Selecting the right ABSN program

[Finnalillawisk1]

Hi All,

As I get closer to applying to ABSN programs, I'm grappling with the decision of where to apply. Aside from the concerns on whether or not I'll get in, I'm worried about what will happen once I get out. I live in CA right now and am seriously considering the University of Oklahoma- Glendale program. Aside from all the CA nursing schools being impacted, this program looks like it may actually have some room. The problem is that I'm planning to move back to MA/NH sometime early to mid 2011. I'm thinking ahead to fellowship/new grad programs. Am I better off going to a nursing school in MA/NH? In other words, do I have a better shot at getting into a new grad/fellowship program in MA/NH if I went to a school in MA/NH or does it really have no bearing? That's my only fear about doing school here in CA. Also, does the caliber of school make a difference? For instance, would a RN from the MGN program give me a better shot than an RN from OU-Glendale? The schools back east I'm considering are the MGH ABSN, the MCPHS program (in Worcester), as well as the Rhode Island College ABSN program. Does anyone have any feedback on any of the programs which I have mentioned in this post? I really appreciate the feedback!

[casey11]

I am also in a situation where I may attend a school away from my permanent residence. I'm wondering how common it is to get a job from a hospital where one did clinical rotations. If anyone can comment on this, especially from Samuel Merritt U, that would be very helpful to me. Thanks!

[bash75]

Hello, maybe i can be of some assistance. I am currently in the 1st cohort from the University of Oklahoma(Glendale) site. The program is very unorganized and seems to be getting worse as it goes along. We are working on our 3rd site director and yet we've only been open for 10 months. They don't pay their staff enough, because they are used to paying Oklahoma salaries. Yet they have no problem charging private school rates even though it is a state funded institution. The tuition for a 14 month program started at $31,500 ten months ago and it is now up to 35,500 which doesn't include some of the nickel and dime stuff you end up paying for. The curriculum is as difficult as the regular university program but at a faster rate with very little instruction. If you fail 2 classes (anything under a 75%) you flunk out of the program. We've had several students in the two cohorts who have had to drop down a semester for failing a class or have left the program entirely. There has been minimal opportunity for tutoring for the struggling students and the university is very unsympathetic toward the plight of the students. We currently have to travel from L.A. to San Diego (a 5 hour commute on with our own money) to do our pediatrics rotation because the university could not establish a rotation at any of the hospitals in the los angeles area (the second largest city in the nation).

I carry just under a 3.5 g.p.a and am originally from the state of OK, but I don't know that I would currently recommend the program to anyone unless they didn't have a lot of other options.