Samuel Merritt ABSN Intensity Questions

U.S.A. California

Published

How intensive is an ABSN program?

I'm applying to Samuel Merritt College in N. California and was wondering how often and how long are classes? Also, how much time do you spend studying outside of class? Plus, how often are clinicals?

Basically I'm asking what a typical week would be like?

I tried calling them and they couldn't give me a straight answer. It was like the person on the phone didn't know.

Any info would be really appreciated!

Thanks!

Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

The program is not worth the money. It's disorganized (at the extension campuses), clinical experiences vary (some instructors are great, some are not so great), it's more than 48K b/c of supplies, books, transportation, you may have to commute to your clinical sites. The extension campuses are small and you don't have the library access you may have at a larger university. So far, I've had an overall good experience and have learned a lot, but have had a far better experience in my other undergrad university, that was much much cheaper. I just feel that SMC is trying to make as much profit as possible. For 48K and 1 year, I guess my expectations are high. There is a program at MSU that's roughly 20K. I'd try to go for a program like that b/c debt sucks. People in my program are 100K in the hole. I guess you make it back, but considering the difficulty of nursing (it's tough, exhausting work, underpaid for the level of difficulty), paying off the debt sucks.

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jzzy88,

I think there are a lot of students who are not able to move to Maryland (Is that what you meant by MSU?). For those who have mortgages, kids and bills it is difficult to move out of state or even out of the area for a nursing program. Good luck in the rest of your program!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
jzzy88,

I think there are a lot of students who are not able to move to Maryland (Is that what you meant by MSU?). For those who have mortgages, kids and bills it is difficult to move out of state or even out of the area for a nursing program. Good luck in the rest of your program!

Michigan state university has an accelerated BSN program that's a lot less than SMC. I understand your reasoning and it's the same reasoning that I used to make my decision, not wanting to leave the area. I just want to be honest about my feelings about the program. I don't mean to disappoint anyone. The Oakland and Sac locations may be a little more organized. It's also a little weird to see what nurses actually do compared to what I thought they did. I'm surprised at the difficulty of the work. Don't feel bad if you end up at SMC, you will have a BSN and will be able to get a job as a nurse, which is worth something.

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It's also a little weird to see what nurses actually do compared to what I thought they did. I'm surprised at the difficulty of the work.
Can you elaborate on this? Thanks.
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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Can you elaborate on this? Thanks.

For one thing it can be laborious work, like moving patients, equipment, etc...and you've got to watch your back very carefully. Another thing is that some of the work like suctioning mucus, wiping bad smelling diarrhea, is disgusting, to me anyway. There's also a lot to do in a day, and nurses have more than 1 patient, most of the time, unless that person is very very ill. Nurses are on their feet a lot, they take abuse from rude doctors and respiratory therapists. They also take abuse from patients. I like the assessment part of nursing, like listening to heart sounds, and the like. Considering what nurses do, I strongly think they are underpaid. I think that there has been a lot of deception from the profession itself with regard to what reality is like as a nurse. There are all kinds of sappy posters presenting nursing as a highly respected profession, and rewarding, blah blah. And it is to a degree rewarding, but the level of disrespect from doctors is very discouraging. But mind you, I am a student, with only 4 months into the program, so I only have seen a limited amount of nursing so far. A lot of what I have seen is rather disappointing though.

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For one thing it can be laborious work, like moving patients, equipment, etc...and you've got to watch your back very carefully. Another thing is that some of the work like suctioning mucus, wiping bad smelling diarrhea, is disgusting, to me anyway. There's also a lot to do in a day, and nurses have more than 1 patient, most of the time, unless that person is very very ill. Nurses are on their feet a lot, they take abuse from rude doctors and respiratory therapists. They also take abuse from patients. I like the assessment part of nursing, like listening to heart sounds, and the like. Considering what nurses do, I strongly think they are underpaid. I think that there has been a lot of deception from the profession itself with regard to what reality is like as a nurse. There are all kinds of sappy posters presenting nursing as a highly respected profession, and rewarding, blah blah. And it is to a degree rewarding, but the level of disrespect from doctors is very discouraging. But mind you, I am a student, with only 4 months into the program, so I only have seen a limited amount of nursing so far. A lot of what I have seen is rather disappointing though.

It seems as if you have had some clinical instructors that are not pushing you! My advice, push yourself!!! I know nursing is not glamorous, but you do need to get a real feel for it. However, many of my fellow classmates and I felt we did not get a true sense of the profession until we did our preceptorships... Good luck, and try not to be so down on the program, I feel my education and experience was what I made it, and I made it valuable (and worth far more than $46,000). :twocents:

ps

It may help you to know, in talking with fellow new grads at my job, it seems many programs are disorganized whether a 1, 2, or 3 year degree. My best advice is to see this as practice in being flexible because once you are on the floor, alone with 3-5 patients, it can (and will) be pure chaos!!!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
It seems as if you have had some clinical instructors that are not pushing you! My advice, push yourself!!! I know nursing is not glamorous, but you do need to get a real feel for it. However, many of my fellow classmates and I felt we did not get a true sense of the profession until we did our preceptorships... Good luck, and try not to be so down on the program, I feel my education and experience was what I made it, and I made it valuable (and worth far more than $46,000). :twocents:

ps

It may help you to know, in talking with fellow new grads at my job, it seems many programs are disorganized whether a 1, 2, or 3 year degree. My best advice is to see this as practice in being flexible because once you are on the floor, alone with 3-5 patients, it can (and will) be pure chaos!!!

Good advice. My negative experiences mainly have to do with the admin and how my clinical placements were determined, with a supposed rotating alpha priority that did not really exist (not for me anyway), and the clinical experiences and instruction I ended up with. My first instructor for MCA 1 would scold us for not doing this or that, and she never told us what she wanted. It was emotionally abusive. Then for MCA 3, I get a guy that makes borderline racist comments and other inappropriate comments that are highly embarrassing in front of the nurses. And most recently, my clinical instructor for pediatrics never shows up, apparently there was a miscommunication about when the clinical was supposed to start. Also about the rotating alpha priority thing, it turned out that there were a few people with lower priority that got their first pick for clinicals, where I had higher priority and got my last choice, when I pointed this out I got yelled at by one of the administrators. No apologies, no "I understand you are upset, but..." even that would have been better that what I received. And I'm not going to make a formal complaint now b/c I'm afraid I'd really be screwed by the admin and they are not above screwing a student that makes their job more difficult. I'm not the only one who feels this way either. But some students do get good clinical experiences, if they are lucky, and it is worth it for them. I was not lucky so far, and don't feel like for 48K (that's the tuition now-not counting the 100s of dollars spent on books and transportation) luck should govern the type of experience students get. The program grew much to fast to take advantage of the $$$ the school could make to provide nursing programs. But, hopefully something great will emerge from this experience, I'm still open to it and I try to make the most of my clinical experiences and yes it hasn't been all bad. Still, I could not recommend this program, b/c my last undergraduate experience was far far better and for a fraction of the cost. I would suggest a different program if a person has to choose between 2 accelerate BSN programs, SMC or something else, go for the something else. I had a choice of something out of state and now I wish I would have gone there. Well, thanks for letting me rant, and I am glad that you had a (more) positive experience than I've had. How long did it take you to find a job BTW? Thanks again for the words of encouragement.

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Jzzy88,

I was offered my job in mid-May, just before graduation, I began in mid-July. I completely feel your frustrations! My class was extremely united so when admin pushed us, 45 of us pushed back, HARD! I'm sorry you are having a poor experience, I too was given an opportunity to go to another school, and am very happy I chose SMC, I would just be graduating this May and instead I am out there getting great experiences (and getting paid for it!!!). One more piece of advice I can give you is: what they teach you in nursing school is merely a foundation, and a solid foundation is key. You will not perfect ANYTHING in school, just become familiar with things and when you get into the real world things will come together. one more positive thing, you are learning how flaky and fickle administration can be. Good luck, let me know if I can help you with anything else!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Jzzy88,

I was offered my job in mid-May, just before graduation, I began in mid-July. I completely feel your frustrations! My class was extremely united so when admin pushed us, 45 of us pushed back, HARD! I'm sorry you are having a poor experience, I too was given an opportunity to go to another school, and am very happy I chose SMC, I would just be graduating this May and instead I am out there getting great experiences (and getting paid for it!!!). One more piece of advice I can give you is: what they teach you in nursing school is merely a foundation, and a solid foundation is key. You will not perfect ANYTHING in school, just become familiar with things and when you get into the real world things will come together. one more positive thing, you are learning how flaky and fickle administration can be. Good luck, let me know if I can help you with anything else!

How does the preceptorship process work and what do I need to do to get one in my specialty of choice? How do I go about finding a job (new grad training program) before I graduate? I just want to get the most out of the program and not waste any time or money. Thanks very very much for your words of encouragement and willingness to help, I greatly appreciate it!!

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Hello - I am knew to this forum and in need of advice.

I have recently been accepted into CSU East Bay BSN program (2 years)and SMC ABSN program - SF. My husband and I are having a difficult time deciding what program will be best for me.

Any advice would be helpful - thanks in advance!

1) Where are most of the clinicals for the SF campus?

2) I would be communiting to the SMC - SF campus from East Bay (2 hour commute via BART) .. is this possible with the adacemic schedule?

3) I read in another thread, classes are 2 times a week. Is this an 8 - 5 type schedule, and then clinical location will depend on rotations (3 days of the week).

Also, please feel free to give me any input regarding the SMC program compared to other graduates in the area.

Thanks again.

Laura

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I'd go to the cheaper school especially since the economy isn't doing so well. I'm kind a worried about getting a job after school in the bay area, since it seems to be pretty saturated. Or have I just had my head in a book to long?

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