Info on transferring nursing schools

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 6, 2014

Not going to go into the discrimination part of your post due to the lack of details. However, changing nursing schools will, in almost all cases, result in having to start over at the beginning. Most schools, while meeting state BON and accreditation requirements, individualize their actual nursing courses. While your prereqs should transfer (no guarantee), it is extremely unlikely that any nursing courses will be accepted as transfer credits. You'll need to decide if starting over and shelling out that kind of money is worth not finishing your current program, seeing as it appears you are one final semester from finishing.

NeverGiveUp29 · Dec 6, 2014

Thanks for the input.. Also just a tad more info on this topic. My college is accredited and it would be a transfer within the state. Also I was thinking at the very least, at least Fundamentals may stand since that is usually the first thing every nursing school learns? I guess wishful thinking, but trying to be realistic too, thanks.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Dec 6, 2014

Nursing courses rarely transfer...accreditation and bring in the same state don't change that. You may get lucky but...the reality of nursing school is that classes frequently don't transfer.

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2014

I transferred after my first year of actual nursing courses when we had to move due to my husband's job. (I finished all my prerequisites prior to starting the BSN program). I didn't have any issues but I transferred within the same university system just different campuses (one in Houston, the other in Dallas). It meant that I had a very long, difficult commute (120 miles one way) my last (and hardest) year. I actually looked at transferring to a program at a local university and they were willing to accept almost all of my credits, including nursing courses. But because of the way their program was set up I would have had to go part time for two semesters, take the summer off, and then go full time one semester instead of just going full time for two semesters to graduate. I personally wasn't willing to wait 18 months to graduate when I could do it in less than 12 months. Plus if I had gone down to part time I would have lost all my grants and scholarships. I also considered the clinical exposure I would be receiving. Locally there is only one mid-size hospital where clinicals are completed. The clinical exposure I received in Dallas and the Houston Medical Center was amazing. I completed clinicals at some of the best hospitals in the state, if not country.

It really all depends on what your personal goals are. Is it worth it to you to continue to face your current struggles and discrimination for one more semester to graduate in May? Or would you rather take longer in school and possibly have to start the nursing program over in order to get out of your current circumstances? It's really a question only you can answer. For me it was worth the long, difficult commute to graduate sooner and not deal with the financial burden of losing all my financial aid.

caliotter3 · Dec 6, 2014

The school you transfer to could have worse waiting for you than what you are facing now.

aeris99 · Dec 6, 2014

The schools in my state don't accept core class credits from other schools.

Without knowing exactly why you're "under the gun" I would say keep a low profile and just get through it.

NeverGiveUp29 · Dec 6, 2014

Thanks for the input so far, and Yes there is always the chance one school could be worse than another. In my case though, it would be a fresh start and I initially would not have to feel like I am in an arcade stuffed animal machine waiting and worrying for a claw to choose me. I will admit it would be very hard to go from level 3 to level 0 if a school does not accept any of my current nursing credits, and I just may have to suffer, but at the same time my thoughts are I do not want a W Or F on my transcript from level 4 impeding any chance I have to get my RN license (from future college assuming if this one does not work out, and if I would have to start over anyways). For example, wouldn't it look better to get out with a clean transcript then to have one with a W or F? Just things I have been thinking of..... I also have ADHD which I had never revealed to the program (mistake on my part, so not sure if that would help my current situation any).

allnurses Guide · Dec 6, 2014

My school has very infrequently taken in an advanced student, but that was when their program failed, not the student. As others have said, every program is set up so differently that even what one school puts into fundamentals the next one may split into something else.

Go to the school's office that deals with disabilities, and see if you qualify with an MD diagnosis of ADHD. Keep your head down and just comply with everything they ask. There was a student years ago who barely kept his place in our program (mostly attitude), but he complied with every part of the compliance write up and made it.

NeverGiveUp29 · Aug 12, 2015

Been awhile so just an update since many of you were nice to respond to this. I did complete my 3rd semester and then decided to leave the field and go into OTA. I feel this is a good fit for me and truly hope I am making the right move. I am already accepted into the program and start in less than 2 weeks :). P.S. when I quit the nursing program, the dean basically said, I noticed you didn't register for level 4 and good luck. Didn't even address my concerns lol totally ignored them... Oh and not to mention 33% of the class didn't make it.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Aug 12, 2015

Good for you for finding what works for you. Best of luck moving forward with OTA