UTA AP-BSN clinical schedules?

Published

I am finishing up my pre-requisites and will be applying in January to start the UTA AP-BSN upper division/clinical nursing classes starting in August 2014. For those of you that are already in the program, what are the clinical schedules like? Speaking with an advisor, they advised that most clinicals are 2 days a week and on consecutive days. I have a great part time job with a fixed schedule working M, T and W. It would be ideal if I could keep this job while finishing my degree.

I also understand that some of the online classes require that you take proctored exams at local testing centers (I don't live in the Arlington area). Is this type of testing in all classes?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am also interested on how clinicals work. I'm between this school & WGU. WGU is longer but labs/clinicals are one weekend a month until you get to clinicals then it's 3 12hr shifts on consecutive days for 2wks. But I don't know with UTA the advisor was so vague. Curious to hear how it is to see if it will work out since I live in San Antonio & the hospital I work for is not partnered :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Cardiology, ER.

Clinicals are 2 days a week on consecutive days, often centered on the weekend(Fri/Sat, Sat/Sun, Sun/Mon, etc.). My group was Sat/Sun "most" of the time for clinicals. Our test day was on Thursday at our main clinical site and was proctored. Most of the test days are on a fixed day on Tues, Wed, or Thurs. The only time clinicals are not on a fixed schedule is during the capstone at the end. You do whatever schedule your preceptor is doing for that.

A clinical day can be 8 to 12 hours long depending on the clinical.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the info Mark...sounds hopeful that I might be able to keep my current part time job and make it through!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.
Clinicals are 2 days a week on consecutive days often centered on the weekend(Fri/Sat, Sat/Sun, Sun/Mon, etc.). My group was Sat/Sun "most" of the time for clinicals. Our test day was on Thursday at our main clinical site and was proctored. Most of the test days are on a fixed day on Tues, Wed, or Thurs. The only time clinicals are not on a fixed schedule is during the capstone at the end. You do whatever schedule your preceptor is doing for that. A clinical day can be 8 to 12 hours long depending on the clinical.[/quote']

Hey MarkG, do you know what time of day your proctored tests were usually held at? I'm needing to have an idea so I can schedule my work around it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Cardiology, ER.
Hey MarkG, do you know what time of day your proctored tests were usually held at? I'm needing to have an idea so I can schedule my work around it.

Standard time was 5:30 pm for a single test, or 3:30 pm for two tests.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Some test start at 10:30am at certain sites

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This was my experience... btw, I live out of town and was able to use a local testing center at my own cost... The exception were days when I had HESI exams... I had to drive up to UTA for those exams. Every clinical location is different and times/days vary.

JR1 clinicals were Sat/Sun and testing was on Wed at 10am.

JR2 clinicals were mostly Sat/Sun but MedSurg was Fri/Sat. Testing was at 10am again.

SR1 clinicals were on Sat/Sun but testing times were changed to 5pm with an additional scheduled exam at 7pm when there were 2.

SR2 clinicals are going to be Mon/Tue with exam times remaining at 5pm. Capstone has not been scheduled yet so that is still up in the air.

I have worked full time during this whole experience so far... luckily I have vacation days saved up to cover my Mon/Tue clinicals coming up...

Hope this helps.

Don

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Don, this info helps tremendously. I don't live in the DFW either so this helps set expectations. One additional question to clarify. Are tests administered every week during the semester? I would be looking at having to go to a testing center also. Thanks again!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi flyingauntmimi...

As far as exams are concerned, I'll be honest, it sure felt like there was 1 or 2 exams EVERY week... it wasn't like that, but there were probably on average only 2 or 3 weeks during the first 3 semesters where you didn't have to take an exam. SR2 is far fewer, but one thing that changed at the end of this semester was the school using the Respondus Lockdown browser, so you may be limited on testing at a testing center. You will be provided more info later so, for now, enjoy your Christmas and Happy New Year!

Don

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.

good info, thanks guys.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm very nervous too. I am starting the program in fall and I work full time (3nights per week). I have attempted to make arrangements to accomodate clinical and study time, but I am getting more nervous thinking about time management and possible schedule changes along with study time for tests.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion