I recently finished all the pre requisites (Science's and Gen Ed classes) at a local community college that also has a 2-year RN program.
I applied to the program for January 2009 and was not accepted into the program.
After talking to my advisor, she said 180 students applied and the program can only accommodate 75 and acceptance was a lottery.
Of course, I was and still am very disappointed and a little unsure of what to do.
Recently, I was accepted into a 4-year program at a University with a great reputation and I'm tempted to just forget about the community college.
However, I'm 38 and was hoping I could pay for my education out of pocket instead of having to pay back $30,000 in student loans.
My questions are, has anyone gone through a 2-year program and wished they had gone through a 4 year?
Or, went through a 4 year and wish they went through a 2-year and not owed a bunch of money?
Also, I really don't want to work in a hospital, I want to do public health nursing, home health or geriatric nursing. Would a 2 or 4 year be better suited for the kind of nursing I want to do?
You have no guarantee when you'll get into a CC program.
Do you have a degree already? If so, you should take to the university about allowing you to attend as a 'second degree' student. Lots of us have done that. It took me 16 months, so I was able to pay pretty much out of pocket.
I experienced a very similar situation as you did. I did my pre-req's and general studies courses at the community college and transferred to a 4 yr for my BSN. I had always planned on getting that degree so it made more sense to just make the jump initially. I don't think you ever regret getting more education, its never wasted, even if you remain a staff nurse.
In many 4-year universities the actual nursing program is 2 years just like the community college nursing programs but the difference is that they ask for more prerequisites.
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That is basically correct, but its not just pre-reqs, you get an overall education before you specialize into the nursing aspect. My degree was 2 yrs of liberal arts and sciences followed by 2 yrs of just nursing. You also get individualized classes, for instance a separate pharmacology class as opposed to it being built into other classes. I think its more thorough as you have more time.
You have some good advice already so I can only add my own logic to this discussion:
I am a belt and suspenders kind of girl so the BSN seems safest.
What is the ANA actually succeeds in making the BSN the minimum requirements for an RN and you are not in a position to return to school?
What if you have to wait years to get a spot in the cc program? A lottery is random no?
As always, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush right?
I think there are plenty of ways to repay your education.
Also, the statement that public health nursing requires a BSN sounds like experienced nurses giving good advice. Do you want to work in an inpatient facility while you bridge to the BSN?
I appreciate all the advice and experience and think i'm going to take patho and pharm this semester for my BSN but still apply to the 2 year program. If I don't get in again, well I'll be going into the BSN program. And, If I do get in, at least I'll have a few less classes to take when I'm doing my BSN one day.
A 4 year degree is more versatile BUT you may be able to get the 2 year degree, work as a nurse, and your employer may assist with tuition to help you further your education. Whatever you decide now will not be the end of the world. I only wanted a 2 year degree but ended up with a Master's because after I worked a while I saw other opportunities that interested me.
I did a two year program simply because I did not have the time for a four year. Age, resources and a few other factors made the two year degree my only option.
I'll say this much, every situation is different and in your situation, the two year degree may be best (although you need a BSN for public health nursing). With that said though, if I could go back and change things for myself and be in a better situation, I would have preferred the BSN.
If you have any chance at all to do the four year program, then do so. If money is the only reason you dont want to, get scholarships and grants but dont pass up the opportunity. Once you are in the field, it is not easy to go back to school. I want my BSN very bad, but its very difficult getting into a position to do so.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
go for the bsn and don't look back! some hospitals will "forgive" all or part of your student loans so if that's a big consideration, look for a school associated with a hospital -- university of washington, university of wisconsin, university of . . . . . you catch my drift!
As a former nursing student and now as an adjunct faculty member I find many students end up in a different specialty than they first intended. When I was a student I thought I wanted to do Maternity, but I ended up in critical care and I never looked back. Yes, you will probably need your BSN to do public health, but they may also require you to have a few years of acute care experience before hiring you straight into public health.
So start your 2-yr degree. After you finish you can work (earn some GOOD money for a change ) and work on your last 2 years at a leisurely pace. By then you will have some experience, a little money, maybe some help paying off your loans and you can make that final career move if you still believe in it.
I am 35 years old and I am so glad I plowed through and got my BSN....there is no way I could go back to school now with working FT as an RN. My job is very stressful, I work nights, etc.
There are jobs (such as public health, school nursing, etc) which require a BSN. A lot of state nursing jobs (which is where a lot of public health jobs are) require a BSN. It just keeps your options open.
I went to a public university and it didn't cost anywhere near $30,000 for my degree. I think I probably paid $10,000 for the whole thing. I did all my pre-reqs at a CC to save money.
) and work on your last 2 years at a leisurely pace. By then you will have some experience, a little money, maybe some help paying off your loans and you can make that final career move if you still believe in it.
Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P
441 Posts
You have no guarantee when you'll get into a CC program.
Do you have a degree already? If so, you should take to the university about allowing you to attend as a 'second degree' student. Lots of us have done that. It took me 16 months, so I was able to pay pretty much out of pocket.
I say, either way, go with what you have in hand.