University of Oklahoma-Accelerated BSN Program

bseesahm · Dec 2, 2009

Yes, this OU thing has definitely made me come up with back up plans! Congrats on getting into Midwestern State. I got the email also. I wonder what the new pre-req's will be? Any thoughts?

SoCalNursingStudent · Dec 2, 2009

Yes, this OU thing has definitely made me come up with back up plans! Congrats on getting into Midwestern State. I got the email also. I wonder what the new pre-req's will be? Any thoughts?

I have a feeling they are adding Bio Chem or Organic Chem to the mix since SDSU's website shows that addition on their "Admission Criteria" I will be going to their Dec 9th info session at the glendale location. I will can update the forum later.

So Cal

bseesahm · Dec 2, 2009

I have a feeling they are adding Bio Chem or Organic Chem to the mix since SDSU's website shows that addition on their "Admission Criteria" I will be going to their Dec 9th info session at the glendale location. I will can update the forum later.
So Cal

Hmm, that would be bummer. I was thinking maybe Psych and Sociology? Definitely fill us in on what you learn on the 9th. My info session isn't until after finals :eek: .

bash75 · Dec 3, 2009

I just finished the as the 1st cohort in Glendale. The program is awful. If you are planning to apply, I would urge that you reconsider and go somewhere cheaper that is more student oriented. First they boast it as a 14 month program but it isn't. You finish the curriculum in 14 months, but it takes an extra 2 months for them to post the transcripts and send them to the state board (what's the point of an accelerated program, if you still have to wait). Next they originally quoted $31,500, but after 1 year it was up to $35,000 which doesn't include books and other expenses. We had to do our pediatrics rotation 3 hours away in San Diego at our own expense (the school did not offer any re-imbursement for hotel/driving expenses even though they were at fault for not aquiring a local peds rotation in the largest metroplex in the country. They act as though they have a good relationship with the hospital, but the HR staff for the hospital is quick to let you know your resume will be added to the queu with all the other applications.

Currently it is hard to attain a job as a new grad (hospitals don't want to pay for the training), thus it would have been nice to have had jobs lined up after graduation. OU actually ****** off some in the hospital administration, because they wanted preceptor positions to run a certain way that was disadventagious to the hospital. Ultimately I spent $40k of my savings for an over-rated OU nursing education inferior to the local community college (which costs about 7k. Don't make the same mistake I made.

enb611 · Dec 3, 2009

Ouch! That was very harsh!

Is there anyone out there with similar experiences or perhaps much better ones. I am hoping the troubles you had were isolated to the Glendale campus and are not shared with the San Diego campus. I have heard rave reviews about San Diego and the Sharp hospitals they are coordinated with.

The plus of going throught the ABSN program is that you have your BSN rather than an ASN. This makes it quicker to move up into a Master's program, which is my ultimate goal. I have friends attending the local community college program and it is much cheaper ($5k), but they don't start until Fall 2010 and their program is 24 months, ending in Fall 2012. I start in January and should be completed by March/April 2011. That's over a full year before them and I will have my BSN, not an ASN. I am hoping that if I can land a job soon after school I can make up the difference in tuition by working as a RN a full year before they graduate.

Everything has it's ups and downs. I am not expecting perfection, but then again you get what you put in.

bash75 · Dec 3, 2009

During my Peds rotation I talked to some of the San Diego students and they were just as bitter about the program. I understand your dilemma if you want a MSN. Its important to keep in mind an ASN makes as much money as a BSN in a hospital setting.(It is true that a BSN and MSN makes you a better candidate for management positions though)

Don't count on getting a nursing position right away.Right now hospitals wont even interview you until you are licensed. Because the school doesn't post your transcripts until 16 months you won't be eligible to sit for the NCLEX until about the 17th months after you start the program (This defeats the whole purpose of the accelerated program and makes the curriculum harder than it needs to be)

Hope your experience is more positive than mine, but if you have any other options I would strongly recommend you consider them. I'm not trying to be too much of a downer, but I'm just being honest and want people to know what they are getting into.

Maybe when SDSU takes over the program it will get better. I think one of the biggest problems with the program right now is that no one in administration at OU cares about the CA programs. They are phasing out and selling both programs. I would assume this would make them less student-oriented then they already are.

deemalt, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2009

I just graduated from the SD campus. Many of the things that Bash75 pointed out were also issues at my campus.

Things to keep in mind are:

The price that they say it will be is underestimated and there are constant incidentals that add up to thousands of dollars beyond the original quote.

Though you may finish your requirements in 14 months, you will not get your transcripts released until the end of the official semester. This delays taking the boards which delays getting a job.

Staff support is limited as there are a few on-site instructors who have taken on way too much. We had overcrowded labs with minimal practice dummies and limited access to instructors. Some of the on-line classes also lack support and you are largely on your own to learn out of the book (ex. Pharm).

To top it all off, we had to bring in our own paper if we wanted to print anything (or use a different school to do it).

I am sure that this program will improve with the SDSU takeover. Some things seemed to improve a bit over time, or maybe I just got used to the chaos. Sharp was a great hospital to do clinicals in and most of my clinical instructors really cared about the students.

If you have the choice, take your time and do a traditional BSN program, save yourself some money and appreciate having a live teacher. This is turn em and burn em nursing school and they are pumping out students as fast as they can. I did this program because I wanted a BSN and did not want to get on a 2-3 year waiting list. If you are dedicated and have a high degree of self-discipline, you can make this program work for you as most of us did. Just know what you are getting into and be prepared to take out some fat loans!

marionnette · Dec 3, 2009

So has anyone looked into transfer options when the program seems like a poor fit?

Bababooey · Dec 4, 2009

I appreciate the honest criticism from deemalt and bash75, but what's the alternative for people that want their BSN and already have a bachelor's degree? National University's ABSN program is longer and more expensive. CSU San Marcos is a longer program and has a comparable tuition (and their application deadline has long passed). According to a woman I spoke to in SDSU's nursing dept., their ABSN program won't likely start until the fall and tuition would be similar or even higher.

KT#7 · Dec 4, 2009

I'm at the point now, that I really want a program that actually cares about me, and wants me to succeed, no matter what the cost. I have had nothing but negative experiences dealing with University of Oklahoma. They messed up my initial meeting to go over pre-req's, and I ended up taking a Chemistry class I didn't even need, and they never returned my phone calls or emails. Oh, they were rude too. I've decided to go to National University, even though it is more expensive and a little longer. I think you should talk to someone there, they are soooo wonderful. It sucks that it costs more, but it is an option. They have more money (haha, from us I guess) and they have new classes every 3 months. Maybe check your options there. Or local Junior Colleges, and just get an ASN, but save lots of money. :)

SoCalNursingStudent · Dec 4, 2009

Deemalt and Bash... thank you for your feedback...It is helpful to all of us who are seeking out a nursing school. Thank you KT for pointing out National University. I will be meeting with National tmrw to see how the program is and what prereqs I have left for their program. They even have some of the classes ie: microbio offered there, (in accelerated form) its expensive but if you have no other options for an on campus class. I have a friend enrolled in the masters in teaching or education program and she likes it. I hope I like what I hear. I will have to tour the rancho cordova campus later since i am meeting the rep in the Ontario location. So far National is really nice. I just went to seek more information from Mount St. Marys in Los Angeles... seems reasonable its more expensive and has a few more prereqs and a high GPA requirement but it is an ABSN in 12 months. $50k.

bash75 · Dec 4, 2009

I would ask the students/administration how long after finishing does it take to post transcripts and send it to the board. At OU it was an extra 7 weeks so the saved time may be worth the extra money.