College of Health Sciences and Professions: Nursing Information Session

Good morning everyone and welcome to Ohio University School of Nursing up close presentation. I am under the impression that the majority of you are have already been admitted into our four year or five year nursing track. However, I also understand that a few of you just might be interested in nursing, which is great welcome if those descriptions don't fit you. This presentation might not be very helpful, but.

I mean, the more the merrier. So if you want to stick around, you absolutely can.

My name is Rebecca Martindale. I am one of Seven academic advisors and the School of Nursing. We also have Angie here with this today wrapping admissions. She will be helping with questions specifically, admissions ones based solely on the admissions process.

And what I'm most thankful for is that Angie is going to help me if I have any technical difficulties. So thank you so much for being here and thank you to you all for taking your Saturday morning. I am so thankful I could talk about the School of Nursing for days, but no, I think it's great that you're here listening. and I hope I can answer any questions or concerns that you have at the end. So that brings me to my next point. Some housekeeping items?

So you will notice that there is a chat box in this presentation. You are welcome to post questions in there. I will ask at the end for questions and I will be verbally answering them. So if you just want to wait till the end to post them, that's fine, but if you have a burning question and you are worried about forgetting it, you can certainly add it in the chat as well. And like I mentioned and you will be helping with anything admission specific.

A couple other pieces to the chat that you might notice, so I do have a few links in there to help guide you. The first is our BSN program information this you know, presentation Michael little fast. You might miss something but anything really important will be end that link.

The second link is a virtual tour of our lab spaces, so if you were at Ohio University today an I was there, we could definitely take a tour of our lab spaces. I will talk about them a little later in our presentation, but it's definitely worth checking out. I do believe in that link. It only shows one of our lab spaces, but just know that we do have two others that are identical, so we have three all together. And that's because our program has grown so very exciting and then the third link.

Is just something I wanted to add just to make sure you know, in case you haven't already applied and joined a learning community, you certainly can do so. We will be talking about learning communities later on, but I wanted to give you that access if you have not been able to yet.

I'm also, um, I will be providing my contact information at the end of this presentation. If you would like to email me a specific question and I would be happy to help you as well. So again, just please multiple ways to reach out anything that I can do to make you feel more comfortable and more confident. I would be happy to do so.

OK, so let's go ahead and get started with our presentation today.

So this first slide features two very prominent ladies within our school. On the left we have doctor Deborah Henderson, who is the director of our School of Nursing. An on the right we have Patty Snyder who is our associate director and my time at Ohio University. So far I have witnessed them make very student centered decisions on our for our program and I really appreciate that and I think our students really have as well.

So no doubt you will be hearing and seeing more of these ladies in the years to come.

OK, so this next slide I just shows our mission and you are welcome to read that as I'm talking I also just wanted to point out that this picture was taken after our homecoming door decorating contest for our college. I'd like to point this out and I just like to say I think that you'll understand this more and more within our program, but nursing is very rigorous and as we go through the presentation, you'll come to realize that if you haven't already, but we really do have a lot of fun.

And we really are a family, so if not the first, I'd like to be one of the first to say welcome to our family. And if you are here just interested in nursing and I hope that you find out more information and that you become a pre nursing student as well because it really is an excellent program and I think it is very rewarding for the students who go through it.

OK, so you know I talked about us being a family. I do really believe that an part of what makes us such a strong family is that we do have a professional advising team. So as I mentioned, I'm one of Seven advisors. That's a little different than some other majors at the University because, you know, we are. We are professional team who works solely to help you with registration questions, course planning, nursing program information, an we also help connect you to resources.

Something that I like about our advisers is that we all have a very different style. But you know, if your advisor isn't available the day that you need help, then you can certainly talk with one of the other six were available via phone, email in person appointments. I know something I like to do in the signature of my emails is include a link to schedule a meeting with me. That way you know if it's 4:00 AM and you were just having a meltdown because you're worried about your anatomy and Physiology grade.

You can certainly just go ahead and schedule an get on my books. That way you don't have to wait for my email response from me. So again, you know everyone, the Advisors is different, but we all try really hard to make sure you have a successful time here at Ohio University.

OK.

So from high school to pre nursing on the majority of you, I think no. This because you've already been admitted, but I will go ahead and read through it. It's also in that program link that I provided so you know you do have to have a 3.0 Kume coming out of high school. Your AC T score is a 23 or better an at least a math score of a 20 or better or the S80 equivalent. So you apply to you and then you select prenursing as your major. I know some questions that we got last time where you know.

I was just right below that, therefore I'm on a five year track because my AC T score was just like a point of-, you know, because I don't think that they're testing anymore this summer for the AC TRSATI know Angie could definitely provide some information about an appeal process that we have. If if you had a question about that, so there are definitely ways to get to do our program. So just please don't hesitate to reach out to an advisor and then of course to Angie. With any admission specific questions.

So the right hand side of this slide, I think, is uh is very important for us all to know. So like I mentioned, nursing is a very rigorous program. We're actually quite proud of that, because we really do think that we turn out very competent nurses. So when you get to Ohio, you really have to hit the ground running. We do have what's called an indirect admitt program, which means that on a four year track you will do a full year of pre recs.

And then apply in the spring for our three year BSN program on a five year track you will just apply in your second year into our BSN program. So again there's more information about that and the link that I provided an we will go through that process as well later on in the in the presentation.

But because our program is selective, it's really important that you do well in school, but thankfully we have so many resources here to help you.

So just some academic support on campus. The first is our academic achievement center. We offer tutoring in academic guidance through that, one of my favourites is the Allen Student Advising Center. This is a really great place to go. They offer a study skills who are so earlier in the fall. I was speaking with our anatomy and Physiology professor and I was asking him how to make students do well in his class and he mentioned to me that you know some students coming straight from high school just have a hard time learning how to study.

The concept that he teaches in that class, so he recommends that you know he recommended at that point in time, the study skills course, and I think that that's a really good piece of advice. So again, just taking advantage of the tutoring an those courses that you have to you, I think, is important.

Something in my opinion, that's really underutilized. Just in my experience, is the Korean leadership development center. So they offer 30 minutes coaching slots for career coaching and they specialize in that. So it's really nice. It's something that I wish I would have definitely explored more when I was an undergraduate. I think that you know, it's really good for nursing students who are just interested in exploring careers.

And also it's good. Maybe in your first year if you're just really not by being with nursing as much as you thought you would be, you can certainly go there for help and you know they will help you figure out what type of careers might suit you. So again, just another really nice resource that you have available. We also have student, the student Accessibility center. We have support for traditionally under represented populations and we also have something called supplemental instruction which if you've ever come to another presentation.

From the School of Nursing, you probably heard it referred to as SI.

SI is just essentially a course taught by a students who has done really well in the program and they will host in the evenings once a week just to review session so they'll go to class every week with you. They'll take notes just as you would, and then they've already done well in the class, so then they will come in and help you one night a week essentially, so you certainly don't have to take advantage of this, but it can be.

Very helpful for you.

OK, so moving on to our next slide regarding resources for success.

So, uhm, I, I've already mentioned it. I think that it's.

If you haven't done it already, we will ask that you do it at orientation for sure. But are learning communities have really proven to help students succeed in our program for a couple of reasons? So the first is that they do offer interaction with an academic advisor once a week because the academic advisor teaches the learning community section on a learning community section is just one credit hour. It should be called welcome to college because essentially we just go over resources.

We help connect you. We check in with you. We also just teach you about Ohio University, Athens. What to do I know one of our learning community instructors during midterms. She just like colors with students, you know just anything to kind of help with the stress. So really, we're just here for you. The other piece, as you can see from the picture on this slide, is that you are with a group of other pre nursing students and I know that I've spoken with some students are in their final year of our program.

And they still say that they're really good friends with their learning community cohort. So please take advantage of that. You know friends and having access to resources doesn't interest you at all. There is also another really big reason to join a learning community, and that is that in the first anatomy and Physiology course that you will take, which we will go over in this next slide. It guarantees you a spa in that class, so.

If you don't get into that lecture, then essentially you would have to wait another year to apply. Also, it's the same with our chemistry and then our labs. We cluster them so that you're in the same lab is your as you're learning community cohort, so it's just really helpful. Again, just having people there that understand the curriculum what's happening in that you know you can use to sort of lean on. I'm during those hard times and of course you have academic advisor to help you through as well.

So again, that link is in the chat. Please if you haven't done so already, please do. You can also join orientation the.

But we pretty much everyone in pre nursing. I is in a learning community so please do it.

OK, so some other resources that we have kind of jumping ahead into after you get accepted into our BSN program we offer a one credit hour class called nursing 4900. It's essentially taught by the faculty member who is. So, for example, if you are in pathophysiology an you there is a 4900 class offered for that course. The faculty member will also teach that one credit hour cores and it's essentially just a review so.

If you can remember when we talked about SIA few slides ago, that supplemental instruction, this is a. This is essentially very similar to that, so again, just another way to review. We also have open lab, so you will learn concepts and techniques ahnlab starting your very first semester in the BSN program, but in order to build confidence into practice those skills we do have a lab that staffed by upperclassmen students who are there to help you, so that can be really helpful. Faculty connections. Oh my goodness.

I shouldn't even get started on how important I think it is to really make those connections with faculty. You won't really have much of a choice because our faculty like I said you or a family so they will get to know you, but you know again, just reaching out when you need help is really important. And then the last of course, is the free tutoring that we offer. We have peer tutoring within our BSN program so again just numerous resources. Please reach out. Advisors are really here to help you. Faculty are really.

To help you as well really navigate our program and be successful.

OK, so.

This next slide here is our year one nursing curriculum, so again you can find this more detailed within the link that's in the chat. But essentially you will on a four year track, take these courses that first year on a five year track you take one or two additional courses, but you will also take these courses within those first 2 years of the program for you. If on a five year track so we have bio 1300 and bio 1310, so that's going to be your full year. Banana me and Physiology.

I think the very best parts of Ohio University's nursing program. I mean, well, there are numerous amazing parts, but my favorite. Unless you love Ken, is that we only require the one semester of 10, so we just essentially took what we thought was important from the the two pens that you would have in the past taken and we just made it into one course and one semester. So I think that's pretty nice. We also have the English 1510.

That you'll take. We also you know these three of five support forces there in the middle you will.

You will have to take three of those. It doesn't matter which ones in order to apply to our program in the spring, but you will have to eventually take all 5.

So as it says at the top of this slide, these two boxes you do have to earn a solid 73% or better in order to pass these classes. So when I say pass, I mean a solid 73 or better, so it's a solid C.

And then the nursing class. So that's hot box on the right. You will take also your first nursing course. It's a two credit hour course called nursing. 1111 as clinical judgment. One you in this course and all subsequent nursing courses you will have to earn a solid B minus one 80% or above. So are nursing classes. We certainly hold to a higher standard because we're hoping that you're excelling in those and also something really important to note that you will hear.

A million times, I'm sure, but the School of Nursing does not round. So if you had a 79.99999% in the class, it's it's still nothing around to the 80 if that makes sense. So you know, do well in school. Make sure it's your priority for sure. And then of course we do require a minimum of a 2.75 GPA in order to be selected for BSN program, so again, this is your one. Pre recs? Please reference the link.

If you have, you know. I mean, you can ask me questions as well at the end, but I think that the link is really helpful because it does sort of set it. Set it up a little bit more for you.

So then it's always the question of, well, what about applying to the BSN program? So during spring semester of the prenursing year. So I'm speaking for on a four year track on a five year track. It's the same. It's just in here too.

I mean, you will complete your nursing application so I will walk you through this. It's also in the packet and so essentially what happens is in December of your first year you will get information about how to apply to our program. You will fill out a paper application on that application. There's a there are spaces for, you know it's an optional work volunteer experience, so you can add add pieces of information about you that you think are pertinent.

You also will have to have your FBI NBC I background check, which can be done at Ohio University, so that's nice. There is a fee associated with it, which I always like to tell students up front, so you'll have to do that. It should come back clean and also you will sit for what's called the Hesi A2 Pre nursing entrance exam essentially. So what it is is just a standardized test I have.

Earn it's very similar to the AC T you we tell students. Do not worry about this and even you shouldn't worry really about it at all. But if you want to kind of study, there are. We will send you in December when we send you the information about applying will send you information about books you can purchase a book to help you. There are so many free practice problems online that you can do, but we usually don't recommend even starting to focus on this until winter break.

Right before your spring semester began, so you will take the hesi exam in February, or at least that's how it was this past year. So you'll you'll take that. You just have to score 75% or better on it, it's.

From my understanding, it's not like how high you sore on it, it's just that you pass it or not.

But you know, with all That being said, we also look at University conduct records and things like that. You know. So making sure you're starting out coming to Ohio University. You know you have the mentality of making sure that you comply with all Ohio rules, but with all That being said, the most important part is going to be your GPA. So that's why we heart so much on resources. So much on your coming to advisor is getting help going to faculty members because the minimum of.

The minimum GPA to get in as a 275 however we.

Really like you to strive for higher than that.

And of course, once elected into the program, you'll have to have health history forms and things like that. And you also need to get CPR certified. But that's not to linger.

OK.

So uhm selection. So essentially, you know you will complete that hesi exam in February and then our our committee meets in summer. So after spring grades come in. So a lot of students say, well, what if I don't have a 2.75 at time of application? That's OK, you just need to have a 275 by the end of that spring semester. So it's.

Very specific in the fact that we really do look at spring semester grades because those on a four year track will still be finishing those last pre recs and that in that second year. So again you will be applying when you're taking, you know.

In the process of taking those final pre recs for our program.

OK, so then the other question that we get a lot of. I mean I understand why is you know what are the chances of me getting accepted into the BSN program? Well, so here here's kind of what it is. So we generally have about 200 students like you who come to Ohio University is pretty nursing students. Some people decide you know nursing is just not for them. Some people change their major into pre nursing after year one.

You know anything, anything like that can happen.

And but we do accept between 100 and 140 students into our program. Like I said, we have grown. We have been able to get those lab spaces, so we've been able to accept more. But the cap, I believe from what I've been told is 140 so you know, and I think the last bullet point is really important on this slide. So our selection committee really does look at students who they think are going to be successful in our program as well as successful in the field of nursing posts.

You know post war, so we we really, really are just we were not were just looking at students do we think are you know are going to do very well academically? An really just for them if that makes sense. So now we're looking for students who.

Can you have really demonstrated that they can deal with the academic rigor of nursing? So please again that just again, it's just just really focus on school. Is is always my piece of advice. So for students who are coming into Ohio University and keep that in mind for sure and you shouldn't have any problems.

OK, So what if I don't get into the BSN program? Well, you know there are so many different ways to become a nurse so that you know do not panic. That is why are advising staff is there. So there are a couple of different options for you. We have students who reapply the following year so we do only accept students into our program in the spring. So if you weren't able to pass a course or you just didn't do as well as you thought you would have then you can certainly wait until the following spring. So during that year.

You can retake horses to get a higher rate, and then you can take courses that will help with your GPA. You can pick up a minor certificate, certainly all those things are available. You can also switch major so we have Sarah White who is the assistant Dean for student success in our college. Should be more than happy to talk with you. We also have.

If you do meet the minimum requirements, but our pool was just really competitive that year, you can also go to one of our branch campuses so we have eastern Chillicothe which is probably closest to Athens Southern and then Zanesville who offer are very same nursing program. It's less expensive but just because it's not main campus a usually has open seats because people just don't flock to go to that program. But it's the same one so that's certainly if you do meet those memories.

Minimum requirement that certainly something that you can do, and of course your diploma would say Ohio University, so you know just all sorts of options. I will say that there is absolutely no shame at all in being on a five year track.

There are so many people in five year track for many reasons, so some people just get admitted that way. Some people don't do as well as they thought in a class, and some people just elected be on a five year track. So certainly keep that in mind because I you know I want to get the point across that there's absolutely no stigma attached whatsoever.

OK.

Great, so um. So in terms of of the traditional BS and curriculum, so you know we talk through the first year we talk through how to apply. So this is, you know, once you get into the program, what's it kind of look like. So are BSN program is a lock step three year program so you cannot move the nursing classes around until you can't speed it up and you can't slow it down. We will have approximately 590 hours in a clinical setting throughout the program. You also will have.

A lot of work within our lab settings and it's it's our labs are amazing. I will kind of over a little bit more in this next slide, but just know that you really do have a good opportunity to practice those skills and to become very confident before you even step place and step foot into a clinical setting.

OK, so clinical sites and clinical learning experiences. So clinicals began in the spring semester of your first year in the BSN program. Your first semester in the BSN program in the fall you will start in the lab so then in the spring you will start with your first clinical rotation. I will say I don't know what schools that you've been able to look at. I don't know if you've been able to see our labs, but they are absolutely, I think miraculous. I always tell students that.

I wouldn't want to be in them alone at night because our mannequins. I mean they range from low Fidelity to high Fidelity. The high Fidelity ones. They can blink. They talk, they can urinate, they can bleed. They have bowel sounds, they can support their weight on the edge of the bed. We have a mannequin who gives birth both naturally and via C-section? I mean it's just tremendous and I, you know, they all have names. They have wristbands in our labs or set up very much. So as you can see in this picture.

Like you would see in a hospital. So you really are getting that you know as realistic as of experience as you can early on. Also, you know if you're going to make a mistake, it's better to make it on these mannequins. And of course a real person so.

And you will have plenty of opportunities to practice your skills.

So that leads into the next question, which is clinical. An preceptor sites. So you know in the past Sarah clinical site they vary. So we have one listed here o'blenis in Athens it's right next to Athens, OH University. And then we also I mean they go to about an hour drive away. So within your first 2 years you can certainly carpool. We do not provide transportation to them and your last year you will be working 1 on one with the preceptor. So it might be helpful to have your own transportation for that.

And something I like to point out is that a lot of our students during their peas, so their pediatric rotation choose to go to nationwide children. So we do have a partner ship. We do have a partnership with them. In the past students have been able to go and to do their clinical work there for that rotation. So again, it's in Columbus, OH, it's a really neat.

Need opportunity for our students who are extremely interested in Pediatrics.

Great, OK, so this is of the slide on the in clicks exam. I don't know if you know what this is or not. So essentially you know you start our program with the Hesi A2, so it's like a standardized entrance exam. You will do. You will practice questions like that. You know all seniors take the hesi exit exam to help prepare them. The in clicks is essentially what you will have to take in order to get licensed as a nurse.

It's you know you will have our faculties takes this very seriously. You will practice this multiple times throughout your time. It's.

I think that our students would say they are very well prepared for the in Clex. I will say this past year our official pass rates and so the Ohio Board of nursing calculates the pass rate based on the first time pass rate of a cohort. So ours was a 94.38% which is one of the best in the state of Ohio. So we're very proud of that. Like I said, you were very rigorous. We do have that indirect admin program, but we're really proud of the fact that we are graduating.

Very competent, very skilled nurses.

OK so a couple other things, so that's kind of the school part. You know you have your prereqs, you have the nursing curriculum clinicals all of that. We you know something that I'm very passionate about is remaining very balanced during your time in college. So while nursing should be your number one priority, there are also lots of ways to get involved on campus. So here's a slide with just some nursing specific ones. So we offer BSN. Oh, we have a Greek organization called Sigma Theta TA.

They you know our organizations, do you really need things so they put on the purple gala? They have blood drive challenges. You know, things like that that you can get involved in Ohio University as a whole has a tremendous amount of clubs and extracurriculars as well. So again, while you should be focusing on nursing, you can definitely have some fun. Meet some people to know wow in the program.

So something else that you know we have done in the past with the school is, you know, do we have a School of Nursing study abroad and that we have been able to do the college itself? Also does study abroad. This is not a requirement of our program by any means. However it is a Co oppurtunity if you're interested in it. We wouldn't be able to do it for like a semester or anything like that because of the way our curriculum is set up. But you could do it, possibly over a break.

You could also do it, you know, over the summer, because we don't require summer classes. As a matter of fact, students study abroad. You can take a class or two if you want. In the summer I'm excluding the nursing courses. Of course, like I said, because they can't be moved. We also have students do internships and externships if if they would like in the summer as well. So here just some pictures of this particular study abroad I believe. So I know we took students to Botswana.

It it was really neat. I've heard some feedback from a few students that you know it was cool because they got to see how medicine is practiced there and versus how it's practiced here and they got take part in all of that. They also went on safaris and all kinds of different things. So if studying abroad is of interest to you, you'll definitely want to reach out to an advisor earlier rather than later just so that we can get you to the right person to the right resources to make that happen.

OK, so I'm here is just coming to the end here. Some technology requirements. They are also listed in the packet that I provided for you and that link please. If you please look through that if there's like a whole page of it in that packet I would be awful for you to get here and then for you not to have technology that supported. So please take a look and I think that will be very helpful. It really does go and pretty far death about our technology requirements.

OK, so our last couple slides here on these are just testimonies from students in the past. You are welcome to take a look at them and read them as I speak, so I as I know I'm very biased. I love our school I mentioned at the beginning where a family and I really do think that I was speaking with one of our. I think she's getting ready to graduate actually this year but she just mentioned that when she goes to interviews.

Some she had an employer actually like mark that she was in Ohio University student just because they love their Ohio University grad so much. Again, you know I I could talk about it all day and I really do think it's a rewarding experience. Yeah, very rigorous one, but thankfully we do have all sorts of support in place to help you. So again welcome. I will now open.

The discussion for questions or if you do have anything that you would like to ask that you know you're still a little unclear on. Please don't hesitate to type it in.

And just so you know, I will be here. I'll stay logged in until 11:00 o'clock when when were set to end. I also, I'm going to go ahead and put in the chat my contact information. OK, so great. So we do have a question. What is the male to female ratio in the program? So in the past hour BSN program I don't know exact numbers but I have been told by the lead academic advisor that we it's made of up of about a 25% male population.

That's a great question. Thank you so much.

Our study abroad options available in Europe. Thank you so much Caitlin for that question. I do not know specifically what are college is going to offer, you know. Just especially right now because in light of everything that's going on, we certainly can get you in contact and we do have what's called a global health certificate that you can choose to do. If you have time to fit in the curriculum on part of that can feature a study abroad and we do have an office that works with that so.

If you are interested, please feel free to you know. Like I said, I will put my contact information in here. You can shoot me an email or you can wait until you get here and your academic advisor I'm sure would love to help you with that. Thank you.

OK.

Yes, so Audrey thank you so much. You said when I try to join a learning community, the only learning community I could join with the College of Health Sciences. All majors since I am in the pre nursing major in the fall. Is this the learning community I should join? Yes so.

Let me check, I actually was just given information on this. That is a fantastic question. Let me just make sure that I tell you the correct thing.

Yes, so you will register for that and then I believe they will be broken up. So thank you for that question. So yes, if you are prompted to join the College of Health Sciences learning community, you will want to just go ahead and join that one. Thank you so much Audrey. That's a fantastic question.

Yes, so it looks like they will be put in pre nursing after you'll be putting prenursing after May 7th.

OK Kaylee, do you recommend living with a fellow nursing student while on campus? You know, I really think this is up to you. I don't. I don't know if I have any specific opinion or any exact information that would that would steer my answer anyway.

I haven't heard of anything being, you know better. I will say, I think What's more important is that you have a roommate who respects your study space. So again, I would you can work. I think with your RA on that if you're not pre selecting your roommate, but if it would make you feel more comfortable having a fellow us nursing student as a roommate, you can certainly look for that. I do think that are learning communities help because.

They you know, again, create that cohort style type environment so you will be with pre nursing students quite often. So in terms of living with one again, I really think it's up to you.

Chloe ask is it too late to get an into the prenursing program if I haven't applied to it yet? It is absolutely not too late, Chloe. I think Angie might be able to sort of direct you a little bit more on that, but it's it's certainly not too late. We be welcome. We would be happy to have you.

Yes, so in Chloe, if you so. Angie is from admissions. She will be able to help you more at that question. I just wanted to make sure that was specific and that you understood that they will be able to get you all set up.

And then for Jayden, I'm where can I find Angie's contact information? I'm sure Angie will provide you on some contact information here in a minute in the chat.

Caitlin, how will classes look at the fall semester is virtual, so I actually have not received any information about our fall semester course work yet. But if that's the case, you will certainly receive more information in the months to come.

You know you know this semester we've been able to pretty much you know, seamlessly move our courses on line so I would just be looking for updates.

Thank you so much though for that question.

OK, it is 11:00 o'clock so that concludes our presentation. I have put in my contact information so my email again is Martindale at ohio.edu. I would love to discuss anything with you if you like a phone call I can certainly do that as well. Thank you so much again for coming out today and listening and I really hope you all have a wonderful rest of the day. Thank you.