One of the closer hospitals to me is a teaching hospital, magnet status, they have their own nursing program and come highly recommended... but do hire outside as well. They offer a nurse residency program that is 1yr long to all new grads that are offered a job there and they hire new grads quite often. You can not have any nursing experience though and must be a new BSN graduate from any BSN program to qualify for the residency. When I spoke to them they said they offer the residency year round and have quite a few new grads partake in it.
My dilemma is what school to go to.
Their nursing program is very hard to get into...extremely hard...they take about 100 students and receive 600 applicants. So my chances are very slim. Which is why i was considering ADN and then going through their online BSN program-easier to get into-..I figured using their BSN would give me a better chance of getting hired at their hospital once completed...but again..i wouldnt be able to work while completing the BSN because then they wouldnt consider me a new grad for the residency. going the RN to BSN route scares me a bit..because of the not working and if im not hired by the hospital...how would that look to other employers if I said I hadnt worked for a full year after getting my RN??
however..there is a BSN program very close to me..easier to get into I could start Fall 2012..so i would be putting school off another year..and using a different BSN program...but at least I wouldnt go a year w/out using my nursing skills.
which would you choose
1. ADN program start Fall 2011, RN to BSN online through the hospital, not work for a year while doing BSN and pray that I get the residency.
2. go with the local BSN program start Fall 2012 and see if I can get into the residency right after school.
I guess my problem is im scared of putting off school for another 2yrs...when I was set to go next fall to the ADN...but Im also scared of doing the BSN online and not working for a year just to try and get the residency.
I really want this residency because I feel it would make me a better prepared nurse and most definitely a more confident one.
Im definitely leaning towards my ADN...I was already planning on going next fall..so it would be kind of a let down to wait another year.
Im going to look into getting a student nurse position somewhere during school...at least that will give me some experience ..not near as much as the residency plus I can still apply at the hospital...they say BSN is preferred..but you never know.
I agree those odds aren't as bad as some. The residency program at my hospital gets around 150 applications for 15 spots.
CNM, keep in mind that while residency programs are great, they aren't necessary to be a good nurse. It sounds like it makes the most sense for you to get your ADN first and then figure out what you want to do. If you want to plan something, start planning on how you can graduate with a 4.0. Nursing school is hard, no matter where you go, and if you do really well in school that will make you a better nurse. Look at what review books or other material might be helpful to you during school. I found the Saunders NCLEX review book to be a really great reference to use for studying during school. But there are a ton of "nursing made easy" type of books. There is so much content to learn during nursing school that it is overwhelming, so learning to break it down and use outside references to remember it all is very helpful.
When you are in your clinicals in school, make the most of every opportunity. As you are able to do different skills, let everyone know that you want to try if a patient needs a foley or an IV. You can just stand around and do the bare minimum during clincals and pass, but you are cheating yourself out of valuable experiences if you do that. I've heard so many students at work say they will never do peds, so they don't care if they learn anything on my floor, and to me that is totally backwards. If you're never going to work in an area then learn as much as you can while you're there, since you'll never learn it as an RN.
Then after you've learned all of this wonderful stuff during your ADN program, you might not feel like you need a residency. So, you can get an RN job and use your hospital tuition reimbursement to pay for your RN-BSN. Also, you could always try to negotiate some things when you're hired to give you some of the residency benefits. Something like asking to be paired with a mentor outside your unit should be easy to accommodate. You could also arrange to shadow nurses in other units if you want to see how things are done in other areas of the hospital (whether or not you can be paid for it would be the negotiating part). Even if it is just one week of your orientation spent on other units, at least it would give you a good idea of what those areas are like.
Good luck with your future goals. Nursing is an absolutely wonderful field, regardless of the path you take to get there.
I agree those odds aren't as bad as some. The residency program at my hospital gets around 150 applications for 15 spots.
CNM, keep in mind that while residency programs are great, they aren't necessary to be a good nurse. It sounds like it makes the most sense for you to get your ADN first and then figure out what you want to do. If you want to plan something, start planning on how you can graduate with a 4.0. Nursing school is hard, no matter where you go, and if you do really well in school that will make you a better nurse. Look at what review books or other material might be helpful to you during school. I found the Saunders NCLEX review book to be a really great reference to use for studying during school. But there are a ton of "nursing made easy" type of books. There is so much content to learn during nursing school that it is overwhelming, so learning to break it down and use outside references to remember it all is very helpful.
When you are in your clinicals in school, make the most of every opportunity. As you are able to do different skills, let everyone know that you want to try if a patient needs a foley or an IV. You can just stand around and do the bare minimum during clincals and pass, but you are cheating yourself out of valuable experiences if you do that. I've heard so many students at work say they will never do peds, so they don't care if they learn anything on my floor, and to me that is totally backwards. If you're never going to work in an area then learn as much as you can while you're there, since you'll never learn it as an RN.
Then after you've learned all of this wonderful stuff during your ADN program, you might not feel like you need a residency. So, you can get an RN job and use your hospital tuition reimbursement to pay for your RN-BSN. Also, you could always try to negotiate some things when you're hired to give you some of the residency benefits. Something like asking to be paired with a mentor outside your unit should be easy to accommodate. You could also arrange to shadow nurses in other units if you want to see how things are done in other areas of the hospital (whether or not you can be paid for it would be the negotiating part). Even if it is just one week of your orientation spent on other units, at least it would give you a good idea of what those areas are like.
Good luck with your future goals. Nursing is an absolutely wonderful field, regardless of the path you take to get there.
Im not sure how many applicants they get for the residency, the 600 applicants are for their nursing program and they accept 100 each fall.
I did a lot of searching on here previously and found that getting Saunders was recommended by a lot of students/nurses so I've already picked up a copy of that plus a few other books and I have some pocket guides on my wish list on amazon.
I fully intend to be one of those students that volunteers for everything!! I dont want to stand around and be shy..I want to get in and get my hands dirty!! :)
Ive been looking at tuition rates for the BSN program that is close to me (not the one with the residency)...and they have a set tuition rate if you are taking more than 10 credits a semester...and actually...my 2yrs there would be the same cost as 2yrs at the ADN program!!!!
so now im thinking wow...ok its the same cost but I end up with a higher degree... the BSN program close to me also has a summer externship set up with a local hospital and they have a clinical experience in Mexico for those interested.
Working right away isnt a huge need for me as my husband will be able to support us financially, so trying for the BSN might actually be the smarter route for me especially cost wise.
I agree that setting my hopes around ONE residency probably isnt the smartest thing to do...but my long term goals are to be a CNM or a Women's Health NP..so I have to get a BSN....and while I cant go to my first school of choice...the other BSN program is looking better and better because they have the set tuition rate. The nclex pass rates for the closest BSN program much higher than the ADN program.
CNM2B201?
355 Posts
Thanks for the responses everyone!