Texas Tech 2nd degree BSN program 2015

hopefulprayers1 · May 14, 2014

Also, how do you like the program? Is it grueling or hard but manageable?

hopefulprayers1 · May 14, 2014

I think I see where I made my mistakes, I didn't know that the el paso program and the program for Campuses Abilene, Amarillo, Austin/Hill Country, Dallas, Lubbock and Odessa were different. For El Paso their deadline is Sept 1....ughh! They should have all the deadlines be sept 1.

Also, does ttu not use nursingcas anymore?

kaseyroo · May 14, 2014

@hopefulprayers1- It seems like the deadline is July 1 now, but I can't be sure. TTHSCU doesn't use nursingCAS. You'll submit everything through an independent system on the TTUHSC website.

I like the program! It's very hard, but manageable. I feel lucky to have a supportive boyfriend, no children, and no job. Some of my classmates are married, have kids, and are still working. We have lost two people already because they had too much going on. Bottom line: Your time management has to be impeccable and you have to be proactive and independent with your learning. If you feel like you need a lot of help and support from your faculty, this program will be challenging for you.

hopefulprayers1 · May 14, 2014

Thanks Kasey! I'm an independent learner so it shouldn't be difficult. I've taken 95% of all my courses online. I was told when I called today that ep is separate from lubbock campus so thats why their deadline is different. Which sucks because I thought they were the same and I cant move to ep. I have a supportive husband and no children as well. I'm waiting to complete my ban before starting a family. So i have a question, are all didactic courses online and then student just attend clinicals and any other things required by the program? About how many hours do they recommend you spend studying and doing homework?

hopefulprayers1 · May 14, 2014

Just called ep and they are no longer offering the 2nd degree program. They are going to integrate it with the traditional program. Boo

kaseyroo · May 15, 2014

@hopefulprayers1- Yes, all of the coursework is online. The first semester is 21 credit hours that are staggered throughout and end/start on various dates. The classes are anywhere from a full 16 weeks to a mere 2 weeks. On a good week, I usually spend about 40-50 hours dedicated to this program. This includes 25 hours in clinical, 3 hours taking proctored exams/being in post-clinical/doing a required community activity, and 15-20 hours studying. Some weeks are even crazier with two 12-hour shifts at the hospital, 3 exams to study for, two quizzes due, and an 8-hour simulation day. Those weeks are more like 50-60 hours. It really just varies, but my average commitment is the equivalent of a full-time job. :)

evenursetobe · May 17, 2014

Thank you so much @Kaseyroo. It was great to hear how the actual program goes. Do you know what any other people had done to get in? Were some people much less qualified than you? Did anyone you know attend Texas Tech previously? and what tends to be the age group of people accepted? Sorry for all the questions. I am just trying to see what I gotta do to get in.

kaseyroo · May 17, 2014

@Nurseandmomtobe- It's hard to keep track of 37 other people, so I really can't speak for everyone. Based on the people that I have gotten close with, it seems that their clinical experience got them in. Grades don't hurt either. The average GPA, science and pre-requisite, is about a 3.5. However, clinical experience can make up for any discrepancy in your grades. I just really can't stress enough how valuable experience is to those handing out the golden tickets. I feel like I am among the more experienced in my cohort. There are more experienced like our paramedics, respiratory therapist, and long-time CNAs. There are a few with minimal to no experience as well. I only know of one who attended Texas Tech previously and she had minimal to no experience, but stellar grades. Like I said previously, I am one of the four youngest in the program (23 y/o). I believe the average age is late 20's, but we have many in their 30's and our oldest is 43.

cinders_gr · Jun 10, 2014

Thanks @Kaseyroo --just started following this thread and wondering if you know any of the students in your class have children? I am wondering if this program is manageable for me. I have two small children (under 4yrs), a husband who does work full time, and no family here in ATX...I know this program is very intensive, but do you know any other students who were in a similar situation? Just trying to see if this program is truly an option. Thanks!

kaseyroo · Jun 16, 2014

Hi @cinders_gr!

Yes, there are many students in my cohort that have children. One of my closest friends in the program is a mother of four! I am truly amazed by the people who have children in this program because it definitely is a challenge. The time commitment is just so intense. We did lose a mom early in the semester who had a newborn baby. It was just too much for her.

The beauty of this program is that the lecture material is all online. That offers a lot of flexibility if you're caring for little ones at home. However, you will be out of the house a minimum of two days a week for the entire day. During the summer session (Holy crap, by the way!), I am not at home at least 3-4 days during the week doing something for school. Group projects. Community activities. Simulation days. Clinicals. You name it! I don't have children myself, but if I did, I can't imagine doing this program without some kind of childcare.

I don't want to discourage you, but I want to prepare you. You cannot do this without help!

Hope that helps!

cinders_gr · Jun 17, 2014

THANK YOU @Kaseyroo !! You are awesome! It is so hard to get answers...so it is inCREDIBLY helpful to have some inside insight! What are community activities? All of these are things the counselors of the program don't tell you! How much of this can you do at night? My thought is to study 4-5hrs/day when I'm not in clinicals, like just study from 7pm-12, then be home all day during days except clinicals. But let's be honest, I have no idea what the program is really like! Is that doable?

Also, does it help significantly to have a lot of clinical experience before starting the program? In clinicals, do they make you change your fair share of ostomy bags, draw blood/start IVs, start PICC line stuff? I'm wondering if I should get a CA job that focuses more on med-surg before the program.

LASTLY--SO SORRY for all the questions but you are SUCH a valuable resource---are you with the SAME preceptor/coach all year for clinicals? Are they pretty lenient or understanding? I'm worried I would get a really strict coach and mess up on an IV or something important! I don't do well with a lot of pressure :/

I am hoping to find a coach (IF I get in!) that works weekends so I'm only gone during the weekends. I wonder how likely that is.

ANyway--I am so sorry to bombard you with so many questions I understand if you can't answer right away or all of them, I'm just trying to decide if this program is going to be a good fit for me and my family. I really appreciate you being on this board and discussing this with us--you are worth your weight in gold my friend! A huge blessing to the many of us applying

kaseyroo · Jun 18, 2014

@cinders_gr,

Community activities are clinical activities in which you interact with a population of individuals that pertains to your coursework for that semester. For example, our OB course last semester required us to attend a breastfeeding and newborn care class. This semester, for pediatrics, we developed a pediatric simulation scenario for high school students in the Austin area to participate in. For mental health, we have to attend an AA meeting and go on a ride-out with a Crisis Intervention Team. There are just a lot of activities that required you to participate in your community.

I think studying 4-5 hours per day is doable. It really depends on your schedule that week. Last semester, we were at the Clinical Education Center for eight hours a day for about 10-11 days straight. You've just got to be prepared for those crazy weeks.

I think having clinical experience will put you light years ahead when you start your clinical rotations at the hospital. You'll actually have trouble getting into this program without it. As a student in this program, you do everything in clinical. The only skills we absolutely cannot perform are hanging blood, administering chemotherapy, administering rescue drugs in a code, and defibrillating. You should expect to be performing every skill under the sun that is required of you in your clinical setting.

In theory, you are with the same clinical coach for the duration of the program. There is always the possibility of having a serious personal conflict with your coach or even your coach deciding to quit his/her job. This is rare, but it has happened.

It really depends on your coach, honestly. Everyone has a different teaching style and there is no way to know what your coach will be like. They had us fill out an extensive questionnaire and attempted to pair us with a coach that is best suited for us. They are all very qualified and experienced nurses, but I cannot guarantee that your coach will be a total sweetheart. You don't have a choice in your coach or their schedule either. The faculty takes into account your preferences, but if you get a coach that works nights, you'll be working nights.

You've got to be flexible! I'm telling you. This program will own you for one year!