UMSON Spring 2015

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Hello everyone! I may be a little early with this, but here's a new post for all of you hoping to apply this September 2nd for the Spring 2015 semester at UMSON. You can post questions you have, helpful advice you would like to give (if you're already in the program), etc.

I specifically have a question for those who have already applied to the Spring 2014 semester and got in. When you applied last September, when in November did you get your acceptance letter in the mail? Was it the beginning, middle, or toward the end of November? I'm asking this because the other nursing school I am applying to only gives a 3-week time period after the end of October (when they let you know if you made it in or not) to accept or decline enrollment. So, if I don't make it into UMSON, I'd want to be able to give this other nursing school an answer before the 3-week time period runs out.

I found this article that says it is only a recommendation to have a DNP as a NP DNP by 2015? on ADVANCE for NPs & PAs

Thanks for the website @littlemango I cant wait to read about all the different specialties. :)

I'm not sure what exact books they used but I know if you youtube studying for nursing school 100s of videos show up

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Pretty much most supplies that you need are given to you during your orientation, so save your money for something else.

As far as uniforms/scrubs go, you will need two scrubs at the most and one lab coat maybe, but you dont really use lab coat after your first semester. It's just better to wear scrubs. For shoes, the only time they are going to make you wear white shoes is your first semester. In fact, after like 2 months into the semester, they didn't care if the shoes you were wearing were blue, black, or green nikes, pumas or whatever.

whatever, as long as they are not open-toed...

if you get under 69.49, I think you have 2 more chances to get it right. But, really, thats the worst case scenario. If you were smart enough to get into nursing school, you are more than capable of surviving thru nursing school.

First semester is indeed a little memorization-heavy, especially pathopharm class where you learn about so many drugs. But, as time goes by, you will realize many nursing questions are application problems that are tricky and you must think through.

Med calc exams aren't that bad. You just practice them by solving as many problems as you can.

Do NOT buy the med calc book cuz there will be many practice questions on Blackboard of your Fundamentals class. You do need to practice them by yourself because they do not go over them in class.

many things in nursing school, you gotta learn to teach yourself but you can always help each other out since as a healthcare professional, teamwork is extremely crucial.

Hope this helps.

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Hey, there are barely any winter courses available... But there are plenty of summer non-clinical classes offered online for BSN students.

If you are able, it is wise to take some Summer classes as they do lighten the load.

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Specializes in NICU.

I really enjoyed watching Rona's youtube channel when I was going through my clinical classes. She provided alot of useful information I feel. HeyRona - YouTube. I also used this one for learning heart sounds :

Michael's channel is pretty great too with learning pharm: https://www.youtube.com/user/SimpleNursing.
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Specializes in NICU.

I will be sure to take summer classes as I'm trying to finish as soon as possible.

Hey, there are barely any winter courses available... But there are plenty of summer non-clinical classes offered online for BSN students.

If you are able, it is wise to take some Summer classes as they do lighten the load.

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I really like iFitNurse.

I think is a great video on how to prepare for nursing school. Especially the organizing aspect of it
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I don't know about everywhere, but I know UMSON has changed over to DNPs. I think Georgetown still offers masters programs though...hard to say what the future will hold. It would be nice for some consistency either way though...ASN/BSN/MSN/DNP...it's like they're trying to make it as confusing as possible!

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Specializes in NICU.

Yeah, at this point it is best to take one day at a time. I had planned on doing a specific RN-MSN program upon completing my ADN. Then they unexpectedly got rid of all their RN entry programs although they still have the Masters program available.

I don't know about everywhere, but I know UMSON has changed over to DNPs. I think Georgetown still offers masters programs though...hard to say what the future will hold. It would be nice for some consistency either way though...ASN/BSN/MSN/DNP...it's like they're trying to make it as confusing as possible!
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Oh my, and Georgetown is pretty pricey as well. Nonetheless, if that is the only option, where there is a will there is a way! Also, I believe Towson has a Masters program as well, at the Hagerstown campus.

bcandygurl, amandac21, thank you for the links! Regardless of which school I get into, they will be very useful to me, I'm sure!

Also, lxcalibur3 thank you as well for answering my questions! :laugh: I'm thinking of getting low crocs or any other brand of nursing shoes anyone suggests. Anyone? I'm not a big fan of the high-heeled nursing shoes haha. And I'm so glad you told me that about medcalc. I have on my "If I get into UMSON" wishlist on amazon.com a used medcalc book I was going to review during the holiday beforehand, but I guess I should just save my money and review with dosagehelp.com.

If you don't mind lxcalibur3, I have a few more questions. :geek: Here we go! Okay, would you suggest commuting or living as close to the school as possible? Also, around what time do classes start in the morning? How many days of class a week, and what are they like per semester? How available are the professors when you need them? In that I mean, if there is something I would need help with, do they respond quickly to email, or are they usually at their office? I know that it may be different for Shady Grovers, so someone who knows about that campus, chime in! Have you taken clinicals yet? How are they?

Okay, that is all. :)

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If you have the money, I mean you can live as close to the school as possible, but since the school is right next to inner harbor, stadiums, and all the busy areas of B'more, it's going to be expensive to live closer to school. But if you can find good roommates, then maybe that's a choice.

Now, I commute from Towson area and usually on a week day, it takes me about 30 minutes by car and about 10 minutes to walk to school from the the garage. There are two school garages: Lexington garage and BioPark garage and from there, they are about 10 minutes walk to school, so at night, it can get a little dangerous, but there is a police escort service where the school police will give you a ride to the garage or your destination if it is within three blocks of the school (until 1am).

Usually, class starts around 8am...

For the first semester, expect to be at school maybe 4-5 times a week.

Second semester and third semester: 2-3 days a week

Fourth (last) semester: 1-2 times/week.

Most professors are quick to responding emails. They will respond within 24 hours (excluding the weekends) and at the latest, they will respond within 48 hours. In most cases, you will have to email them and make an appointment to see them because they are all nurses who practice at a hospital or in the community, so they're busy people.

As far as clinicals, of course I have taken them... First semester is usually "getting used to the healthcare environment" clinical, so you just help patients with their daily activities (bathing, walking them, helping them to the restroom) and you don't get that much clinical experience for the first semester. You will spend much of your time in simulation labs where you will be practicing your skills with your classmates and mannequins. Now, from the second semester, you will get the option to choose which hospital you want to do your clinicals at, and you will see what I mean when you get there, but you will do your Adult Health clinical, where you now have the ability to give meds to patients with your clinical instructor. And then during the third semester, there are OB, psych, and peds clinicals, and then the final semester is when you do your practicum where you need to have 180hrs of hospital experience.

Most likely, your first semester clinical will be at a rehab center and you will be going there for about a month at the end (8hr/week). Second semester: adult health clinical (16 hours/week or 2 days/week for about 10-12 weeks), third semester (OB - 8 hour/week for 7 weeks, psyche - 6-8 hours/week for 10 weeks, peds - 8 hour/week for 7 weeks), and then finally Practicum... (12 hour day each shift). These hours might be very confusing right now but you will eventually find out, but what I can tell you now is that all these clinicals start at 6:45am.

Also, since you are now coming into nursing, start using military time! So, right now it is 1735 as I am writing this post!

However, the curriculum have changed a little since September of this year, so things might be a little different from what I have explained so far, but the bulk of it should be the same.

Now, I need to go back to studying!

Oh my, and Georgetown is pretty pricey as well. Nonetheless, if that is the only option, where there is a will there is a way! Also, I believe Towson has a Masters program as well, at the Hagerstown campus.

bcandygurl, amandac21, thank you for the links! Regardless of which school I get into, they will be very useful to me, I'm sure!

Also, lxcalibur3 thank you as well for answering my questions! :laugh: I'm thinking of getting low crocs or any other brand of nursing shoes anyone suggests. Anyone? I'm not a big fan of the high-heeled nursing shoes haha. And I'm so glad you told me that about medcalc. I have on my "If I get into UMSON" wishlist on amazon.com a used medcalc book I was going to review during the holiday beforehand, but I guess I should just save my money and review with dosagehelp.com.

If you don't mind lxcalibur3, I have a few more questions. :geek: Here we go! Okay, would you suggest commuting or living as close to the school as possible? Also, around what time do classes start in the morning? How many days of class a week, and what are they like per semester? How available are the professors when you need them? In that I mean, if there is something I would need help with, do they respond quickly to email, or are they usually at their office? I know that it may be different for Shady Grovers, so someone who knows about that campus, chime in! Have you taken clinicals yet? How are they?

Okay, that is all. :)

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lxcalibur3 thank you for the breakdown! I really appreciate it. Military time is something I've actually been working on for the past few years. We need it for our specimens at work when we scan them onto Meditech. Though, past 1700, I get confused... I usually get off work at 1700 at the latest! Hopefully I'll be getting a watch with military time.

Study hard! :^) And thanks again!

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