csaund29

The accelerated program is four semesters. Your first & last semester are a regular schedule (one 9 credit class) with 2 days of lecture & 1-2 days of lab or clinical. Classes are typically 3 hrs long except for in the summer when they are 4 hrs long. Clinicals last for 8 hrs and labs can be anywhere from 2-8 hrs. During your 2 accelerated semesters (one 9 credit & one 4.5 credit class) you will have 3 days of lecture and 1-2 days of lab or clinical. These semesters also utilize breaks (such as spring break) to fit in all the required clinical hours. You also need to factor in all of your studying time and the time you spend preparing for clinicals which is fairly extensive. It is a grueling schedule for sure but worth it if you're trying to become an RN as soon as humanly possible! If you find the schedule to be too demanding, the school will allow you to stop the accelerated program and go back to the regular program though my class proved success is possible by becoming the first accelerated class to graduate with all 10 members. Keep in mind the accelerated program requires a separate application process and it is competitive. My best advice is to give your first semester everything you've got. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Mercy has a wonderful peer tutor program that many students have had great success with. Good luck!!

Found out today that I passed with 75 questions! Like almost everyone, I was convinced I had failed when I finished. It was very difficult. A ton of SATA, priority, & infection control questions. Zero med math. So glad it's over! Good luck to everyone waiting for their results!!

Found out today that I passed with 75 questions! Like almost everyone, I was convinced I had failed when I finished. It was very difficult. A ton of SATA, priority, & infection control questions. Zero med math. So glad it's over! Good luck to everyone waiting for their results!!

I got the good pop up & I passed!

1) Metrizamide is a water-soluble dye. Meds that lower the seizure threshold, MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, CNS stimulants, & psychoactive drugs should be held 48h before & 24h after a test involving metrizamide. 2) Morphine toxicity = pinpoint pupils &/or resp 3) Neomycin acts a bowel sterilizer; used to prevent wound & abd infections, particularly after abd surgery. 4) SIADH is the opposite of DI = syndrome of increased ADH. It results in hyponatremia & a less commonly known symptom is decreased DTRs. 5) The frontal cortex of the brain is responsible for reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotion, & problem solving. Good luck on the NCLEX, everyone!!:)

I took the NCLEX yesterday and at least 1/3 of my test was SATA. I got 75 questions with no math and no alt format questions. I did the PVT and got the good pop up but I'm still waiting anxiously to find out if I passed! Good luck to you!

I took the NCLEX yesterday and at least 1/3 of my test was SATA. I got 75 questions with no math and no alt format questions. I did the PVT and got the good pop up but I'm still waiting anxiously to find out if I passed! Good luck to you!

I'm sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your Mercy experience, Gemini Girl. I would like to comment on a few things you said. A diploma is a type of degree, it's just not a Bachelor's. I consider the clinical experience I'm gaining at Mercy to be invaluable. I feel that I will be much more prepared to care for patients than if I had chosen a BSN program. Learning from books and practicing in labs simply do not provide the same level of preparation. You are correct that Nursing 1000 jumps between a lot of subjects. However, you will find that this the case with any nursing fundamentals class. There are many areas of nursing to learn about and fundamentals offers an introduction to each of these areas. You will find that subsequent class have a more narrow focus. I also have a BA in another field. I like the fact that I will be able to work as an RN while completing an RN-BSN program. The sooner I get out there and start making money the better. UNCC offers a year-long RN-BSN completion program that can be completed online. I agree that most RNs will eventually want to have a BSN. However, even if you choose to go the associates or diploma/BSN completion route rather than the BSN route, it should not take you any longer to obtain your BSN. In fact, Mercy even offers an accelerated program that allows you to graduate in four semesters (this program does require an additional application and acceptance process). From my experience most people do not use Mercy as a "last resort." With a student body of only 140 people, it is a very difficult school to get into and with good reason. Mercy currently has a 100% NCLEX pass rate compared to 81% at Queens and 80% at UNCC. Our sister school, Carolinas College of Health Sciences, currently has a 99% pass rate. I agree that workload is quite heavy and doing well requires a tremendous amount of effort. It is difficult, but certainly not impossible to succeed a Mercy. Good luck to those of you on the wait list! Mercy is an amazing school and is definitely worth the wait :)

Also, if you choose to get your NA certification here's a good option: http://www.nc-cna-training.com.

I'm sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your Mercy experience, Gemini Girl. I would like to comment on a few things you said. A diploma is a type of degree, it's just not a Bachelor's. I consider the clinical experience I'm gaining at Mercy to be invaluable. I feel that I will be much more prepared to care for patients than if I had chosen a BSN program. Learning from books and practicing in labs simply do not provide the same level of preparation. You are correct that Nursing 1000 jumps between a lot of subjects. However, you will find that this the case with any nursing fundamentals class. There are many areas of nursing to learn about and fundamentals offers an introduction to each of these areas. You will find that subsequent class have a more narrow focus. I also have a BA in another field. I like the fact that I will be able to work as an RN while completing an RN-BSN program. The sooner I get out there and start making money the better. UNCC offers a year-long RN-BSN completion program that can be completed online. I agree that most RNs will eventually want to have a BSN. However, even if you choose to go the associates or diploma/BSN completion route rather than the BSN route, it should not take you any longer to obtain your BSN. In fact, Mercy even offers an accelerated program that allows you to graduate in four semesters (this program does require an additional application and acceptance process). From my experience most people do not use Mercy as a "last resort." With a student body of only 140 people, it is a very difficult school to get into and with good reason. Mercy currently has a 100% NCLEX pass rate compared to 81% at Queens and 80% at UNCC. Our sister school, Carolinas College of Health Sciences, currently has a 99% pass rate. I agree that workload is quite heavy and doing well requires a tremendous amount of effort. It is difficult, but certainly not impossible to succeed a Mercy. Good luck to those of you on the wait list! Mercy is an amazing school and is definitely worth the wait :)

When I applied Mercy did not revel what number you were on the waiting list so I don't know if I was higher or lower than you are now. In my case I didn't get my acceptance letter until 2 or 3 weeks before the semester began. The wait was brutal but I'm glad I stuck it out. Mercy is a great school and I'm very happy with the education I am receiving there. Best of luck to you!

You do not have to be a CNA to become a RN or a LPN though some people find it helpful in gaining basic nursing skills. To become a RN you attend either an associates, diploma, or BSN program and then pass the NCLEX-RN. Having a BSN tends to open up the most job opportunities but there are both RN-BSN and RN-MSN completion programs you can complete while working as a RN. You become an LPN by attending an associates program and passing the NCLEX-LPN. There tend to be fewer job opportunities for LPNs and you will make less money. Hope this helps.

At the time Mercy did not indicate what number you were on the list. I told them I would accept placement in either the day or part-time/evening program. As I understand it there is no waiting list for accelerated because you don't start this program until your second semester (and I believe you have to begin your first semester in May or August). I ended up being accepted into the evening program a matter of weeks before the semester began. I started the accelerated program this semester and will graduate in December 2010. I guess this goes to show that there is hope even if you are wait listed! I wish you the best of luck!

Update: I ended up being accepted from the wait list and I'm almost done with my first semester. I will begin the accelerated program next semester.

I've completed all of the prerequisites except for Anatomy I and II which I will be taking over the summer.