UC Accelerated BSN

Hello all! I just wanted to see if there are any soon-to-be accelerated students out there. I'm starting the BSN/MSN program at the University of CIncinnati in January and can't wait! I was hoping to get in touch with anyone who has been/is currently/is about to be going through this program. Hope to hear back!

J

You're doomed....DOOMED, I say.

OK, maybe not.

I graduated from the UC Accel Pathway program last August, and recommend it to anyone interested in an accelerated BSN. It is not easy, but you can certainly get through it. I'll PM you with some more info - with less than 15 posts, I don't think you can PM me back, but I'll include an email address.

Thank you, CrufflerJJ!

Your PM was very informative, I read your blog from start to finish and feel like I have a much better idea about the program now. Thanks! Also, I already have the "survival guide" but thank you anyway. I'm curious if you have suggestions for reading material to help get a leg up before classes start this January. I'm not used to only working (i.e. not having classes or assignments to do when I get home at the end of the day) so I'm trying to keep busy! Also, I'd like to know about your own path after the Accelerated BSN program. Did you continue on directly into a Master's program, and if so which specialty did you choose? I apologize if this is too much to ask for on a forum like this. I don't quite know the ropes yet! Thanks for your time!

J

Thank you, CrufflerJJ!

Your PM was very informative, I read your blog from start to finish and feel like I have a much better idea about the program now. Thanks! Also, I already have the "survival guide" but thank you anyway. I'm curious if you have suggestions for reading material to help get a leg up before classes start this January. I'm not used to only working (i.e. not having classes or assignments to do when I get home at the end of the day) so I'm trying to keep busy! Also, I'd like to know about your own path after the Accelerated BSN program. Did you continue on directly into a Master's program, and if so which specialty did you choose? I apologize if this is too much to ask for on a forum like this. I don't quite know the ropes yet! Thanks for your time!

J

J -

Don't worry too much about getting a "leg up" on classes. Rest up before your program starts - you'll need it! If you're bored, you can start reading your Assessment text. That course has plenty of reading out of the textbook, along with PowerPoint slides.

Give some thought to how you'll keep things organized - class binders, assignment (due date) calendars,...

I'm not taking any Masters courses yet. I started a Critical Care (ICU) Fellowship a couple months ago, and am enjoying it. LOTS to learn & internalize.

Take care!

Hi JOHIO,

I was accepted this past July and am in the process of finishing pre-reques. I think Phase I can be difficult in the sense that you are kind of on your own so I am taking every opportunity to network that I can. I've been using allnurses since 2005, when I got more serious about pursuing nursing. It's been a very helpful and accurate site for me.

H.D.

Good luck with your prereqs H.D., I had a quite a time getting into all the classes I needed at UC. They all seemed to be closed to "non-matriculated students". I hope you are having better luck!

Good luck with your prereqs H.D., I had a quite a time getting into all the classes I needed at UC. They all seemed to be closed to "non-matriculated students". I hope you are having better luck!

If you get down to a single prereq needed before you can start Phase 2 of the program, check with the graduate advisor. They may be able/willing to "force" you into a full course. That worked for me (Nutrition & Disease). I was doing prereqs at both Sinclair Community College (Dayton) and UC. On-campus stuff, and distance learning. Pack them in!

CrufflerJJ- I have been reading your posts on UC Accelerated Nursing... I am taking prerequisites now and hope to start the program soon! Any more info you have would be greatly appreciated!!

You're doomed....DOOMED, I say.

OK, maybe not.

I graduated from the UC Accel Pathway program last August, and recommend it to anyone interested in an accelerated BSN. It is not easy, but you can certainly get through it. I'll PM you with some more info - with less than 15 posts, I don't think you can PM me back, but I'll include an email address.

Hi CrufflerJJ,

I'm starting UC's accelerated program, as well. Would you send me information as well from your experience in the program. I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

BentleyJazzie

I too am starting phase 2 in january. I have not talked to anyone about how phase 2 is yet so if you have any info and dont mind sharing it i would greatly appreciate.

hi there! i actually started phase 2 this past january so i'm getting ready to finish up my 2nd quarter now.

here's a breakdown of the classes you'll have from another student who has already finished the program:

-assessment – be ready to work for an “a”. tons of material (textbook, powerpoint slides, lecture notes) to read for each test. the assessment lab can be nerve-wracking as you perform physical exams on a fellow student (and they perform one on you). this helps you get used to touching & interacting with strangers in a clinical setting, before your first hospital clinical.

-interventions – this is also challenging. lots of reading in this one. expect 2 of your 10 scheduled clinical days to be sessions in the skills lab at proctor hall.

-statistics (graduate level) – if you haven’t had an undergrad stats class, you’ll probably be lost in this class. even if you did have an undergrad stats class, you may be frustrated/lost in this class. highly dependent on the quality of your instructor.

-research (graduate level) – not quite as bad as stats, but still a bit frustrating. you’ll actually learn something in this class, however. (statistics and research were each five weeks in length in 2007 -meeting twice per week, i presume - whereas in 2008 those classes lasted the full 10 weeks, with each one meeting once per week.)

-community nursing – easy a. you take this for 5 weeks in quarter 2, and 10 more fun-filled weeks in quarter 3. depending on your community clinical site & preceptor (3rd quarter only), you’ll either like it or hate it. overall, though, still an easy a.

-socialization to professional nursing – easy a.

-ob – get ready to really work for your a.

-pediatrics – also fairly challenging.

-adult health (health patterns b, 3rd quarter) – a challenging course – you really start to “put things together” in this class, using your past classes to answer test questions in this one.

-psych/mental health (3rd quarter) – easier than many classes, especially since the final exam is pure nclex questions (you’d better practice these ahead of time, though, to get in the right frame of mind). get ready to really work, though, when doing the “reflection paper.” you’ll need to look inside yourself to do well on that paper.

-leadership/management in professional nursing (4th quarter) – easy a. lots of classroom discussion/projects, few if any tests.

-health patterns synthesis/integration (didactic & seminar, 4th quarter)– challenging, since you’ve got to recall & really “put together” information from your prior classes.

here are some general thoughts i can share about the program:

1. it's super unorganized!!! don't get me wrong, you'll get all your clinicals done and everything falls into place eventually, you just can't ever plan on knowing your schedule more than a few weeks ahead of time. some people get really upset about this, but i think it's worth the frustration just to get the degree so quickly and not have to wait to do clinicals.

2. there's a ton of reading, and if you really want to learn how to be a good nurse, you need to do it all!

3. if you go with the flow and don't get on your classmates'/instructors' bad side, things will be much easier for you. there are a few people in our cohort who have burned some bridges already. overall, our group is really supportive of each other and we always have each others' backs.

bottom line: it's unorganized, it's stressful, it's exhausting and i love it! i hope you have a good experience too! let me know if you have any specific questions, i'd love to answer them!

-johio

How was the job opportunities coming from an accelerated msn program? Did you find one that you wanted or is the market too saturated or did you just go into the masters portion. I took all my prereqs at cincy state and since it is a community college I was concerned that they may not prepare me enough compared to taking them at a university Any thoughts. Were students having any trouble with the nclex exam? How good is the quality of education in the accelerated program? Lastly, can you take any classes prior to starting phase 2 like stat or any other. I have some time before I start and if I can get ahead any I would like to because I really want to do well when I start. Any advice?

Again thankyou for you input it has really been helpful

bryan

Hi Brabe,

I'm starting in January, as well. I can send you some information and try to answer some of your questions. I'm new to allnurses and haven't figured out how to send email on this site yet, so if you want to email my AllNurses account with your email address, we can go from there.

I had some of your same questions and a couple very nice people helped to answer my questions. I'll pass on what they told me to you.

BJ