alliegem

Hey everyone! My fiance and I are both RNs in a surgical trauma ICU. He is in the process of applying to CNRA schools and found out recently he was selected to interview at Villanova (yay!)! I was hoping there were some other applicants out there (current or past) that could provide information regarding the interview for Villanova's CRNA program. The woman he spoke with said it would be clinical questions, which is helpful, but incredibly vague. He is currently studying for his CCRN which should help, but any extra details would be beneficial. Thanks!

@LexMichelle, The first summer semester was between $5-6k which included all school/clinical/lab fees. There were a couple of expenses that we had at the beginning of the semester that we weren't told about in advance...for the life of me I can't remember what they were, but it was about $150. The tuition has to be paid in the beginning of the semester, though not necessarily by the first day. I would contact financial aid to see what the last date to pay is.

VCU SON Alum here :) Just wanted to say congrats to you all! I'm still checking this thread on and off if you guys have questions (and i'll also join your fb group so you can communicate through there, as well). For those of you wait listed - don't give up hope! I was wait listed when I applied a couple of years ago and here I am, a VCU SON graduate and critical care nurse. Pow pow! Chins up :) Allie P.S. - some people were asking about tuition. My final tuition number for the entire program was just about $30K. :)

Hurst is great for content, Kaplan is great for test-taking skills. Personally, I needed a content review more than how to take a test which is why I chose Hurst (my employer would have paid for Hurst OR Kaplan). What I liked about Hurst is it reinforced the fundamentals and allowed me to use that knowledge to think through the questions I had on my NCLEX. I don't think it matters what review program you use, the questions you see on the NCLEX will never be like anything you've seen. My suggestion would be to do a lot of practice questions making sure to read and understand the rationales for them. I probably only did about 750 practice questions after graduating and before taking the boards. My roommates have probably done 2500+, easily. Good luck to you!

Passed! :)

Hey guys, New grad from VA here. I graduated in December (accelerated BSN), received my letter to test in the beginning of January, completed a live Hurst review (did 5 of the 6 Q-reviews [54%-78%]) and sat for my NCLEX today. It shut off at 77 questions... I have to say my heart sank when it didn't stop after 75, but I knew that meant I hadn't failed. It also only took me a little over an hour. I felt like I was going soooo slow with each question, staring at each one for 5 minutes... guess not! I had 10 or 11 select all that apply, 1 calculation and zero drag and drop/exhibit/auditory/box questions. I'm terrified. I had some really tough questions, but I also had a lot that seemed easy. Minimal med surg... I don't remember even one question where I had to know the lab value of potassium or sodium to answer. I guess since it stopped at 77, there is a good chance I passed... but I am so nervous! I tried the pearson trick (even though I've heard it doesn't work anymore), and got the -you can't register- message. VA isn't part of the quick results page, but I have a local friend that took her boards recently and was able to call the automated license number and had her results in 24 hours. I am working tomorrow (RN applicant), so hopefully my patients will be a big enough distraction so that I won't be calling the stupid license lookup line every 10 minutes. I'll update when I find out results. Fingers crossed!

Hey Jessica, In my cohort, I can think of 2 people that I believe worked full time. One of them worked nights and would come to school for a full day of classes. This person fell asleep in class sometimes... but still graduated with us. The other one skipped some classes, still graduated with us. While I wouldn't recommend it and while the school will strongly discourage you from doing it...it can be done. Be prepared to function on minimal sleep.

Hey Brielle, So sorry for the late reply - I never received a notification for new comments this thread. Aaron is spot on, though! Here's a bit more detail :) -The first summer semester is quite chaotic. You will have clinical in the hospital one day a week (approx 6 hours), clinical in the lab one day a week and lecture 2 or 3 days depending on the week (yes, it varies week by week). I did not work at all the summer semester, however - you would be eligible to become a care partner at the hospital after summer semester. We had almost a full month off between summer 1 and fall 1. -Fall 1 you'll either be in women's/peds or adults/psych and everyone will be in pathopharmacology. You'll have clinical 2 days a week (8-9 hours) and class 2 or 3 days a week. This was also a busy semester for me and I did not work. At the end of this semester I applied to be a care partner and did hospital orientation during winter break (that break was also about a month). -Spring 1 you'll be in women's/peds or adults/psych; pathopharm semester 2. Same deal with clinical and class days. I did work this semester approximately 12 hours a week and still did well in classes. Only 1 week between semesters here -Summer 2 - Things begin to mellow out. You'll have adults 2 and leadership (unless they've restructured the curriculum). Only 1 day of class per week. Your adults 2 clinical will be about 12 hours long this semester. For leadership, you will be assigned a nurse manager or nurse clinician within the hospital and will have to complete about 60 hours with them to satisfy the course. The good thing is you have a bit more control when you do those hours because the nurses you're with work 8-5 usually. I probably had 2 days off during the week (plus weekend) and worked at the hospital. About 3 weeks between semesters. -Fall 2 - Almost done! We had community health (clinical is in the community somewhere, length varies), ebp 2 (don't think this is continuing for future cohorts), and senior synthesis. Only 1 day of class per week. We had to complete 120 hours with an assigned preceptor for synthesis. You may be at VCU or another surrounding hospital (most of us were placed at VCU). Again - a little bit more control over your schedule...probably had 2 days off during the week, plus weekend. Worked this semester, too. I would say 95% of clinicals are Monday - Friday. There are a couple sections that I remember were on Saturdays (I believe these were peds clinicals, not positive). Also, when you get in to senior synthesis, chances are you'll be doing days/nights/weekends and getting a full experience of what it's like at VCUHS as a RN. Hope this helps :)

Hey guys! I'm also a current student in the accelerated program - graduating in 33 days!!! I remember talking to Aaron on last year's thread and look where he is now! Be confident in yourselves and don't be afraid to go after what you want! If I recall correctly, the average GPA for my cohort was a 3.45 with the lowest being a 2.95 and the highest a 4.0. What I will tell you is that every single student in my cohort is amazing which is probably why I don't know who that 2.95 is. A lower GPA does not disqualify you or make you ineligible or a lesser student, but I would say you're at a slight disadvantage. You really have to make VCU aware of how much you want to become a nurse and reiterate that in every possible way. Like Aaron, I'm an ambassador and here by my own free will to help with any questions you guys may have - though he may be the better person for the nitty gritty details as they have tweaked the curriculum a little bit, effective with Aaron's cohort. Best of luck to you all! Allie

Hey LRN2525... I was initially wait-listed (rank #4) when I applied to start in Summer 2014. I was still completing A&P II and Developmental Psych in Spring 2014...I think if I'd had those completed, I wouldn't have been wait-listed initially. Anyway - I was pulled from the wait list in the first round. I would call the nursing school admissions office and talk to someone about sociology and statistics - they can better answer your question. However, I don't think retaking them will be helpful unless you can do that during the fall semester. I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology (3.31 GPA) and took some prereqs at NOVA (3.64). SAT from high school was 1180. GPAs for students in my class ranged from 2.95-4.0, SAT average was 1135, I think. After the first bachelor's, I worked in ophthalmology for three years doing patient care every day. I had quite a bit of volunteer experience outside of the medical field, too. A&P I - B A&P II - A Developmental Psych - A Micro - B+ Stats - A+ 2nd science - A+ Hope this helps, Good luck! Allie

Hey vcuram2015, I don't mind sharing my stats. I was initially wait-listed (rank #4) when I applied to start in Summer 2014. I was still completing A&P II and Developmental Psych in Spring 2014...I think if I'd had those completed, I wouldn't have been wait-listed initially. Anyway - I was pulled from the wait list in the first round. As for your GPA - they don't just average your GPAs from different schools - they add up all the grade points, divide by what you achieved and figure it out that way. For our cohort, the admitting GPA ranged from 2.95-4.0. I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology (3.31 GPA) and took some prereqs at NOVA (3.64). SAT from high school was 1180. After the first bachelor's, I worked in ophthalmology for three years doing patient care every day. I had quite a bit of volunteer experience outside of the medical field, too. A&P I - B A&P II - A Developmental Psych - A Micro - B+ Stats - A+ 2nd science - A+ Hope this helps and good luck in your application process! Allie

HOORAYYYYY! Congratulations to you, too, scottryana! Let me know if either of you have questions in the upcoming weeks. Oh - and join your class's facebook group if you haven't already! VCU Accelerated BSN Program Class of 2016.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :)

Orientation is May 12, 13, 14. I will keep my fingers crossed for you! Every year is different with how many people are pulled from the wait list, so you never know. I would definitely contact the school a few days before you leave to see if they're able to give you an update by that point.

Hey wrtrldy, I'm honestly not sure. I think we had around 15 people pulled from the wait list for our cohort, but I can't give you an exact number. I believe there were still people being pulled as late as the week before orientation. How long ago were you given the updated #6 on the waitlist? I think there were a few more people pulled a couple weeks ago, but I don't know how many and can't give you an exact date. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

CONGRATULATIONS @warnerjj! :)

Hey waitlisters - good news from the inside: people are still being pulled from the waitlist! Idk how many and idk if you'll get another update from the SON about your rank, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all :)

Hey Morgan, I am 99% certain that you can graduate with your BSN and go directly into your MSN without waiting (assuming the program times line up... I'm not sure what semester MSN classes begin). As far as the actual application process for MSN goes, I have no clue. I'd ask your advisor, Ms. Davis, for a contact person about that. However, waiting a year and working at VCUHS can have some perks! If you work at VCUHS for one year and are accepted back into school, they will pay a portion of your tuition (and your spouse's, too!). I don't remember how much it is, but definitely helps with the bills. Hope this helps some! Allie

Hey @nfc, I'm sorry to say I haven't heard anything about when the next notification will be. I know that I received my "pulled off the waitlist email" February 18, last year, and I was in the first batch of students pulled. Hopefully within the next week they will begin to accept more students. Fingers crossed for you! Allie

Hey ekoar! I don't recall how many weeks the summer is (8 or 9?)... but I can tell you that last summer I had a full month off before fall classes started. We were off from July 22 - August 21, or something like that. Your second summer in the program only has three weeks break. Between fall and spring semester, there's about one month off, depending on when your exams end. Between spring and summer... only one short week

Hey @wrtrldy! I agree with your final thoughts. I don't believe that e-mailing or sending in extra things to admissions will change your ranking. In fact, I'm fairly certain it wont. I think you'll just move up the ranks as people defer their admission. Trust me - I know what you're going through. I'm hopeful that you'll get pulled off the wait list :)

@rbbeattie - I think this is the page you're looking for :) SCI Minimum Computer Requirements Even though those are the "requirements," there are plenty of people that have laptops more than 2 years old. They don't have a preference if you use mac or pc... they even have a couple of macs in the computer lab on the 2nd floor :) @kiekie - In my cohort, the admitting GPA ranges from 2.95 to 4.0, so it's possible! Also, when you guys meet with the advisor, you may also be meeting myself or one of 6 other student ambassadors. We are supposedly giving you guys a tour and answering questions after you meet with LaToya, I think. :)

Hey @cvillefredrva8 - There's another thread with a lot more action going on. Try posting there! https://allnurses.com/virginia-nursing/vcus-accelerated-program-955136.html Or just search "VCU's accelerated program 2015" :)

@ddaugette - I would say on average, you should expect to spend about the same amount of time (2-3 hours per day). The readings are what takes up a lot of time... if you're one of those people that can get away without reading, then it won't be as bad. :) Good luck in your decision making process! I'm sure you will choose what is right for you :)

@rbbeattie - I think a short pump commute is definitely doable! There are a couple of people that live on the Richmond side of short pump and they don't mind the commute. Keep in mind, you'll have to pay for a parking pass if you choose to do that. Depending on what lot you get, it's around $250-$300 per semester, I believe. I live a mile away and I take the bus, so I'm not positive on the parking prices.