Union University Accelerated BSN

myhoagie02 · Sep 1, 2015

Hello! I was a graduate of the Germantown ABSN 2013 cohort. Our start date was in the fall and our schedule was more of a part-time schedule. So much so, that some students even continued working as the classes were all in the evening. However, once classes started again in January, your schedule changes dramatically. I remember having tests each week in all classes with each test cover multiple chapters (like 10 or so), so there was lots of studying and no social life. Our first real break was spring break so you're looking at 3 months of nonstop school. It gets slighty better after that, with another big break in August. Most of us used that time to take much needed vacations. Then it's back to the grind and it stars tapering off end of October/November when a lot of us passed our final ATI (which is your exit test to graduate).

I do remember some students who continued to work PRN and/or had interships, but those students where all top of our class. I graduated with a 3.4 GPA, but I worked really hard for that. Working would have been a death sentence for me.

If memory serves, passing for any class was an 82. I think you can only fail one class before they let you go or it may be that if you fail one class, they let you go. I'm sorry, memory is fuzzy on that one.

It it is a very strenuous program because of how quickly it progresses. I was very stressed all the time, felt a lot of pressure, but I'm glad I choose this path vs other programs. I was in my 30s when I started this program and this was a career change for me. I didn't want to go the traditional route because I didn't have as much time on my hands as a twenty something. I'm glad I did it, but I don't recommend this program to anyone who a) isn't a motivated student or b) doesn't have a network of support.

Good luck! Feel free to ask me me any questions. Once I finished the program, I started a student mentor program that pairs new students with students that just completed the program to help new students acclimate better. I hope its still going strong, but I'm here to help!

tfaj · Jun 6, 2017

Wow!Thank you for the insight.I just got accepted to ABSN Germantown for FALL2017 and would really love you to pair me up with an old student .Thank you

PiperLambie, MSN, APRN · Jun 14, 2017

Hello JM,

I am currently an ABSN student at the Hendersonville (Nashville) campus, set to graduate with my cohort this December. Firstly, understand that, while it is a "16 month" program on paper, Union is one of the few universities that allows incoming students to take courses considered pre-requisites pretty much everywhere else, so the program really becomes a 12 month endeavor of full-tilt effort. This includes Microbio, Stats, and DevPsych, in addition to several courses everyone takes. If you have those three classes done, you can have a very nice first semester, with only 1 day/week physical campus commitment for half of the first semester- the rest is online. If you need to take any (or all) of the listed courses, it is a pretty heavy course load. I transferred things in, and was able to continue working through December of last year.

The next session starting in January is total commitment to the program, with 4-5 days/week on campus in class/lab. As was already mentioned, with the pace and scheduling, there will be some sort of major exam every 1-1.5 weeks, and they can cover anywhere from 8-18 chapters, depending on the course and the material at the time. I am currently in the final "slow phase", if there is such a thing, before starting the final semester in July leading to graduation in December. As for preceptors/adjuncts at clinical sites, all of them are active practicing nurses, and all of mine so far have been both supportive and helpful. The didactic faculty are all very experienced clinicians in their own right, and the learning environment is similar to other university level courses one may take- different professors resonate differently with every student.

Passing grade- 75% or higher. Most courses involve only 4-5 grades for the class, so there is little margin for error. The university also uses a more aggressive grading scale than the traditional university 10-point grade scale. In addition, UU utilizes ATI testing, not only at the end as a cumulative NCLEX prep, but also for certain courses, or combinations of courses (ex: pharm 1 and 2 are their own courses that run successively, but combine for a pharm ATI at the end of pharm 2). These ATI exams account for 10% of a final grade, meaning that if one has an 84% in a class and fails the ATI, it is a course failure at 74% final grade. We have lost several to this, but the format has been successful, by and large, in the preparation SNs get at UU.

I personally enjoy the high intensity and stress of the ABSN program, but it definitely is a grind that one needs to be prepared for, and it helps to have a good understanding of yourself and who you are before embarking on this. While no program is 100%, I am glad I chose Union, and feel like I am learning what I need to know moving forward. The cost is what it is, but such is nursing school anywhere. The biggest thing I can offer is that you ensure that you'll be good to go financially, as there is little to no time for working and carrying good grades. 'C's do indeed get degrees if you are okay with stopping after the BSN, but something stronger will be needed if you have thoughts of graduate school. Of the several people in my cohort that work, all of them work very limited schedules as NAP, either at Vandy, St. Thomas, or Tri-Star, and only the number of hours needed to maintain health insurance.

If you think of anything else, don't hesitate to give a shout. Good luck!

batigoal · Jun 16, 2017

Hello PiperLambie,

I'm applying for the fall 2017 session. I will really appreciate it if you an give me some advice or tips how to study for the test when you have to cover 8-18 chapters every week.

Thanks.

PiperLambie, MSN, APRN · Jun 18, 2017

Part of orientation will involve a lengthy discussion on learning styles. When I mention that you need to know yourself, this is the biggest part of what the comment meant. That said, every single person in my cohort adapted and worked it out based upon strengths and weaknesses. Some get together and study, others study alone, others read every chapter in the textbook, there are a few that record lecture and listen to it repeatedly. As you can see, it is impossible for me to give you anything more than that, other than to say that this program has had many successful students make it through despite the sometimes hectic nature of the curriculum. I wish you luck through your application process!

aspiringnurse10, BSN · Oct 21, 2017

Hi there! I'm interested in Union and was just wondering where you had most of your clinical at Hendersonville?

rbeaman · Jan 24, 2018

Hello! I just was accepted into Union's program at Hendersonville! I was wondering how much the total cost of the program is? My acceptance letter said that the program was $595 per credit hour and then to plan on approximately $7,000 for extra stuff not including textbooks. I'm trying to decided between this program and Marian's online program, but I'm not for sure which school is more affordable!

Thank you so much!

Samanthadawn · Mar 5, 2018

I'm in the same predicament as you! Did you find out which is more affordable over all? Thanks!

michelle2018 · Apr 6, 2018

Congratulations on your graduation! Am sure you are having a great time.

I will appreciate if you can answer this questions for me, the tuition when I calculated was about 37,500 apart from books and lab fees do you think some more expenses will come up, like they asking us to pay for extra stuffs, when i compared the tuition difference with University of Memphis it was only about 7000 difference. please with your profound experience I will appreciate if you can answer this questions for me and many others.

Thank you.

I will be attending the Germantown campus this Fall

Thank you

michelle2018 · Apr 6, 2018

Part of orientation will involve a lengthy discussion on learning styles. When I mention that you need to know yourself, this is the biggest part of what the comment meant. That said, every single person in my cohort adapted and worked it out based upon strengths and weaknesses. Some get together and study, others study alone, others read every chapter in the textbook, there are a few that record lecture and listen to it repeatedly. As you can see, it is impossible for me to give you anything more than that, other than to say that this program has had many successful students make it through despite the sometimes hectic nature of the curriculum. I wish you luck through your application process!

Congratulations on your graduation! Am sure you are having a great time.

I will appreciate if you can answer this questions for me, the tuition when I calculated was about 37,500 apart from books and lab fees do you think some more expenses will come up, like they asking us to pay for extra stuffs, when i compared the tuition difference with University of Memphis it was only about 7000 difference. please with your profound experience I will appreciate if you can answer this questions for me and many others.

Thank you.

I will be attending the Germantown campus this Fall

Thank you

emt469 · Apr 7, 2018

Hello! I just was accepted into Union's program at Hendersonville! I was wondering how much the total cost of the program is? My acceptance letter said that the program was $595 per credit hour and then to plan on approximately $7,000 for extra stuff not including textbooks. I'm trying to decided between this program and Marian's online program, but I'm not for sure which school is more affordable!
Thank you so much!

Hi! Were you accepted for the fall cohort and have you decided what program you're doing? I was accepted into the Hendersonville program for Fall '18!