Big scholarship to a nursing school for fall '11, not sure I want to attend. Advice?

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2011

my account here is new although i've been reading posts anonymously for awhile on this site. anyway, i have a $40,000 scholarship to a private universities nursing program that would give me a bsn. i have a few questions regarding the profession first (sorry if this is the wrong area to post).
-how stressful is the job really? depends on the specialty you go into, and it depends on how you define stress. however, remember, when working with patients,their families and other interdisciplinary team members there will also be a bit of stress.
-how long are the shifts you have to work (rns, not students. ive seen rns working when i was in the icu for 12 hours. am i going to have to do this daily too?) this again depends on where you work, you could work at a dr's office 9-5 , 5 days a week, or you could work at a medical center doing 8 hour shifts or 12 hour shifts,, or as a school nurse at an elementary school and get the summers off :)... you can work part time ,full time, prn or not at all! hehe. and to be quite honest 12's really arent that bad...i actually prefer them :)
anddddd.....please give me your opinion whether i should attend this school or not regarding the pros and cons ill list below. if i wouldnt go to nursing school id go to a community college and try to get into a respiratory therapy program.
pros:
-100% job security (they have a strong relationship with the join hospitals run by meridian, which grads always get a job at) 100% job security is always a major plus! :)
-bsn, not asn program., with hospitals, going for "magnet status", having a bsn will put you a step ahead and, also allow you to progress in your career faster into management/supervisor roles, and or go right into an msn program if you choose!
-less creepy people than there are at the community college (i know this sounds rude/ignorant. sorry) less creepy is always good..could you elaborate on this?
-im sure id be in the program unless i flunk out. (while with the respiratory therapy program at the community college, im not sure i'd get into it, or be able to find a job afterwards!) work hard, and study your notes and listen in class and you wont flunk :), you get , what you put into it. if you half a** it then, dont expect to get full results ya know!
cons:
-30 min commute. leave your house early, learn time management (very important in nursing) & ull be ok!
- four more years of living with my parents (they're kinda abusive and cheap) is there a way for you to live on campus and be a resident assistant where they will pay u in room and board?
-expensive (even with the scholarship, its still about $26,000 a yr with tuition going up every year still) its expensive everywhere..haha
-womens college (until i get into clinicals at the hospital where theres any men, lol) fyi, nursing is still a female dominated profession, im at a co-ed college and i still feel like im at an all womens school lololol

i hope this answered your questions

oh yeah, ill take the scholarship if you dont want it

33762FL · Aug 12, 2011

$26K per year even AFTER the $40K scholarship?? That's not a scholarship, it's one of those tickets for a free $25 in the shot machines they give out when you walk into a casin0 - just a coupon designed to get you to open your wallet. Unless your family is covering the $26K/year for you I'd pass on that expensive school and get a nursing (or RT as you mentioned) as community college for much cheaper and then do an RN-BSN bridge program.

FLoat RN · Aug 12, 2011

I'm not sure where you got your information about 100% job security. You should check your sources. Hospitals are cutting back big time. They are not really even hiring new grads any more. Enter nursing because it's your passion, not for job security. It's probably one of the most stressful jobs available. You have peoples lives in your hands. You administer extremely dangerous drugs and procedures. The responsibility of practicing nursing is tremendous.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2011

Being a nurse is not a walk in the park. It is stressful. The (long) hours are seriously the last thing I am thinking about at this point, to give you some perspective. Most shifts are 12 hours, yes. You can forget having holidays off too. Unless you are lucky and work at a clinic, 8-to-5, but with lower pay and these jobs are harder to come by. You definitely need to research more about the profession. 100% job security in this climate? Hm, I don't think so. Lastly, is there a community college where you can get your ASN first and bridge to BSN later? Or is there a public university that offers BSN at a lower price? $29k after scholarships is still outrageous. I am paying $6k/year at a public university.

mangopeach · Aug 12, 2011

I'd pass on the scholarship. I'm telling you the same thing I told my own child. Not a nursing major but the same concept applies. He got into 2 schools - one a private uni with a staggering tuition - the scholarship they gave him was a drop in the bucket of what the total tuition would be. At the public university he would be almost fully covered. I told him, in these days, unless your parents are rich and money is no option, there is no sense in paying for the same degree you can get at another school for a fraction of the cost. No such thing as job security and as a new grad it might take a while to get that first job and it may not pay as well as you would like. No point in racking up massive amounts of student loans.

avg92 · Aug 12, 2011

$26K per year even AFTER the $40K scholarship?? That's not a scholarship, it's one of those tickets for a free $25 in the shot machines they give out when you walk into a casin0 - just a coupon designed to get you to open your wallet. Unless your family is covering the $26K/year for you I'd pass on that expensive school and get a nursing (or RT as you mentioned) as community college for much cheaper and then do an RN-BSN bridge program.

I'd be getting grants and loans to cover the cost. Definitely many grants cause I qualify for them. I also have a college fund worth around $25,000. Does that make it more worth it/ This is the average cost for a 4 yr private school anyway, so I don't see why so many people are saying thats expensive :/

avg92 · Aug 12, 2011

Being a nurse is not a walk in the park. It is stressful. The (long) hours are seriously the last thing I am thinking about at this point, to give you some perspective. Most shifts are 12 hours, yes. You can forget having holidays off too. Unless you are lucky and work at a clinic, 8-to-5, but with lower pay and these jobs are harder to come by. You definitely need to research more about the profession.
100% job security in this climate? Hm, I don't think so. Lastly, is there a community college where you can get your ASN first and bridge to BSN later? Or is there a public university that offers BSN at a lower price? $29k after scholarships is still outrageous. I am paying $6k/year at a public university.

Well I did research the job extensively, but okay.

Yes, there is good job security because as I said before, the school has a partnership with Meridian which has nearly hundreds of hospitals in the state.

And yes there's a community college near by, but like all CCs, it has a 5 yr wait list for the nursing program.

You sound pretty discouraging, but a lot of people here do too, so maybe I'll just go to this school for 1 year then transfer to the respiratory therapy program at the community college that doesn't have a waiting list.

Thanks for the information :)

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 12, 2011

I'd probably choose the BSN. Oh yeah... I DID choose the BSN and don't regret it.

Sure, nursing is a stressful career ... but so are most careers. Respiratory Therapy can also be stressful -- and they often work the same hours that nurses work.

You won't have 100% job security -- but you'll probably be better off than most folks on that front. You won't be in the job market for another 5 years and most people think the job market will improve at least a bit by then. Yes, you'll have to work SOME holidays -- but not all of them -- and many career involve working some unpopular hours.

The key point is this: If you WANT to be a nurse, be a nurse. If the work interests you, be a nurse. If the work itself does not appeal enough to you to put up with the downside, be a nurse. But if you are looking for an easy job -- nursing isn't it.

As for the money -- get yourself the best estimate of how much you will be in debt when you graduate. If it's less than $25,000 total, then that's probably OK.

Check out the school thoroughly. Is it full accredited (See other threads on accreditation.) ? How many of the people who enter the program actually graduate? How many of those graduates actually pass their licensing exam (NCLEX) on the first try? etc. If those numbers compare favorably with other local schools, that's a good sign.

In the end ... what is in your heart and gut. Do you WANT to be a nurse? That's important. Nursing can be a great career -- but it IS stressful and difficult at times. It's not always fun. For most people to thrive as nurses, they have to want to thrive. They have to at least want to do that kind of work.

caliotter3 · Aug 12, 2011

You come away with the prospects of a profession, whether you choose to, or need to, use it or not. After four or more years of goofing around or doing another major, you could be ahead with a nursing license. You never know when that nursing license will come in handy. It is there for you. I would not pass this by.

morecoffeepls, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2011

Apologizing for sounding (being) rude/ignorant makes it okay because you were raised by abusively cheap parents? When those creepy community college people are your patients, will you plug your nose when you treat them? I'm just kidding - you're probably cute & that makes it okay. Anyway, take the free money. $26K at a good school works, regardless of the degree. You sound like a real peach. Good luck & all that.

mstacyi · Sep 1, 2011

I would take the grant and then after 6 months transfer to CC and do their cheaper program. Once you transfer from another college you dont have to wait because you not fighting for a seat in the fundamental class. Usually, for whatever reason after the first semester people fail, decide nursing is not for them, and or drop out so you shouldnt have much of a problem getting in. Well, at least this is how it works in my valley so I would call your CC about transferring in if you are already in another program and decide if you want to transfer after your 1-2 semester at the private college.

Also, I do agreed that 40K is alot and that should of cover for your BSN. Anyhow, what ever you pick best of luck to you.