A few questions.

[mariahr]

Well, I'm an eighteen year old from California. I want to be a nurse, but honestly I don't think I know everything I need to know about becoming a nurse. The reason I am posting this in the Washington area is because I will be moving to a town near Yakima in a few weeks. I will probably take a year off (before going to school) to gain residency in which time I will do some volunteering in a nearby hospitol and obtain a low paying job (I'm assuming) to pay the bills. --That's just to give you a little information about my story.

Today I talked to a nurse at one of the hospitols here in San Diego and she told me about some of the education stuff involved in earning your RN license, as in four year degree, two years gen ed two years nursing program, and she told me that though most public schools are easier to afford their waiting lists can be often two to three years long. I mean, I know it takes a while once you're on the waiting list but two/three years? Ouch. So, I asked if there was really any way around it and she said that if you enter a nursing program at a private school it generally solves that problem, but it's more expensive. I decided that that sounded like a better idea, so I guess I just wanted to ask if she was right about: the public option having a two to three year waiting list, if you think doing the private school option would be a better idea, and if so what are some private schools in washington with good nursing programs? Gosh, I'm sure those aren't all of my questions but that will have to do for now. Thanks for all of your help.

--Mariah

[mariahr]

Also, if you could tell me what kind of nurse you are, if your happy with your career decision, and any additional/useful information I should have.

[aurora155]

Mariah,

I am familiar with the program at UW, and there if you are a UW undergraduate student who wants to enter the BSN/RN program at the school, you have to apply your sophomore year. No guarantee you'll get in, and many don't, so have to end up getting a degree in another field at UW, and then try to enter the nursing field another way, after they graduate.

In contrast, at Seattle University (private), if you are accepted for admission as an undergraduate there as a freshman, and have indicated you want to study nursing, you are automatically accepted into the nursing school and don't have to apply midstream like at UW. This is a great deal--no uncertainty, automatic entry into nursing if you can get accepted to SU. However, it's a private school and costs more. I think it is similar at Seattle Pacific, another private university.

Will you need to continue living in Yakima while you do your schooling? One thing that will really help you get into nursing school is health care experience, either volunteer or paid. Also, if you get your NAC, that shows them you are familiar and serious about nursing, have a few basic nursing skills, etc. I got my NAC last summer and has been helpful on my nursing school applications (the prorgram I did cost about $600).

Good luck!

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

WSU has a satellite program for their BSN in Yakima - if you are living in Yakistan I would recommend looking into it. Of course some courses are via sat, but there are plus sides of applying their... perhaps good odds of acceptance combined with the fact you are already there, that is a bonus

[nohika]

Just to comment on the Waiting List thing - as far as I know, none of Washington's schools hold waiting lists. They're all competitive admissions, which means you apply and hope to get in. A few may be lottery-based.

[mariahr]

Well, I don't have to stay in the Yakima area. And I'd rather not really. What's the NAC? Nurse's assistant certification? I assume that's what it is. If so, I plan on getting that as soon as possible. What are other good things to have when applying to nursing school?

[nohika]

NAC = CNA, basically. Certified Nursing Assistant, Nursing Assistant Certified, etc.

Basically...maybe some volunteer hours? I'm not really sure. I know my school only looks at pre-reqs and you have to have your CNA.