SoonerBredExpat

I found a new grad program right after obtaining my license, but the market for new grads is very competitive. Networking is the best way to get the position you really want.

I am in Southern California and was in a cohort at Cedars Sinai.

Hi there. I graduated in March, 2017, and passed NCLEX the first time with 75 questions in about two hours. I felt prepared for the test. WGU provided Hurst Review as part of the prelicensure program, and I also purchased U-World after graduation. I answered about 3,000 questions in U-World over a couple of weeks and I felt that was extremely helpful. Scheduling the test as soon as possible after graduating really motivated me as well. If I could go back and start over, I'd take more initiative in lab and my clinicals and try to do more in building and improving skills. In my first job as an RN, I was behind my peers in time management and skills. My fear of making mistakes allowed opportunities to pass me by and I regret it. I recommend jumping in at every possible chance to perform hands-on skills and observe a procedure. All the best to you!

Donddon, take a look at WGU's website for the pre-requisites to the prelicensure nursing program. There is a very detailed list. They do have a very generous transfer policy in my opinion so if you have credits from another school, it's very helpful. Other clinical sites (at this time) are Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, and hospitals in Lakewood, Los Alamitos, and Fountain Valley. EsJ87: I understand your concern about the drive. I live 80 miles way from Cedars but it works for me. I have stayed overnight nearby when I have two back to back shifts. We have one student from Northern California and she travels here for clinicals, orientations, and labs. It's tough but doable. I would suggest finding someone to stay with or a cheap hotel. The hard part is that the days aren't all consecutive. It just takes some juggling and planning.

The shifts can be two in a row but usually not three. You must be very flexible and ready to work any days during the two or three week clinical rotation. I can't stress this enough. Not being available during this time frame causes nothing but frustration and stress. The shifts are typically non-negotiable. My clinical instructors have been great. They really challenge you to know answers and be prepared. It's a little nerve-wracking at first and sometimes the constructive criticism stings, but I've come to appreciate all of it. It's my goal to be as prepared as possible to take the NCLEX and to be a great nurse, so I'm up for the challenges (I hope!). Others who just need a degree may feel differently.

It's great that you can work somewhat part-time. However, your schedule will need to be flexible during clinical rotations (3 to 4 times per year) since you are assigned to one nurse/coach. You must work the hours that your coach is scheduled, and that can be any day of the week, nights, holidays or weekends. We often have little notice, and schedules change frequently. You may find yourself working three days and attending clinical two to four days, so your week may be completely packed (read: exhausting). Many of us have to take time off or call off to attend clinicals, but it has worked out so far. All but one of the students in my cohort work full-time. As I mentioned, it's only certain times during the year and it just takes a bit of juggling. Good luck to you!

I am really glad to answer any questions. I had so many questions before I started pre-reqs and at WGU, and it was hard to find answers! I highly recommend this program and the cost is low compared to other schools. Feel free to ask anything (to anyone reading this).

Each six-month term has 3 to 5 courses. Some courses are taken in conjunction with clinicals and labs and others are book-based only. Each course has an Objective Assessment - like a final exam - that must be passed to progress. Usually we are studying and attending clinicals and labs at different times, but they can overlap. We also have hospital orientations before each clinical. WGU has a ton of resources and they really want you to succeed. I have not had too much trouble with time-management and in fact we just had about a three-week break this month. The tests are hard but not impossible and the grading is generous. It's very different from a brick-and-mortar school, which I attended to get my first bachelor's. You must stay on track and push yourself. The great thing is that you can study anytime, anywhere, and you are not tied down to a classroom schedule. Hope this helps!

Hi EmmRee, Congratulations on your acceptance! I think you will really like the program. I am in the Cedars-Sinai cohort and have about a year left. I love it so far. It's very intense and time-consuming, but I work full-time (40+ hours at a desk job) and have had no real issues with time management. Just a little around the holidays. I study about 30 to 40 hours a week. Your mileage may vary. I was like you and wanted tons of information before I started. However, you will, as vintagemother said, need to find your own style. You will find that WGU has so many resources, it's nearly impossible to fail. They want you to succeed, so they give you every chance to do so. They provide resources for different learning styles, so if you are a visual learner, or learn better by listening, or by writing, you have everything you need. It's almost too much sometimes. What has worked for me is to review the course, the resources, any emails from course mentors, and other stuff they throw at us, then decide how I'm going to tackle the material. If you read and view and study every resource, it will take too long to complete the course. After fundamentals, stick to the ATI books, since that's what the exams are based on. Relax and take constructive criticism for what it is, especially in labs. Attend or watch the webinars as often as you can. Know that the pre-assessments are usually a lot different than the "finals", or objective assessments. Sometimes easier, sometimes way harder, in my opinion. Knowing the material inside-out is key to answering the critical thinking questions that usually make up the objective assessment. For clinicals, ditto what vintagemother said. Food! Food is good. I'm always starving at clinicals. I would add scissors, dry erase marker, Sharpie pen, small pad of paper. Maybe we'll see you at lab. Best of luck to you!

Hi Jesse, I am currently in the Cedars-Sinai (LA) cohort and have about a year left in the program. I work full-time and have two teenagers. The curriculum is not difficult, per se, but it depends on what you mean by that, I think. I haven't been in school for decades, so it was an adjustment for me. I study between 30 and 40 hours per week, but others in the program probably study less. I find the material fascinating so it makes it easier. Let me know if I can answer any questions. Good luck!

Hi Soc, Congratulations to you! I think you will really enjoy the program. Our cohort starts CASAL II lab this weekend. I remember boot camp last year and being so nervous. It's really a lot of fun - try not to stress out too much. Take a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope if you have them so you can practice on your cohort-mates. If I remember correctly you receive these in your first lab kit. We use both ATI and Mosby, and you will have access to these on October 1st or maybe shortly before. Keep in mind that for Cedars cohorts there are 12 students accepted into the initial 6 months' prenursing program and only 10 move into the nursing program in April. So, treat the entire 6 months like a job interview. Keep all your appointments with your mentor, try to get the best scores you can, stay on top of your coursework, watch the webinars and participate as much as you can. You are constantly being evaluated and your time logged into the various resources is monitored. Best of luck!

Crossing my fingers for you as well! The skills labs are awesome and really a lot of fun if you have a good cohort. Our instructors are great and truly inspire us. There is usually plenty of time to practice in lab. What I find challenging is preparing for the lab assessments on the final lab date. It takes a lot of practice, over and over. We are given a list of maybe 6 or 8 skills to prepare for, and will be tested on 3 to 5. But we usually know which ones they will test on. So far we've had the fundamentals skills lab and CASAL I and all of us have passed. Actually performing the skills on patients is so much different!

Hi Soc, I know the feeling. The waiting is excruciating! I'm in the October, 2014 Cedars cohort. I submitted my file in February and my counselor told me we might not hear anything the middle of September. UGH. But she called me on August 7th with the good news, which was a huge surprise. Hopefully this will happen for you as well. Only 4 short weeks! Best of luck to you!

I scored a 92%. The cohort I applied to is very competitive so I studied hard.

Hi Tarenk, I highly recommend that you contact an enrollment counselor and reapply if you are really interested. I am in the Cedars cohort that started in October of 2014, and we have a student from Sacramento. She commutes down to LA for the labs and clinicals. Also, I live in Riverside, which is 70 miles from Cedars. So you may in fact be able to apply. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!