SLU in Hammond

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Curious to know what anyone has to say about SLU in Hammond. Any comments (particularly about their accelerated program) would be appreciated.

I go to SLU's NS. Yeah, it is hard, but I feel like we're learning alot. I don't have any other experience to compare it to, but the nurses where we have clinicals are always very impressed by our knowledge (compared to students from other schools). The first 2 semesters of actual nursing school is in Hammond and the last 3 are in BR. Clinicals are pretty much all BR, with the exception of psych, which could be in Mandeville. People in the accelerated program go every semester (including summer) and graduate in December (wheras those in the normal program who start at the same time graduate in May). Of course if they start in the Fall this is different...

What do you find hard about the program?

What courses are taught during the first 2 semesters?

What is the accelerated program like?

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What do you find hard about the program?

What courses are taught during the first 2 semesters?

What is the accelerated program like?

What's hard for me is the amount of knowledge we are expected to gain in such a short time... you're thrown into the program and are expected to understand how to chart like a nurse, how to do an assessment, etc after the first 1 or 2 classes. :uhoh3:

The first 2 semesters consist of mostly "foundations" type classes, skills labs, and your 2 patho/pharms.

Those in the acclerated program take the same courses as everyone else, they just have to go during the summer months as well as regular term. To be in the program you must have a degree in something (even accounting... :p )

Here's some more info: http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Nursing/don_index.htm

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What's hard for me is the amount of knowledge we are expected to gain in such a short time... you're thrown into the program and are expected to understand how to chart like a nurse, how to do an assessment, etc after the first 1 or 2 classes. :uhoh3:

The first 2 semesters consist of mostly "foundations" type classes, skills labs, and your 2 patho/pharms.

Those in the acclerated program take the same courses as everyone else, they just have to go during the summer months as well as regular term. To be in the program you must have a degree in something (even accounting... :p )

Here's some more info: http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Nursing/don_index.htm

So, you'd say the program is do-able.

The first 2 semesters: I take it that these don't consist of clinicals...or do they? Which courses would you say, particulary during those first 2 semesters, were most difficult?

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So, you'd say the program is do-able.

The first 2 semesters: I take it that these don't consist of clinicals...or do they? Which courses would you say, particulary during those first 2 semesters, were most difficult?

Yes, anything is do-able. :)

There are clinicals beginning your first semester but I wouldn't really call them clinicals. The first semester you go to the hospital just a few times to perform assessments on patients. The second semester you have clinical once a week from 7-1. From then on it's 2 days a week from 7-3.

The hardest courses during the first 2 semesters were definately the patho/pharm classes, but still do-able.

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Yes, anything is do-able. :)

There are clinicals beginning your first semester but I wouldn't really call them clinicals. The first semester you go to the hospital just a few times to perform assessments on patients. The second semester you have clinical once a week from 7-1. From then on it's 2 days a week from 7-3.

The hardest courses during the first 2 semesters were definately the patho/pharm classes, but still do-able.

Now we're getting somewhere.

What was difficult about patho/pharm classes? Was it alot of memorization? Did you find the instructors to be demonic as one poster said?

Thanks for the info.

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Curious to know what anyone has to say about SLU in Hammond. Any comments (particularly about their accelerated program) would be appreciated.

I graduated with my bachelor's degree in nursing from SLU in May of '04. While I was in school, I hated the instructors and thought the curriculum was too strenuous. However, after graduation I was thankful to have went through SLU's program, because I felt very well prepared. My only complaint is some of the instructors are very unsympathetic. My clinical skills were not the best, but my knowledge base was excellent. I would highly reccommend their program.

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:devil: Demonic? Interesting. I've dealt with instructors who don't care, and that's fine with me since there are very few I care for either.

Beside the demonic instructors, what did you find difficult about the program (certain classes, clinicals, etc.)? Also, where did you do your clinicals? I'm curious if the clinical sites are spread out, or can you do them in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, exclusively.

Why would you say your gpa dropped?

Some of the instructors are pretty mean, probably close to half. Their are only a few who actually care and the others are just there and don't say much or advocate for the students. Administration doesn't take complaints seriously from the students. Some of the instructors are incompetent in addition to being cruel and if you complain about them, administration ignores it. Some of the classes are just a waste of time and the clinical instructors are either somewhere with their favorite students and you can't find them. Clinicals are done mainly in Baton Rouge. Their are some sites in Covington and Hammond, but it's competitive to get those spots. Anyway, hope that helps.

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Now we're getting somewhere.

What was difficult about patho/pharm classes? Was it alot of memorization? Did you find the instructors to be demonic as one poster said?

Thanks for the info.

No, that's exactly why it is hard. In nursing school, tests are all about application and very little memorization. You read the question and all four multiple choice answers seem okay, so you just have to understand the material and be able to apply it to do well. Patho/pharm is definitely hard because your learning about disease processes and all of these different medicines and their side effects and....it's just complicated when you have never been exposed to the stuff before.

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No, that's exactly why it is hard. In nursing school, tests are all about application and very little memorization. You read the question and all four multiple choice answers seem okay, so you just have to understand the material and be able to apply it to do well. Patho/pharm is definitely hard because your learning about disease processes and all of these different medicines and their side effects and....it's just complicated when you have never been exposed to the stuff before.

Thanks for the information. Very insightful, especially regarding the tests being that of application. Curious to know if you stayed in Louisiana or moved elsewhere? This may not be a good question considering that many in southeastern Louisiana are now displaced.

Another question (this one may really show my ignorance): did you write many care plans? I knew of someone who, years ago, went to SELU, then known as SLU, and had to write, in long hand, several care plans each day. I think it was done for the upcoming or next day's clinical. I'm just curious if that format is still used. The reason I ask is because computers were not as widespread back then. And now colleges love to use technology. For example, blackboard did not exist back then. Come to think of it, neither did email. Wow...I'm getting old. :imbar

One other question: what is the attrition rate? Ballpark figure.

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Thanks for the information. Very insightful, especially regarding the tests being that of application. Curious to know if you stayed in Louisiana or moved elsewhere? This may not be a good question considering that many in southeastern Louisiana are now displaced.

Another question (this one may really show my ignorance): did you write many care plans? I knew of someone who, years ago, went to SELU, then known as SLU, and had to write, in long hand, several care plans each day. I think it was done for the upcoming or next day's clinical. I'm just curious if that format is still used. The reason I ask is because computers were not as widespread back then. And now colleges love to use technology. For example, blackboard did not exist back then. Come to think of it, neither did email. Wow...I'm getting old. :imbar

One other question: what is the attrition rate? Ballpark figure.

I lived in Hammond while I was in school. From what I understand, Hammond has not been too badly hit by the hurricane. Yes, lots of care plans written by hand. Most instructors are very strict and they require a lot of attention. Usually take several hours a week, depending on the teacher. They are usually done after clinical.

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I lived in Hammond while I was in school. From what I understand, Hammond has not been too badly hit by the hurricane. Yes, lots of care plans written by hand. Most instructors are very strict and they require a lot of attention. Usually take several hours a week, depending on the teacher. They are usually done after clinical.

How much time was spent in clinical. I've read other posts that times vary with the school (6am-4pm, 7am-12pm; 2 days a week, 1 day a week; etc.)?

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How much time was spent in clinical. I've read other posts that times vary with the school (6am-4pm, 7am-12pm; 2 days a week, 1 day a week; etc.)?

The first semester you go to hospital twice for an hour to do a complete assessment. The second semester you go for one day (it's been awhile!); I think 7 to 1. You go the day before for an hour to look through your patient's chart. The third, fourth, and fifth semester you go for two days, 7 to 3. You also go the day before day one to do preclinical. The last semester you don't have preclinical.

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