Private Colleges???

If you go to Ameritech the credits will NOT transfer to another school for a BS. I know several people who have taken this route. If you would like a 2 yr RN and that is the end of the road for you, it might be a good choice. However, since it is not accredited, you do not have the option of continuing your education in the future (BSN) since those schools will not recognize non-accredited school credits. (Most likely your RN licensure will be recognized but not your prereqs or nursing classes). I found this out by doing research prior to me going to school as well. Take a look at where you want to go with nursing before you make the jump to go to a school that isn't NLNAC accredited. Also take a look at your future employment options and where you want to work. Some places will hire only those who went to an accredited school, some don't care. It does cost in the ballpark of $35K for the nursing core, this does not include prereqs.

Thank you for responding. I so appreciate this. I have worked in the same department (Pathology for 22 years). I graduated with a B.S. in Business Management and due to no experience have not found a new job. I got interested in nursing when I heard they had 100 percent job placement. I like the fact that you combine training and experience with your schooling. I don't know what I would do if I spent all that money and found the same thing happening all over again.

I think I will apply for tuition reimbursement assistance from the hospital I work at and just take the pre-reqs and see what happens. If I don't get accepted, then at least I will have the pre-reqs done before going to a private school.

Also I heard the 2 yr RN's get all the grunt work and you will never raise up in the ranks like you would if you have a BSN. Another case in point, I have a BS and it has done nothing for me job wise. Is this another fallacy?

I think the idea that a 2 year RN gets all the grunt work is ridiculous. The only hospital that gives a rat's behind if you have your BSN is the V.A. And you can continue on to get your BSN as several of my prior classmates are doing so as we speak.

I know that there seems to be an "I'm better than you because I went to such and such school mentality" but I have had no problems finding a fantastic job. In fact I have several employers still trying to get me to come work for their hospital/company. As I mentioned in an earlier post, if you are a good nurse and show prospective employers what you are made of you will have no issue.

Thanks tmulder: It's good to hear success stories - I'm glad you have found a career that satisfies you. I'm still pondering whether I could get through the classes of chemistry ect and maintain a 4.0 to make the cut to nursing school. If you were 48 years of age would you be willing to pay 40,000+ to go to a private school if you didn't want to be on a waiting list? I would like to get some opinions on that. It seems even if I made more money most of it would go to paying the student loan off and I only have about 17 years before retirement. Would you or anyone else do that at this point in your life? Just eager for some opinions out there. I desperately want to find a new career but not sure I want to pay that much - even my hospital won't reimbursement programs that are that much. thanks for your opinion.

Not sure what I think of Ameritech at this point or "private" schools in general. The rumor going around was that Ameritech the school was supposed to have an NLNAC site visit in Spring of this year (2008). According to the NLNAC website Ameritech isn’t even in Candidacy status (there is no “grandfathering” of your degree if it becomes regionally accredited later). Many places won’t hire from a non NLNAC school. I know there are exceptions, but I have talked to many HR departments Even more, because of NCLEX pass rates in the low 60's the school has been placed on probation by the state of Utah. I have spoken to both the NLNAC and the Utah department of licensing. If you look at the Nursing minutes, you will see the schools that are in trouble of losing even their PROVISIONAL status for state approval. If they discuss the school in the minutes, that means there is a PROBLEM. It isn’t JUST Ameritech, choose your school carefully.

That is my issue, REGARDLESS of what schools are being considered. I could take a bit of extra time getting into a regionally accredited school and be poor for that time, OR I could go to an expensive school that may not be able to back up the education with accreditation and be just as poor for just as long. This is NOTHING against anyone who teaches there or goes there or HAS gone there. It’s just the facts. I don’t want to use the increase in salary to pay down that much debt for that long.

Utah's private colleges that offer nursing education must have approval by the State Board of Nursing to operate. First check on that website if the school you are interested in is approved. I checked and Ameritech is state-approved and has national accreditation by ABHES. It does not yet have NLN accreditation, the only Utah private college with that is Provo College, but Ameritech's nursing program is newer, since 2006. The best is to check for yourself, call the schools, go on their websites, ask graduates. Hope this helps.

Ameritech College has PROVISIONAL state approval. They do not have full state approval They are also on Probation (Memorandum of Understanding) with the state of Utah and are in danger of losing that provisional aproval.

Ameritech was also denied initial candidacy status from the NLNAC.

The NLNAC wont revisit candidacy until Ameritech is AT LEAST off probation.

Ameritech doesnt have much time to get their NLNAC accredidation before they wont be allowed to accept any more students.

After personally talking, at LENGTH, to both the NLNAC and the state nursing board office, I wouldnt recomend Ameritech college.

Thanks for the info. Please tell me where you got your info, I want to do more research.

I graduated from Utah Career College in June and didnot have a problem finding a job. I can't really tell you what to do because it depends on what you are looking for in school and price. UCC is very expensive and there are a lot of of changes constantly being implemented because it is newer. It has had four graduating classes. They are trying to get approved but I'm not positive if it will really happen. If it does notget accredited then you just can't work at the VA. You can work anywhere else. The only school I know of that honors all of your credits for you bachelors is the Universtiy of Phoenix because it's a sister school (also some online programs as well). This does not mean don't have other options. I did not love my experience at UCC but I do not regret going there at all. It got me what I wanted very quickly and even though it is pricey, it will be well worth it since I will actually be aorking as an RN while others waiting are not. I hope this helps and Good Luck!

Ameritech is not an accredited college. They are also very expensive. Most that have attended there do not pass the NCLEX. I think they had a 30% pass rate last year. Utah Career College is not much ahead of them. If you go to Ameritech you cannot later decide to get a BSN because no one accepts their credits. The State Board of Nursing is trying to shut them down.