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I currently work at Duke. One of the previous posts mentioned the survey and point system. When someone from Duke HR spoke with our cohort they said for the new grad / CNI positions they use the info from the survey to assign you a certain # of points. Those applicants with the most points are called for interviews. However, there are units that don't always follow that system. Whether due to higher turnover compared to other units or units with a lower number of openings and can hirer directly from students who worked on the floor in an externship or capstone position.

Unless the policy has changed clinical hours must be completed during the semester. Global trips are the exception. A clinical instructor must be available, DUSON is scheduled for specific times they can be on the floor for clinical. Hospitals don't really let you make up time whenever you want. I know one CI was trying to schedule clinical hours during fall break and the professors would not let them. They did make an case by case exception during the final semester with the capstone clinical. But that clinical is run differently than all the others.

It's going to be the weekend of May 12-14. I would put Sunday the 14th, since that is when the university will have their large ceremony. Our nursing school ceremony was held the Friday before the university ceremony, but DUSON probably can't confirm 100% they can do that year to year due to availability of the DPAC.

It's a wooden box they place metal weights in, the kind you would see in the gym. They start with the lowest weight and ask if you can safety lift it. Then you lift it. Then they ask do you feel like you can safety lift more. If you say yes then they will add more weight, I believe 10lb. You then lift that weight. They keep doing that until you say no. So it's not really reps per say. I got the impression as long as you can comfortably lift the lowest weight you are fine. For the overhead weight I could lift the lowest weight. But once they added 2-3 more plates I struggled a bit but they didn't seem to have an issue with that. The overhead one was weird for me. In the gym I am able to do a much higher weight so it was hard for me to judge how much I could lift. It was on this table with no place to bend your knees to get a bit of momentum going. The box was kind of awkward to lift.

I wish I paid a little more attention to exactly how much weight. You can request the exact requirements from your recruiter. However, at orientation with all the new grads there were nurses of all shapes and sizes. I wouldn't worry too much. There is a box you lift up and over your head. They started the weight at 20lb I think. The other box is one you pick up from the floor and put back down. You also have to pick that same box up and place on a chair. The starting weight might have been 50lb. I think as long as you do the minimum you are fine. They just keep adding weight until you tell them to stop. Now they do have large bag full of sand that you have to be able to push and pull on a table. That is most likely over 75lb.

Yes, they will make offers before graduation. In my cohort many received job offers in March and April with May graduation. Start dates were in June, July, and August. Base pay for the CN I is $22.48

I passed in 75 questions. My program used ATI. But I used Saunders in my last semester. Overall, I think the classes in my program prepared us far as content, they do have a 98% pass rate.

We were assigned. Although sometimes they allowed you to state preferences and they tried to accommodate. You could also switch with others after assignments were made. At least for my program it's simply too many scheduling issues to realistically take everyone preferences into account. For our preceptorship everyone got one of their top 3 choices. And IMO that's the most important. In the grand scheme of things it didn't matter that much what hospital I had med-surg / maternity / peds clinical.

I passed with 75 questions. I didn't find it to be hard TBH; There were some SATA that I felt iffy on. It wasn't easy either (kind of middle of the road) but I felt the questions were comparable to what I had seen on tests in NS, ATI, and Saunders. I did very little studying after graduation.

I am glad I took mine as soon as I could to get it out of the way. I performed well in my program and I received good scores on ATI. I passed with 75 questions. I say go ahead and take it rather than waiting until the end of June

It was accurate for me. I had a 98% and passed with 75 questions. Some of the questions I got on the NCLEX were very similar to ATI.

Any interviews I've been on for nursing they have specified what I should wear. Two said business casual and the other said wear scrubs since I would be shadowing at the same time. If they hadn't told me what to wear I would wear a suit.

Duke still hires ADNs (and of course Watts grads who from what I have seen are highly thought of). I know several who have been hired very recently. You need to enroll in a BSN program with in 2 years and graduate within 5 years. Duke's HR spoke to our cohort and said they use a points system to determine who they call for new grad interviews, if you look at the survey for the new grad posting that gives you can indication of what they give points for. For the CNI is $22.48 an hr at Duke. UNC is $21.54 the first year, then $23.61 second year. UNC weekend differentials are much higher.

Did you get an email confirming they received all your materials for the application and will be considered for further review? My status changed from "resume acknowledge" to "under consideration" when I got an email from them. I would be concerned that you don't have a complete application. Maybe send them an email to get an update?

Yes, I know at least one person who has gotten an offer. A couple of others who've already interviewed. We've been told recruiters are still setting up interviews.

A friend from my cohort attended their open house last week and talked with one of the recruiters. They were told they are still reading applications and they have to put together this big matrix to help them decide who is going to interview where. Most likely they will start contacting people at the end of the month.

Have you investigated whether or not you could realistically work 20 hours a week during the 12 month ABSN program? I am betting most students are living on loans in the program. I don't really see how the traditional BSN is a step back. In the end with both programs you graduate with the same degree. Don't get hung up on admission requirements. If it gives you the opportunity to graduate debt free I think that is a MAJOR advantage. If you are wanting to become an NP save your money for that.

Maybe they prefer that but it certainly isn't required. I know students from Duke's ABSN program who have been hired on at UNC. These include graduates from last May and this past December. Several students in my cohort including myself applied. I don't recall anyone mentioning they've been contacted for an interview yet ( I figured if they brought up other interviews they've had they would mention UNC too).

The average GPA at the time I applied was ~3.5. However, I've know applicants with 3.75 waitlisted while another with a 3.25 admitted first round. I had some healthcare experience but there are students in the cohort who had none. The average age for my cohort was 27, most people are under 35. At the time I applied Duke seemed very focused on looking at people holistically. I heard a rumor they were starting to focus more on GPA but I haven't heard that directly from any reputable source.

For the global trips the # of choices offered has been reduced. But the # of seats should be about the same. Everyone in my cohort that wanted to go on a global trip got to go. There used to be 6 or 7 options offered, with half the seats available to each cohort. This example may help. They offer a trip to Jamaica and a trip to Barbados. Under the old curriculum the fall cohort would send 5 students to Jamaica and 5 to Barbados. Then the spring cohort would send 5 students to Jamaica and 5 to Barbados. Under the new curriculum the fall cohort would only go to Barbados but would send 10 students and the spring cohort would go to Jamaica with 10 students. Not 100% on this but the fall cohort has a trips to Tanzania, Nicaragua, and Barbados. Then spring goes to a Tanzania (different site than the fall cohort), Nicaragua, and Jamaica. I'll let ABSNStudent expand further on clinical placements. But what she is talking about is only for the first semester. 2nd/3rd/4th semester you are in the hospital. I got the impression 1st semester students were in placements like schools or community organizations. The focus is on healthy populations / wellness.

I know the cohort that just graduated has students who obtained positions in California (one student had two offers in CA!), Texas, Virginia. I am sure there are others states but that is just the ones my CI shared with me. Not sure what you mean by extra practice with clinicals? You mean more time in the hospital? No. If you need more practice with skills or assessment there is open lab time. You can work with a partner or with the staff that runs the lab. There is one room that is available 24/7 even when staff is not there.

I am in my final semester and on the old curriculum but can confirm a lot of the below. I spoke with a clinical instructor who teaches the first semester students and they admitted the "clinical" experience 1st semester seemed to be a wide spread complaint. I was disappointed to hear about this change. The CI did mention the program was supposed to add back the "excursions" which is where you go to Duke Hospital 4 times for 2.5 hours to practice vitals, taking a health history, and physical assessment. I have no idea if this happened for the spring or if they are going to try in the fall. On the plus side the new curriculum does give more clinical time in the final preceptorship compared to the old curriculum. Our cohort had people who struggled in patho, pharm, and adult health (med-surg). There were several people who got tutoring whether small group or individual. The lab does move very quickly the first semester. They really expect you to take time on your own during open lab to practice. In general I noticed those who lacked CNA experience tended to struggle more.

They seem to post new grad position at the end of most months. They do hire new grads in the ICU. A Duke HR spoke with my class and said for new grad positions they use a point systems to determine who they interview. You fill out the survey to help them to determine what points to award. I don't know about the ICUs but many of the other units will have an 8 week orientation.

Current student here... In the past I would say the GPA wouldn't necessarily be a problem. Duke looks at applications holistically. However, I have heard information that the admissions committee does seem more focused on GPA than in the past. How accurate this is I have no idea, I didn't hear it directly. I would try to acknowledge it in your essays. You won't know unless you apply.

Congratulations to everyone that was accepted! I am currently in the program. I know of a few people in my cohort who were able to get scholarships outside of Duke, so I would start searching now. Duke does provide some links on their financial aid website of places to search. Since I know the costs to attend is a huge concern for many I am posting a letter from the Fall 2013 (pg. 20) thread. While not everyone talks about their financial situation it get the impression most people have to take out private loans.