Do you have back up plans?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I quit my job for NS. When I applied to my former school I didn't understand the difference in accreditation. I was accepted into an ACICS accredited school with BON approval. During my first semester I started hearing about how former graduates were really struggling to find employment. I then started researching my RN to BSN options. I needed to know and be able to have a plan.

Only one school would take me with a degree from a non-regionally accredited school. But I had to be admitted as a gen ed student first and take 4 additional classes (2 gen ed, 2 nursing). If I obtained the required grades for those, I would be accepted into the RN to BSN program, but only if there were spots available. Any available spot would go to someone that graduated from a regionally accredited school before it would go to me. Which means I could wait years for acceptance.

I withdrew at the end of February (we also found out in the beginning of January that we are expecting our second at the beginning of September).

I've since applied to two regionally accredited schools. I spoke with an admissions rep from the one school for about 3 months before deciding to withdraw. I discussed my background and my concerns regarding my past education. I took my required pre-reqs starting March and fortunately got an A in those (my college experience in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 was less than stellar).

Right now I'm waiting to hear back from both. They are rolling admissions, so I really have no idea how long it'll take to get a determination. The original plan was if I didn't get in, I'd take the fall for nothing but bonding time with our newborn (and our toddler) and re-enroll at my former school next spring where I left off. It wasn't the ideal choice, but I could still become a nurse even if I had some obstacles post graduation.

Since I've left the school, I've kept up and, as they are now on probation, I've opted that no matter what happens, I won't be returning. As much as I want to be a nurse, that's too much of a risk.

The two schools I applied to are the only regionally accredited schools that have an ADN program (locally). Two others have BSN, but we're not in the financial position for me to go through all that schooling on one income (and I don't think I could do it while working).

I've considered going the LPN route if this doesn't work out and then do a bridge program down the road. There's only one regionally accredited LPN school around. I've already researched their admissions process, and there's just no way I could apply and get accepted for this fall as they require a couple of classes prior to fall to be taken July - August.

If I decide the LPN and eventual LPN to RN route, I would have to wait for Fall 2016 enrollment. If I did that, I plan on going for STNA to get me working again and with some experience until I can start the LPN program. It's a much longer route, but if that's the only way I can get there, then it's what I have to do. This is nice in the sense that I can still take time with our newborn before moving forward with STNA.

I've also considered going for Surgical Tech. I have an option of two schools. However, one only awards a certificate (a 10 month program) and the other is an associate's degree (I'd go with the associates). The only thing that worries me about this route is that I cannot find one regionally accredited school that offers this program. It's only ACICS accredited schools that offer this program (however, both have the appropriate program accreditation for Surgical Tech).

My husband's friend actually works in admissions there, so I was able to talk to her about the program (and the classes work out much more favorably with a newborn). I did worry about job opportunities for it, but they did say they have a high placement rate.

So right now it's the agonizing wait for determination and which direction my life is going to take. I hate to give up on the idea of nursing, but I also have to accept that my circumstances and past might now allow for it. So I have to find the path that will make me happiest.

Does anyone else have back up plans?

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Specializes in PACU.

I don't have a back up plan. OK, well that is technically a lie. I start nursing school in the fall but basically this is the end of the road for me. If I fail/drop out of nursing school I will probably be a stay-at-home wife with our dog, teaching swim lessons on the side.

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I have thought of back up plans, but become very depressed. I know nursing is the only job I can see myself having & being happy with. I'm so close to wanting to give up, but there is some hope left! Don't give up if you can't go a day without thinking about it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OP is very wise to take the long view - and consider all the potential consequences. It's much better to be safe than sorry. I just wanted to add that very few LPN/LVN programs are "accredited" because they don't have to be. Each state establishes its own rules, but normally, these programs only have to be approved by the BON or other designated state body that is responsible for this process.

OTOH, non-clinical pre-requisite courses should definitely be obtained from a regionally accredited school as this is the only way to ensure that they will be transferable.

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Specializes in ICU.

The reason you need a regionally accredited school is so credits are transferable. For getting a job after graduation you need to look for ACEN accreditation. Are the schools you are looking at for profit schools? If they are stay away from those. Their admissions/salespeople will tell you anything to sell you their tuition. Are there and community colleges in your area? Those are going to be your best bet. Just about all of those schools are regionally accredited as their whole point is to go there and then transfer to a 4 year university. If you were looking at a surgical tech, I pretty sure you don't need a 4 year degree for that so it wouldn't have to be a regionally accredited school, but I don't know what hospitals are looking for when they hire people for that field as far as accreditation goes. Your best bet is going to be to find a community college.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

The nursing school I'm applying to is ACEN accredited, so I feel pretty comfortable about my choice to go there. If I don't get accepted or fail out of it (which I am NOT planning on) I've got 5 1/2 years of paralegal experience under my belt. I'm not too worried about being able to get a job again.

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I have thought of back up plans, but become very depressed. I know nursing is the only job I can see myself having & being happy with. I'm so close to wanting to give up, but there is some hope left! Don't give up if you can't go a day without thinking about it.

It is depressing to think of not being able to go that route!

For me, I really have to be realistic. I have my past counting against me, so I know that it may be a long shot. If it doesn't work out now, I can always enroll at the university and take classes to raise my GPA (as it's school from years ago that's pulling me down regardless of the great grades I've earned recently). I just might not be meant for this now, but maybe further down the road? It's just hard because I quit my job to do this, and I'll never find another job at the same pay. I was interviewing before as I was at a dead end with my job and everywhere wanted to hire in at minimum wage regardless of 8.5 years of experience.

I'll definitely get somewhere some day. Just not really sure where I'll get to and when lol

OP is very wise to take the long view - and consider all the potential consequences. It's much better to be safe than sorry. I just wanted to add that very few LPN/LVN programs are "accredited" because they don't have to be. Each state establishes its own rules, but normally, these programs only have to be approved by the BON or other designated state body that is responsible for this process.

OTOH, non-clinical pre-requisite courses should definitely be obtained from a regionally accredited school as this is the only way to ensure that they will be transferable.

Thank you for that information! I did not know that about LPN programs. It gives me a couple of more options then. I've spent my evening researching the schools, admissions processes as well as comparing graduation, placement, and NCLEX pass rates. They are all nearly comparable with the accredited school. Fortunately there's only one class I'd potentially have to re-take as I've taken it, but I know it won't transfer. I would have the opportunity to test out of it though. Otherwise I'd be set.

I'm thinking about calling the prospective schools and discuss being due at the beginning of the term (both programs start in August, due early September). One program is 14 months while the other is 10 months. I'm not sure how that'd work out as far as attendance requirements go. I already discussed this with the one ADN program I'm praying I get accepted into (and they said they'd work with me).

I'm probably going to have to apply now in order to try and obtain a spot, provided it's doable with the pregnancy. Otherwise I might not have an option but to just enroll for Fall 2016 and go with STNA for some experience in the meantime.

The reason you need a regionally accredited school is so credits are transferable. For getting a job after graduation you need to look for ACEN accreditation. Are the schools you are looking at for profit schools? If they are stay away from those. Their admissions/salespeople will tell you anything to sell you their tuition. Are there and community colleges in your area? Those are going to be your best bet. Just about all of those schools are regionally accredited as their whole point is to go there and then transfer to a 4 year university. If you were looking at a surgical tech, I pretty sure you don't need a 4 year degree for that so it wouldn't have to be a regionally accredited school, but I don't know what hospitals are looking for when they hire people for that field as far as accreditation goes. Your best bet is going to be to find a community college.

Unfortunately, I just happen to be in the one area that doesn't have community colleges. I'm not originally from around here, so I was shocked to learn that there weren't any as there were a few where I came from. I actually just asked my husband about this the other day as I find it odd.

He said that as there are more rural areas around here with a large university, there just wouldn't be enough people for a community college. If it weren't for having kids, I'd go stay with my mom and enroll there and travel home for the weekends. But with having kids, not much of an option, unfortunately.

Both ADN programs I've applied to have their main campus in another location and these are just off site campuses. We have one main university (that only offers BSN which I just cannot do with our circumstances, so will have to do RN to BSN later). Other than that all we have are technical and career colleges. Based on my research, it seems that there's a technical/career center/college in each county.

As far as I know, the career/tech schools aren't for profit (based on a quick google search). I know for sure that my former school is (everything screams it for them). The only school that I'm considering now that is for profit is the one that offers the Surgical Tech program, and that's only because they are the only school around here that offers an Associates degree for the Surgical Tech. The only other school is a career/tech school, but they only offer a certificate. So it's kind of a debate on for profit with Associates or career tech with only a certificate (both of which are properly accredited for the program). But I'm also trying for STNA / LPN before I go this route anyway. If I do go the Surgical Tech route, I'm definitely going to research it more to see what kind of education is required before I make any kind of decision on that.

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