To Drive or Not to Drive

[CSUEBRNstudent!]

Hey there!

So I have just been accepted to CSUEB Nursing, and I am wondering if it is at all possible to get away with not having a car? I live in Oakland (near Highland) and have been taking public transportation to and from school for the last few years. My question then, is whether or not this is something that I can continue to get away with while in the nursing program, and/or if anyone who attends CSUEB Nursing has been able to do so without a car.

THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!

[ooomonkeys]

I do not know much about public transportation so, are you confident that you will be able to be on time every single day? If you aren't then are you willing to risk it?

[PioneersNursing]

congrats on being accepted to our nursing program!

the first year of the nursing program is mostly on-campus. our hayward campus is easily accessible by public transportation, but the concord campus is not as accessible.

toward the end of the first year at both campuses, students begin making site visits to clinical agencies or hospitals. students attend in groups of 8-10, so it is possible to arrange a carpool, if you can connect with another student who is driving, or you can investigate if public transportation can meet your needs, as you will sign up for the clinical visits in advance.

the clinicals during the second year of the program are at major hospitals, and are assigned to groups of 8-10 students, so the same possibilities may apply, with extra effort and responsibility on the student to arrange travel with others or investigate reliable public transportation beforehand.

the third year of the program may be difficult to complete without your own car, as it includes a community health requirement; for this requirement, nursing students visit patients at their homes, several patients a day within a certain geographic area, within a set block of time.

hope this answers your questions.

kind regards,

lara dungan

admissions coordinator /pre-admissions advisor

nursing & health sciences department

california state university, east bay

[ZionsWrath]

If you can afford it, get a car.

You will thank me later.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I'm not familiar with CSUEB, but do you have a public health rotation? I know for mine it is REQUIRED that you have a car and a valid driver's license otherwise you can't take the class.