USA Traditional BSN

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I am looking into their program. Anyone attended? Can you give me some insight into their program and if you would rec it? Any idea what the average graduating gpa is? What is a typical weeks schedule? TIA

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I would not recommend USA for anything. I am a grad of the program and felt totally unprepared for my first ICU job that I took out of school. I graduated before the new school was built but I'm sure some of my old professors are still there.

Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. In hindsight, I wish I had.

When I make donations for scholarships, I make it to the program where I did my MSN work....I wouldn't give USACON a used piece of toilet paper.

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Thanks Miami for the quick response. I notice you are a CRNA. I am in Mississippi and have been debating between the USM, William Carey, and USA program. I have even thought of just doing the adn route but I plan on going on for advanced practice (maybe CRNA) so I thought it would be silly to get the adn in the same amount of time as the bsn. I have a previous degree and am making a career change. Any advice would be welcome.

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If you can relocate, I would do it. I'm not a big fan of USM either. I've never been there, but do know a few graduates who were not thrilled with the program. For what it is worth, my own opinion is that UF (University of Florida) pumps out some of the most well prepared nursing grads I've seen right out of school. FSU is a close second. UAB does a better job in my opinion than USA or UAH but I'm not thrilled with either of those programs. UA is about average.

Bottom line, try to go to a state school in Florida. Skip the ASN program. Get 1-2 years of Level I Trauma ICU experience. Get your CCRN, a high score >1000 on the GRE, shadow a CRNA for a couple of days, get the highest possible grades you can in your undergrad classes. Anything less than a 3.5 is just not competitive these days. Get your ACLS and PALS cards. Pray you do well in your inteviews on the day you interview for school.

Make sure you want to be a CRNA beyond just because of the $$. That may change for all of us very quickly with Obamacare.

Nursing was a 2nd career for me as well. Wiping ass sucks. I don't do it anymore and am quite thrilled that I don't. Floor nursing is not glamorous. It is a sucky job. I am grateful for those who do it and respect them all.

Nursing training is rough. There is truth to the saying "that nurses eat their young". Have thick skin, be prepared and "capitulate till you graduate"

Good Luck!

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MiamiAnesthesiaCRNA,

You are a rock star! Great info. Why did you become a CRNA? Autonomy? Intellectually stimulating? Did you ever consider Administration?

Nursing is a 2nd career for me as well and I plan on jumping right into a Masters program after 2nd BSN.

Thanks so much!

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Rockstar huh??? Never been called that :) I have had more than a few patients thank me profusely after I inserted their epidural...but that is about it.

I became a CRNA for all of those reasons. The top two reasons I chose it were job security and financial remuneration. I can't stress enough those two reasons become very unimportant during your training. If you aren't totally committed those two reasons will not be enough to keep you going through the program.

You have to enjoy anesthesia. You have to enjoy the autonomy. You have to enjoy the intellectual stimulation and you have to be prepared to be humbled on a daily basis.

Floor nursing is task oriented. Everybody is trying to get their charting done perfectly. You are told what to do and when to do it.

Anesthesia is a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction. Nobody tells you what to do.....there are 100 different ways to do anesthesia and you determine the plan of care. Charting comes at the end of the case. It is the last thing I am worried about.

As a floor nurse you can have 10 to 12 patients in a med surg suite or up to 3 if you are an ICU nurse. As a CRNA, I never have more than 1 patient at a time. I like that.

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MiamiAnesthesiaCRNA,

My main motivations are autonomy, salary, job security/freedom, intellectual properties. However, I don't yet know if I love anesthesia. When did you know you enjoyed anesthesia enough to sustain you through the training?

Also you mentioned one should be prepared to be humbled on a daily basis. Does that refer to the work environment? or school environment? (both?). Can you be more specific?

Lastly, thank you thank you thank you!

Two Pups

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I found out I was going to love anesthesia after I received my first student loan statement for paying for school. $50k in debt has a way of making you fall in love with getting through a program so you can pay it off.

Nursing and anesthesia in general is a trial by fire. You will suck at it when you start, we all do. You may of been a great ICU nurse but you'll suck when you begin your anesthesia journey. That in itself is humbling. Never take criticism personally and understand that everybody who is ahead of you went through the same crap you are going through now.

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That is very good to know. Matriculation has humbled me a great deal....I will prepare for more.

I had a high-pressure, high-profile, high paying job in manhattan for 13 years....but after so many years I wanted a change. Moved back down south to start anew. Most people think I am nuts to do this but I feel strongly about job security. And the idea of having autonomy, ability to live in most cities other than NYC, LA and using my brain will be great.

So, thank you again sharing your experience about USA. USA was my second choice for schools. After hearing your stories, think I need to add a few more schools my list. Currently UAB is 1st choice. And I'm researching others. Not alot out there from what I can see.

Did you select USA because of the accelerated BSN program? I see you are now in Miami. Did you ever consider UAB or Samford for CRNA training?

Thanks again. I'll stop asking questions soon. I promise ;)

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I chose USA for undergrad because I was dating a girl from Mobile. Good sex has a way of making a man make bad decisions :)

Interviewed at UAB and didn't like the faculty..........told them no thank you. Never considered Samford as I wasn't sure I could abide by their conservative policies. Went to anesthesia school here in Miami and stayed after graduation working in the Palm Beach area a little north of Miami/Dade.

Make sure you like the faculty when you interview for school. You are paying to be around these people for two plus years.

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Ahhhh, yes indeed it can screw with smart decision-making for women as well. (pun intended). Palm beach is a hoot. Have fun. Thx again.;)

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