As some may know, Drexel University is much more than an engineering school in an urban setting. Unless you’re a worker at an area hospital or incredibly interested in nursing school rankings, you may not know that Drexel’s nursing program is extremely successful and produces some of the top registered nurses (RNs) on the East Coast. Drexel prides itself on being different. And, well, the nursing program is no exception, as current students/graduates of this program are so distinctly different from those of other nursing schools. That being said, there are a few telltale signs that you’re a Drexel nursing major.
1. Anatomy is life and life is anatomy.At Drexel, the anatomy and physiology courses taken during freshman year are probably the most important classes in the entire four or five years spent getting a BSN. Anatomy is truly the building block for all other courses we take, and the concepts/terminology we learn in these classes are the foundation for absolutely everything else we learn.
2. Getting those yellow and navy scrubs is one of the most exciting things in the world!Yes, most nursing students anticipate the day that they get their first pair of medical pajamas, but here at Drexel we wear them with more pride than one can imagine. It symbolizes more than just being a nursing student; those scrubs are our way of telling the world that we attend one of the most respected and highest ranking nursing programs around.
3. You, and your fellow nursing students want a co-op at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.It’s not just the prestige of this medical institution that draws so many Dragon nurses in, but also a true passion for pediatrics and making a difference. Drexel selects people for this program, from more than just a pool of high GPA’s and SAT scores—they look for students who have a love for helping others. Those same characteristics are what CHOP wants its co-op nurses to possess as well. Most people in Drexel’s nursing program are highly qualified for a position at CHOP, so it’s a tough battle to receive one!
4. You know the Center City campus like the back of your hand as a freshman, while your friends from other majors do not.Although during freshman year you typically only go to the other campus for anatomy labs and the CNHP University 101 class, you still get a feel for what the CC campus is like. Whether your best friend at Drexel is a biology major or a history major, they most likely have no idea how to navigate the Center City campus of the school.
5. You know everyone in your major pretty well!Comparatively speaking, the nursing program is much smaller than the biology or engineering programs at Drexel. So, as a nursing major, you see the same faces in pretty much all of your classes because the curriculum is so structured that basically everyone in the BSN program takes the same exact courses.
6. You get to brag about extraordinary co-op experiences to nursing students in other programs.Drexel is one of very few schools in the country to offer a program that provides you with real life experience prior to graduation. This is not only a major resume booster when it comes to finding a job, but it helps you realize early on if a particular field of nursing is the right fit for you or not. Extraordinary co-op experiences can also help you establish connections in the Philadelphia area, out of state, and even at international medical institutions. This gives you a major advantage over other nursing students, who are fighting for the best jobs.
7. You hear time and time again how Drexel’s program has the highest NCLEX first-time pass rate in Pennsylvania, and one of the highest pass rates in the nation.Whether the thought of being in such a prestigious program makes your palms sweat or want to brag about it on Facebook, it’s a pretty huge deal that this program is the best of the best. Ask any Drexel nursing grad and they will tell you how prepared you’ll be for the chaos of NCLEX. Drexel hasn’t had a graduating class with a first-time pass rate below 96% in the last five or so years.
Never forget, my fellow Dragon nurses, you are allowed to boast proudly of being a student in this amazing nursing school. We have been entrusted with the duty to uphold the reputation of Drexel nurses everywhere. With that in mind, stay humble and don’t brag too much (I know it’s hard not to)! You made it here because of your intellect and compassion for helping others, so study hard and never lose sight of your dreams in this ever-growing career field!