Nursing schools in Jacksonville, FL. FSCJ, Chamberlain, Virginia College, UNF.

[geckoguydrew]

I am hoping to get opinions on various schools within Jacksonville. I am currently attending Virginia College, but I am considering changing schools. Chamberlain is the only regionally accredited school in the area that will take my transfer credits. Anywhere else, I start from scratch. What do you think I should do? I can continue at VC, take my NCLEX, and enter Chamberlain's RN to BSN program. I can transfer to Chamberlain now, which is a three year BSN. I can go to FSCJ and then transfer to any four year school for my BSN, but I have to start over. Or, I can go straight for a four year degree from UNF. I like the idea of getting an associate's degree, because it will allow me to work, earn an income, and gain experience while I finish my BSN.

[osagarese]

I would just finish out and get your associates. Like you said you can work while getting your BSN. I am doing the same. After I get my associates I'm signing up with Lamar university online and there clinical is you working, you can get your BSN in 13 weeks.

Good luck on whatever you choose.

[geckoguydrew]

Thirteen weeks? I'm assuming you meant thirteen months. Anyway, my concern primarily is in the accreditation. Once I finish at VC, no schools in the area will recognize my course work at VC as transferrable except for Chamberlain, since VC is not regionally accredited. Even if I finish my RN to BSN at Chamberlain after graduating from VC, will I be eligible to enter master's or doctorate level programs at brick and mortar regionally accredited schools without repeating the prereqs?

[FloridaDreamin, BSN]

I'm starting the ADN program at FSCJ in January (just got my acceptance letter today!) and have a few friends already in the program. I've heard nothing but good things about it and it's pretty well respected by the hospitals around here. As far as transfer credits, that has to be up to you. Since you are already in a nursing program, I can see why wouldn't want to start from the beginning. But if you are looking to transfer I've had nothing but positive experiences at fscj throughout my pre-reqs and hear the nursing program is great.

Good luck!