Dallas area Nursing Programs/Schools

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I need your advice, opinions, pros/cons of the nursing schools/programs in the Dallas area. I am a part-time community college student (full-time stay-at-home mom whose kids - 3 of them :p :p :rolleyes: - are now in elementary and middle school :smiley_aa ). I have been working toward pre-reqs and support classes for admission to Associates RN (2-year), but have heard some negative comments about the school I was looking into!! Registration is this month (November) and I am wondering if I should rethink my plans!

Hi Leete!!! (Lee - ette)

I know you!!

When I am communicating incorrespondence, I sign my name as Christine, but in person with my friends, I go by Chris!!!!

After I responded to you the first time, I wondered if it could be you! How cool!

I decided on a BSN because no one in my family has graduated from college. By doing the BSN, I also had one more semester home with my youngest before the craziness of nursing school. My A&P teacher made me a little nervous about the stress of an associate degree program and my lifestyle. I still want to be involved with my kids. She talked about a drop rate of 60% because of the strenuous course load. TWU has about a 20% drop rate. I still think both programs are good, and this fall, I was wishing I had gone ahead to El Centro because all the history and government and Statistics were a bit of a beating. I am definately ready to move into the classes that interest me!

CHRIS!!! Oh my goodness!!! The world-wide web gets smaller by the day!! I also wondered if this might be you!

I can understand about the family-thing. I love being a mom and active with my kids. I guess that is one reason I have thought about TWU. Also a BSN is my ultimate goal so do I go for it now while I have the time and opportunity - especially since my kids are young enough to still WANT me around!! I know that God has given me this desire for His service - so that said, He will see that all things will work out according to His plan. Just like there is a Godly purpose for me to have to drive to Cedar Valley this semester - not quite sure why - but I do know there is one!!

Was this your A&P teacher at Eastfield (is that where you go?)? Sorry - right now my memory is on "bones of the skeletal system" - I can't remember what was said in previous conversations along with all the bones floating around in my brain!! That is a very insightful teacher! I do worry about my ability to tough it out with the El Centro schedule along with my wife and mom duties! Have you talked to any of the Nursing counselors anywhere? Of course, they will tell you to go to their school so they can get your money into their school systems!

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My A&P teacher at Eastfield was Tammy Oliver. I really liked her and learned a lot!

I went to an info meeting at El Centro, and at TWU. Richland also offered an info session and Brookhaven, TWU, UT Arlington, and Baylor were there talking about their programs and giving info packets. You might watch the Richland website for it this spring. They had a health career fair and had different sessions you could attend. When I first went to Eastfield, the counselor asked me what I wanted to do, when I told him he said, "YOu and everybody else!" I didn't bother with them anymore. Pinny Jaquez (pronounce hawkez) is an instructor who also advises for health careers and she was more helpful. Also Jackie Reynolds at Richland is a phenomenal instructor as well as advisor.

Any program is going to be tough. If the first semester is too much, I can go part time for the rest. I don't know if El Centro offers a part time option. I did take Pathophysiology this semester instead of my first semester of the nursing program, so that will take some of the stress off when I start.

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Hello, my name is Tanya and I am also in the Dallas area! I am currently in my first semester of the nursing program at TVCC in Kaufman! I just finished my first clinical rotation today! It's been very exciting! I have just about all of my pre-reqs for a BSN but I got accepted to TVCC so I have chosen to go ahead and get started with the nursing program. I have a 6 and a 4 year old so I definately can relate with you guys! It's nice to meet someone on this board so close to home! I also applied at elcentro last year, along with TVCC and Navarro. I was just happy to get in some where! Again, nice to meet you!:) :balloons:

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Hi Tanya!

A friend of mine went to TVCC, and my sister-in-law is doing her pre-reqs for TVCC.

How was your first clinical? I can hardly wait to get started!

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Hi Tanya!

How awesome that you are doing your first clinical!! I have a ways to go before I get to that point - but I get excited just thinking about what you are doing! Since you are going to TVCC for nursing where did you get your pre-reqs and support classes? At what hospitals do you do your clinical rotations? I guess I didn't realize there were other areas fairly close to me that offered the nursing program.

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I took all of my pre-reqs at Navarro in both Waxahachie and Corsicana. This clinical was at Terrell Memorial Hosp. It was a very good clinical experience. We were in med-surg so we got to do a lot of the nitty gritty stuff, which is good because then they can see who can handle it and who can't. We also had to write careplans and lots of other paper work and assessments and give meds. Overall it was a very positive experience and just reinforced my decision to become a nurse!:balloons:

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I will be graduating from El Centro in December. I'm editing this post because it came out more negative than I intended.

The point I wanted to make is that El Centro looses are large percentage of students. There are very few support systems in place and students with any sort of personal/academic issues find that the program is not flexible. There are so many students waiting for a spot that the school does not need to make exceptions to accomodate individual students.

If someone is deciding between a BSN program and an ADN program, that is something they need to take into account.

Good luck whatever you decide!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Whether the program you choose is a BS or AD, I can say that both are equally stressfull.

Every program has the things you MUST pass (some of these are BNE regulations that apply to all schools) in order to progress. That pharm calc test is common to every nursing school in the state in some form or fashion. Many schools use an exit exam of some sort now as well.

I would like to point out that at many schools (I know they have this at TWU) students have access to counseling services - I highly advise anyone who is feeling overly stressed to take advantage of these! Your friends and family who have never been to nursing school just will not get what you are going through. Nursing (or any professional program) school can be a pretty traumatic experience for a lot of people.

Stable home life is helpful - but I know there are plenty who make it under pretty dire home circumstances - it just isn't easy for them.

ETA: Skills checkoffs, lecture and clinical pass/fail are also common to all programs.

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I really like getting everyone's insight. It helps me see the big picture. I do know that any program is going to be stressful - going to school for any degree is fairly stressful! I have to say that I am truly amazed at the many women I have met who are working full-time or part-time, going to school to get pre-reqs/support classes, have children, and are "mature":) students like me. Some of them are even single moms!!!! Where there is a will, there is a way!!

LauraLou - do you have kids, if so what ages? I'm curious to know how school has been for you if you have had to juggle kids and their schedules along with your own schedule, i.e., shift work, studying, etc. When you spoke about the school not being flexible that is a huge issue for me. My husband's schedule is a little flexible so he is able to help out some. But I have been here with my kids for 12 years now. It is hard to imagine being in school and not doing field trips sometimes, or eating lunch with them at school. As much as I want my nursing degree and to work in the field, my "mommy guilt" takes over. And its not just guilt - I guess it is wanting my cake and eating it too!!!

Did/have any of you consulted any of the counselors (advisement) at any of the schools? If so, was it just a "sales" pitch for their respective school or do you feel they gave you truly sound advice?

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