Research College of Nursing/Rockhurst ??

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I am hoping to join the Aug 2007 Accelerated class. When do you normally apply for the class (they have rolling admissions I think)? How many do they accept? What is it like in the program?

Can you have a life besides studying all the time? How many hours per week should I expect? Any advice would be helpful!

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Specializes in I got hurt and went to the ER once.
i am hoping to join the aug 2007 accelerated class at research college of nursing. when do you normally apply for the class (they have rolling admissions i think)? how many do they accept? what is it like in the program?

can you have a life besides studying all the time? i just got done with summer chemistry and felt it took over my life and made the summer no fun for me and my kids. is that what i can expect, only for the whole length of the program? how many hours per week should i expect? any advice would be helpful!

i assume your talking about the aug 2007 to 2008 class. the 2006-2007 class starts in 25 days.. and i'm in it.

key points to remember.

1. you have to acquire 15 credit hours from rockhurst. 6 of the hours must be theology. don't worry about the theology classes intruding on your faith. it doesn't. it's really more fact based. i.e. these guys thought this, there was a competing school of thought that thought this at the time... etc. the instructors i've had were very enjoyable.

2. you also have to take pathophysiology. it's tough and the first few weeks required about 15-20 hours of studying. maybe it doesn't take that much time but i have it so i use it. it's a fascinating and very important class.

3. everyone talks about the first six weeks being the toughest. it sounds kind of like nursing boot camp to me. i've heard mixed messages on how tough it is. some say the are up every night until midnight studying. another (just one) told me that she was done by 5pm most days. i really think it comes down to how good your memory is and how good your study skills are. after the first six weeks you do your "check offs" and then you start to have clinicals intermixed into the academic portion. some people do struggle in the program some people breeze through. no one says it's easy though. right now the current ao's are kinda just biding their time, doing clinicals and preparing for nclex. the ones who are taking graduate level classes are still having a tough go of it though.

4. i think that if you apply early, meet the prerequisite, or show that you can by the time class start you'll be in. you will talk to leslie, she's the director of the admissions for the ao program. she's awesome and knows her stuff.

5. the program has a very high graduation percentage and a first time pass of the nclex in the mid 90's i believe. the ao's tend to do better than the traditional options. the reason for this i think is that we've already graduated once from college so the pool of students is different. we're also older and more mature. with that said the to program is good too. research college of nursing has been cranking out nurses for 100 years. they know how to create nurses. i'll be in the 101st class.

6. rcon will have three meet and greats through out the year. one in the fall, one in january and one in may. they talk a bit and then out up a panel of current students to ask questions. they were helpful and much of what i'm telling you came from the

so far i've enjoyed the whole process. fyi chemistry is just tough and to take in in the summer is well.. even tougher. congrats on getting through it. i have a chemistry degree. it is my opinion that general chemistry is one of the toughest chemistry classes out there. they get easier because you start to develop a foundation and your brain learns how to think like a chemist.

i can't answer your question about whether you will "have a life" during school. it depends on how smart you are, how hard you need to work, how important a's are, and how you define a life. for me and my family this will be my life. they know i will need their support and it's a team effort.

hope that helps

darth nightingale

sith rn2b

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Thank you so much for all the information. That is very helpful to me!!! I am somewhat concerned about how it will be for me to do a 15 hrs in that final summer, along with 19 hrs in the fall and 21 hrs in the spring. Do you know about how many assignments and tests would fall in one average week? How many hrs per week total do you think you will put in? (I know that is a hard question because everyone is so different!!)

I think I can suck anything down for just one year, When you say 15-20 hrs for pathophys, do you mean per week?

What are the ages of your kids and how does it work being a mom and a more than full time student? What do you plan to do when your kids are sick? I Do you have any idea how many hrs per week I should expect for my daughter to be there?

Oh-here's another big question, do you know if they have much available I could take to meet the 15 hrs that would be online classes? I thought Leslie said that Pathophys would be online, are there anymore? I think online class would be great, especially since I do not live near campus. I was hoping I could find more online classes, but did not see any on the website.

I am willing to sacrifice, but I am just trying to understand the level of sacrifice I would be signing up for.

Again, thank you for all your helpful info. I think it will be better for me to go into it prepared mentally for what this will entail.

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Specializes in I got hurt and went to the ER once.

mjckinkc]thank you so much for all the information. that is very helpful to me!!! yes, i am talking about the 2007/2008 class. my questions stem from my having three kids (youngest age 2) and the fact that this summer i did not get to do much with them. frankly, i am exhausted!! so, i am somewhat concerned about how it will be for me to do a whopping 15 hrs in that final summer, along with 19 hrs in the fall and 21 hrs in the spring. it seems like that would be sooo much homework! do you know about how many assignments and tests would fall in one average week? how many hrs per week total do you think you will put in? (i know that is a hard question because everyone is so different!!)

i think i can suck anything down for just one year, however, there is a part of me that wonders how i will cope. i was in the top 25% of my class usually, but it was not because i was what i would call "smart". i think it was more interpersonal skills, and hard work in my case. when you say 15-20 hrs for pathophys, do you mean per week?

what are the ages of your kids and how does it work being a mom and a more than full time student? what do you plan to do when your kids are sick? i am planning to use the rockhurst daycare. do you have any idea how many hrs per week i should expect for my daughter to be there?

oh-here's another big question, do you know if rockhurst has much available i could take to meet the 15 hrs that would be online classes? i thought leslie said that pathophys would be online, are there anymore? i think online class would be great, especially since i do not live near campus. i was hoping i could find more online classes, but did not see any on the website.

i am willing to sacrifice, but i am just trying to understand the level of sacrifice i would be signing up for.

again, thank you for all your helpful info. i think it will be better for me to go into it prepared mentally for what this will entail.

1. rcon is revamping the ao program to make it a little more doable for my class so it should be a better than before. patho is online but there is on ground session one day a week. they use webct which is kinda like an online board so if you miss the class just post a request to be filled in.

2. my boys are 12 and 13 y/o. i'm not sure about what it's like to be a mom... 'cause i'm a dad. they are getting to the age where they are self sufficient. when you go to the meet and greets the ao student panel will probably include someone who is a mom with young kids so she'll be able to answer your questions for you better than i. they do recommend having at least two alternate baby sitters. every day of the first six weeks is critical.

3. i don't know how many classes are online but some are. i also don't know if you need any prerequs that. if you haven't made an appointment to see leslie do so. she knows this stuff like the back of her hand.

4. based on my experience with patho and my conversations with soon to be ao grads the program is not easy but everyone works to help each other. the instructors are fair and want you to succeed. the program can be done.

5. i'll reply back in october and post my experience.. until then i'm just relaying hear-say and speculation.

6. i studied about 8 hours total for today's test and got an a-. much of it was stuff i was already familiar with. some of the others like fluid and electrolyte balances i studied 20+ hours for... again partly because this is the only class i'm taking and i had the time.

7. finally, everyone is nervous going into the program. you can feel it in the air at the meet and greets. it's okay. you're a smart cookie, you're looking ahead to see what obstacles you will face and formulating a strategy. you'll be ok. you will have to make sacrifices. to what extent depends on what your academic goals are. one of the studentss i talked to put it this way. "even if i graduate at the bottom of my class, i'm still going to have the same bsn after my name as the one who graduated at the top." also, kids are resilient, they'll look back at what you've done with pride. what you will be learning will be extremely practical for your kids in the future. you'll have a much better idea when to take them into the er or when you can wait until the next appointment and if the doctor is full af bunk, what meds they should get, what they do, what side effects to watch out for etc.

8. regarding assignments, think i heard that you will have a short online quiz everyday for the first six weeks. after that.. i dunno

cheers.

tim

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Tim,

Thank you again for your help and encouragement. I am going to work really hard this year so that hopefully I will have a bit of a head start and next year won't be as bad.

Please do reply in October and let me know what you think!!

Best wishes and many thanks!

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Specializes in I got hurt and went to the ER once.

ok, i'm starting the fourth week. so far i've really enjoyed the whole process. the teachers are really cool, so far very fair and they work really hard at what they do. my classmates are awesome and everyone works to help each other out. this is not unique to my class either. i had to miss a day the second week of class and someone took notes and emailed them to me. i have three sit down tests and two skill performance tests in the next three weeks. there is a lot of material but it has been presented really well. the classes are to be web enhanced so if you miss something in class you can go over it again at night.

the material is presented in lecture, on the web and plus the book to accommodate different learning styles. i've yet to study from my foundations book. it uses way too many words to say what it's trying to say. hasn't hurt me any.

i've not missed out on much real life stuff. i've gone to my kid's school to meet the teachers, when to the irish fest, went to weston for the day. i think i will be much busier these next three weeks though. i don't see myself not being able to pull away for a few hours here and there to take care of life stuff especially on weekend... which for this program is three days long.

some of the students are overwhelmed though. fear is contagious and i think the some of them think they need to know everything right now. just learn what they tell you too. don't worry, you'll see the material again and they will add onto it...and then again.

we have several students from other countries in our program (kenya, uzbekistan, china, texas and others). i really have a lot of respect for the ones for whom english is not their first language. if they can find a way to do this program so can you.

keys to success in this program

1. be organized. i spent three hours just trying to get my bearings after orientation. it was time well spent. have a schedule for when you are going to study.

2. know your anatomy and physiology. if you have a grasp on normal a&p, much of pathophysiology is just common sense. many of the test questions in the nursing program, though they aren't specific to testing for a&p require you to know it. they will ask questions like mr. johnson has a tumor in his brain. you want to access for any impairment of cranial nerve i. what test would you use? well if you know that cn i is the olfactory nerve and that olfactory means smellin' all you have to do is pick out the answer that has something to do with smelling. common sense... if you know your a&p.

3. i highly recommend a lap top. a cheap one that will handle wireless connection and ms office will be fine.

4. don't get behind... and don't get too far ahead. the program is fast but it has a rhythm. be one with it.

5. think big picture. some people got really hyped about the details of washing ones hands. it really doesn't matter if you turn the faucet off with the towel you used to dry your hands or get a fresh one to turn the faucet off. the big picture takeaway is that the faucet is contaminated and touching it recontaminates you.

6. be flexible. i've let my lawn go a few days longer than i would have liked because i needed to study. sometimes the computer system isn't cooperating, sometimes the instructor may say something (usually not too critical) the contradicts the reading. just go with the flow.

7. don't miss sleep to study. you can't memorize everything you want to. many questions are about understanding and interpreting concepts. you will do much better and have much more fun if you are rested.

anyways... that's my experience so far... back to studying for me. (why i got up at three am i have no idea...)

dn

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i assume your talking about the aug 2007 to 2008 class. the 2006-2007 class starts in 25 days.. and i'm in it.

key points to remember.

1. you have to acquire 15 credit hours from rockhurst. 6 of the hours must be theology. don't worry about the theology classes intruding on your faith. it doesn't. it's really more fact based. i.e. these guys thought this, there was a competing school of thought that thought this at the time... etc. the instructors i've had were very enjoyable.

2. you also have to take pathophysiology. it's tough and the first few weeks required about 15-20 hours of studying. maybe it doesn't take that much time but i have it so i use it. it's a fascinating and very important class.

3. everyone talks about the first six weeks being the toughest. it sounds kind of like nursing boot camp to me. i've heard mixed messages on how tough it is. some say the are up every night until midnight studying. another (just one) told me that she was done by 5pm most days. i really think it comes down to how good your memory is and how good your study skills are. after the first six weeks you do your "check offs" and then you start to have clinicals intermixed into the academic portion. some people do struggle in the program some people breeze through. no one says it's easy though. right now the current ao's are kinda just biding their time, doing clinicals and preparing for nclex. the ones who are taking graduate level classes are still having a tough go of it though.

4. i think that if you apply early, meet the prerequisite, or show that you can by the time class start you'll be in. you will talk to leslie, she's the director of the admissions for the ao program. she's awesome and knows her stuff.

5. the program has a very high graduation percentage and a first time pass of the nclex in the mid 90's i believe. the ao's tend to do better than the traditional options. the reason for this i think is that we've already graduated once from college so the pool of students is different. we're also older and more mature. with that said the to program is good too. research college of nursing has been cranking out nurses for 100 years. they know how to create nurses. i'll be in the 101st class.

6. rcon will have three meet and greats through out the year. one in the fall, one in january and one in may. they talk a bit and then out up a panel of current students to ask questions. they were helpful and much of what i'm telling you came from the

so far i've enjoyed the whole process. fyi chemistry is just tough and to take in in the summer is well.. even tougher. congrats on getting through it. i have a chemistry degree. it is my opinion that general chemistry is one of the toughest chemistry classes out there. they get easier because you start to develop a foundation and your brain learns how to think like a chemist.

i can't answer your question about whether you will "have a life" during school. it depends on how smart you are, how hard you need to work, how important a's are, and how you define a life. for me and my family this will be my life. they know i will need their support and it's a team effort.

hope that helps

darth nightingale

sith rn2b

thank you so very much for the information! can you give me some insight about the pathophysiology, i am scheduled to take it this summer. how should i prepare for the class in terms of study? is the lecture, pretty much straight forward. any pointers will help.

also, can you give us brief updates as you progress in the program. i thank you

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Hi SA2BDOCTOR,

Tim's info has helped me so much as well.

FYI: I will be in patho with you at Rockhurst this summer. Looking forward to it!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Hi there! I will be in your class as well! I'm very excited. Nervous about Patho tho. Did you go to the first meeting in Nov/Dec I think it was? Tim was there and he was telling us that Patho is just a little more indepth Physiology but that it's one of the most important classes so to really focus on it. I'm taking Med. Ethics as well as Christianity I the first half of the summer so focusing on it may be a challenge to me. Oh well. I figure it's going to prepare me for the chaos that is about to become my life. :lol2:

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Specializes in I got hurt and went to the ER once.

I'm half way through it and still kicking. So far it has mostly been a positive experience. I'm in Peds, OB and Nursing research right now. The Peds instructors and course are well... let's say.... let's say nothing and let my silence speak for its self.

OB just isn't my forte but I've enjoyed it none the less. I got to see a C-section and hold the hand of the Mommy as they stitched her up. I was the first person in the world to tell her that she was a mommy. A single tear fell from her left eye as she held onto my hand and said, "I know... it's wonderful"

[warning: shameless plug below!]

I have a few more stories... you can check up on them at http://frogbitedaddio.spaces.live.com/

A student from the previous class wrote a very exellent blog of her year at http://lilk8tob.spaces.live.com/ I found it well worth the read and very helpful... and funny.

Be excited! Have fun and enjoy every moment of it. Being a part of the RCON AO class of '07 has been such a wonderful experience. Even the bad parts are not so bad.

Timp

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Hello All,

I'm currently attending Rockhurst/Research as a traditional student and I will graduate in 2009. My experience thus far has been very positive. I am currently in Patho, Nursing Assessment, Christianity I, and Human Reality and Existance. I have just finished my Assessment class and is working on doing the Head to Toe final assessment. I am looking forward to my Foundations class because it's more hands on.

For Patho, I would highly recommend Fluids and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy by Linppincott. Also, pay close attention to ALL the manifestations and use the CD in the back of the Patho book. On my first Patho test, I ended up with a 83 which is a B-. It can only get better from there.

The instructors are very good. They really know their material. They provide study guides to be completed before each class and the study guides follow an in order sequence, meaning they don't skip around in lecture. The study guide follows your text to a tee. If you complete all your study guides and do your pre-class quizes, (and try to get 5/5 on the quizes) you will be fine.

Also, the instructors are very friendly and easy to work with.

Also, if you haven't brushed up on your Physiology, it's a good idea to start before you get to Patho. They don't do any refresher of Physiology and you really need a good grip of Physiology to understand Patho.

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