REALLY need insight on what to expect clinical wise

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Hi! I just got word that I got accepted into the prelicensure RN-BSN program for Pasadena, CA that starts 11/1/14. I am preparing myself for telling my job about my impending change in availability. I am also preparing myself for having to look for a new job/position as I suspect that I will need to get a new and more flexible job. I REALLY need to know how to explain the clinicals to the new job though. I need anyone from a past Pasadena cohort or a California cohort to let me know (a) how far apart clinical intensives are (b) generally how long each clinical intensive lasts © generally how many days a week they are and hours per day (d) most importantly how far in advance you know the anticipated dates of clinical intensives and how far in advance of the clinical intensive itself you know exactly what hours and days you'll be working. I need to explain how my life will be for the next 2 years or so as accurately as possible to wherever I apply. I don't want to surprise them with anything. I know this information should be available to me through my enrollment counselor but it's vague and I would like to hear it from someone actually doing the program. I really appreciate any help I can get and look forward to it. I wouldn't even mind chatting on the phone or something. Thanks in advance.

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I'm not 100% positive but the WGU students usually have clinicals every few months. Approximately 3-4 clinical sessions per year. After the online study is completed, there is a skills competency testing that the student MUST pass. Sometime during the didactic, you get assigned to a clinical coach in the area you are studying (i.e. Med-surg, Maty, critical care, psych, etc). You work a certain number of 12 hour shifts that mirror your clinical coaches' schedule. This can be day or night shift. It's around 5-6 shifts to be completed in about 3 weeks time frame, but the number of hours required is specified by the clinical area. I don't know when the student gets notified, but WGU usually tries to line up clinical coaches 3-4 weeks prior to the student being assigned to them. WGU clinical coaches have to approved by WGU so unfortunately there are only a limited number of coaches so students don't get a lot of scheduling choices except maybe day versus night shift. Also WGU students usually do their clinicals when other schools are not in session so you get a lot of holiday time frames it seems. Hope this helps!

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Pre-licensing BSN is for non nursing students who do clinicals. They are not RN-BSN.

RN to BSN is a totally different program. They are completely online. I don't think they do clinicals.

Which one are you doing? Pre-licensing BSN or RN-BSN? That way you can get a better answer.

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Dah doh explained the pre-licensing BSN.

Thank You!

I was wondering about those clinicals.

Do you go there dah doh?

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I am planning for the Cedar Sinai cohort Aug 2015. It's close to home which is cool.

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@ShondaJ...nope...I've been a RN for about 15 years. I've also been a clinical coach for WGU for a couple years now. That's why my previous post is a bit tentative because it's not from the student perspective.

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Ooooohhhh! Cool!!!! Were you here in So Cal? I can't wait to get in and begin classes.

I spoke with my enrollment counselor to update him on my progress. He gave me the Cedar Sinai cohort date of October 2015. I thought it was August but it was a different cohort. I have two classes for pre reqs and won't be done until May 15th. Plenty of time to apply by the deadline of July.

So October 15 will be my goal.

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@ShondaJ: Yes I'm in SoCal ?. That sounds like you have a good plan. Good Luck with school!

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Cool. Thank you so much.

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