09nurse

Sorry it took me a few days to respond. First let me say CONGRATULATIONS on being accepted into Sutter's nursing program! You should be very proud of that, as they have high acceptance criteria and high expectations. I graduated from there May 2010 and passed NCLEX in June of 2010. It is a highly esteemed, exceptional quality program. I received an excellent education with Sutter and you will too as long as you apply yourself 100% from the get-go. :) It is an intense program but honestly in speaking with other nursing students what nursing program isn't? Yes, it is accelerated, however the content isn't crammed or skipped, it just does not have the same long time-consuming breaks in between semesters that traditional schools have. I graduated with honors ( I just saw that on my transcripts when I got an unofficial transcript from SCC online last month-I was jazzed!) I am married with 4 children, I had a high-schooler, junior-highers, and elementary kids while in the program and it is VERY do-able. I did not work during nursing school, although a handful of fellow students did, they usually worked PT or less than PT during weekends in between clinicals. One piece of advice I now give nursing students or students doing their pre-reqs is work at a hospital while in school if you are able to. Try to get a job as a unit secretary, orderly, CNA (if you can-that is more difficult unless you have experience.) If you absolutely cannot work while in school because you cannot find a job or don't feel that you will be able to juggle both then get on with a hospital as a volunteer for a few hours each week. This is very important, as nursing jobs are now few and far between. It is extremely difficult these days to get hired as a new nurse because hospitals have more than enough applicants with experience, either nurses re-entering the field due to spouses not having work or even nurses not retiring like they were planning to. Please consider taking my advice here, we were told we would probably not have any trouble getting hired because we were "Sutter-trained" ....not true (I submitted well over a hundred applications last summer in acute hospitals and got only one interview.) There is still some students from my class who are not working as nurses. I am working in long-term care in case management. I am very thankful to have my job, however it is not what I went to school for so many years for, and I don't even make enough to start paying on my student loans I am so not trying to be a downer, I just wish I had known and had done things differently! The first nurses in my class who were hired had jobs throughout school as an orderly, monitor tech, CNA, and unit secretary. Two girls got their dream jobs by working in LTC full time as an RN, then volunteering for months at the hospital, so try to get in as a volunteer BEFORE you even graduate, while you are in school. You will do well! Just kiss your family and friends good-bye for 18 months and put your head down and work hard and study hard. I'm teasing about the kiss goodbye lol just forewarn everyone around you that you can't plan the big family dinners or go out with the girls like you used to! Remember, this is for a short time in your life and you CAN do it! Go ahead and email me with any questions or if you need a cheerleader at any time. [email protected] Best Wishes, Congratulations! Carrie

Hi bec593, Sorry it took me a few days to respond. First let me say CONGRATULATIONS on being accepted into Sutter's nursing program! You should be very proud of that, as they have high acceptance criteria and high expectations. I graduated from there May 2010 and passed NCLEX in June of 2010. It is a highly esteemed, exceptional quality program. I received an excellent education with Sutter and you will too as long as you apply yourself 100% from the get-go. :) It is an intense program but honestly in speaking with other nursing students what nursing program isn't? Yes, it is accelerated, however the content isn't crammed or skipped, it just does not have the same long time-consuming breaks in between semesters that traditional schools have. I graduated with honors ( I just saw that on my transcripts when I got an unofficial transcript from SCC online last month-I was jazzed!) I am married with 4 children, I had a high-schooler, junior-highers, and elementary kids while in the program and it is VERY do-able. I did not work during nursing school, although a handful of fellow students did, they usually worked PT or less than PT during weekends in between clinicals. One piece of advice I now give nursing students or students doing their pre-reqs is work at a hospital while in school if you are able to. Try to get a job as a unit secretary, orderly, CNA (if you can-that is more difficult unless you have experience.) If you absolutely cannot work while in school because you cannot find a job or don't feel that you will be able to juggle both then get on with a hospital as a volunteer for a few hours each week. This is very important, as nursing jobs are now few and far between. It is extremely difficult these days to get hired as a new nurse because hospitals have more than enough applicants with experience, either nurses re-entering the field due to spouses not having work or even nurses not retiring like they were planning to. Please consider taking my advice here, we were told we would probably not have any trouble getting hired because we were "Sutter-trained" ....not true (I submitted well over a hundred applications last summer in acute hospitals and got only one interview.) There is still some students from my class who are not working as nurses. I am working in long-term care in case management. I am very thankful to have my job, however it is not what I went to school for so many years for, and I don't even make enough to start paying on my student loans I am so not trying to be a downer, I just wish I had known and had done things differently! The first nurses in my class who were hired had jobs throughout school as an orderly, monitor tech, CNA, and unit secretary. Two girls got their dream jobs by working in LTC full time as an RN, then volunteering for months at the hospital, so try to get in as a volunteer BEFORE you even graduate, while you are in school. You will do well! Just kiss your family and friends good-bye for 18 months and put your head down and work hard and study hard. I'm teasing about the kiss goodbye lol just forewarn everyone around you that you can't plan the big family dinners or go out with the girls like you used to! Remember, this is for a short time in your life and you CAN do it! Go ahead and email me with any questions or if you need a cheerleader at any time. [email protected] Best Wishes, Congratulations! Carrie

Thank you for your encouragement! I love that you are alongside your daughter...what an awesome experience! I don't understand why there are people out there who are so incredibly negative and unhappy that they delight in "contaminating" everyone around them. Maybe it is good to have a little, I mean little, experience with individuals like that...kinda prepares us for those people we will inevitably meet along hospital corridors at some point. Anyways, Best Wishes to you and your daughter...may you both shine in 2009! I will hold my head up with confidence...thank you for those encouraging words.

I'm very scared as well I start in 4 days and I am freaked out!! I have got to STOP worrying and just buckle down and do it :/ I really want to nurse, I am just worried I won't succeed in the tests, or the juggling of family (4 kids) at the same time of being successful in the program! My dear husband keeps telling me these words, you take them as well and think about them: You were chosen to do this for a reason, everything happens for a reason, and you were not chosen for a sought after, competitive position in nursing school based on "luck" or coincidence :) You can do this, tell yourself you CAN do this, and do it, own it! We have worked so hard to get to this place with hours spent in prerequisite classes, this is where we shine! ok, I feel a little more motivated, thanks for being so open in your post, because I was feeling the same way, and I think if students band together we can help give each other the support that we need. Good Luck! :)

Thank you for your input, I'm so pleased to hear about the dedication of the instructors there. I believe that really is a key element to success. Actually, dedication on both ends of the spectrum! I have a few friends who will be attending this spring, I was accepted but then I also received an invitation to Sac City Extended Campus ADN program. I withdrew from Butte and took the other because the commute is a little less stressful and the other is an accelerated program with the schooling paid for by Sutter Health. Needless to say school for me starts in 4 days and I am certainly nervous! I'm going to go be a sponge and literally soak up all the info I can. Thanks for your reply, I'll keep your words of advice forefront in my mind! Have a great new year! Sincerely, Carrie

Help...is anyone out there current students and/or alumni from Sac City extended campus RN program? I would love to talk with someone, just to get some info about the intensity of the program since it is accelerated. I was accepted there starting in Jan 09. I'm extremely excited! Just wanted to speak with anyone who has or is currently experiencing it! Thanks in advance!!!:wink2:

so glad to know I'm not the only one who STRUGGLED through micro. I was so burnt out on labs after that class....anyone a student at sac city extended campus? i'm starting in january, looking for the inside scoop!

Concerned- Butte NCLEX Pass Rates permalink Hello everyone, thanks in advance for the support I know I'll receive here in this forum...I'm so happy this is available! I'm a student who was just accepted at a local community college here in CA for the spring '09 RN class. I am elated..I just got the letter in the mail today! However, when I checked CA gov't website that listed NCLEX pass rates I saw they have one of the lowest scores in the state. 5 years ago they had 100%, this past year it has steadily declined to 67%. I'm a diligent student, I've maintained a high GPA, and scored well on the TEAS test. Does anyone I think I should rethink this school and the quality of instruction or just apply myself and do my very best?