billjeff1

Hello, I know this is an exciting and nerve racking time waiting for your interview and hoping to be accepted into a Nursing Program. My interview was very laid back, I was asked why I was interested in becoming a Nurse, my background, and if I was ready financially to do this program because they emphasize that you should not work during it. The interview for me lasted about 45 minutes and I was talking to the head of the accelerated program and another instructor, I was just being myself and showing how taking care of my Father with Colon cancer and other various health issues made me think that the Nursing profession was for me. My grades and solid work history was a Plus, I have a B.A. in Psychology and always wanted a job helping people. I came from working in Construction to now wanting to become a Nurse. I had never had any experience ever working in a Hospital setting, so I thought this would hinder my chances at being accepted. I was amazed that I received a Phone call the next day saying how impressed they were with me and telling me I had been accepted into the 2nd cohort of students for the Accelerated BSN Program at Umass Boston!!!! I was very happy, but nervous at the same time because I knew that my life would have to change for the next 15 months. The first semester was intro to nursing, health assesment, etc, we spent most of our time in the CCER which is on campus, it has the Sim-man dummies that you get to start working on your nursing skills (I.V's, injections, Trache care, Oxygen delivery, etc) and your in the classroom as well. We didn't go to the Hospitals during the first semester which now looking back, they should start you working in the Hospitals at day one to get the experience. I did my adult health clinical rotation at the Whidden Hospital in Everett and loved it, and my Psych rotation at the Cambridge Hospital which was good as well. Next I did my Maternity rotation at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton which was for only 3 weeks monday thru Friday 7am to 5pm 2 days are clinicals and three days ar We started out with I believe 3e class, this was very intense, but the Instructor was Incredible. I am now in spring which consists of my Community Health clinical at the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain and my Pediatric rotation at Boston Medical Center and an Online Ethics class as well. I have been doing well so I am Happy. We started out with 35 students at the beginning and now have 29, there are 4 male students and I am one of them and the rest are females. I can't stress enough the importance of doing well on the Exams at this school, if you don't pass there exams, you may be dropped from the program. Study NCLEX style questions!!!!! This is only the 2nd class for this program and they are still working on ways to make it better, but its a learning process. For me, I just show up everyday and try to take something from every experience that will make me a better nurse, there will be drama because you are with the same people for 15 months, and it's like a dysfunctional family at times. But remember, study, be proactive in your learning, and be nice to people, it sound simple but you would be suprised how people can be in this profession. Also, find a group of people like I did, who want to do study groups, I have made some incredible friends and we have each other's back's. it's so awesome when you find a group of people who want the whole group to excell. What else did I leave out?????:) Nursing school is what you make of it, you are going to be doing patient care, like giving medications, assesments, vital signs, body baths, changing adult diapers, cleaning poop and pee, dealing with angry patients and families, catheters, making beds, feeding patients, dealing with Psych patients, and the list goes on!!! I try to make the most of any experience I have had good or bad, because at the end of the day I am a Student and I am just starting to learn how to become a Nurse. Good Luck to all, and sorry for the Longggg Post, I am a bit stressed I have a Hesi exam this week and my First exam for pediatrics:yeah:, prepare to always be busy!!! Best of luck. billjeff1

Hello, I am about to begin my Accelerated BSN at the University of Massachusetts Boston. I am excited to begin this Summer, but I am a bit worried, I have an Arthritic Right Knee and the Main Problem that I have is when I kneel down on my knees. I can't tell you the Pain that I have in my Patella and all around my knee. I have to do a CPR Class this week and I am nervous about kneeling down and working on a Person. I can't fight through it, I just turned 40 and have worked some Construction type Jobs in the Past and Played lots of Basketball in my Youth and this has taken it's toll on my Right Leg, I have less mobility in my right leg due to the surgeries I have had due to a Dislocation of the Patella Tendon and the Onset of Osteoarthritis. I only have a Problem with the Right Knee, but it's so Strange, I am about 6 feet 1 inch and 250 pounds and I can Lift heavy things and jog, play tennis, etc with no Problems, but if I kneel down on that Right Knee my Face Looks like this ! I am wondering if anyone has this type of difficulty with their knees and how it affects your job? I need to find a Brace with excellent Patella cushioning! Any Advice? Something I can wear under my clothes. Look forward to hearing everyone's replies. Thank You. billjeff1

Hello, I am starting from scratch, I start my Accelerated BSN Program in May. I have never worked in the Health field whatsoever. I have taken Pre-requisite courses like A&P1 and 2, Microbiology, etc. I am getting nervous but excited at the start of nursing school. I wish you luck on your future endeavors.

Hello everyone, I am going to Umass Boston starting in May. I was actually shocked to get into the Accelerated Program my first time applying. I have never worked in the medical field whatsoever, and I have been taking care of my Father who has been battling Colon Cancer. Helping with his Ostomy care and other medical related issues. I have been taking the Prerequisites for the Accelerated BSN Program such as A&P 1+2, Microbiology, Etc. My Grades were pretty good, and I guess my Interview went really well, the School called me the Next Day on the Phone to say Congratulation, that I had been accepted. I am getting nervous knowing that School is beginning soon, but excited to learn how to care for people as a Nurse. This is a huge change for me considering I have worked in Construction for the past few years. I went back to College in my Early 30's and received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and then as I stated started taking Nursing Prerequisites. Now I am the big 40 and my Life is going in an entirely new direction. Thanks for everyone who answered my Question. I would like to hear from Men ( Ladies as well:up:) who are coming from a Completely different field of work and entering the Healthcare industry as a Nurse. Look forward to hearing your responses. Thank You. billjeff1

Hello, I am starting my Accelerated BSN Program in May, I am getting nervous:bugeyes: but excited. I would like to hear anyones experience in an Accelerated BSN Program. What should I expect? Look forward to the replies.

Hello, I applied to 4 Schools in Massachusetts, I was pleasantly suprised to be Accepted into 2 of them. I choose University of Massachusetts in Boston and will begin in the Summer in the Accelerated BSN Program. I was Pretty shocked to get in, I did pretty well in my Pre-requisite classes but I have no Hospital experience whatsoever. I went back to school in my 30's and received my Bachelor's deree in Psychology. I have worked in Banking, Construction, etc. I had my first interview at Umass in Mid-March and it went Great, The interviewers seemed to like me very much, and called me the next day on the Phone saying I had been accepted. I only had about a 10% chance of getting in, so I was Shocked! The only real Medical experience I have is Helping My Father with his Ostomy care, Catheter Care, and other related Medical issues he has. I learn from the Nurses everytime he goes into the Hospital. The Interviewers seemed to like the way I look at Nursing and how it relates to me and my Father. I am a Male and just turned the Big 40 . I am making a Big change in my life by pursuing Nursing, I am Lucky to be in a Posistion where I don't have to worry about Tuition, Books, Etc. I am very nervous but excited as well. I hope you find your choice of Nursing school, and remember to never get down on yourself, things happen for a reason and the key is to keep pushing your way through and reaching your goals. Good Luck. billjeff1

Hello, I was referring to the Accelerated BSN AT MGH. I don't know that much about Simmons. I applied to MGH, UMass Boston, Curry College, And The Mass College of Pharmacy 16 Month Accelerated BSN Program in Manchester, NH. I was Applying to those 4 Schools for there Accelerated BSN Program's. I got Waitlisted from Mgh, so I went to the Interview at Umass for the Accelerated Program. The Interview went Great, The Accelerated Program at Umass is New, and I have read Posts on this Site that they are Working " Kinks " out of this Program. I have to be Honest, the Price of Tuition at Umass played an Important role for me, as well as the Easy Commute from my House. I live in Cambridge, MA so getting there by the MBTA or my Car is great. I had heard that Umass was looking for a Diverse group of Students, I guess a 40 year old man with no Health care experience fit the bill :). Talking to other Student's in many of the Pre-requisite Classes that I had to take for applying to these Accelerated BSN Programs, were always worried about their G.P.A's not being High enough, and how difficult it was to be Accepted into these Accelerated Program's. I honestly didn't think I had a shot because of the Horror stories I had heard from my fellow students, but I went into my Interviews and was pleasantly suprised how things went. Not to be Stereotypical, but I think the 2 Ladies were sort of shocked to see me at First, I am a Big Guy, and my Work experience for the Past few years has been in Construction, but I was honest about why I wanted to pursue this field of Work, and how my Father's Medical Issues played a part in my decision making process. I never seen myself as a Nurse, but life is full of changes, and at this Point in my life I want to do something that makes a difference in People's lives. But I'm not gonna Lie, I am Nervous as Heck! This is a Big Change for me, so wish me Luck, I am Gonna Need It!!!! Sorry to ramble, just hope everyone gets accepted to their schools of choice, Good Luck. billjeff1

Hello All, I applied to MGH as well, I never heard back from them and they sent me a Letter telling me I was on a Waitlist. I then got an Interview with Umass Boston for their Accelerated BSN Program and was Accepted the Next Day. I am a 40 Year Old Male and have Never worked in a Hospital setting in my Life. The only Patient care is what I am doing now with my Father. He has a Colostomy, so I do most of his Ostomy care and have helped him with his Foley Catheter in the Past and all of his health related issues. I guess going through my Father's Medical issue's I gained a deeper respect about how Nurses impact People's lives. I have worked in Construction, Banking, Etc. I went Back to College at Age 31 and finished my Associates in Arts and then my Bachelor's in Psychology. I read these Forums about People getting turned down with Incredible G.P.A's and wonder why? My G.P.A. is about 3.4 throughout College. Sorry to Ramble :wink2:, but it figures when I receive my Acceptance to Umass, I receive a Call on March 24th from MGH Saying I have Been Accepted I had gone from thinking there would be no Acceptance from anyone to 2 Nursing Schools. I am going to go to UMass and Hopefully it will be a Great Learning Experience. I actually liked the people at UMass and I am a Strong believer that no Matter what Issue's a School might have, as Long as you work hard toward your own Goals, things will work themselves out. I just wanted to Wish Everyong Luck on there Nursing School situations and would love to hear interesting stories from People going to Nursing school with very little experience. Good Luck. William

Hello, I just received my Acceptance Letter for the mass Accelerated BSN Program starting ths Summer. I am Nervous but very Excited! I am Male and this is a big change for me. I worked in Construction, Banking, and any Non-Health Care setting you can think of :wink2:. I went back to College in my 30's and finished my B.A. in Psychology in 2007, and finished all the Pre-requisites for the Accelerated Program in 2008. I am worried about my Lack of experience in a Hospital setting, but I am looking forward to the Challenge. I have a Greater appreciation for Nursing after being involved with my Father's bout with Colon Cancer. I do much of his Ostomy care and have helped him with Catheter issues and everything else. I think it's much more difficult when it is a Family member that is dealing with health related issues. Sorry to fly off topic, but I would love to hear other people's stories about choosing Nursing :typing. I actually was shocked that I was accepted, I knew I had the Grades, but I applied late and thought that it was to late to be accepted. The Interview went Incredibly well. I asked the interviewers what she thought about Men in Nursing and she told me she wished more Men were in this field. The Interview lasted for almost 60+ Minutes and went Great. I had my Interview on a Wednesday and was called the next day by my Interviewer that I had been accepted. Can you say " Surprised " :). I wish everyone luck who applied to the UMass Boston Accelerated BSN 2009. Hello Classmates!!!! See you in the Summer! :wink2::wink2::wink2: