Sonoma State University Fall 2014

[mswtruth]

I know I'm way ahead of schedule, but I'm trying to gather as much info as I can about applying to Sonoma State University's nursing program here in CA. If anyone has any details on criteria other than on their site I would be ever so grateful.

I have a few more classes to take this summer and fall but should be done with all prerequisites other than speech before applying next spring 2014. I'll have speech in progress in spring '14 semester.

I am CNA certified, volunteer at Marin General in Kentfield, volunteer at Hospice By The Bay in Larkspur. I live in Marin County and have a 3.9 GPA and highly anticipate to keep that through the year and in my core sciences.

My only hitch is I have mediocre grades from my college years 16 years ago. With my current GPA of 3.9 I'll only have a 3.0 overall GPA. I'm worried about that spoiling any chances of having a competitive edge. Do you think it will?

I will be applying to other schools I just prefer SSU. If anyone has any experience or insight into what one needs to make the cut I'd be grateful!

[RunBabyRN]

For SSU, med/surg clinicals are held at Kaiser SR and Sutter SR for the first year, and Sutter SR and Queen of the Valley (Napa) third semester. Maternal child are held at Sutter SR & Santa Rosa Memorial. Psych is either all over Sonoma County or at Marin General. Peds, community health and preceptorship are everywhere.

Our class started with 24, and graduated with 23. The class below us is down to 22.

The residency program is very popular, though there are no guarantees. You have to interview at the hospitals and be chosen. It's basically like a job interview.

Where do you want to work? You might look at the candidates they tend to choose- some hospitals won't hire ADN-prepared nurses anymore, some will.

[CaliRN]

Thanks RunbabyRun. Not sure where I want to work yet. Probably private practice eventually, but maybe hospital. Labor and Delivery looks great now, but might feel different once I get there. That's actually a great topic for boards, what "work in healthcare do you love and why?" I don't know what the residency program is, but sure I will find out. Its going to be a long drive to clinicals from Novato, might be moving North.

[RunBabyRN]

Thanks RunbabyRun. Not sure where I want to work yet. Probably private practice eventually, but maybe hospital. Labor and Delivery looks great now, but might feel different once I get there. That's actually a great topic for boards, what "work in healthcare do you love and why?" I don't know what the residency program is, but sure I will find out. Its going to be a long drive to clinicals from Novato, might be moving North.

We had several people commuting to SSU from Novato, one from San Anselmo, and another from Fairfield. You could potentially find someone to carpool, I'm sure.

Don't stress about choosing a specialty at this point. You'll get your feet wet in a variety of departments, and you may like things you didn't think you would. I never thought psych would interest me, but it does. I haven't changed my original plans (I plan to be a certified nurse midwife), but some areas I thought I'd love (surgery) I really didn't, and some I didn't think I would I do. You may also want to research which places tend to hire ADNs versus BSNs. I know most outpatient settings (clinics in particular) require experience, so that's something to think about as well.

You'll also get to know the hospitals in the area and their culture. For me, that makes a big difference.

[CaliRN]

What does it take to become a nurse midwife? Your NP? If so, where will you continue to study?

[mswtruth]

Beth2366 yes you need a masters to be a CNM. They have a program at UCSF. I actually plan on going that route as well. I was thinking about it and had midwives deliver my baby girl earlier this year. I was so impressed by their care and the care of the nurses at Marin general. The Prima Medical midwives of marin are amazing!

[RunBabyRN]

Yes, UCSF has a program, and that's where I hope/plan to attend. It's a masters, though there's talk of it becoming a doctorate in 2015. We'll have to see. I need a good break before I go back to school!