[JustADream]

Hi,

I just registered this week, but I have been lurking for a long time now and researching, researching, researching because I really want to become a RN and am trying to figure out the best way to do it. There are so many choices in classes to take, schools and tuitions, programs, work places, etc., that I am having trouble figuring out what would be ideal for my situation and was hoping that some experienced GA nurses might be able to help.

To tell you about myself, I have a BS in Psychology and double-majored in English Literature from another state. I currently live in the Conyers/Covington (Rockdale/Newton) and have been working at a corporate office for several years now. I applied to Georgia Perimeter College for the Summer '08 semester as a special student not intending to pursue a degree at GPC so that I would be able to take the necessary pre-requisites for most of the nursing schools offering BSN/MSN programs. I have already taken Intro Statistics, College Algebra, and many Psych classes, but I think I still need to take A & P I-II, Chem I-II, Microbiology, and maybe Human Growth and Development or some sort of GA specific history course since I attended all of my previous schooling in another state. Is there any way to accelerate the pre-requisite process? I understand that I can't take A & P until I have taken Chem, and the same goes for Microbiology, but it seems silly that it would take me a year + of attending school part-time when I already have a BS until I could even apply for nursing school- is this correct?

I understand that the BSN programs around are full-time and pretty heavy workloads, so I was going to resign from my job to put my full attention and time into education and clinicals. Unfortunately, there are no BSN programs in our county or even our surrounding counties, so I would need to drive at least 45min-1hr to the closest one, assuming I was accepted. I would like to attend Emory, GSU, or Georgia Medical College if I could be accepted because they have MSN/PhD options and I would like to pursue that once I had some nursing experience. Tuition is a big deal because we have a mortgage and other bills and my husband works for the county, so we would not have a large income by any means when I resign from my job to attend school. I do not qualify for a lot of the usual scholarships or grants because I am a second degree-seeking student. I try very hard and study a lot, but I stress out over tests and my GPA from my degree is 3.15, so I don't know how merit scholarships would work out if I couldn't get my GPA up to at least a 3.5 doing my pre-reqs. We were going to try to pay the GPC pre-requisite courses out of pocket each semester, but are there any ideas as to how I could afford nursing school without incurring a ton of student loans? I was looking at work grants, but I haven't seen any in the Rockdale/Newton/Walton area.

Finally, I saw Georgia Medical College is offering a MSN specifically-designed for second degree-seeking students called the Clinical Nurse Leader program that I have also been looking into as an alternative to going back for a BSN only to later pursue an MSN. I have seen some older threads on it, but I was hoping for some new imput- is this a good program and is there a market for this? Would I still be on par as an RN with nurses from a ASN or BSN program or would I feel like I was behind because I missed those years compared to someone that did ASN or BSN to MSN? Finally, if I found a different advanced practice role after the CNL program and experience that I loved such as becoming a NP, CRNA, CNS, etc., would I have to go get a second master's later on or are there diploma or certificate programs?

Sorry for the question bombardment- I have contacted counselors and advisers at four different schools now and each time am becoming more confused. I really want to be a nurse and I just want to go about it the right way. I wish I could have figured this out years ago when I was still in school, but apparently I had to learn the hard way that this is for me. I really appreciate any information or insights that anyone can provide to steer me in the right direction towards a future in nursing.

Thank you so much for your time!

Lauren

[jadam86]

I've been in the same situation and have come up with a solution, which took me about 3 months of research. Also, I live in Columbus so I kind of have more schools to choose from.

All of the nursing programs in my area (ASN and BSN) have the same deadlines for application so I am going to apply at each one of them. A coworker said that there is not a difference in New Grad RN pay, no matter which level you attained. So if your worried about not working for a long time, the ASN is a good option. NGCSU offers a ASN-BSN online program, so if I am accepted into an ASN program, I will just complete my BSN online.

As for the Masters part, I have also chose an online program. UAB actually offers the program I want which is a certificate in RNFA and allows me to earn a NP at the same time. The downside is that I have to travel from time to time but I'll just have to let my hospital know that I need to be off those days. I haven't heard much about MCG's second degree option. I know that there are several schools that offer it but I didn't look into it since it didn't apply to me.

Tuition is actually a much simpler problem than trying to find a program. Visit www.gacollege411.org. They show all of the scholarships and grants offered in the state of GA. They also have something called a Service Cancellable Loan which is where you sign a contract to work somewhere for X amounts of years based on how many years you borrow money.

Hope this helps

[oooooooooo]

I'm post-bacc finishing up my ADN in Georgia.

Be careful when you plan your financial aid. I did not find out until AFTER I was accepted into my program that our school did not allow post-baccs to have service-cancellable loans.

This may not be statewide, but it was the case scenario at my school. Double check with the financial advisors at the school you want to attend.

Personally, I wish that I had gone with MCG's second degree option. It was just starting up a few years back and its very low profile. One of my friends opted for that and I think she is far more satisfied with her experience.

[JustADream]

I really appreciate you two taking the time to try to help me and I am already checking into GACollege411 and am trying to double-check the financial aid small type for post-bacc clauses. I think I am just going to make an appointment with MCG's nursing department and drive a few hours to talk to them about the CNL program because it would make a big difference if it is worth it in the time I am in school and what I am studying. I really wish we could move closer to the school that I end up in, but that is out of the question because my husband is finally where he wants to be job-wise.

Thanks again for your help!

Lauren

[yellow finch]

Just a few thoughts before heading off to bed on a couple of your questions... more answers tomorrow if I have time while at work...

... with nursing school being as competitive as they are, you want to be sure your pre-reqs are the best grades you can get. I know that at Kennesaw State you have to have straight As in those 7 courses just to be considered for the program.

... you might have good luck getting into an accelerated program for 2nd degree students. While they are also competitive, they are typically offered at all schools giving you twice the chance to be accepted. Contrary to what someone else mentioned about service-cancellable loans, I received one as an accelerated, 2nd degree student.

... apply to schools like Emory that accept applications on a rolling basis. This means there is no true deadline for each semester. They choose for the semesters starting with the first month and accept a high number of applicants. The next month the team gets together and chooses more, but not as many. Same goes each month until they run out of slots. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have to get in b/c they have 100% open spots. By the last month they may only have 5% open. Does that make sense?

... if you choose the CNL program, you can always complete a post-masters certificate in a specialty such as NP, CRNA, etc... this way, if you don't like being a CNL, you can tack on a year of study and do something else.

Hope this helps.

I'm off to snooze.

[still searching]

Lauren,

I am almost in the EXACT same position. I used GPC to do many of my pre reqs and started a year ago doing that (one by one the long way) My degree is in a non science field too. You can only do those faster by taking advantage of mini terms doing ap I first half and apII second of the same semester. I would ONLY do that if that is all you are taking and that will increase your time committment for those classes too but, can help you get it done a little quicker. I live an hour away from the nearest gpc campus (lawrenceville) and they are closing that branch and no long offer pre reqs only the nursing classes so I have to find a plan B.

I have literally looked in to SO MANY different programs and options. The thing I want to avoid is taking history classes and different specific courses that the different BSN programs require in the core classes. For example one schools wants economics and a US History class, another wants a specific World Lit as opposed to my American LIt. I don't want to spend a whole sememster doing those unrelated classes.

If you don't mind that than Georgia State has Spring and Fall enrollment for nursing and an accelerated program. They do require that 2 classes be taken with them (human growth and dev and one other) which stinks for me b/c it is 1 and 1/2 hours away.

Emory, although it is private and super expensive, has a 2nd deg BSN program. In most of these 2nd deg. programs they accept all "core" course work b/c you have a degree and only require specific sciences. They also have a BSN/MSN program where you enter do the 2 year bsn and go right into the year and half for the specialist. NP, midwife etc.

Medical college of Georgia has the CNL for second degree students and from what I have read (just requested info and haven't heard back yet) they accecpt the bachelors and have specific sciences and it takes fall, spring, summer fall and you have a Masters in Nursing. This is from what i have seen so far the quickest way for me to be a nurse and a little shorter in time than getting a BSN first.

I really want to be a mid-wife so I'm not sure how that will play out in getting a CNL and maybe later doing the other but I have been looking at all the different options for the past year. I intended to get all the pre reqs done this past year and begin a full time nursing deal this fall but was surprised with a pregnancy this past fall and didn't think I could do it with a 4 month old and 20 month old... so I will do the rest of the pre reqs slower and start fall 09.