west coast university / male nursing student

TrevyRN, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2014

I'm a West Coast University BSN graduate. It was hard work, like any nursing program, but I was happy to get out and be done with it instead of sit around on a wait list and delay entering the career I wanted. Other programs might be cheaper, but I figured time is life, eh? All nursing programs have the same drama (annoying assignments, subjective grading, nervous-diarrhea-inducing tests, the occasional ego-crushing grade, huge time commitments, stress stress stress etc), but they also have the positives: You're challenging yourself, you'll get close to classmates, you'll get sh*t done you didn't think you were capable of, you make patients smile, you learn tons of crap really fast, and you know that one day you will in fact sit and take that NCLEX and be done with it all! Stick with it and you'll get those RN letters after your name and be just as much of a nurse (well, legally haha) as your instructors.

Even though it was kind of sad that your mom didn't think you could, It's rad you embraced it as a challenge instead of getting discouraged. In nursing school (and life too I guess) people might discourage you, but do what you did earlier and use it as an "Oh yea! You're wrong! I've got this" kinda moment.

Getting extra study books helps a lot, especially ones that are actually enjoyable to read. Genuine interest in the subject goes a long way. The ATI books were depressing but to the point. I liked the "straight A's in Nursing" series for once you get into the core courses. One of the most important things you can do is make friends (preferably ones with good study habits) during school. Discussing the topics with other students, asking questions, and asking for help, and helping others makes a huge difference.

You're gonna go through the program together, so reach out to others and have each other's backs. Buy people coffee or bring a snack for everyone once in a while. Make people laugh. Don't be afraid to ask questions in class, even if they seem dumb as f---. Ditch your ego (or at least put a silencer on it, heheh.) The class under my class made enemies of each other and were all cutthroat and competitive and crap - and for what?! It wasn't a bell curve system - it was pass or fail! It served no purpose. Help others succeed. Most important thing - take things one day at a time. I literally was crossing off everyday on a calendar in the last year of school and making little to-do lists to keep myself organized. I hated being so organized - not endemic to my personality at all - but the one day at at time to do list thingy - saved my sanity.

Hope this, like, helps...? :-) WCU was stressful, but I love my RN work (money is nice too)- I wouldn't take my WCU experience or degree back. Proud of what I accomplished and happy to know others will weather the storm after me and come out as awesome nurse peeps.

Best of luck!

Animeangel003 · Jul 4, 2014

In my second term, I hope the accelerated school you went to has you in a mind state to study hard lol. Definitely cannot breeze through these classes... great teachers and tons of resources. I had to quit my job to be able to study and get some kind of sleep in between lol. Goes by super fast... Im at the North Hollywood campus and there is a good ratio of men to women, great to hear you have transfer credits (hopefully). I have found a lot of students in general ed courses act like high school students... but they will most likely not make it to nursing core

Another major point... be able to self teach or group up with others.. the teachers are not there to hand u a study guide to memorize, you must actually learn and have the ability to apply the concepts...

But good luck dude its gonna go fast trust me

laursp · Sep 29, 2014

I am looking into different nursing programs and I was wondering if WCU was worth the price tag to you? Also, did you have any problem getting a job after you were done with school? I've looked into CNI's ADN program and the admissions guy was a total tool who told me that I wouldn't get in, two minutes into our meeting, without any knowledge of me, my grades, or motivations. It's kind of discouraging. I looked into WCU last year and went all the way into the financial aid process, but backed out at the last minute. I really would just like to know your opinion and outlook on the situation there and if it's worth it.

phoenoryker · Sep 30, 2014

I read your other posts, pretty clever marketing I must say. Best of luck

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2014

i met with financial aid, and of course was having nightmares, but i've let that go!

The whopping $132,000 price tag for WCU's tuition and fees would do more than give me nightmares. It would probably lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mes7kk · Oct 15, 2014

I'm a West Coast University BSN graduate. It was hard work, like any nursing program, but I was happy to get out and be done with it instead of sit around on a wait list and delay entering the career I wanted. Other programs might be cheaper, but I figured time is life, eh? All nursing programs have the same drama (annoying assignments, subjective grading, nervous-diarrhea-inducing tests, the occasional ego-crushing grade, huge time commitments, stress stress stress etc), but they also have the positives: You're challenging yourself, you'll get close to classmates, you'll get sh*t done you didn't think you were capable of, you make patients smile, you learn tons of crap really fast, and you know that one day you will in fact sit and take that NCLEX and be done with it all! Stick with it and you'll get those RN letters after your name and be just as much of a nurse (well, legally haha) as your instructors.
Even though it was kind of sad that your mom didn't think you could, It's rad you embraced it as a challenge instead of getting discouraged. In nursing school (and life too I guess) people might discourage you, but do what you did earlier and use it as an "Oh yea! You're wrong! I've got this" kinda moment.
Getting extra study books helps a lot, especially ones that are actually enjoyable to read. Genuine interest in the subject goes a long way. The ATI books were depressing but to the point. I liked the "straight A's in Nursing" series for once you get into the core courses. One of the most important things you can do is make friends (preferably ones with good study habits) during school. Discussing the topics with other students, asking questions, and asking for help, and helping others makes a huge difference.
You're gonna go through the program together, so reach out to others and have each other's backs. Buy people coffee or bring a snack for everyone once in a while. Make people laugh. Don't be afraid to ask questions in class, even if they seem dumb as f---. Ditch your ego (or at least put a silencer on it, heheh.) The class under my class made enemies of each other and were all cutthroat and competitive and crap - and for what?! It wasn't a bell curve system - it was pass or fail! It served no purpose. Help others succeed. Most important thing - take things one day at a time. I literally was crossing off everyday on a calendar in the last year of school and making little to-do lists to keep myself organized. I hated being so organized - not endemic to my personality at all - but the one day at at time to do list thingy - saved my sanity.
Hope this, like, helps...? :-) WCU was stressful, but I love my RN work (money is nice too)- I wouldn't take my WCU experience or degree back. Proud of what I accomplished and happy to know others will weather the storm after me and come out as awesome nurse peeps.
Best of luck!

Hello!

So exciting to see you talk in such a positive way about west coast, if u dont mind i would really like to ask if you had any trouble getting hired? How long after getting ur lisence did you get hired? And mostly, how has it been paying back loans? I know these are personal questions but these are my cocerns if i go there, not whether or not it's a good school, I have to study hard and do my best, i just hear so much negativity about how new grads from west coast dont get considered. Can you enlighten me a little bit?

I would really appreciate your input. Thank you!

Pilot2FNP · Oct 21, 2014

Woah! Reality check here.....$130,000+ for a BSN? I finished my pre-requisit classes and did an accelerated BSN program for about $25,000. Now I'm spending another $27,000 for my Family Nurse Practitioner program. Total for BSN + MSN-FNP = $52,000. How unbelievable is it that people are willing to spend over $130,000 for a BSN? Makes no sense to me.

ShondaJ · Oct 24, 2014

Pilot2FNP What program did you go through? How long was the program and what were the times of the classes? How many days a week did you attend class? Talk about the school you went to!

ShondaJ · Oct 24, 2014

And not everyone pays $132,000. That is a student who has no classes or credits to transfer and is taking everyone class from general education to science to nursing at WGU. There are students who are paying less.

Pilot2FNP · Oct 26, 2014

I went to Northern Kentucky University for my Accelerated BSN program. It was 5 days a week for 18 months. In January I'm starting a Family Nurse Practitioner program at University of Tampa. It should take me 3 years part-time. Best of luck to everyone here. There are lots of programs out there, so it's good to look at all the options and chose whatever makes the most the most sense for each person. One-size doesn't fit all.

ShondaJ · Oct 27, 2014

Oh ok. You are in another state. I thought you were in California. Congrats on your program.