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Hi! I'm an OR Nurse Residency new hire and can give you some tips on how we've been orienting to the hospital (obviously, Your Mileage May Vary/YMMV). Sassy-RN notes to take a certified Periop 101 class, however that online-module course, provided by the Association for periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) will more than likely be provided by the facility that hires, along with a one-year complimentary association membership. In other words: don't worry about taking that until you're offered an OR position. Our departmental clinical educator also leads floor orientation and places us in observations and skill competency reviews throughout our Periop 101 course, even after we sit for the Periop 101 certification exam. For my hospital, the Nurse Residency programs (there are a variety offered in various specialties) pretty much all sought the following: leadership skills and/or community involvement, reasons for interest in specific specialty (note: importance on what you have researched and educated yourself about it, and any relevant clinical experiences--nursing or other healthcare-related--to such), and commitment to program (demonstration of academic abilities, ability to maintain any contractual obligations). I would highly suggest to familiarize yourself with AORN and the roles and responsibilities of a perioperative nurse, and why you believe it best fits your nursing career path. On ACLS, don't bother; Periop RNs aren't required to have such training, and are mandated to have just BLS. At my hospital, they will only reimburse us on relevant and required certifications (BLS, CNOR, and other surgical and perioperative trainings/certs.). Hope this helped!

I would suggest retaking A&P 1 via permit at one of the CUNY community colleges that are closer to home during the summer if you are able to do so; the classes are bound to be much smaller (not like the typical huge lecture hall) and may feel less intimidating. I'm not too sure how tuition pricing will be, however, since you'll request taking the class through Hunter you may be charged senior college tuition, as opposed to the cheaper junior/community college tuition--seek advisement from a nursing advisor from your school for clarification. As some of the other suggestions have been mentioned, also consider competing your Bachelor's in another field that can be comparable in the nursing curriculum (again, speak with a nursing advisor for assistance); there are ABSN/second-degree programs that although will not overlook your GPA, they will consider holistically your application components.

Hey Everyone! I graduated the '16-'17 cohort, so I can try to answer some of the questions you may have; there may have been changes to the curriculum from when I was there, so be sure to get clarification at orientation (is it May 21, or June 11?). Congrats to everyone who has been accepted! Steel yourselves for some tiresome months =p For those that were not accepted, do not give up hope; it is only just a small speed bump for you to achieve your goal in becoming a RN--just remind yourself of your motivations and keep focused on what you need to do for your next steps.

Congrats to all of you that have been accepted! The program is 3 semesters long (Wall will start very soon--Summer, Fall, Spring; JC will begin in the second half of the year--Fall, Spring, Summer), and will be ~$11.5k/semester. Have they already scheduled your orientation? Some of us current JC students would love to meet you and give you some prep tips! (TIP #1: Don't bother studying ahead! Review your A&P, but that's pretty much the all you can do. Enjoy the time you have before you begin!)

Hey kerri_lynn_! Feel free to ask any questions in the more recent thread; head over here for 2017 applicants: https://allnurses.com/online-nursing-schools/njcu-absn-2017-a-1073942.html

Hi jazminjfuertes, Yep, you technically are not required to have a 3.0 GPA, as they evaluate applications holistically. I actually made note about it (as well as my application profile) in the previous year's application thread; hopefully it helps! https://allnurses.com/new-jersey-nursing/njcu-absn-2016-a-1028644-post8985930.html#post8985930

Hi jazminjfuertes! From what was communicated last year, they would release their decisions approximately a month after deadline. I received my acceptance letter on 3/22, as did all those that got in at Wall; last cohort, it sounded like they received it a little later, though on 4/1 (hah!), however I'd expect them to contact all accepted students around the same period. Good luck everyone, and wishing you the best! Also, it doesn't show on this year's application info page on the NJCU Nursing website, were you all required to write a response to a specific question for your personal essay?

Hey Everyone, Here are some answers that I can provide: Hey lhl193! I pretty much took study guides for every pre-nursing entrance exam (NLN-PAX, NET, and, of course, HESI A2), and they all are pretty much similar; all cover fundamentals in each subject. I honestly don't feel that the review book specifically for the HESI A2 is more superior than other types of review books, however will familiarize you with the way they will ask questions. Scores will be sent immediately after you finish the exam, so no worries about the timing. The program is what everyone has said it is previously: time-consuming, and, at many times, TOUGH. You must realize that this is the fastest accelerated program in the Tri-state area and Pennsylvania, and that there will be a lot of information crammed into each course; as well, some courses will hold a lot of weight for your GPA (e.g., Nursing Fundamentals is 6cr. for first semester; Adult Health/Med-Surg, as well, for second semester). However, our cohort (although split between two sections), are supportive of each other on the whole—it is very important to have a ‘buddy system' to keep each other in check, but our clinical groups (appx. 10 students in each) will also help to keep people in constant communication. Hey mw1023! Based on NursingCAS, it requires that you list every single undergraduate course you have taken (even the failed ones); NursingCAS needs it when they verify your transcripts and calculating their GPA” (NJCU, however, will only consider the pre-requisite courses/relevant coursework). If you are applying to other programs via NursingCAS, I strongly encourage you to list *every* undergraduate course you have taken. Hey Mrg1993! There is no rule to take the HESI A2 either prior to or after you send your application; your scores will be sent to NJCU immediately after you complete the exam, and as long as you take the exam by the deadline, it will be accepted for your application. If you decide to take the assessment prior to submitting your application, you can add the scores to your profile (you will be able to see and evaluate your scores via your Evolve profile). Gmare is also correct with being able to submit your application to NJCU prior to taking the HESI A2. Yep, that's correct lhl193, There is no chemistry or physics modules on the HESI A2 for NJCU; however, don't discount that there may be related content in the other sections (e.g., O2 versus CO2, movement and friction, and so forth). Please don't hesitate to ask more questions! Good luck to our Wall applicants, and wishing our JC applicants well for your upcoming deadline!

Hi jazminjfuertes! If you haven't already found your answers, hopefully I can help: 1. After you've gone through the instructions on NJCU's nursing department webpage, AND you have received your eligibility email to register, you would go on the Evolve website to schedule your exam (based on current availability you will be able to select your exam site, date, and time). 2. You will still have a chance to get in! I also didn't have a competitive undergraduate GPA ( Hope this helped!

Hi Everyone! I'm currently part of the 2017 JC Cohort (Semester 1 done!), and can help with any questions regarding the application process, especially for the JC campus; I'll reply to your post directly. Also, we have some info from the previous year, if you read through the thread: NJCU ABSN 2016 | allnurses One of the caveats to applying to the JC cohort is that although it is more accessible for commute and closer to NYC, it does not have the advantage of additional financial aid as the Wall cohort (as it starts in the summer, that semester counts towards Spring semester of that fiscal year, and tuition can almost be completely covered by financial aid/federal loans; the Fall and Spring semester will be the same as JC Cohort, with about half of tuition covered each semester from financial aid/federal loans). Also, JC cohort would be considered for the following year's selection for Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing Honor Society), meaning that all, if not most, will already be practicing RNs. Just a quick reminder: deadline for taking the HESI A2 is coming soon, if you haven't yet taken it! For Wall campus, it's this coming January 15th, and February 15th for JC campus. Good luck and do your best!

Hi Tdiddy24! My UG GPA for my Bachelor's in nutrition was less than stellar (), so I sat for the NLN and did well (Math: 33/96%; Sci: 51/99%; 50/97%) and also achieved a high GPA for pre-reqs typical for many nursing programs (A&P I + II [A, A], micro [A], gen chem II , dev psych [A]) during two summer semesters prior to applying. From what I understood when I was applying, you did have to have a general chemistry course completed and demonstrated on an official transcript, high school-level at minimum. I have worked 2 years full-time at a community health center that had a focus on HIV/AIDS healthcare and wellness; prior to, I was part-time in the same facility for about 6-7 years. I had all non-nursing courses completed through pre-req coursework and my previous degrees, but I was told during counseling that the school's general matriculation requirements mandated new students to have completed a certain amount of credits at HCCC outside the major's core courses. Also to note, I did have to contact my high school to forward a copy of the diploma I earned (I wouldn't have been able to get it out of storage, so that was the only other option), just for compliance with student application requirements for the accreditation board. Hope this helps!

I've recently declined my seat, as I was accepted into the ABSN program I wanted. The program administration at CarePoint Health were very helpful and accommodating, and I'm sure that speaks for the wonderful programming they will have for you all (and hopefully it will also ease the transition of being incorporated with HCCC). Congrats and good luck NJSassyCat and kirsten8177, and everyone else that will post here! If you all plan on moving into articulation BSN program at NJCU, feel free to PM for details on the program and the "in-the-know" tidbits; I'm sure I'll have plenty after the coming year

Hi drea_futureRN, Thanks for your cheering us on! From what you've mentioned, you're applying to NJCU-JC campus for Fall 2017? As soon as NursingCAS has the application available (most likely in the fall of this year), definitely begin and complete the process! What you can do in the meantime is look for volunteer opportunities in local healthcare facilities or hospitals to give yourself some insight on what you would expect in nursing/healthcare; this may also allow you to build professional relationships from which you can request letters of reference. Also, have your official transcripts sent over to NursingCAS for verification, as well as use an unofficial transcript to help you enter all your courses manually in your profile; it takes a LONG time for them to verify--average is about four to six weeks--so the earlier you get them in, the better it'll be! Do note: Rutgers will need every post-secondary (re: college) course you've taken to be reported; NJCU only requires the pre-requisite courses to be manually reported. Thus, better to just enter everything, if you'll be applying to both universities. In terms of the application process, you can read up from the previous cohort threads for Rutgers and NJCU--full of great information. The universities do not review on rolling basis, as they do have a set deadline, so just be sure to complete everything well before the due date. Both campuses select on a holistic basis, even though they have recommended​ GPA standards and minimum test scores for their required pre-nursing assessments (definitely review/study!); essays do have a great weight, though, alongside previous work/volunteer experience and your letters of reference, so be sure not to discount the other elements of the application. Remember that these selection committees evaluate applications individually and are seeking prospective students who would be successful through the rigorous schedule of an accelerated program, so it is important to demonstrate that throughout your application. From our incoming 2016 JC cohort (and most likely with the 2016 Wall cohort, as well), it appears that many of us have completed our bachelor's degrees in sciences and have strong work/volunteer experiences in related science fields. Personally, I did not have a strong cumulative UG GPA ( Good luck and do your best with your application, and perhaps you should be the OP for the next NJCU cohort on here!

Hi dutchie000, NJCU just redid their website to standardize the Academics webpages, however Google's cache of the page included the following information: "This program has the capacity to fill approximately 48 available seats at the Jersey City campus and 30 seats at the NJCU at Wall campus. A waiting list is created only when there are more qualified applicants than seats available. If no vacancies become available, applicants on the waiting list must re-apply the following year." However, the cohorts will not know the actual number of students accepted until the New Student Orientation (April for Wall students, June for Jersey City students).

Sure! Add the Cohort group; I'll remove JC from the name.

I've also just created a FB group for the JC cohort ("NJCU ABSN 2016-2017 Jersey City Cohort"), and is searchable; perhaps someone for the Wall cohort can start up one, too?

Congrats to everyone who got in to either campuses! Just got an email, too, for Jersey City and I'm in! Excited to meet you all at orientation!

Nothing that I've been notified of, and I doubt anything has changed from what has been previously announced; NJCU stated in their application completion email that decisions will be made 4-6 weeks after the deadline of February 28 (the last day to sit for the HESI A2 exam)--not February 15 (the application deadline). The earliest date, then, for applicants to be notified on admissions decisions will be from March 27 - April 10.

Hi lauramelillo, When you access your HESI A2 test results online through the Elsevier, your score report has a "+" on the left-hand side; clicking on that will disaggregate your report to the individual scores for each of the subjects, of which will show the "class average" as well as your overall performance in each subject. Once you've reviewed all six reports, you can calculate the class average of the six subjects ("cumulative score"), as well as the composite scores of English language (reading comp., grammar, and vocab. and gen. knowledge) and Science (bio. and A&P). Hoped that helped, and good luck!

Thank you, and congrats to you for the other acceptances, too! Funny you mentioned NYU; I planned to apply there for their ABSN, and Columbia for their MDE, but costs are so exorbitant compared to local options I'll also be going for advisement and registration next week, to ensure that everything is squared away in case my other options fall through. All in all, I'm just excited to start!

Hey NJSassyCat, Funny that letter was dated a week ago, but I got the acceptance letter for Fall 2016 in the mail today! If I attend, I would also accept a seat in the Day division. I should know for sure by the end of April, the latest, since I still have other decisions pending, but probably will bite the bullet if the deposit is required (there's an option to date when you will send in your acceptance fee, so I'm wondering if I may be able to hold my seat until I receive word from the other schools--highly doubt it, but wouldn't hurt to ask). Regardless, can't wait to start in the fall!

Just evaluated the final HESI A2 score averages, and just minor changes in a few of the subjects. This is the overall cohort (JC and Wall) scores for the 2016 application: 84 - Reading Comprehension 84 - Grammar 87 - Vocabulary and General Knowledge 85 - English Language Composite Score 78 - Biology 72 - Anatomy & Physiology 75 - Science Composite Score 82 - Math 81.16 - Cumulative Score Pretty much in-line with the required average for application consideration. We have around the end of February to first week of March to hear back from the admissions committee, but last cohort had an extra month before they heard back (and a little longer for the JC applicants); hopefully we won't have to wait that long this time around! Good luck, everyone!

Just checked in with NursingCAS earlier this morning (had an issue after the "academic update" availability), and they reminded that verification is the completion a calculating NursingCAS GPA, after receipt confirmation of an official transcript. If you haven't done so already, check in with the school to ensure they have sent the official transcript. Also, give NursingCAS a call to see if they are still processing the receipt of the transcript; since NJCU only gives about two weeks after this deadline and requires the application to verified, it'd be best to check in with all parties. Hopefully it gets resolved!

I can definitely relate! But, hopefully you also have a great pre-req GPA to counter the cumulative GPA, and your essay is well-written, too. Good luck, as well!

Hi Everyone! I'm applying to the CarePoint Health SON / Christ Hospital's nursing program, which is currently finalizing it's merge with Hudson County Community College for an associate's degree in nursing, and I'm wondering if anyone else is doing the same as well. I've heard and read positive experiences from the program, and hoping to be offered a seat. I'm currently awaiting response regarding any need for additional documents, or an admissions decision. It's a been a bit hectic to submit a completed application, because although HCCC is acquiring the nursing program, it appears that they do not have staff trained/informed about how to apply to the program itself; previously, one had to submit both an application to HCCC and CarePoint Health at Christ Hospital. I've spoken in-person with representatives on both ends, and there's definitely a lack of communication from HCCC itself; hopefully before the fall program the school will allocate more resources for prospective students, as well as additional advisors and program orientations for BOTH staff and students. Regarding application procedures, everything is on CarePoint Health's website (cannot stress this enough, but ABSOLUTELY READ REQUIREMENTS THOROUGHLY), and admission is rolling/first-come-first-served basis (until 25 seats are filled, each for the Day and Evening sections), so complete all your requirements as soon as you are able to do so. When in doubt, call the CarePoint Health instead of HCCC, as the admissions selection committee is derived from there and they have more knowledgeable staff regarding the application process. Also, I may be able to answer some questions, as I've already have run the gauntlet, so to speak =p Good luck to everyone applying!