75$ to go to waste. First person to message me gets it. It is going to be in the downriver area in Riverview, MI. I can give full details to whomever wants this. The course is next Tues/Thurs from 6-10pm. 3/23 and 3/25 are the dates. PM me if interested. I will need to provide them your name so they know who to expect, otherwise that's it I think. Dave

It's a business, they'll fill the slots. I'd love to think it's purely based on requirements, the person, whether the interviewers believe someone will make it, etc. But, if there's ever a situation where they have 70 spots filled, they're going to take the next 5 people even if they feel they have a smaller chance of making it. It's still a business. After having been through a full degree, and seeing what tuition rates did at the downturn of the economy, I will never doubt that again.

Thanks. The real basic stuff I am ok on. I start losing confidence on story problems because sometimes I'm not sure what units they are looking for. If i can determine with confidence the units they are looking for, I can then start getting close to setting up a Dimensional Analysis equation correctly based on units. But sometimes I am not even sure exactly what they're asking for. And the questions with mcg/kg/min in them get tricky as well. I guess I just have to keep practicing and try to run across every possible way they would ask a question. Sometimes I am finding that I am overthinknig the problem and don't even need to use 2 or 3 different things they give you in the equation. I have to settle down. lol Anyone know of websites with a ton of extra practice problems? And of course, the original question is, how tough do the questions get on med math exams, specifically at OU if anyone knows?

I am pretty sure there were 100 that interviewed for the 50 spots in my cohort at the time. I think when they decided to move the whole year of classes to Riverview instead of just the first semester, they must have made the executive decision to increase the spots to 75. If you're asking will they now interview 150 people and take the best 75, I really can't answer. It would make sense though judging on what they've been doing.

I am sure it is only like that right now because they have the extra seats floating around. But I would bet you in a few more semesters it will be back to the 1-1.5 year wait. So you are falling into this program at just the right time.

Yes. I am in the May cohort and there were well over 50 people in the orientation. Instructors talked about there being 75 and the recruiter lady said she moved 25 up to accommodate. I talked to a student that was moved all the way up from the Winter term. They must feel they have alot more room. We took the tour of the lab, it's very nice.

I can also confirm they increased to 75 seats, starting in May. THey stated it in the orientation this past Tuesday. They moved many students up, and I was one of them. I was slotted for Fall.

If someone has taken the program before, can somebody post the type of questions that are on the med math test? I am trying to get a huge jump on studying for this. If it is nothing more than conversions and dosages, that is easy. If it gets into flow rate and changing up flow rate, etc, then I start to lose confidence. I suck at story problems, always have. Thanks. Dave

They notified me by email. I believe I also received an acceptance letter by mail after that if I'm not mistaken.

Hey Chris, Look forward to meeting you Tuesday. Ill look for the facebook group. Ejcl, I think it took a month or two if I remember. I interviewed late July 09, and I think they let us know late August. Edit: Chris, I'm having trouble finding it. Can you add me? I'll PM you.

Sounds like you may also be eligible for the No Worker Left Behind deal where you can get a 5000 dollar grant from the government. Check it out if you havent already.

Interesting post by the OP because I felt the same way. I'm currently an Engineer in the auto industry and feel absolutely no fulfillment from my job. I still have my job, and make more than I will as a nurse, but I'm pulling the plug and going back. I have 30k in loans now, the program ABSN at OU will put another 20k on that, but whatever. It's low interest loans. It sucks but it could be worse. I would not be switching if there weren't a 1 year program to do so. I do not want to work in an industry I hate for another 35 years either. So, this is I think the smart decision for me. I set this path in place just before the economy crisis hit, and I am glad I did.

Thanks for the help, it's helping to prepare for the courses. I do have another question though: I took the Patho and Pharm about 2/3 semesters ago (I got them done early). I would imagine I'll be quite rusty on those. What is expected that you know when starting the program? For instance, even though we had prerequisites in Engineering, instructors the next class up always did reviews to make sure people were on the same page. As I type this, I'm sitting here thumbing back through the pharm book, but I just don't really see how it's practical to try to learn all of these details from a book. I think it truly sticks when you're actually doing it in the hospital. Nice job on the GPA. I need similar to move on to a master's program.

Please tell me there were plenty of students in the program who were not former CNA and needed to learn the skills in lab and study...

I said 'Piece of Cake' sarcastically. I'm sure it will be work, but I'm confident I will succeed. I really don't have the option to fail here. I'm quitting a career (still working) just before the program starts, so if I fail, I will be out both my former career job and the school program. There's a lot of pressure, but I can't imagine it's any harder than Engineering School, and I got through that.

Murph, may I ask, what did you finish the program with (GPA)?

Piece of cake. Thanks for taking the time to post. Any info on 2nd/3rd semesters? I have heard the first semester is the toughest, and then it gets a bit easier. The schedule does classes Mon/Fri, Monday is 8-12:30 or so for both classes, then Friday 8-10:30. Is that what yours showed but you were in class longer for some reason? What time do you have to study? It sounds like you are at school/in lab all of the time. When did you find the time to study? Or was it mainly hands-on learning?

I was told St. John's Main and Providence were going to be the clinicals locations. But if others are saying it could be additional hospitals, they're the experienced ones . Personally the more widespread exposure you get, the better. In my opinion, if you have time for other activities in addition to this program, then it can't be that bad. I have heard horror stories, but if there is still time for other things, I'm no longer worried about making it through. I hope to be a TA, as I expressed after my interview for the program, I would love to sit in on the Interviewing process.

If you creat one, send me an invite .

This one's at St. John's, not Beaumont.

I would like to find out things such as: What's their day to day schedule (Monday through Friday, shifts they worked, etc). I'm trying to get an idea ahead of time on what it will be like for Semester 1. Are clinicals all 5 days of the week? How many days did you have classes on those days? Etc. Also, what was it like doing the clinicals? Give me a synopsis of your day during a clinical. What kind of demands are put on you for this program? I am sure they are high expectations and such, but it is obviously doable if you are committed. I am sure the school doesn't want a huge failure rate. A quick summary of your schedule for semester 1 (if you are going through it or have and can remember), would be greatly appreciated. I mean, there must be built-in time to study in the schedule. I also heard something about a medical math test that if you miss 1 problem they fail you out of the program (kind of hard to fathom that one). And they make you feel like you are destined to fail and fall behind. I appreciate it ahead of time (and I'm sure others who are lined up to take the program do as well). Dave