Career Change to RN - TCC or RSU?

U.S.A. Oklahoma

Published

Hello All:

I'm a 27 year old male (married, no children) in Tulsa, OK and I'm going to soon be making a fairly dramatic career change into the world of nursing. I graduated from OSU with a business degree in 2005 and I've been working as a project manager for a technology firm. Tulsa's technology climate has been a roller coaster for a while and I'm looking for a more stable career and one in which I feel like I can add value as opposed to the dog-eat-dog nature of the business world.

So, I'm going back to a career path that I chose directly out of high school only to change to business - the RN and possible CRNA career path. I love science and the medical field is so interesting to me but peer pressure drove me down the business path.

Anyway, I'm starting my pre-reqs at TCC this semester and really looking forward to it. The only struggle I'm having is to which ADN program to go with. My first 2.5 years of college were horrible for me as I had a little too much fun and not enough study/class time. I made a 3.2 GPA my last 2 years and ended up with about a 2.55 cumulative. I'm worried that I won't be able to get into TCC's program in the Fall of 2009 even if I make all As in my pre-reqs (which I'm very confident I can do). Whereas Rogers State University only looks at the grades in your 5 pre-reqs (I'd only have to take 4) and not your GPA so I'm confident I could get in at RSU. Only issue is that RSU is in Claremore, which isn't too far, but some of their clinicals are in Vinita, Pryor and other out of the way places for a Tulsa resident.

Do any of you have suggestions or recommendations for choosing an ADN program? I looked at the RN test pass % and both TCC and RSU are 90% and above so it seems like they are both good programs.

Thanks in advance for your help! By the way, this is an awesome site for a future RN!

Specializes in Cardiac Step Down.
Yes, I'm taking Biology for Majors and (retaking) Freshman Comp at TCC this semester. Then next semester I need to take A&P and Dosage Calculations. I"m taking Dosage at RSU (you have to) and I think I'm taking A&P at TCC. The RSU lady said she thought the combined class at TCC transfers over but I want to make sure. I don't have to take the Orientation class due to already having a Bachelor's.

The combined class will transfer however you get extra points on your nursing application if you take it at RSU.

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Yeah, I'd like to take A&P at RSU but I'll be working full time up until next Fall so I'm sure TCC will have a better evening option for me, and it's closer. I'm curious was extra points you get for taking the class at RSU and if I get an A at TCC, if it really matters... ?

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Are you sure you dont have to have Orientation? Please double check.

I was told that I was given extra points for taking my A seperate from my P. Just thought Id throw that out there. Good luck. Its a long process but it is possible to get it done. Now that Im in I just gotta get through it :)

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The lady I spoke to on the phone at RSU said I wouldn't have to take the College Experience orientation class because I already have a BS. I will certainly double-check, though.

Yeah, I thought about taking A&P separately but, again, the lady I spoke to said the TCC combined class transfers. I am surprised RSU doesn't require a Chemistry class. I wonder if that will be required for me to eventually get into a BSN program?

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http://www.rsu.edu/academics/health-sci/nursing/packets.asp

I know sometimes navigating sites for info can be a wild goose chase. Try this link. It has an outline of the courses for the different options. You ma have already seen it but just in case you havent here it is. Click on the course of study links for each option.

Since I am a bio major I only have to take the core nursing courses (classes already done) I imagine most of your gen ed is already done too.

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Yeah, I know a lot of my basics (english, history, etc.) will transfer over. However, I may retake some of them if I got less than a B to try to raise my overall GPA to be more competitive if I choose to eventually apply to a CRNA program.

I never realized how my laziness/lack of focus from my years as an 18-20 year old would haunt me later on in life. Now I just have to work harder to make up for it.

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I have heard that there arent any CRNA masters programs in OK. Do you know if this is true? I didnt see it as an option at the different schools I have been researching.

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That is correct. These are the nearest CRNA programs I've found:

TCU - Ft. Worth, TX

Texas Wesleyan - Ft. Worth, TX

Arkansas State - Jonesboro, AR

Kansas University Med - Kansas City

Newman University - Wichita, KS

Missouri State - Springfield, MO

Univ. of Missouri Kansas City - Kansas City

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So what did you decide? Did you get in to RSU for fall '10? I was in the same boat as you... exactly same boat. I ended up putting all of my eggs in the RSU basket because TCC screwed me over and I wasn't allowed to take the last 2 pre-reqs I needed for the OU ACC. BSN program. I probably wouldn't have been competitive with a BSBA GPA of 2.54 anyway... but I'm angry none the less.

I was accepted into RSU's program for the fall (2010) with an A in all pre-reqs except Physiology (B) I took it Anat. Seperate for the BSN program I was originally trying for, I'm sure that helped with my points on the ranking system.

I've been screwed by TCC one too many times, between the LACK of advising and horrible financial aid employees I'm DONE with that school. My husband is also going to college (for his 1st degree) and we will pay the extra $ for him to take classes at RSU as well (we live in Tulsa) just so we don't have to deal with the lazy, non-caring, "workers" in the office at TCC. It's a shame because my professors were amazing... and I really liked the classes I took there, but I've had enough with the office crap.

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I chose RSU and made all As in my pre-reqs so I'm starting the RN program this fall and really looking forward to it. I have also been looking at RSU's BSN program and it looks like I can start knocking out BSN courses during the Associate program since I already have my basics from my OSU degree. Step 1 in my big career change plans is happening :-).

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Friar Tuck...

How are you liking RSU?

I'm considering it instead of TCC.

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I'm liking RSU quite a bit. It's not easy, but I don't think any nursing program worth its salt would be. You just have to study and stay focused. Also helps if you are a good test taker :-). Overall it has a been a good experience and RSU seems to be respected in the hospitals.

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