Need advice on which school to go to

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello,

My name is Barbara and I want to become a Registered Nurse. I already have my B.S. in Business Admin and I am currently working. But I want to go back to school to become an RN.

Since are so many schools, I wanted to ask you guys if you could recommend some of the better ones with an RN program.

Thank you

Specializes in Maternity & Well Baby Nursery.

Welcome! Where did you want to go to school? I think we need more info before we can really answer your question.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Even though there are so many schools, the vast majority of nursing programs are highly competetive. Applicants usually don't have the luxury of picking and choosing which nursing schools they'll attend. Rather, they apply to 4 or 5 nursing programs and pray that 1 school will accept them. For example, my local community college did not accept any applicants to their nursing program whose GPA fell below 3.8 due to the large volume of applications received.

Since you already have a B.S., I would look into fast-track RN programs that are specifically designed for those who have already earned a degree previously. These programs are intense, tightly condensed, and are usually about 18-24 months in duration.

Specializes in Maternity & Well Baby Nursery.
Even though there are so many schools, the vast majority of nursing programs are highly competetive. Applicants usually don't have the luxury of picking and choosing which nursing schools they'll attend. Rather, they apply to 4 or 5 nursing programs and pray that 1 school will accept them. For example, my local community college did not accept any applicants to their nursing program whose GPA fell below 3.8 due to the large volume of applications received.

Since you already have a B.S., I would look into fast-track RN programs that are specifically designed for those who have already earned a degree previously. These programs are intense, tightly condensed, and are usually about 18-24 months in duration.

:yeahthat: I didn't think of the question that way but I definitely agree with Commuter. It is very competitive and quite a few people in my class applied to 2 or more different places.

Good Luck!

Also, make sure the school you choose is accredited. Most positions require graduation from an accredited school.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Also, make sure the school you choose is accredited. Most positions require graduation from an accredited school.
:yeahthat: NLN accreditation should be an important consideration when selecting a nursing program; however, there are many fine nursing schools that do not have the NLN backing. The NLN website, http://www.NLNac.org will allow you to find NLN-accredited schools in your area.

I am currently in an Accelerated BSN program in Missouri. I had a previous BA and now I am getting my RN-BSN in 16 mo. There should be a disclaimer, though, because there is about another year of science prereqs you must take to apply 1st. I love it but I have no life. Literally. I take 18 units a semester of hard classes. If you are going to need to work at all or a single mom then I might want to take a slower route. But it is definitely worth it. Good luck!

Thanks for all the great advice so far.

I'm sorry about the grammar/missing info, I had just gotten home from work and I was tired!

I live in Southern California: Temple City (near Pasadena).

I understand from what everyone is saying is that getting into a Nursing School is pretty hard. Are the accelerated RN programs easier to get into?

I am actually from California, too. I moved to Missouri because it is cheaper ($20,000 will pay for my living expenses and tuition total- 16 mo), faster (there isn't a nursing shortage in the Midwest as bad as Cali, thus no wait lists), and easier to get into (I had a 3.3 GPA). I think all nursing programs are hard to get into in Cali. It's easier if you move for that 1.5 years and then move back if that is an option. www.allnursingschools.com is a good site for more info. Good luck!

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