MRN717

Thank you for your reply...the part time program is the one that is shorter in overall duration(2 years-year round). I was just wondering if the 3 year program might allow me to keep my sanity with a slighty slower pace and allow me to work during winter and summer breaks...

My A&P practicals were both anatomy and physiology. We would have a cat, fetal pig, sheep, cow or combination of those for the anatomy sections, along with detailed human models including bones in A&P I. For physiology, we would have 20-50 questions per practical pertaining to the physiology of the systems we were being tested on. Youtube -- IsidoreCYO (from my school but I didn't have that professor for either I or II as she is an easier professor and I wanted to be challenged)

I have decided to enroll in one of two BSN programs. I intend on getting my advanced practice degree so I decided to earn my BSN now to facilitate that more easily. Now I juts need to decide which program.(PT-2 years year round vs FT-3 years only spring and fall semesters) If I was younger and lived in an area that didn't have a huge preference for BSN's I might have gone the other direction. And at that point I would have had to decide between St Lukes and LCCC/NCC.

I have been accepted into several BSN programs. I have narrowed it down to two. One is a part time program(typically 2 classes per semester) that goes year round(spring, summer, fall and winter) with shortened semesters. The other is a full time program(3-4 classes per semester) that is in session only during spring and fall semesters with summers and winters off. The FT uses the standard 14 week semesters. Both are within 50 hours of each other for total clinical time. One has a past 5 year average of ~91%(FT) on the NCLEX and the other ~89%(PT). The cost difference is minimal and therefore makes no difference. Thanks in advance for any feedback!!

I have worked myself into the type of time management needed for nursing school I believe as I have been in school while working, whereas once nursing school starts I will be PT at most. My first choice right now of the schools I gained acceptance to actually has clinicals spread over 5 semesters with both winter and summers off from school, so it is not as hurried of a pace and I'll have more time outside of school with the many less hours of work. There are 980 hours of clinicals spread over 70 weeks, with nine NURS classes having clincals and five without.(like Pharmacology) My 1st semester(this fall) includes Fund of Nursing(no clinical), Microbiology and HEalth & Physical Assesment(NURS class-no clinical) My 2nd semester would include Pharmacology, Medicine and Morality as well as Therapeutic Nursing Intervention(1st NURS class with a clinical) I have been reading about how it is the application of what you read, see and learn as opposed to spewing out memorized answers. I feel I could do well in this arena as part of my past 11 years of working included one year as a car salesman. I am pretty confident doing things on the move and thinking on my feet. At least I am hopeful. Coriander....did you go FT, PT, BSN, ADN? Did you work? How many hours? TIA! I appreciate your time!

Re the job: Is PCA the most appropriate postion to appy for? Would something like patient transport to start be enough? TIA!

Still struggling with this choice. The ADN program said their students are still being hired after graduation, but I expected them to tell me that. After some leg work, the cost difference would be ~$33k for the BSN and ~$1500 for the ADN. Three years for the BSN with traditional daytime classes and traditional semester breaks. Two years for the ADN with essentially no breaks from start to end.(would be 3-4 after adn-bsn or adn-msn program) I need to decide very soon...

I have seen you post thoughtful comments before in my reading on here, but I am sorry if you think it will be worse...you should provide some "reasoning" behind your statement other than there being a "current" surplus in your geogrphic area. On top of that, let me tell you from personal experiece what a degree in BA gets you....a foot in the door of a $34k job that actually helps no one, woohoo. -jmo

Thank you for responding. Do you see it improving over the next five years or so like I do? With the bill going down soon, the economy very slowly turning around and the mean age still going up I would expect another hiring surge somewhere dow the road, no? I believe I will be going straight for the BSN, but the ~$30k-$60k difference in cost at my age is not insignificant. Just five years ago, every single friend of mine who earned either an ADN or BSN were choosing their spot....sigh.

They still hire new grads in eastern PA with BSN's rather quickly.(I believe Stony Brook U in PA is where OP is referring to) When the current bill gets voted down and as the economy slowly picks up, while the mean age keeps rising, their will again be a need for nurses like there always has in the past. This need will grow over the next ~10 years. -jmo

I will be starting my junior year and first year of nursing school in the fall. I have no friends who are nurses. I am wondering if someone could give me a heads up/short summary of some things to expect. I am a dedicated student, an adult(32) who turned a 0.0gpa at 18yrs old(one semester) into the 3.7 and Phi Theta Kappa member I am now over the last three years at my local CC. I had to work dilligently for those marks, I certainly have above average intelligence, but I am no rocket scientist. TIA!

nguyency77...really? Intro to Biology was harder than A&P I and II? Those must have been some easy A&P professors even reading you had a difficult professor as far as Intro goes. At my school Intro to Bio vs A&P is akin to Elementary Algebra vs Calc.

I know this forum is for current PA nurses, but I thought this would also be the ideal forum to ask this question. If it needs to be moved so be it. I am an early 30's student who was just accepted into both LCCC's ADN program and DeSales BSN program. I have over 60 usable credits including all pre-req's. Obviously there is an ample financial difference. DeSales would be just one semester longer though for the BSN vs ADN.(5 vs 4 at LCCC). I want to earn my BSN at some point for earning potential, promotions, etc. However, at my age, if the ADN can viably land me a job in the LVHN and possibly then assist with tution in a bridge program that would be ideal. So what are the local RN's opinions? Thank you in advance, I really appreciate any feedback!!

1A. Physiological Chemistry(due in part to professor) 1B. A&P II(due to difficulty) ...A&P I was extrememly time consuming due to vast memorization as well.

Likewise! Hahaha I guess my LCCC isn't big enough yet...