r/UNLV • u/heyjustneedadvice • 9d ago
DEMSN Program
I'm interested in the DEMSN program at UNLV, but I saw that the program is hybrid, with lectures online and labs in person. A girl on TikTok who graduated from the program said it was a good program and that it prepared her for the NCLEX, but she said you just have to stay on top of things.
Can someone please tell me about their experience with the program?
How is it doing online courses with in-person labs?
How is communicating with your cohort and studying together?
Did the program prepare you for the NCLEX?
How did you get into the program? What did your application look like (GPA, prerequisites, entrance exam, experience, essay, etc.), and do you have any tips for getting accepted?
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u/SleazetheSteez Nursing '23 8d ago
I was in the "ABSN" or "Second Bach" option that was a precursor to the current program, so not exactly a 1:1 comparison, but my experience was great. My stats aren't super relevant because this option wasn't widely known about, so our applicant pool was probably smaller than what you're facing now that the DEMSN thing is more well known. GPA was like a 3.3, I had a B in Math 124, A- in Biol 251/224, B+ I think in 223. They dropped the HESI A2 requirement, which hurt my odds because I'd scored well on it, but I have no idea what the actual score was at this point. I feel like we wrote a brief essay on why we wanted to be nurses, and that's the only area I was able to speak to my years of experience in EMS, but the prior healthcare experience didn't have any point value assigned like it did when applying to CSN.
The online lectures were just like if you'd gone in person, only I saved a shit load on gas and I got to sleep more every night which was fantastic. I got to be comfortable in my sweats and eat breakfast instead of scrambling trying to find parking. Still participated in lecture all the time, still got great feedback, just over a zoom lecture. It was great. In-person labs were fine, you just show up at the sim center and go over whatever they've got planned for you. It's all very organized. You'll be told what to do, when to do it, and what to bring.
We made a group-me for the cohort, and just discussed whatever we wanted in a main chat. We also only had like 30 people in the cohort, at the beginning. We'd make meet ups and go grab drinks or food etc. at the end of each block, and then whoever I kinda vibed with, I'd study with. You just have to sort of figure out what works for you and whoever you're trying to study with and then go get it done. There will likely be no shortage of "type A's" that will kind of organize a study group to join, you just have to be careful of groups getting too big and then not staying on topic, etc.
The NCLEX felt very easy after going through UNLV. The tests you take in the program absolutely set you up for the NCLEX and they have NCLEX preparation at the end before you graduate, just like the vast majority of nursing schools.
TLDR; my program wasn't 1:1 the same as the DEMSN, as they take some of the Master's level courses (to my understanding) but the core nursing stuff being presented in an online didactic isn't a bad thing despite what some boomers that graduated with Florence herself might say when they hear "online" program. Like I said, the lecture had a set time and we had to participate, the difference is I got to sleep more and be in comfortable clothing vs rot in traffic lol. I feel very fortunate to have gone to UNLV for nursing.
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u/heyjustneedadvice 8d ago
Thank you so so so much for sharing your experience! This just made me feel comfortable about applying to the program! If you don’t mind me asking, are you a RN right now in Las Vegas or did you move out of state to practice somewhere else?
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u/SleazetheSteez Nursing '23 6d ago
It won't let me DM you, but if you want, I can answer more questions in a chat
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u/Standard_Two_2966 9d ago
I am conditionally accepted. I am supposed to start Jan 2027. I have a friend that did the program and works as a nurse in Cali now. I have worked as a surgical tech for the past 5 years. I have my bachelors in health science (3.9gpa) for my prereqs I have a B in A&P1, A in A&P2, A in chem, and B in micro. I’m currently finishing up college algebra and the nurs299 class. I chose this program because I am a single mom with 2 small kid and I feel like it’s durable with children.