alibean

Thank you SO much @JanetForever.This helps me a ton. I am going to do exactly what you suggest! Many thanks and best wishes! :redbeathe

Thank you so, so much sd-ace! I can not tell you how much your words have helped and encouraged me at such an important time. I am very excited to attend NU. I think that the one subject at a time format will work so well for me. I can't really even fathom taking a full load of classes like state school. I love volunteering and am also at an ER, however may have to drop that shift and stick with only the NICU (due to the intensity of the course). You are proof that volunteers have fruitful relationships and are often snapped up. I know plenty who have been hired and have no doubt this will be my best chance for a foot in the door at Kaiser. Your advice re the BSN has been more than fantastic. It really could have gone either way for me. Thank you so much and I wish you all the very best :redbeathe

Thanks so much for your feedback sd-ace. I attended an information forum at the LA campus today. My biggest fear is no preceptorship, however I feel that the BSN will be more advantageous to me in the long run, due to my hopes to specialize. I have decided to pass up the ADN at Mt St Mary's and go with NU. I hope I am making the right decision! I volunteer at a NICU where NU do some of their rotations, so hopefully this will help me to network during the course of my degree. I graduated from high school 12 years ago and am a little worried how I am going to grade but as you say, you do what you have to do. Did you go on to obtain your RN license through National? Thank you again for your insight to NU! :)

Congratulations everyone... I really hope to be in your shoes one day. I was hoping if anyone out there could help me? I am juggling between two nursing programs. I have been accepted into a BSN at a school that offers NO preceptorship. Do you think this would hurt me and my chances for CHLA residency? I have also been accepted into an ADN program at a revered school that offers a preceptorship, however I believe CHLA doesn't take ADNs? Any insight would be so appreciated!

'Mt St. Mary's College ADN' versus 'National University BSN Los Angeles'? I have been accepted to both. (My hope is to gear my career toward working with neonates & eventually obtain an MSN). I want to go to the school that will give me the best chance to pursue this area, I also hope to apply for new grad programs at CHLA/Cedars): National University doesn't have a preceptorship but it can give me the BSN. I guess most jobs + new grad programs in the Los Angeles area require this. MSMC has the great reputation, but I was only accepted to the ADN program due to a high school recency rule. Is it better to earn my ADN with MSMC and complete an RN-BSN somewhere thereafter - OR go for National Uni which is a newer program and earn a BSN in less time? Does anyone think one school is a better path than the other? Also, If there are any MSMC ADN grads or National Uni grads that were accepted into new-grad programs such as CHLA/Cedars/Kaiser I would be so appreciative if you could share your experiences/lend any advice.. Thank you so much

Hi naturebynature, your situation sounded so similar to mine, I was hoping you wouldn't mind sharing with me a bit about your BSN experience at NU San Diego thus far? It would be greatly appreciated! :) I am married, turning 30 next year and very much want children soon. I knew I wanted to complete my BSN before starting my family (for so many reasons), not to mention this could be my last chance. I don't have a lot of time to waste (i.e comm college wait time or RN-BSN). Currently I have been accepted into Mt St Mary's Pre ADN program. I met with the advisor this week and she said I would not be able to transfer to the BSN at any time and that I would have to continue with a BSN at another college (and most require 1-2 years of Nursing exp!). Because of this and my ultimate goal of NICU Nurse (I would take OB, L&D) I am now back to NU Los Angeles. There have been great reviews and also some pretty terrible ones. A guy at my local NU info center has been so wonderful to me. However, like you, I have not been able to find any feedback from NU alumni; where they are now, how their journey was getting there, did they suffer with no preceptorship (my greatest concern). Have you heard of any alumni working in specialties or being accepted into new grad programs such as Cedars/KP/CHSD/CHLA? As I touched on, my dream is to work in the NICU. I feel not having a preceptorship really hurts my chances at this specialty. Sorry for the rant but my main question to you is, considering the experience you have at NU thus far, how do you find NU students are viewed against MSMC/UCLA students etc. Which hospitals do you complete your rotations? With a NU degree would I be a contender for new grad programs in the NICU etc? Would you steer me toward an Associates degree at MSMC at all? I am still skeptical of the whole ADN vs BSN debate. I am not afraid of full time, hard work and I am not looking for a social life. I just want to make sure I can get a great job once I'm done. Thank you so much for reading this and I wish you the best of luck with your degree. Maybe see you around.. ! Best :redbeathe

hi ashley_victoria, i just bought the study guide and am going to take the exam in july.. gives me extra time to study before classes start. did you do your pre-req's at msmc? haven't seen any write ups yet from any other adn/bsn 2012 applicants. interested to hear how it all goes for you. goodluck on may 10 with the teas!

Hi ashley_victoria, I just bought the study guide and am going to take the exam in July.. Gives me extra time to study before classes start. Did you do your pre-req's at MSMC? Haven't seen any write ups yet from any other ADN/BSN 2012 applicants. Interested to hear how it all goes for you. Goodluck on May 10 with the TEAS!

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Hi biscuitmama, it's over a year since this post & was hoping you were around to help me with my question?! I am about to embark on my BSN with MSMC. I have my heart set on a career as a neo-natal nurse. I plan to gear my career toward the area with every opportunity possible. I hope to break into a NICU as a new grad in So Cal. Because of this, I am specifically hoping to do my preceptorship in a NICU. I do also have interests in L&D, OB and Postpartum in that order. Do MSMC students have the chance to precept in these areas? NICU, L&D, OB + Peds? On their website under course description it says 'Each student will be assigned a selected clinical preceptor from the agency.' I am tossing up between MSMC and National University at this stage and would appreciate any advice from a graduate. Lastly, is it not uncommon to precept in areas like this at most colleges? Thanks! :heartbeat

Hi biscuitmama, it's over a year since this post & was hoping you were around to help me with my question?! I am about to embark on my BSN with MSMC. I have my heart set on a career as a neo-natal nurse. I plan to gear my career toward the area with every opportunity possible. I hope to break into a NICU as a new grad in So Cal. Because of this, I am specifically hoping to do my preceptorship in a NICU. I do also have interests in L&D, OB and Postpartum in that order. Do MSMC students have the chance to precept in these areas? NICU, L&D, OB + Peds? On their website under course description it says 'Each student will be assigned a selected clinical preceptor from the agency.' I am tossing up between MSMC and National University at this stage and would appreciate any advice from a graduate. Lastly, is it not uncommon to precept in areas like this at most colleges? Thanks! :heartbeat

Hi Jmara56, are you expecting to hear from admissions in early June? Goodluck!

Hi! Is there anyone on this forum who has applied to Mt St. Mary's College, Pre-Nursing option (ADN) for Fall 2012? I handed in my app, thought I would reach out to see if there was anybody else is waiting. First post, great forum.. Thanks!

Hello nyaussie, I realize the above thread is 2 years old! I was really hoping you were still available to offer some advice? I am an AU citizen living in Los Angeles, part way through my ADN degree. Do you happen to know if Tasmania has the same rules as NSW? I gather all international nurses must sit the IELTS exam. Do you know if NSW requires any extra schooling, once an RN license in USA has been obtained? Also, from your experience, would you say that a BSN degree is favorable - over an ADN degree (in AU)? Particularly hoping to get into neonatal nursing (NICU) etc.. I don't believe you need specialized training in this area in US or AU, unless you intend on becoming a midwife. Thank you so much and hope you are enjoying your nursing career in beautiful Tassie!