JSanz8

For the most part, I used every book that was listed but there are some books on the current list that are new. There were some books that I wanted to buy supplements for like the medical calculations book because I wanted some different ways to learn formulas. Math is my weakness. For the book in NUR3230, you can use that book as a reference in other classes when writing papers. Very useful. In NUR3247, you should keep that book for life. Also, I know the list has the Lippincott drug guide listed but I ended up with 3 different drug guides just to refer to. Not saying you should buy 3 but if I were you, I would go the local Barnes and Noble and skim through the drug guides to find one that you like best. In NUR3440, there are new books listed with the exception of Essentials in Patho and you will definitely need that book. In NUR3633 & 3631, the Nursing Diagnosis Handbook will become your new best friend, the Psych book will be required for the Psych portion of clinicals, the Med-Surg books are awesome and definitely useful, the Diag book I used the least since I looked stuff up on the web but that's just me, the videos were very useful in preparing for clinical skills but you can probably find them very cheap on Amazon, the IV meds book we didn't have but I may just go buy it now to check it out. Sounds like a very useful book. The rest of the books with the exception of the APA one I used constantly. Virtual Clinical workbooks are absolutely necessary since you will fill them out as the semester goes on and hand them in for a grade. If you have more questions, let me know. Hope this helped a little bit.

Congratulations everyone!!!!! I'm so happy for you guys.

So how did it go? I really wanted to be there but had clinicals. And YES....the Dean is absolutely awesome! She is truly an inspiration.

Good luck on your interviews, everyone!!!!!

To answer your questions....the other 7 did not proceed with the program for a variety of reasons. There is only one interview and it does not mean you are accepted. After you are accepted, you will attend an orientation meeting that will provide specific information pertaining to expectations and requirements for the program.

Actually, we started with 45. They increased enrollment to 60 for 2011.

I thought I answered the question about the computer interview. Nevertheless, if they do it the way they did it for us, you will go into a computer lab with other applicants and you will need to log into the UHV system so make sure you know your username and password. You will be given a prompt (question) that you will have 10 minutes to answer. I can't remember our specific prompt but it was something about going into the nursing profession or something like that. Remember, this may totally change. I can only tell you what I experienced. @ Jeanster - I have a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in eCommerce. If it makes you feel better, I received an invitation to join the Nursing Honor Society and I'm graduating Summa Cum Laude. Your previous degree, regardless of what it is, can only help you. Additionally, in case there are 'older' students out there that are worried about their age and changing careers...I'm the third oldest student in the program and I've done just fine. :anpom:

The program is definitely reasonable. However, regardless of which program you select, you must manage your time wisely. I am not a night person and definitely need to sleep in order to function so I managed my time with the most intense studying taking place in the early am. Once 8pm hits, I can't function anymore so it was useless to even try since I would not retain any information anyway. You need to know yourself and organize accordingly. Good organization is the key to succeed. Procrastination is the worst quality to have so avoid it all costs. As far as stress.....every nursing program is stressful. This certainly is not a lacksidasical field so expect to be challenged. I know the 'unknown' can be truly frightening but I have to say, I have no regrets enrolling in this program. The faculty has been very supportive and they truly want to see their students succeed. You will have plenty of support if you seek it out.

- Monday skill labs are typically from 8am - 4pm. - Wednesday clinicals at hospitals vary but have been typically between 8am - 4pm. - For the first two semesters we did not go physically into class but were responsible for completing our virtual clinicals and we also had online exams that we would complete at home. - Tuesday / Thursday classes also vary depending on the semester but range any time between 8am - 4pm. Now remember, I'm sure they are making changes and improvements to the program with each year that passes so what I have experienced may be completely different from what the next class will experience. Please keep that in mind. I can only speak to what I've gone through so don't gauge your plans on what I've said. To be safe and what the school says on the site is that it is a full-time, M - F program and they aren't kidding. It is a lot of work in a short period of time so I wouldn't plan on having much free time if I were you. It is doable but you must commit yourself fully to this program (and any other second degree program). You are literally condensing 2 years worth of work into one and they do not skimp out on what you will learn. Hope this didn't scare you but I'm being as honest as possible.

The first and second semesters, we only wore our school appointed scrubs on Wednesdays. However, for skills labs on Mondays, we can wear any scrubs. For this last semester, we are supposed to wear our scrubs any time that we go to the hospital for our clinicals. Virtual Clinicals are assignments that you do from a book with a DVD. The DVD simulates a hospital setting and walks you through different scenarios where then you have to answer questions. The books are typically collected either midway through and then at the end of the semester and checked for completion. Word of advice - if they are going to use Virtual Clinicals again, keep up with them. They can be very long and time consuming and count toward your clinical hours. Don't leave these assignments for the last minute. For the first and second semesters, you will have classes on Mondays (skill lab), Tuesday and Thursdays. Nursing residencies (internships) are paid nursing positions offered at some hospitals where they give you extensive training and a preceptor to work with instead of throwing you into a working environment cold turkey. Check the Methodist site for more information. I believe St. Lukes, MD Anderson and Memorial Hermann as well as the County have Graduate Nurse internship programs but they only take applications during certain times of the year.

Hi. I do not know anyone personally from the previous class. However, I believe everyone that graduated found jobs and did not have any issues. There are some of us that already have been offered residencies at Methodist hospitals around the area and we start on Jan. 18th.

Sorry I've been out of pocket. Wanted to answer some of your questions. If they are doing the interview the same way, it will be one question and you will go into a computer lab with a bunch of other applicants. Our class took Pharmacology as an online class and I'm assuming you will still need to take it. Clinicals for the first semester are from 8 - 4pm on Mondays at the skills lab at the Sugarland Campus; 8 - 3.30pm at your respective hospitals on Wednesdays; Virtual Clinicals from a book on Fridays that count toward your clinical hours. During the last 8 weeks of your last semester (which is what I'm doing now) you will have 201 hours of clinicals that you will need to complete at a hospital so your days may consist of 12 hour days and may also include weekends depending on your preceptor's schedule. So far, we have been welcomed and respected, as students, at all the hospitals we've been assigned to. We haven't really had any issues. As for the NCLEX, I just took my exit exam last week and I passed it with no problem. I still have a lot of studying to do and I'm as ready as I'll ever be but I don't think anyone will ever feel fully ready to take the NCLEX. BTW - The pass rate for UHV is so low because only 16 or 17 people graduated from their first class. This time around I think there are 38 of us so that will provide better numbers. Hope this answers your questions and good luck on your decisions!

You will need the username and password that you access MYUHV to view your status. As for the writing sample, I can't remember the exact prompt but it didn't have to do with nursing knowledge; more like why you chose they field or something like that. It was easy but it's hard to formulate a good essay when you only have a small period of time. As for dress, I wore a suit however, many folks wore business casual attire. Do not wear jeans or unprofessional dress. That would set a bad example. Also, don't be nervous. I know it is easier said than done but the faculty is awesome, very down to earth and easy to talk to. They really want to see students succeed and they love what they do.

Don't pay attention to the top 40% statement on the letter. All of our letters said the same thing. If they do the interview the way they did it for us, you will go into a room where they will present information on the program and different faculty members will speak giving an overall gist of the entire year. You will then be split up to go to separate computer rooms where you will be given a prompt on the screen to answer in 10 minutes or so. This is too see how well you function under pressure. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD to get into the UHV nursing site. They want to know that you are prepared and ready to access the system correctly to submit your response to the question. If you can't access the system, they will assume that you either don't know how to follow directions or you don't care enough to be prepared. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.

Hello everyone. Just stumbled onto this thread doing research on nursing diagnoses. Anyway, I am current student of UHV School of Nursing with 42 days left to graduate. As you can tell, I'm desperate to finish if I'm already counting days. :) BTW - I'm enrolled in the Cinco Ranch campus. What I can tell you about the program is that it is exceptionally intense. The first semester is the absolute hardest and many of us didn't think we would make it through. I would not recommend working as your entire life is going to be consumed with projects, papers and studying. Now, I'm sure they will be making changes but for us this is how it went. You complete 20 credits each semester. The first semester, we had skills lab on Monday in Sugarland, Clinicals on Wednesday at our respective locations (groups were assigned to different hospitals) and Virtual Clinicals and/or exams on Fridays that we did at home. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we had classes at our respective campuses. For the summer semester, we also did 20 hours with pretty much the same schedule (MWF - labs and/or clinical - T TH classes) except we had a 2 credit elective course in which we were given different options. I selected a Perioperative 2 week course during the break between the Spring and Summer semester. I went to class and clinicals every day for 2 weeks but it was done very quickly. There was another 2 week class option but I can't remember the name of the class. The other option was to take a 6 week Acupressure class during the summer with our other classes. Because I took the option I did, I had two weeks off of school between the Summer and Fall semesters. The folks who took the Acupressure class had both 2-week breaks in between but had a heavier workload during the summer. BTW - You will also get Spring Break off since the school closes. Now for the Fall. This semester has been difficult. We had 24 community health clinical hours that we completed at Richmond State School and then we had 24 school nursing hours at various schools in FBISD and 24 pediatric nursing hours that we completed as labs at Sugarland. Right now, I'm completing my clinical capstone where I have to complete 201 hours in 7 weeks . I've selected ICU and the schedule is intense because we still go to classes on Thursdays all day and we have a ton of projects, papers, careplans and presentations to complete. Also, we didn't have to do the HESI exit exam but we did have to pass the ATI Comprehensive exam in order to graduate (just took it yesterday and it was tough - I passed though so I'm a happy camper ). If you don't pass the ATI however, they allow you to take a remedial course with ATI but you have to pass that exam in order to graduate. Although I passed the exam, I still elected to take the remedial class just to get as much help as possible to pass the NCLEX. Well, I have to continue my search for this specific nursing diagnosis but if anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. I was hoping to volunteer at the interview session on the 29th to speak to everyone but I have to go to clinicals . Good luck everyone and don't give up! The program is intense but if I can do it, you can too!!!!!