[dewberrysquish]

Hello All

I'm 24 and I'm thinking about becoming a nurse. I'm choosing this as a career because of how bad the economy is in Michigan, especially Flint and it seems healthcare is the only secure field to go into. I don't know whether to go to Mott or Baker to get a degree in nursing. I hear there's a waitlist which scares me. If there is such a shortage of nurses, it doesn't seem to be if there is a wait list, there most be plenty of people trying to be a nurse. Right?

I would like to know what school is best to go for nursing Mott or Baker? What's the pros and cons of both? What are the duties of a nursing and what is the pay like hourly? What is the difference between a nurses aide and nursing assistant and practical nurse? What is the pay like for each?
I would like to work at McLaren Hospital, I was always treated fairly there and that always impressed me. I'm a kind, compassionate, empathetic person which I think are qualities for a nurse. I don't like throw up or blood or needles but I'll learn to deal with it. Any advice will help. Thanks again

[WayneStateKatie]

Congratulations on your decision-- the next few years will be devoted to a lot of hard work but it will be worth it in the end. While I can't answer your specific questions about Baker or Mott I thought I'd tackle some of your more general questions until someone who can answer specifics gets here.

The reason why many schools have a wait list is because they are only able to admit far fewer students than who wish to attend. This is due to state mandated faculty to student ratios (8 students max per clinical section) and there is a shortage of qualified teachers at the moment. I think Mott's wait list is fairly long (I might have read 3 years on here somewhere) and unless I'm mistaken I don't think Baker has a wait list-- they are competitive and admit based on GPA among other factors. I would contact both schools and see what their policies are-- some require you to take a certain number of credits at the school to be eligible.

A nurses aid doesn't have a certificate and thus starts lower in pay.

A certified nurses assistant earns a certificate from a community college or other training institution and will start around 9-11 dollars an hour. You will be doing a lot of grunt work-- bedpans, bed baths, lifting etc. If you don't like throw up or other bodily fluids a whole lot this might get in the way. CNAs deal with all sorts of bodily fluids...

A licensed practical nurse earns a two year degree and passes the NCLEX PN at the end of the courses to obtain licensure as a practical nurse. New LPN grads in a hospital will start at about 14 bucks an hour. LPNs have many more duties than CNAs and a greater responsibility. Many LPNs work in long term care facilities as there are far fewer LPN positions than RN positions open in hospitals.

Registered nurses can either earn a two year degree from a community college or a four year degree from a university. Holders of these degrees sit for the same exam-- NCLEX RN-- upon graduation and have the same job of registered nurse. New RN grads in a hospital will start around 22 dollars an hour. A RN will have a lot more responsibility than all the other mentioned jobs.

Being a nurse requires a special type of person. I would first talk with many nurses and job shadow both a RN, LPN, and CNA if possible. That will give you an idea of what a day in the life of each is like. Also contact schools and see what their policies are. Then the fun of prerequisites and hopefully nursing school starts

Good luck to you!

[hair_tie]

I was going to Baker for LPN but after talking to some people I found out it is very hard to transfer from Baker to any other college. If you get your LPN at Baker they won't let you continue on to the RN program. At our orientation last fall they told us that no other college is suppose to accept the credits from Baker, I do know that occ does though. I have decided to go to Mott. I want to have flexibility. I am going in next week to do financial aid and then register.

[typhanie78]

Originally Posted by hair_tie

I was going to Baker for LPN but after talking to some people I found out it is very hard to transfer from Baker to any other college. If you get your LPN at Baker they won't let you continue on to the RN program. At our orientation last fall they told us that no other college is suppose to accept the credits from Baker, I do know that occ does though. I have decided to go to Mott. I want to have flexibility. I am going in next week to do financial aid and then register.

That's not true, plenty of colleges accept credits from Baker. I transferred most of mine to HFCC and they have an LPN-RN program. They accepted (most) of my credits with no problem.

Also for the original poster---neither! I've wasted 5 years of my life at Baker and I'm sorry to say their program is hard to get into. They have 13 pre-req's for their Nursing Program @ approx $750-$1000 per class, you are already almost $10,000 in debt and that's BEFORE nursing classes and books, and after all that, who's to say you'll even get into their program.

If I were you I'd go with a college that has a waiting list. At least you know you will eventually get into the program. Or even take the required classes somewhere and transfer them.

Sorry to sound so bitter, but like I said, I wasted time, money and many tears over Baker College....

[SerenityRN2b2010]

Originally Posted by typhanie78

That's not true, plenty of colleges accept credits from Baker. I transferred most of mine to HFCC and they have an LPN-RN program. They accepted (most) of my credits with no problem.

Also for the original poster---neither! I've wasted 5 years of my life at Baker and I'm sorry to say their program is hard to get into. They have 13 pre-req's for their Nursing Program @ approx $750-$1000 per class, you are already almost $10,000 in debt and that's BEFORE nursing classes and books, and after all that, who's to say you'll even get into their program.

If I were you I'd go with a college that has a waiting list. At least you know you will eventually get into the program. Or even take the required classes somewhere and transfer them.

Sorry to sound so bitter, but like I said, I wasted time, money and many tears over Baker College....

Typhanie (love the spelling) I don't think you are bitter at all. In fact, I can see why you would not recommend Baker. I actually looked at Baker before deciding to stay at WCCCD....I have a few friends who graduated from there and they highly recommend WCCCD. It is GPA based and they hold NO wait list, but it is cheap and their program is gaining a great reputation! (at least from I have been told from my nursing friends who are talking to nurse recruiters who are all eager to talk to WCCCD students) I hear HFCC, SCC and OCC all have great programs as well. If I don't get into WCCCD I am going to put my name on their wait list and hope someone calls me.

Don't apologize for voicing your experiences, it could help someone else not make the same mistake. That is a lot of money to spend on prerequisites...although I would never say it was a waste of money because an education is never a waste!

Good luck to you!

[dewberrysquish]

I went to Baker today and I was told it was three years. I thought it would be a two year degree, that's where I read everywhere. I prepared myself for two years but not three. Now I will have to look into Davenport. What have you all heard about Davenport?

[typhanie78]

Originally Posted by dewberrysquish

I went to Baker today and I was told it was three years. I thought it would be a two year degree, that's where I read everywhere. I prepared myself for two years but not three. Now I will have to look into Davenport. What have you all heard about Davenport?

Where abouts are you from? I'm just wondering cause the Baker around me (Clinton Twp) doesn't have a waiting list.

I've not heard too much about Davenport (except that they are expensive as well-more than Baker I've heard) My friend went there and enjoyed that their classes were only like 7 weeks long I believe.

I'm not sure if they have a waiting list or not.

If you're close to Detroit I'd suggest Henry Ford Community College, their waiting list is only 1 year - 18 months. I'm taking Chemistry and then I will be on it, the one class that Baker doesn't have as a pre-req, lol.

[dewberrysquish]

I live in Flint. I was told there is no waiting list at Baker BUT the program would take three years to complete not two. I would get in based on grades and as someone else stated else stated I might have to wait because someone might have better grades and get in before me.

What is Davenport like? Does Baker or Davenport give a better education or which is more appreciated?

[anurse2be09]

Originally Posted by dewberrysquish

I live in Flint. I was told there is no waiting list at Baker BUT the program would take three years to complete not two.

I am assuming it would take three years if you haven't completed any prereqs, but that the acual nursing course is two years. If I were you I would apply at a few programs that would logistically as well as financially work for you.

[hair_tie]

LPN is 2 years and RN is 3 years at baker. Baker has a policy that you can only take one class over any more and your not elgible for the program. Mott told me each class can be tried upto 3 times. If you don't make it into the program the first time you try, at Baker, you can try one more time then your done. When I was there I had a problem with them getting loans done on time and I ended up sitting there for 4 weeks with no books, they sent my payment to the wrong campus. Other girls I knew had sat through the whole term worrying about their finance aid and ended up not getting books and it turned out the FA office forgot to either put them in the computer or over looked a paper.