mas28

Welcome, I graduate from LC Accelerated Nursing program this May. I'm almost done!! I was the first accelerated cohort. You will work hard and learn so much. make sure you have plenty of support. Smart idea to develop support groups and study groups. You'd be surprised how close friends you'll become. Good luck and congrats!!!

Hey opx322, I know people in my cohort who were accepted mid April so it may not be too late. However as the program gets increasingly popular, deadlines and things may change. My class is the first accelerated class they have ever had. I would still call and follow up. And yes the May 31 deadline is for the traditional route. Feel free to ask anymore questions. Good luck!

Oh my its been a long time since I've been on this site! I had to blow off the dust bunnies. LOL! I've been busy with nursing school. I like the program, its a tough program. So worth it. I did the accelerated program so I'm getting my bsn in two years. I started summer of May 2013, and now I'm finishing up junior year technically. So when you start, I will be a senior. Cant wait. I graduate May 2015! Yeah !!!! I've learned a lot. Its a tough tough program. You'll love it and hate it at times. Be positive, study hard, and be succesful. Nursing school is really as hard as they say it is!. I work and have a family, so if I can do it, so can you. Good luck. Inbox me for any questions and welcome to LC nursing! P. S. What entry route are you accepted to? Traditional or Accelerated? If accelerated, what's your previous degree in?

Thank you so much for responding. This is the first year they are doing the accelerated route. We basically are doing our sophomore classes over the summer. Very intense! Thanks. Any pointers for med surg, peds, test taking pointers? Any advice to be successful like you in this program?

I'm just starting my accelerated BSN program. Its very intense, due to so much material in a little time frame. I have a test at least once a week. For me, the best way to study really depends on your instructors teaching methods. My instructors tell us to focus on her notes and lecture. So that's how I study. For this class anyway. I reference the books for concepts I didn't quite understand. There is no way you can read all those pages and retain it. I've already obtained a bachelors and I've read texts front to back, but I couldn't tell you everything about the book verbatim. Just do the best you can, try to focus on key points and main ideas. Don't beat yourself up too bad. You will be fine. As you know nursing isn't about reading every page, its clinical application. Were gonna do thing together. Hang in there. I work so I know what you mean by trying to catch up and read. Its crazy. As someone told me, take it one day at a time. Good luck bro!

Nice to have a place to fit in! 30+ crew is taking over. I'm a 30 year old guy with two kids. I'm starting an accelerated BSN on Monday!!!!! I'm nervous though. I keep telling myself, its just a 2 year program and it'll fly by. I'm working fulltime through it so, I already know its going to be rough. Good Luck everyone, and I wish you all great success in your future nursing endeavors! 30+ crew idea is the bomb!!! We rock!

Hi lbigs, Can you tell me about the clinical site locations and times? What days are they usually on, and what time frame? For ex. Tues & Thurs from 6 - 3pm. Are all your clinicals in Lynchburg or do you have to go to Roanoake or UVA? Any information regarding clinicals would be helpful. Oh and do you do any nursing home rotations? Thanks so much!

Stephalump, Where in my post did you read withhold transcript? First, I said retake the classes, then I said to send them those transcripts. We've established that some schools want all your transcripts, and other schools want just recent pre req grades. Again, I know of schools that don't care what classes you took as long as your pre req GPA is good. When my doctor asks me about my sexual history, I tell him about my spouse and exes, I WITHHOLD the fact that I was sexually abused as a child. Guess that makes me a down right dishonest liar right? (at least according to you anyway. ) I've applied to 4 schools and was accepted to all of them with interviews. Fortunate for me I made excellent grades, but I do have my BS in a non health discipline. Every advisor and admission counselor could care less about my bs transcript. Why? Because none of my pre requisite courses were on there. I took my a&p's, chems, Soc, psych, micro, nutrition, and org chem at the local community college. 3 out of 4 schools, didn't even evaluate them. The only school that wanted to see them was the accelerated BSN, and that was only to verify I had a bachelors. They only cared about my pre req gpa. Of course every school is different. Again, I never told her to lie, withhold, cheat, or whatever. I told her how a friend of mine got in. Its shady to read someones post and include words or make comments about things that I didn't write! Thanks for your two cents, but I didn't ask for it, so keep it!

But you just may get dropped because you didn't report that cooking or pottery class because lord knows that's required to be a nurse. My intention OP is to help you get in, not get you kicked out. As with everything else, take what You need and disregard the rest.

Most programs really care about your pre req grades, especially on the adn level. That's why 99.99% of nursing programs requires specific courses to get in. I'm not saying they won't look at the others, but they weigh heavily on the ones they require. Nursing is a science, that's why chem, a and p, are the deal breakers. I don't live in Cali, otherwise I could give you three adn programs where I live that care only about your pre req gpa, no matter how many other schools and classes you have taken.

I agree with the above post. I am a surgical tech/first assist and I am starting an accelerated BSN program this may. (nervous but excited) Once you get your RN, you can apply to get in a OR residency program to be trained for surgical nursing. Also as a RN student, you can try to get an extern in the OR. Many of the nurses I work with got in this way. Of course if you went to surg tech school then RN school, you'd definitely be a shoe in, but it will be a longer process. My nurse manager can't wait until I'm done. (I can't either!) Good Luck!

My advice would be that you may have to crawl before you walk. Now what I mean is that, you need to look at different programs at other schools, and the route you take. For example, there are a lot of adn programs out there. Not sure where you live, but most adn programs that I know of, just use your pre req gpa. So to start over on your gpa, you need to start over at a different school. I know a friend of mine, who like you goofed up when he was younger. When it came to applying for programs, he couldn't get in. so he started over at a different school, and so did his GPA! Ahhhh. If you are going to take classes over anyway, at least start fresh. You just can't ever get transfer credit, and who cares! once you give them a transcript, they will include old grades every time So just start as if you never attended before. Take the usual 5 pre reqs or so over at a completely new school, and start an adn program. Its not dishonest to do it, its a way to give a person a second chance. This way your new good grades won't be dragged down by you're past! And like those past experiences, were moving on! Get you're BSN at a later date, on your own time. Think about it., Keep your head up and don't get discouraged! You can do it!!!! Good luck!

Hi Kieri310, Yes, I have decided to go to LC. I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited. I hear its a thorough, yet tough program, but I'm up for the challenge. Have you decided to go?

Oh and you don't need the cna to become a nurse. If you obtain it, it will help you because you will have some patient interaction, and a introduction to healthcare. Some nursing schools require it and some don't. Good luck!

Let me see of I can help you sort this out bro. This may be a long post, but stay with me. You have several types of RN programs and avenues. You have the traditional BSN, which is kind of like what you are doing. For years of school for a bachelors in nursing. You have an accelerated BSN program which usually runs about 12 to 18 months give or take, but these programs usually require you to have a bachelors already. (this is what I'm in) These programs are shorter because they are providing you with just nursing courses because you have everything else on your 1st bachelors. They are called fast track programs. Then you have associate degree programs which are usually 2 years long and usually offered at the community college level. They are also cheaper than 4 year schools usually And last but not least, you have the diploma nurse programs or hihospital based programs. They can vary from 2 to 3 years, which results in a diploma in nursing. All avenues lead to the RN license. You just have to pick what works for you. The BSN is probably the way to go due to the fact that a lot of hospitals are going after magnet status which prefers minimum BSN nurses on staff. So my advice is to do what works best for your situation. Are you far along in your program? Do you want to get your RN quickly, get a job, and work on your BSN online? That's your job to figure that out. That's the beauty of nursing, it has endless opportunities. Good luck and I hope this helps you.

Yeah, you have a point there. Ok I will trust your judgement. White boxers and t shirts. I'm on it! Thanks for the advice.

Yeah, I figured with darker skin it would stand out. I probably could throw a pair of long John underwear or under armor also. That should block the view and keep things under control. Thanks for the advice.

We start clinicals next month and the white scrubs we have to order for school are the thinnest, almost see through things I have ever seen. I think my looseleaf paper is thicker than my scrubs. a) its freaking December, b) we only get 2 pair the whole time, c) and if the wind blows, or its raining, let's just say you won't need an imagination. Not to mention the natural occurrences we tend to have on any given moment. So I've decided to ask my instructor to have darker bottoms and maybe white tops. You think she will go for it? They do look less dingy and dirty after a while. In the mean time, I'm all ears for suggestions on how to conceal the member a little better around all my 20 something cohorts. P.s. White boxers or dark boxers? Does it matter really, you can see underwear no matter what color they are.

Well let me speak from experience. I am a surgical tech first assist, and I'm currently in an accelerated BSN program. Yes, you may have a lot of standing at times, and some times you sit down. For example carpel tunnel and hand surgery procedures. Some times on long femoral popliteal cases you sit. Secondly, as one person above stated about running around, once your case is open and you are scrubbed, the RN circulator does all the running and fetching. You stay in one place. Anyone who works in surgery knows that. As far as surgeon relationships go, most of them will love you. You have douche bags on every field, but they respect the tech who knows his/her stuff and they rely on you. They love when their cases go smoothly and you play a huge role in that as the surgical tech. Pay: Techs do not make more than RN's. I make more than new grad nurses only because I have been doing this for almost 10 years. But even when they start out, they are only a couple bucks under me. They get several dollar shift differential which puts them higher than me on any given day. (one of the many reasons I'm going back. They won't hold a Candle to me once I get my RN, and become a RNFA) If I had a choice, go for the RN. You have more opportunities and avenues. If you can get through school, you will find a job. Live and make your own experiences. Follow your heart and be happy. Don't let fear of a hard class our criticism of your age stop you. Everyone experience is different. Always pursue your dreams. P.s. I have 3 ladies in my cohort who are 57, 58, and 59. Second career girls that's all, and that's ok. Take care and I hope this helped you.

Thanks bsfrye, and I don't mind sharing my stats at all. As you know from considering Lynchburg College, they require at least a 3.0 for undergrad and prerequisite gpa. They require stat, a&p I and II, nutrition, chem of life, and developmental psych. So I had all A's in and a B in my preq's. I received a B in statistics. My prereq gpa was a 3.8, but my undergrad gpa was a 3.14. So don't count yourself out if you undergrad gpa isn't the best. I think like most nursing schools, they look at your sciences and prereq gpa. Because really, they don't care what you got in economics or english 111, otherwise they wouldn't put specific prereqs for prosepective students. The deadline for May 2013 is April 1st for the program. It's a new program and the first time they are doing it. It's a 2.5 year BSN program for people like us with a BS already. If there are any other questions you have, please feel free to let me know. If I don't know already, I can definately find out for you. Good Luck bsfrye, mas28 p.s Oh my background is surgery. I have been a surgical first assistant for the past 4 years.

Go for it. Don't worry about the negativity or the burnt out syndrome. Yes it exists, but everyone and every situation is different. I am also a second degree nursing student who recently was accepted to an accelerated nursing program. I currently am a first assistant in the Operating room. There is always openings for OR nurses or most other specialties. Just go to any hospital website and I guarantee you will see at least 3 or more RN positions. They may not be the best, but it's a job and there is a market. Do what makes you feel happy and worry less about other people's negative comments. You'll get half a dozen people who love nursing and the other half will hate it. Pick a side. Again, I say go for it bro!!! Mas28

Hi eveyone, I am a old pro to this all nurses thing. I recently was accepted to Lynchburg Colleges Accelerated nursing program. I applied and didn't get into VCU's AMSN program. So this is my backup, and it worked out so.... I was wondering if there was anyone else out there waiting to start. Looking forward to chatting. mas28

Well Guys, I got a letter stating that I didn't make the cut. I'm not really sure why though, I thought I was a good candidate. Guess I wasn't good enough. No worries, I still have another school as my back up plan. Won't hear anything from them until March though. I'm really sad I won't be in class with some of you, but I wish you guys the best of luck in your program and all your endeavors. No matter what happens, keep striving for your goals!!! I know I will be!!! GOOD LUCK!!!! Mas28

Whats up fellas. I'm going through the horrible long wait to find out if I got in my nursing program. I applied to a Accelerated Masters Nursing Program. FNP track and I find out in February if I got in. My application has been in since August 2011. It will be almost 6 months that I have been waiting. The school mails out letter early February and I am extremely nervous; so wish me luck. I am very excited to embark on a nursing career, I've been in healthcare for almost 9 years. I'm 29 now and I'm ready to advance my career in a good direction. Anyway If I can be of any assistance to anyone, feel free to respond or pm. Good luck to you guys in your program and the ones waiting to hear something. Mas28

Welcome BajanAli, Nole is probably the only person who can give you even a close answer to your question regarding switching. (She is still in the program or just graduated the ABSN route. She's been a wonderful wealth of knowledge for us. Hopefully she will see this post soon and respond to your answer!) I understand where you are coming from with the switch though. I applied to the FNP track because there seems to be a lot of job opportunities and I didn't want to be in another restrictive field. I know so many FNP's who work across the broad spectrum of advanced practice. I do remember reading something on the old VCU SON website before they revamped it about a possible switch. My best advice to you is once you get accepted, (fingers crossed!) immediately talk to your adviser or counselor about switching into the FNP. I think this would be the easiest way. That way you haven't really been pulled to far in the WHNP direction/specialization. At this point, we all are just trying to get our foot in the door. I do know they accept between 20-30 AMSN students from past posts and information sessions. So hopefully, they don't have to have a certain number of FNPs, ACNP's, WHNP's etc. I really don't think switching should be an issue, especially if you do it as early as possible. Plus it would be great to have someone to go through the entire program with start to finish because we both are on the FNP track! (If we get in! Lord Willing!) Anyway, we don't have that much longer. Welcome to the wait. I hope and pray you and everyone else on this blog gets in!!! Countdown continues!!!!! Good Luck, Mas28