Samuel Merritt ABSN Intensity Questions

amzyRN · Feb 19, 2008

I'm in the SF 2008 cohort and the above is correct, don't buy all the books they suggest. It is an intense program but not impossible to do comfortably if that's all you've got going on for the entire year. I keep telling myself, oh just 10 more months...it goes by fast,

j

Rianna1 · Feb 19, 2008

I start at the SF location in April and am mentally preparing myself for the next year. The posts have been great to read. What is the earliest you have to be at clinicals? I heard/read that sometimes clinicals are on weekends and/or evening shifts. How are those shifts for you guys? We have two little ones at home and I actually wouldn't mind the later shifts now and even the weekend shifts. Jzzy, do you live in SF or do you commute?

teensmom · Feb 19, 2008

Yes, you can have shifts from 3-11pm, usually 3 days a week. For some reason I found that shift really hard, I could not wake up at a decent hour because it took me so long to fall asleep after clinical. I much prefer the 7am-3pm shift. I have also worked weekends, which I don't mind-it seems about the same as during the week. We haven't done any clinicals on holidays. I have an older daughter that I don't see if I work the weekends but she is handling it well.

T

crisbiss · Feb 19, 2008

Hey there,

I'm sure there are lots of similarities between the campuses, but also differences. Is there anyone who can speak about the Oakland campus?

Thanks!

amzyRN · Feb 24, 2008

I start at the SF location in April and am mentally preparing myself for the next year. The posts have been great to read. What is the earliest you have to be at clinicals? I heard/read that sometimes clinicals are on weekends and/or evening shifts. How are those shifts for you guys? We have two little ones at home and I actually wouldn't mind the later shifts now and even the weekend shifts. Jzzy, do you live in SF or do you commute?

I do clinicals three days per week, thurs, fri, sat, from 3-11 pm (it's been changed from 2-10pm. I have to commute to marin. Sf campus is easy for me to get to by bart, b/c I live in the city. I can't wait till this schedule is over, It totally sucks to have clinical on the weekend, but I can tough it out for 3 more weeks,

J

Rianna1 · Feb 24, 2008

how often do your clinicals change? have you ever had to do overnights or is 3-11 the lastest shift you had to do?

amzyRN · Feb 25, 2008

we never do night shift, i.e. overnight. clinicals change by rotating priority based on last name. there are better schedules, i just was last pick this time. hopefully next time, no weekends, and i'd like to try day shift.

lagoniadolce · Apr 14, 2008

For teensmom: I recently had a baby and am thinking of becoming a nurse. He will probably be around 2 when I get into the program.. so my question is will daycare be an ok way to have my baby watched or will I need a family member that can take him at a drop of a hat? My husband will be providing for me so I wont be working but sometimes he works nights.. Does the program give sufficient notice to allow for someone to watch my baby.. also I won't be working.. I am just really nervous about the program I guess.

Also, is paying 48,000 dollars plus books worth it? Is it the amount of time that is saved by doing the ABSN vs. a 3 year state school.. or is it that it's harder to get in to cheaper programs?

Thanks in advance everyone. Hope this made sense.

Rianna1 · Apr 14, 2008

lagoniadolce,

i am in the SF location and we had orientation last week. we were told that there may be times when clinicals will change at the very last moment. we were told to be expected to be flexible. I have two young children and my advice to you would be to have backups. My youngest, who will be 2 in a few months will be in preschool. I also have my mom, my cousin and third "backup" just in case.

teensmom · Apr 15, 2008

You do need to be flexible, but most of the time we know our schedule somewhat ahead of time. Also, our clinicals can be on weekends, days or evenings. You probably won't need a babysitter full-time unless you need one for the time you need to study. Once we had to change clinicals at the last minute because the instructor never showed up. You could have a regular babysitter but a back-up person or two would be a lifesaver sometimes.

For me, I figured the cost of the program was worth it because I would be making money so much sooner, I'd be able to pay it back. Also, with the way the economy is going more people will be going back to school since they may be laid off and nursing schools may get more impacted which means the wait may get even longer. Public schools will be the most impacted of course.

I am really loving nursing school but I have talked to other people in different cohorts who are not with a good group of students. Our class really works together to make sure everyone is taken care of, we have study groups, we have birthday celebrations, we celebrate when we have passed a hard class, we stick together. It really makes a difference.

Good luck in your decision!

amzyRN · Apr 16, 2008

For teensmom: I recently had a baby and am thinking of becoming a nurse. He will probably be around 2 when I get into the program.. so my question is will daycare be an ok way to have my baby watched or will I need a family member that can take him at a drop of a hat? My husband will be providing for me so I wont be working but sometimes he works nights.. Does the program give sufficient notice to allow for someone to watch my baby.. also I won't be working.. I am just really nervous about the program I guess.
Also, is paying 48,000 dollars plus books worth it? Is it the amount of time that is saved by doing the ABSN vs. a 3 year state school.. or is it that it's harder to get in to cheaper programs?
Thanks in advance everyone. Hope this made sense.

Had I to do it over again, I'd try to find a cheaper program. Yes they are harder to get into, but try anyway, b/c the S.F. program is definitely a bit of a burn.

Rianna1 · Apr 16, 2008

jzzy88, can you elaborate on what you mean by "a bit of a burn?"