HereAndLater

If you can take them ahead of time, it's good. That way, you'll just end up taking Fundamentals during fall and have nice long breaks. The 3 classes you can take beforehand are: nutrition, pharm and pathophysio.

The program is fast, classes are done in about 4-6 weeks. Don't expect to learn everything from the lectures, there's a lot of self-teaching in these courses. The tests are pretty much application based, so don't focus on the facts too much but actually on how to apply the knowledge to real-life scenarios. I like the program alright. Are there things I'd change about it? Yes but then again I AM in an accelerated program so I really can't change the structure or ask for anything like that. Key point----->Learn to be flexible. Like REALLY flexible. I chose this program because of the BSN/MSN combo. It's one of the few schools that do it. The Long Beach Memorial program/contract is with the traditional programs only. Doesn't apply to the ELM program because this program is designed for students to go straight into the MSN, not necessarily for students planning to work after achieving the BSN/RN licensure. Now, that's not saying that you cannot work during the MSN program, but if you plan do, expect to be juggling/struggling to accomplish a lot to balance work and school, because the MSN part appears to be a full-time thing. Not there yet, but that's pretty much what I've been told (by students and faculty). Hope that helps a bit.

Hey all, I'm currently in the program now (Fall 2010) and here's a coupla things I want to mention as an FYI: 1. Try to maximize your TEAS score as much as possible. I think mine were somewhere around 92% overall and 96% in math. The TEAS score matters a great deal and may be the boost you need to get in. 2. Your personal statement, volunteer hours, experience do not matter/make a difference to the application. Sad but true. So don't work your butt off to try to gain all those extra hours if you may not have the time. However, with any kind of patient experience, you will notice it will help A LOT when it comes to clinicals. You're not scared to approach the patient and catch on to theories/ideas a lot faster than your peers who do not have any experience at all. 3. I believe that the GPA used in the 10 point calculation is actually the GE GPA. So those are the pre-req classes OTHER than the science pre-reqs that are listed (critical thinking, quantitative, psych... etc). The minimum GPA of 3.0 is applied overall (the entire 4+ years of your prev degree) as a general criteria to just apply. After you pass that marker of having at least a 3.0 in your previous degree, it's not used to calculate into that 10 point score. Hope that helps. Good luck!

I'm currently in an accelerated BSN-MSN program where I'll have some specialty license (e.g. FNP, ACNP, etc) by the time I graduate. My question: I know on paper the RN-MSN looks better than being a BSN-prepared-RN BUT I've been recently told (by several nurse recruiters) that having a MSN-prepared-RN is not always better than being an BSN-prepared-RN due to the lack of experience (that often is the problem of accelerated programs such as mine). I want to know: Should I stop when I'm awarded the BSN and try to find work to gain experience? Or is it better to collect all my degrees first and then work as an RN (after I have my MSN and NP license)? In all honesty, I know that I will need to gain experience as an RN before I would want to even work as an NP so I'm not stressing that part BUT, I just want to know if anyone will even hire an RN with an MSN? I have 3 years before I graduate with this array of degrees and licenses but I need to have a decent idea soon, because I need to notify the SON to let them know if I want to continue or not. I'm pretty concerned and want to know if anyone's got any thoughts on this. Thanks for your help.

I'm not sure if I've seen a list but I know on the Dove website, it lists the items that comes with the nursing kit that you can order.

Nope, with one more week to go, I'll be checking my emails constantly to make sure i meet the reg deadline.

Haha. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come but I totally missed that deadline. Didn't remember until then and went to place my order. Hopefully being a week late doesn't screw me up.

Heyas, Did anyone order their uniforms yet?

LJC, Which books did you end up buying used?

Yep that did the trick. Thanks!

Hi peeps, Has anyone been able to see the "Accelerated" link under organizations on Beachboard? I got an email referring to it and it's not showing up for me. Apparently, it's got a contact list for the ELM groups and also a tentative schedule.

@LJC: When you're talking about the mandatory orientation you went to, are you referring to CSULB or CSUF?

I called the bookstore today and was told it'd be around $500 for their bundle there. But when I asked them what books were in it (just to clarify) and if that included ebooks, they weren't too clear on that. I was advised to call the nursing office. Which I did. When I spoke to -----, she said that the bookstore bundle won't include all the books on the list, just the ones you can get from the publisher (Elsevier). She wasn't too sure about the ebooks. Now this is where I'm sort of confused. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the announcement was that the bundle from the bookstore DID include everything on that list IN Addition to the ebooks (in the form of access codes) as well. Did anyone else hear something else? It was a long day, and my recall may be faulty.

Orientation this Friday! See you guys there. I'm excited about buying my hoodie. :)

Just to update, I've spoken to 2 diff people at FinAid and award letters/info won't be released until June/July.

Hi, From the last couple info sessions I went to (I went to about 2-3), each semester is about 16-18 weeks long (I forget which one). In each semester, we're going to take several "blocks" of classes that range from 4-6 weeks long. So for example, we'll take pharm and patho in the same block of weeks at the beginning of the semester for 4 weeks. After that block is done, we move onto the next block of classes lasting about 6 weeks, then repeat. So it's kinda like having summer classes back-to-back with no breaks. I don't think we start the clinicals RIGHT away but it won't be long after before we get going on those. Average week seems to be 2-3 days of lecture and 2 days of clinicals (which if I remember right, were 8-12hr long). Hope that helps!

I'm in this year too! Which is exciting and a little surreal for me since I didn't even make the alternate list last year... So, I'm considering moving from West Covina to Long Beach. I know it's not that far but I know that the 605 can get realllllly bad. Any one has any advice on which areas I should look at? I am considering places within 5-10 miles. The closer the better since I can use their bus system if I live close enough. Thanks!

I don't know what's worst. The wait OR the back and forth on if we have a chance even if we're not interviewed. I don't know about you guys but I've been yo-yo-ing everywhere and it's driving me crazy. LoL. I sincerely hope we get a chance even if we're not interviewed. Esp since I was pretty direct in my personal statementi because if they interviewed me, I don't know if they could get any new info. Maybe just elaboration. It's weird too. I wonder if we're all talking to the same person or if these people we've contacted actually talk to each other. It seems like some miscommunication is going on or some people trying to be nice and not bash our hopes? Anyhoo, I'm trying not to check back on this thread too often and finish out my semester with some R&R. Thank god for summer!!! xxx

Yea I was really disappointed too. And I'm not sure who the others have been talking to but I've been calling Joelle directly and she's the one who handles the AccBSN apps. I think if people are calling the front desk, then they might be getting different info there but I felt it was quicker and more definite to go to the source ya know? Apparently, they are still doing interviews though until mid-June. She said decisions would be out towards the end of the month. Wishing all of us luck! But I'm already researching on where to reapply.

It's a bit of bad news but I called up the dept and found out you can only get admitted thru interview. This is after speaking to Joelle and she was very adamant that you NEED to interview in order to get in. There is no chance of getting in without an interview. Since I haven't gotten an interview, I'm in this pool as well. Sorry guys.

hey! good news! I just called and was told that they are extending the interviews into mid-June. I guess it's taking longer than they anticipated. She said that decisions will probably go out by the end of June.

Msnapplicant, I asked levoila too. Thanks for the offer though

Hi guys! I was the one who said that there were going to be interviews... this was after Mona told me they were going to. From what it's looking like, they decided to make it easier on themselves and just do it by their point system. I was actually surprised to find that there were interviews because it seemed like they've used pt systems in the past and that's their preference. Oh well. I'm not sure how I mark on the pt scale, not too high I don't think but it's still worth checking. Good luck everyone! ps. Levoila, I think I'll take you up on that offer because I've been swamped at work and won't get a chance to satisfy my curiousity. Thanks! You're a doll!

I applied towards the AccBSN, haven't seen any regular BSNs around here. And I just called Joelle. She said to expect emails for interviews some time in mid-May.

Yep well put. I like asking her questions because she's very straight with you. My questions to her have always been over the phone and I usually line up a bunch to go. Haha. Mostly because I feel like I need to be prepared to talk to her rather than waste her time and calling back all the time. I think at this point, I'm just trying to relax and stop thinking about the applications so much. I think I might have a chance and then I think I don't. It's so draining. LoL. I just did an interview at Loma Linda too. That went well.. at least I thought so.