A school with no wait list-Have you heard of it?

[Nurse-One]

On my community college campus, I noticed that this poster for this nursing school called the International Universtiy of Nursing they are accepting applications for students here in the U.S. to get a ASN or BSN degree.

The only thing is this school is located on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts (its part the british virgin islands) so this island is not to foreign culture wise from what you might expect. From what I know so far, this school functions the same way a school in the U.S. does. All the neccessary classes are the same. The nursing students attending this school are from the Caribbean island and the U.S. is.

As far as clinicals you would complete the first year of clinicals on the island and your last year of clinicals, wether your a ASN or BSN student, you would complete the the last year of clinicals in the U.S. at college that they have a partnership with.

The down part to this school that I noticed is a student who would normally qualifiy for FAFSA ( U.S. government grants for school) cannot get it because the school only offers loans as a way to pay for the semester AND when completing your final year at your clinical in the U.S. the schools are limited and it may not be in your state. (but you wouldn't have to wait to get into a school ounce year ready to transfer back to a U.S. school)

You would qualify to sit the RN exam and be able to work in the U.S. when done with the school. The good thing about the school is there may not be a long wait list like most of the schools here in the U.S. has. I believe it may be because the school is located in the Caribbean (not to many U.S. students would want to be away from their family for that long) and the school is only about 3 years old so not to many students have heard of it.

Anyway, I just wanted to know if anyone has heard any good or bad things about this school or the experience from students or graduates from this school. I'm interested in it, but would like to know more before making a move on this school...Thanks

(feel free to correct me on any information that I said about the school)

[MB37]

Out of curiosity, I went to the University of Rhode Island's website. It made no mention of a wait list.

[shleynic]

My school does not have a wait list either. It is all based on a point system. I had never even heard of a wait list until my best friend moved to Iowa. All she had to do was get the required C in her basics and they put her on a list. I had to compete to get my spot in oklahoma.

[smattles1of2]

My school didn't have a waitlist. I think waitlists are mainly for ADN programs. I'm in an accelerated BSN program.

[amyk_ncsu]

^ I'm not saying your are incorrect, but the three programs I applied to were all ADN programs and none had wait lists, including one that is a CC. They were all based on points and/or merit.

[Cinqly, BSN, RN]

All nursing schools do NOT have waiting lists. I got into my school on the first try and they are a BSN program in Memphis, TN. there areplenty of others around and you don't have to go to an island to attend.

Ditto. I got into my first school on my first try. In fact, it was the only school I applied to (CRNASomeday and I are at the same school!!)

I would think that wait list or not, going to school in a foreign country would be more expensive. Even going out-of-state is more expensive! Most decent sized cities have multiple programs (Memphis has 4 BSN programs!). And each state probably has dozens of programs. You should be able to find plenty of schools without a wait list...it just depends on how big the program is and how many people want to get in! Good luck!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Maric College, located in San Diego, has an RN program with no waiting lists. The only prerequisite is that you have your CNA certificate. However, a major disadvantage is the hefty tuition of $60,000.

[bashabab]

Where is this school you are refering to?????

[spydercadet]

i recently received certification for a lpn program at a vocational training school in the chicagoland area. i had been working at a local junior college when i decided to pick up some extra hours at this school. i really enjoy working out of a vocational school; it is not such a “just another cog in the wheel” feeling. therefore, i somehow volunteered, or voiced in a moment of insanity, "sure i can write the lpn curriculum" and the next thing i knew, it was my job! however, i have to tell you i have never had such job satisfaction and never have i looked forward to work as i do now. i make less but have so much more influence over my student’s experiences. anyway, i left the junior college about one year ago and that college had over 600 applicants for 120 seats. obviously, some students got in on their first try while others had to wait. as faculty we would get together to determine who was to be accepted into the rn portion of the junior college course work. we chose students based on all of the information submitted by each individual seeking acceptance. we looked at gpa's, social or extracurricular activities, work status, and other contributing factors. overall, in illinois, if any particular school does not have a high enough pass rates on the nclex exams, that school is placed on probation and if there is no improvement then the nursing program will lose its idfpr accreditation.

i am a little biased here because i did write the feasibility report and curriculum for the lpn program. i worked hard to make sure we received the accreditation required for our student to sit for the lpn nclex exam and to insure that we met all the guidelines set by the illinois department of professional regulation. i really do believe that there is something to be said about getting your lpn first. before everyone starts yelling at me, i do believe and do stress to the students that they really need to go on to get their rn, bsn and/or msn; the lpn is just a starting point.

i am not sure how other areas are but you can make a good guess that by the time the second year of a two-year program, somewhere between 25 and 30 students will not return for a variety of reasons. some will fail; some will decide nursing is not for them, etc... therefore, most two-year rn programs will have empty seats, and no college wants empty seats. the curriculum i wrote fits well into most junior college's nursing programs and covers the materials that any first year nursing student will receive. therefore, i hope that the students who do well and pass the lpn nclex apply for their local rn nursing program and will need only to take a bridge course as far as nursing education goes. i do let the students know that they will have to do the pre-req required for an aas degree at the junior college level.

therefore, if you cannot find a school that will let you in right away or you do not want to move, this may be an option for you. i really like the vocational school experience. before i started doing this i thought it would horrible and just a way to make a few extra dollars in a time of need, but it turns out it is a lot of fun. everyone is close and we really support one another along with being able to bounce ideas off each other.

good luck with whatever you decide : )

[nursemidestiny]

I know here in Mississippi, most if not all are done on a point scale! That being said it is still hard to get in.

[lacedmm1]

Seminole Community College in Sanford, FL; 20 mins outside of Orlando

Daytona Beach Community College in Daytona Beach, FL

Both of these do not have waiting list!!! Hope that helps your search.

[Nurse-One]

Out of curiosity, I went to the University of Rhode Island's website. It made no mention of a wait list.

I've check University of Rhode Island's nursing program before and it is closed to any new applicant (its been closed since fall of 2006) so i was told; very popular and competitive nursing program. So that option is out the window.

There are only two other colleges that have a nursing program in the state in state of RI (Rhode Island College, which is the college I attend now and Community college of Rhode Island, which has a 2yr wait list.)

Rhode Island college has the BSN program, The Community College of Rhode Island has the ASN program. My goal is to become a nurse-midwife so I need the BSN program; at Rhode island college there isn't a wait list but (like all nursing student's know already for any nursing school) it's competitive they pick student's with the highest GPA. My GPA is a 2.8 presently and from what i've heard from other student's, studen'ts with 3.0 and higher are getting picked right now.

I had this guy in my class who applied to the program with a 3.0 GPA and was not picked, but about 1yr ago one of my girl friend had the minimum 2.5 GPA and got in--no waiting.~~whats up with that??

So I'm guessing student's are basically raising the bar for other future student's like me. I'm hoping all these 3.0 and higher GPA students have been chosen for the fall of 07, which might leave some room for other student's with GPA's lower than a 3.0

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure anyone would pick a nurse with a 3.0 GPA over a 2.5 GPA to take care of them if they had the choice, but doesn't mean the others are chopped liver~~you know.

[Nurse-One]

Where is this school you are refering to?????

St. Kitts on island on the British Virgin Islands.