Diploma Nurses

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Any info on this would be helpful.

My situation is that I have a BS in Communications. I've applied to several nursing schools and got in to 3 but they are a few hours away. Now their is this one school who happens to not be too far from me but they offer a diploma in nursing. My question to you is are diploma nurses as respected in the hospital as ADN? [by no means am I putting down diploma nurses down but the truth is their is alot of B.S, on the floor from our fellow nurses in terms of education even if we do not want to admit it.] My aunt has been a nurse for 16yrs and received a diploma at the time--she said don't apply to this program because folks don't hold the term "diploma" in high regards. WHen I mention to other friends about the "diploma nurse program" they all crinkle their nose like its' a dirty word as if diploma stands for a generic certificate.

So, if anyone has applied or recently graduated from a diploma program please let me know what your experience has been negative or positive.

Thank you

I am still in school, just finished Junior clinicals. I am amazed at how Nursing has its own set of politics. I knew this was a serious career, but wow! I can't wait to graduate. The bottom of this totem pole is wearing me out! ;)

I didn't think I was going to make it through Pharmacology, but Halleluah! I'm done. I cannot wait to be a Nurse! (I know, check back in twenty years) :lol2:

Can you please "elaborate" on the "Own set of Politics" discussion for our reading pleasure ? Lol

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I graduated from a diploma program in 2001 and have never gotten anything but respect from my coworkers regardless of their own educational levels. When i started in the ICU along with several other new grads some who had diplomas and others who had BSNs, it was quite obvious who had better clinical skills. I had spent twice as much time in the hospital setting compared to my bachelors prepared colleagues. However if you ever want to move away from the bedside and work in management or administration you must have at least a BSN so that is something to think about.

When it all comes down to it though, nursing is not something that is learned in the classroom. You can know everything in the world about A&P and nursing theory and still be a terrible nurse.

My "point" exactly........ And it's not like there isn't a place for people who are more talented at the theoretical facets of the "craft".

But at the same time, making a prospective "2nd" Degree candidate feel like current nurses actually BELIEVE that they are nuclear physicists gets a bit tiring on the eyes as well

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Does anybody know of any diploma programs in California?

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Does anybody know of any diploma programs in California?

Unfortunately, California doesn't have any "accredited" diploma programs.

You can search for programs through the accreditation agency for diploma programs: http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/directory_search.htm

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How do I know if the school is good? In CT we are looking at Gateway Community College at the 2 yr diploma program

Also I heard gateway has no financial aid ??

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Any info on this would be helpful.

My situation is that I have a BS in Communications.

On the entry level it doesn't matter much if you have "only" a diploma.

However, you already have a bachelor's degree.

Have you looked at BSN or MSN direct entry programs that are intended for those already degreed?

That would seem to be the best bang for your buck.

Include distance learning programs in your search

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Does holding a hospital diploma make you less competitive when applying to a RN to BSN program? Not to hijack the thread, but I'm reaching a point where I need to decide which route to take.

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Well the program that I got accepted to is the oldest nursing program in my state and has A LOT of good reputation. They repeatedly have the highest NCLEX pass rates and everywhere I go that I mention this school everyone says they produce the better nurses. These are coming from R.N.'s and physicians as well. Even the top hospitals (Duke and UNC-Program is under the Duke Health System) recruit the nurses from this school. So look at the reputation and the pass rates of the school. Do not judge a program without more investigation into the program. Who knows this program might also be one of the most well established in your state also because of the history of producing many great RN's. Longevity means a lot.

;) I know where you go to school. You're about three minutes from my house - and that's in rush hour traffic!

Yes, it is the oldest. Mine is the second. ;) How cool is that? (BTW, Rex actually had the first school in the state in 1895; shame it's no longer around. I'm a sucker for history and tradition.)

Sorry for the sideliner, everybody; not trying to hijack the thread - I've been trying like mad to place Cherish since she joined the board!

She's right - her school is held in very high regard by two well-renowned teaching hospitals. "Diploma" does not mean "copout", folks. I doubt any of the OPs friends will demand a show of credentials when they're hospitalized; all folks want to know is that you know what you're doing. Ultimately they are not going to care where your RN came from.

I myself looked into Cherish's school - but a BSN fit where I wanted to go. At some point I'd like to give birth, and I want to do primary care, so I needed a quicker track to FNP. But I really would have liked to go to a diploma program; I don't think there are more "technically clean" nurses than a diploma grad. They certainly have placed more Foleys than I!

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Does holding a hospital diploma make you less competitive when applying to a RN to BSN program? Not to hijack the thread, but I'm reaching a point where I need to decide which route to take.

It MIGHT. In fact - and someone correct me if I'm wrong - there are BSN programs that do not recognize diploma nurses. That may be a consideration when trying to decide what program you'd like to enter. Call up your chosen/potential BSN programs and ask them directly.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
;) I know where you go to school. You're about three minutes from my house - and that's in rush hour traffic!

Yes, it is the oldest. Mine is the second. ;) How cool is that? (BTW, Rex actually had the first school in the state in 1895; shame it's no longer around. I'm a sucker for history and tradition.)

Sorry for the sideliner, everybody; not trying to hijack the thread - I've been trying like mad to place Cherish since she joined the board!

She's right - her school is held in very high regard by two well-renowned teaching hospitals. "Diploma" does not mean "copout", folks. I doubt any of the OPs friends will demand a show of credentials when they're hospitalized; all folks want to know is that you know what you're doing. Ultimately they are not going to care where your RN came from.

I myself looked into Cherish's school - but a BSN fit where I wanted to go. At some point I'd like to give birth, and I want to do primary care, so I needed a quicker track to FNP. But I really would have liked to go to a diploma program; I don't think there are more "technically clean" nurses than a diploma grad. They certainly have placed more Foleys than I!

Thats cool! I knew you were from NC. When I first started this board I was actually living in MD, trying to get in to Univ. MD. But then the Army sent me a friendly letter saying " I know we just discharged you a year ago but would you mind dropping your life and going to a fantastic vacation spot where its 120 degrees (Iraq btw)?":uhoh3: So off I went, I've got no kids, not married better me than someone with responsibilities. Now I'm in the triangle, before it was bragg.

Yup, I REALLY didn't know about any nursing program here in NC, I applied my last month in the army just to the diploma program (was honestly going to do a bachelors in Clininical Laboratory Science). But in the back of my head wanted to know if nursing was still there for me. Plus some people I heard talked about it, did research on the school and decided I wanted to be apart of it.

So what school are you going to UNC or Duke?

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
It MIGHT. In fact - and someone correct me if I'm wrong - there are BSN programs that do not recognize diploma nurses. That may be a consideration when trying to decide what program you'd like to enter. Call up your chosen/potential BSN programs and ask them directly.

UNC-Chapel Hill, and UNC-Greensboro accepts diploma RN's for RN-BSN. I've already talked to them and have all pre-req's except for 4 done that they require. I'm doing the 4 pre-req's in the summer times because the program is off on summers, which I'm hearing is rare for NS schools.

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UNC-Chapel Hill, and UNC-Greensboro accepts diploma RN's for RN-BSN. I've already talked to them and have all pre-req's except for 4 done that they require. I'm doing the 4 pre-req's in the summer times because the program is off on summers, which I'm hearing is rare for NS schools.

True for around here, yes, (btw, Duke has an online RN-BSN option and will accept diploma grads as long as all prereq requirements are met) but I don't think it's true everywhere. Twisted, yes.

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