emt0089

Best Drexel thread I've found so far: https://allnurses.com/pennsylvania-state-nursing/drexel-4-year-450487.html

Thanks futurenurse912, congratulations to you too! Maybe we'll all be classmates in the fall :-) I still haven't found much non-ACE information/threads about Drexel -- if I do, I'll be sure to post something here.

I appreciate your feedback SoldierNurse22, I didn't mean for it to sound like that. My apologies if I denoted any disrespect.

Thank you so much for your answer and your timely response, Need4Speed305. Becoming a leader and bringing out the very best within myself (and others) are just a few of the many things that have drawn me in to seriously thinking about military service. I will absolutely keep these things in mind as I continue to consider my options in the military and throughout nursing school (I start my BSN program this fall).

Hi everyone! I have a quick question: From what I understand and for the sake of simplicity -- to become a nurse in the military I must receive my BSN from an accredited nursing program and go through the process of becoming a "commissioned" officer. **I have spoken to healthcare recruiters from each branch but what I am looking is some information/insight/experiences from a non-recruiter: I am familiar with the basic job responsibilities of a nurse, but I don't know much about the duties/expectations from the "officer" side of nursing in the military. Would someone please provide me with a little insight as to what being an officer is like? Thank you in advance.

Hello navyman7, I just happened to stumble upon this thread of FAQ about Navy nursing -- this has been a great find and thank you for providing the information you have so far! I am a 24 year old female (single with no dependents or medical history) and have just been accepted to an accredited BSN program for the Fall 2013 which will take me 3 years full-time to complete. I have been seriously considering an Active Duty career as a nurse in the military for a long time. I have spoken to a Navy Healthcare Recruiter and she said that when I have 2 years of school left to apply for the Navy Nurse Candidate Program. The NNCP is still an option for me at this point, but coming from someone who is not a recruiter and with your experience in the Navy I wanted to know: 1. Are there any other routes to becoming a navy nurse besides the NNCP? Just in case there is anything I might be unaware of. 2. Would you be able to offer any advice regarding how I can bee seen as a competitive applicant? What does the Navy look for and want to see in a nurse? 3. What is a typical day as a navy nurse like? Thank you in advance, it's greatly appreciated!

Congrats to you too! :-) I haven't officially chosen Drexel yet (I'm waiting to hear from 3 more schools) but from what I understand, there is only a 5 year and a 4 year traditional BSN option -- I chose the 4 year. When I spoke to an advisor she said it would take me a minimum of 3 years to complete assuming I finished all of the prerequisites... (which I have). So I guess I'm in for 3 years with the co-op. How about you?

Everyone has their own technological preferences, but I would highly recommend the MacBook Air. Here's why: It only weighs 2.38 lbs and when it's closed and in its sleeve, it's comparable to the size of a slim notebook. It boots up and shuts down instantaneously allowing me to quickly access the internet, my documents and online academic materials. Web browsing, accessing videos, researching and writing papers has never been easier. It's a smaller laptop, but it has a full size keyboard which is very comfortable. The "track pad" is also convenient in that I can swipe between screens/web pages and even alter the size of the text. Apple products tend to be on the pricier side (I think a brand new 11" MBA costs around $999), but I was able to get mine refurbished for $700 from the Apple store and it came with a one year warranty. I've had it for 9 months and have never had any problems with it. Good luck with your search, and best of luck to you in nursing school! :-)

I did not need A&P for Micro, or Micro for A&P. I'm assuming the prerequisite is either an Intro/General Biology and/or Chemistry, but I would check the course catalog at your school to be certain. I would suggest taking A&P I in the fall because the first course in a sequence like A&P is (typically) only offered in the fall. In other words, it may be more difficult to find or register for A&P I in the spring as opposed to Microbiology which is not in a sequence and could be offered during either semester. For my school, if I didn't take A&P I in the fall I would have had to wait another year to begin the sequence or take it in the summer. However, the bottom line is that it just depends on the school, what and when it is offered, and your preference :-) I found that my background with A&P I and II was helpful when applying the material in Microbiology to the human body, but when I took Micro I primarily relied on my General Biology and Chemistry background. I hope that helps a little bit, best of luck to you!

I was in a similar situation (bad grades) and I had to comment... I was an undecided major and chose not to apply myself. I made some SERIOUS academic mistakes when I first started college in 2007 through 2009 which included a semester of W's (which did not count against my GPA but they still showed up on my transcript) and the following semester I chose to stop going to school altogether and I recieved 3 F's which annihilated my GPA. It was then I attended the local community college, I took course that introduced me to careers in healthcare and the rest is history. I went back to school full-time, became an EMT, and a hospital volunteer. I completed every prerequisite for just about any RN/BSN nursing school out there to prove that I was serious about becoming a nurse and I brought up my cumulative GPA above a 3.0. (my GPA at the community college is above a 3.5.) Since then, I haven't received a grade lower than a B (General Physics I) and have made the Dean's List four consecutive semesters in a row. In my application essay I wrote from my heart about why I want to be a nurse and my future goals. I acknowledged my past (no excuses) and explained what I did personally and academically to improve. I applied to 8 nursings schools (it was a pain, but it is incredibly competitive out there) for the Fall of 2013. I have been accepted to 1 BSN nursing school so far and I'm waiting to hear from a few more. Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect and nursing schools know that. I firmly believe you have a decent shot especially because all aspects of your application are taken into consideration. Doing well in your sciences and nursing prereq's, a nursing school entrance exam or even volunteering your time at a local hospital or working in the field will definitely go a long way. I can only go by my experience, but it helped me. It was not easy by any means, but it can be done with passion, persistence and hard work. And most importantly, never give up on something that is important to you :-)

I thought I was responding to another thread and got mixed up -- but in any case, best of luck!

Thank you! Congratulations to you as well! Those are the three schools I'm waiting to hear from as well! Good luck! :-)

Hello! I'm relatively new to allnurses (this is my second post) -- I've combed through quite a few Drexel threads, but most of the recent postings pertain to the ACE program. I've recently been accepted as a transfer into Drexel's 4 year BSN co-op program. I am still waiting to hear back from 3 other schools (I'm from central Connecticut) and before I not only make a significant move and academic/financial commitment, I was wondering if anyone out there (alumni, current nursing student, or anyone who is familiar with Drexel) could please provide me with some feedback about their BSN nursing program. Some possible ideas off the top of my head: class sizes, professors, clinical sites/co-op experiences, housing, life in Philadelphia, HESI/NCLEX (do/did you feel prepared)... ect. I'm not looking for anything elaborate or fancy, just a little insight on your experience at Drexel would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Congratulations on your acceptance! I was accepted to Drexel's BSN co-op for the Fall of 2013 too! :-) I chose their four year route. Before I make my decision, I too am also waiting to hear from a few other schools... Northeastern University, Quinnipiac University, and Uconn. Yes, hard work really does pay off! Best of luck to you!

LunahRN, Better late than never -- thank you SO very much for your detailed and insightful response! It has been a tremendous amount of help. "What other employer is going to pay a nurse to crawl around in the dirt and fire an M-16? Bonus!" -- YES!!! I absolutely agree It's one thing to speak to a recruiter or research online, but real personal insight goes a long way, thank you.

It would depend on the individual program's curriculum and their respective prerequisites. I have researched and just applied to quite a few BSN programs (as a transfer) and from my experience only one BSN program wanted General Physics I (either high school or college). I'm from Connecticut and that school was UCONN. I just took Physics this past fall, and it was quite grueling to say the least... but it is possible to do reasonably well if you put your mind to it and seek extra help, even when you don't have a test coming up soon; I know it helped me. As I'm sure everyone is well aware, the sciences are one of the most important factors when being considered for admission. If Physics is not "required" but recommended, I would assume that it could be seen as a way to "stand out" over other applicants or like you said, you may eventually have to take it. If that is the case, if I would just take it while you're still in high school and get it over with. Good luck!

Hello, I am brand new to this forum, in fact this is my very first post. I have been seriously considering entering the military as a nurse for quite some time. I have done an extensive amount of research on my own about each branch that offers a career as a nurse. However, before I actually speak to Army, Air Force and Navy recruiters, I felt that it would be wise to actually gain additional perspectives on military nursing experiences. I am a 24-year-old female (single and have no dependents) and I will be receiving an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts and Science, A.S. in May 2013. I am a full-time college student currently waiting to hear back from the accredited baccalaureate nursing programs I have applied to for Fall 2013 entry. Assuming I get accepted, I am estimating I would receive my BSN by 2015 at age 26. As for patient care experience, I have worked on an ambulance as an EMT for the past 11 months, which I absolutely love. I am interested in an Active Duty career, and Critical Care Nursing at this point, but I am very open-minded and would be willing to explore other specialties. I would also welcome any information about the Reserves. Any nurse (male or female who has served past or present) that is willing to share their experiences or even answer at least ONE of my questions would be greatly appreciated! Why did you choose your specific branch? For example, why Army nursing and not Navy nursing? What was the recruiting process like for you? Any guidance/tips about what I should know or do before I speak to a recruiter? Did you receive any educational benefits or tuition reimbursements for your service? If you did, please explain/elaborate... Describe life as military nurse... Bases, hospitals, deployments Nursing and Officer responsibilities Living arrangements, roommates Service requirements (either active or reserve) Did you enjoy your experience? Is your nursing specialty based on personal preference, additional training/testing or governmental need? Anything else worth mentioning/noting, PROS/CONS? I appreciate your time to those who have read all of this, and I personally would like to extend my thanks for those who have served in the military past and present regardless if you respond or not. Thank you. Sincerely, emt0089