Accelerated BSN - Do employers really care where you went?

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Ever since graduating w/ a lib arts Bachelors, I've considered accelerated BSN programs. I went so far as taking many of the prerequisite courses at community colleges and working part-time as a SICU nursing secretary. My nursing dreams have taken a backseat, however, to advancement ops in my full time work.

My current salary of 42K isn't much to start a life on though & I've made the decision to finish the prerequisites w/i the next year & apply to accelerated programs. In investigating the programs, I've found some are CRAZY re: their tuition rates. Johns Hopkins now wants 50K for their 13 month accelerated BSN?!? The cheapest (and quickest) program I've found so far is at a lesser known college - 11 months & 22K.

My goal is to get the BSN, work for a year or two in critical care and apply to CRNA programs.

Question: Do employers really care where you went to school as long as it's accredited and you pass the RN exam? Does going to a school with a better reputation open you up to better opportunities & pay?

TIA

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

In a word, no.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Mine sure doesn't.

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Ever since graduating w/ a lib arts Bachelors, I've considered accelerated BSN programs. I went so far as taking many of the prerequisite courses at community colleges and working part-time as a SICU nursing secretary. My nursing dreams have taken a backseat, however, to advancement ops in my full time work.

My current salary of 42K isn't much to start a life on though & I've made the decision to finish the prerequisites w/i the next year & apply to accelerated programs. In investigating the programs, I've found some are CRAZY re: their tuition rates. Johns Hopkins now wants 50K for their 13 month accelerated BSN?!? The cheapest (and quickest) program I've found so far is at a lesser known college - 11 months & 22K.

My goal is to get the BSN, work for a year or two in critical care and apply to CRNA programs.

Question: Do employers really care where you went to school as long as it's accredited and you pass the RN exam? Does going to a school with a better reputation open you up to better opportunities & pay?

TIA

no they don't care where you went to school as long as it is a good program. community colleges have good programs but you won't get your bsn. i would go with the lesser known college. 22k still is alot of money.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You could always get your Associate's degree and go back for an RN-BSN and let your employer pay for it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

When I was on the interviewing/hiring team at my prior job, we did not totally disregard the school graduated from, and if two new grad's were neck-and-neck after a face-to-face, the school would tip the scale for them. The quality of your education does matter, and should matter to the institution.

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Thing is, Johns Hopkins' program is CRAZY expensive, for a BSN. Where you go to school can be important for employers, but I think that the name recognition/prestige of a school becomes more important with graduate level degrees.

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Have you thought about an SCAN program? (second career as a nurse)

Generally they are about 3 years and credential you as an RN while at the same time get your MSN and prepare you for advance practice

http://apu.edu/nursing/graduate/scan/

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I used to think "no", but now that I've decided to leave the hospital environment & apply for a research nursing job with a physician group, I've found that it definitely matters. Nurses may not care where others have attended school, but MDs definitely notice credentials. So do some grad schools. By choosing to attend a top program, you are opening more doors for yourself.

And by the way, some CRNA programs have physicians on the admissions committee...

*** There are ways for nurses to pay off school loans. There are federal and state programs that will wipe out the majority of your debt in exchange for work in a high-needs area, which includes medical center ICUs. You will still get to keep all your pay, plus you would have debt removed for each year of service. This may help you make your decision.

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self edit....

There are many social programs in California that will assist you in your educational goals. These programs are funded through various means, primarily taxes.

There that is nicer...gotta be PC and all

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Have you thought about an SCAN program? (second career as a nurse)

Generally they are about 3 years and credential you as an RN while at the same time get your MSN and prepare you for advance practice

http://apu.edu/nursing/graduate/scan/

CRNA programs require a minimum of 2 year's experience in an ICU, I believe. There is a sticky somewhere in allnurses.com about scholarships ... states have scholarship programs as well. There is free money out there for undergraduate nursing education, either up front scholarship, or loan payback, because of the shortage of bedside nurses. Much more than when I got my BSN. So, don't let the cost get you down. Good luck.

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The University of Phoenix has a BSN course that you can take online. This might work for you - not sure about what it costs though.

http://www.universityofphoenix-online.com/Bachelor-Science-Nursing/

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