Tell me about your ABSN program

cass1320 · Feb 25, 2013

I'm currently in an ABSN program that lasts 12 months (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters). It's crazy but I absolutely love it. They are divided so that we have 21-23 credit hours each semester with classes lasting about 6 weeks and staggered so that we only have 2-3 classes at a time, plus clinicals. The program is a 50/50 online program so that much of the material is student driven. The absolute best thing about this program is that our clinicals are done according to a coaching model in which each student is paired with a BSN trained nurse that is hired by the school. We work one-on-one with our coaches for the whole year (about 225 clinical hours a semester). We also have clinical instructors who run simulations, workshops and post clinical conferences and do rounds on each student every couple weeks. I get WAY more clinical time than the students in the traditional program and the local hospitals know our program has a reputation for turning out extremely well prepared nurses. Maybe I'm bragging a little bit, but I love my program and I feel like I'm getting an exemplary education. The program is very demanding; I'm a full time student and I don't work at all. However, it is also very doable. I have a cousin with an MA in English that decided to change careers to nursing around the same time I did. She considered the ABSN route, but ultimately decided it was too intimidating. She's now very disappointed with her decision because she still has another year to go, doesn't like her program and still feels overwhelmed. I'm glad I decided to bite the bullet because it's been well worth it so far!

nermface · Feb 26, 2013

I'm currently in an ABSN program that lasts 12 months (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters). It's crazy but I absolutely love it. They are divided so that we have 21-23 credit hours each semester with classes lasting about 6 weeks and staggered so that we only have 2-3 classes at a time, plus clinicals. The program is a 50/50 online program so that much of the material is student driven. The absolute best thing about this program is that our clinicals are done according to a coaching model in which each student is paired with a BSN trained nurse that is hired by the school. We work one-on-one with our coaches for the whole year (about 225 clinical hours a semester). We also have clinical instructors who run simulations, workshops and post clinical conferences and do rounds on each student every couple weeks. I get WAY more clinical time than the students in the traditional program and the local hospitals know our program has a reputation for turning out extremely well prepared nurses. Maybe I'm bragging a little bit, but I love my program and I feel like I'm getting an exemplary education. The program is very demanding; I'm a full time student and I don't work at all. However, it is also very doable. I have a cousin with an MA in English that decided to change careers to nursing around the same time I did. She considered the ABSN route, but ultimately decided it was too intimidating. She's now very disappointed with her decision because she still has another year to go, doesn't like her program and still feels overwhelmed. I'm glad I decided to bite the bullet because it's been well worth it so far!

Which program are you enrolled in?

RosaleiMae · Feb 26, 2013

I'm starting a 15 month ABSN at SUNY Brockport this May. I'll be in the first cohort as they just added an ABSN to their nursing department.

cjcaet · Feb 26, 2013

I'm starting a 15 month ABSN at SUNY Brockport this May. I'll be in the first cohort as they just added an ABSN to their nursing department.

I'm in syr.! And starting a new cohort here in September! All your clinical's will be in roch then?

RosaleiMae · Feb 28, 2013

I'm in syr.! And starting a new cohort here in September! All your clinical's will be in roch then?

Yes, unfortunately I feel like I have no other info since it's a new program... we start May 20th, orientation May 16th... and I know our class/clinical schedule is Tues through Fri, but I can't get more info from anyone... very excited, but making arrangements for the rest of my life is a little stressful with minimal info.

What field are you coming from? How did you decide to make a change to nursing?

jseg04 · Oct 2, 2014

RosaleiMae,

I dont know if you will see this but I stumbled upon this post ..... I applied to the same program for the May 2015 cohort. I was hoping you could let me know how the program is going? Are you happy with your choice of Brockport? I applied to University of Rochesters program and was accepted (YAY), I am waiting on Brockport decision... but if they accept me I am unsure what program to enroll in. Since Brockports program is so new there isnt much feedback on it. Are there any clinical placements at Strong or Highland? I ask because that ultimately where i want to work since I plan on returning to school to get an NP degree & strong does tuition reimbursement. Is the schedule basically all day everyday? Do you feel the professors adaquately prepare you for the tests, clinicals, boards?

Any info you have would be GREAT! I am struggling to find anything

Brockport is a fraction of UR's cost, UR is about 60K per year! My stats are

1) I received a Brockport bachelors degree (so I think thats a plus)

2) My undergrad GPA was a 3.0 but I also have a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling & that GPA is 3.85

3) All A's in the science pre-reqs

4) I dont have much volunteer experience other than my Masters internships at mental health facilities and I worked at strong for 2 year prior

I'm just really anxious & looking for any words of wisdom where i can get them. Good luck in the program!

RookieRoo · Oct 3, 2014

I'm in an aBSN program that started in May. It's been busy, though I really like this semester much more than I liked the summer semester. Summer semester was 4 classes, two of which were only 4 weeks long and it all felt very cramped. This semester is four full-length classes and it's a good pace for me. It doesn't really feel much different than my first bachelor's to be honest, except of course the clinical component. My program is 16months, May2014-August2015.

jseg04 · Oct 3, 2014

Thank you so much for replying! That helps me w/ forecasting the course load and I like how you gave the example of saying it feels like your Bachelors program only w/ the clinical component. Good luck for the rest of the program!