CSN vs. NSC, please help.

[RRborromeo]

Hi everyone, my name is Roxanne, I am 18, and I am really confused to of which school to stick/go to. BLAH.

Last year, I was in a program that allowed me to take college credited class while finishing up my senior year in HS. Therefore, I have taken most of my pre-req for nursing @ CSN.

Really realizing everything, I have just noticed it can really take up to 3 years to get an Associates Degree in Nursing at CSN. Or am I wrong?

I was thinking, even if it is a bit cheaper at CSN at least @ NSC I would get my Bachelors degree within the 4 years. I planned to get my Bachelors anyway after a few years of having my Associates degree.

I am truly confused and would love some advice from anyone and as much people as possible. I feel terrible & like a slacker for not even considering about what I plan to do. Both schools have been on my mind but money had been my concern. Now that I think of it, which route do you all think is smarter.

[-samuel-]

Hey guys

I am currently in the same situation as the OP. i am in the CSN high school program and i have been taking prereq classes for quite some time now. I already completed:

Bio 189

Psy 101, Soc 101, Eng 101, Com 101

Math 100B

I am currently working on Bio 223 (which i failed last semester) and bio 224.

Regarding bio 223 i am sure i will pass it this semester but i think i will probably get a "D" in bio 224 which is sadly not enough.

Next semester, fall 2010 i was thinking on taking bio 224, bio 251, the US and NV constitution class and maybe ENG 102 (i think i might need it for a bachelor degree ?)

The thing is, since i was still a High school student and had to work on other classes i took quite a lot of time ot complete this low amount of prereq (2 years now) so i think i have lost a lot of time. admitting i pass the last 2 bio classes next semester, i would have to apply for the fall 2011 for the ADN

I was thinking of going for the accelarated BSN at NSC if they would accept me with the current prereq i completed. since there are a lot of peers from NSC i wanted to ask, is it possible ? If not what would i need ? also how am i doing in reguard to the ADN at CSN ?

thank you for the time

[vegas2009]

Hey Samuel,

As far as the accelerated program, they expect you to already have had a bachelor's degree on something. It is a one year program, it starts in August and ends in August (trimester).

The regular program is broken into two parts: part-time and full-time. Full-time is equal to four semesters and I think part-time is either five or six semesters.

Both NSC programs require more pre-reqs than CSN's ADN program. I know a little bit more about this, but I'm not sure If I can give more info on this forum. Anyway, if you need more info., just call NSC's main # and ask for a nursing advisor. Leave your info., on her VM and she'll get back to you as soon as she can. She's pretty straightforward with their info.

The bottom line is, since NSC accepts fewer students than CSN -- NSC requires a higher GPA and most likely at least, 80% overall total score on the TEAS test (just to be on the safe side). NSC doesn't require certain breakdown on percentages for each section. They look at the overall total score for all sections.

If you're not chosen, your name is placed on an 'alternate list,' now, if you don't get in... you have to re-apply for the next semester. No waiting list. NSC goes completely by a point system and the TEAS test is used as a tie breaker.

Oh, for their practice "open" labs, they have their own faculty who take turns teaching in them. So, let's say, you have prof. Z in 101 class, that same prof. will have to do an "open" lab once a week, where any student can come and practice in his/her lab and bother him/her (lol). I think every faculty member is supposed to do four hours of open lab a week. Anyway, this is what my friend said a few years ago. Maybe it's one of the ways, NSC saves $$... this way, they don't need to hire staff to run the lab?

One more thing, I remember my friend showing me her schedule, the "open" labs stayed open pretty late (I think up to 830 or 930PM)... two or three times a week. The open labs schedule were pretty much geared towards the times that the faculty agreed to teach in them. Or at least, that's what her schedule looked like to me. I don't know if they still do that though.

[yako23]

You're doing great for a high school student..WOW.. NSC doesn't accept math 100B, get those bio grades up and take a math placement test to see where you stand. NSC requires at least math 120 for the program. Your math is good at CSN though, maybe think about taking some bio this summer, you will need those grades.

[baker1bv]

You really really need to work on that Bio 223 grade, because you can only take that class twice and they do check your transcripts for repeat classes.

[lauriegherghe]

"I spent the past 2 yrs. at nsc, believe me i agree with the nurse managers, that school has a lot of growing to do. I transferred when I went to visit the CSN campus, which I had never done before, I felt like that was the university and my school was the community college. I made my decision that day..." In response to this, I have recently heard that many places are now requiring a Bachelor's so even if the nurse managers may prefer a CSN grad, this degree is not a Bachelor's and the nurse manager doesn't get that choice no matter what they may want. I had a friend graduate from CSN in May 09, and did not get a job at any hospital after 6 even months of trying and eventually went to work in a doctor's office. However, a recent NSC grad was working at Sunrise 3 weeks after passing NCLEX. A Bachelor's degree is definitely carrying more weight. Look through your classifieds all over the country, many positions are requiring the BSN-- "Justification for higher education."