AHH! So lost! plus schools in Middlesex County

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Nov 25, 2005

You can find a list of schools here: https://allnurses.com/forums/f162/nj-nursing-board-nsg-schools-nsg-assoc-nclex-scores-etc-111058.html

There's also some good information here:https://allnurses.com/forums/f198/getting-into-nursing-school-nj-130547.html

DD-RN · Nov 26, 2005

Since you already have a very good GPA and degree from Rutgers, their program would be a great option. You would be getting a BSN at Rutgers vs. an ADN at Middlesex. You would probably have one extra semester of pre-req's before starting the Rutgers 2 year RN program (or one year accelerated program). If you have no kids or husband, I would go for that.

Good luck.

P.S. I think CNA is a short program (maybe 2 months), but the pay is about $10 an hr. I think with your college degree, you should strive higher.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

I agree with Susan, with a BA, you can do much better than CNA or LPN. CNA's, although they're a nurse's best friend on the floor, they basically do bed baths all morning, wipe butts all afternoon, change beds, vital signs every several hours and glucose checks. That's about it and it pays about $10 an hour. LPN's have basically the same job as a CNA except they can dispense medications and make perhaps up to $5 more than a CNA, but not always.

They're quicker programs, but it doesn't always equate to better. When you take the shortcut, you get out what you put in. (and this is no way anti-CNA/LPN)

cherylnj81 · Nov 26, 2005

So what can I do in the meantime until I begin a nursing program? I need a job, I am a real estate agent right now and it is not going so well, I am not a salesperson I've found I am too honest with clients and not aggressive enough.

Any suggestions on what I do in the meantime? A friend told me to become an EMT for the short term, I have no idea what that entails. Everything is happening so fast!! I need something with minimal training until I can begin a nursing program because there may be a very fair chance I'll be waitlisted because it is so hard to get in to these programs.

Also what should I do about not having any college level lab courses?

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

First of all almost every college requires you to do prerequisites before you can start a single nursing class. I've found the hospital ADN programs to do both simultaneously. Talk to your school's director of nursing or admissions people. You'll probably be able to get accepted into the school with a declaration of nursing as a major, but to actually start the clinicals portion of the school you'll have to petition to get in. Like with me, it took me 2 years to get the prereqs out of the way (anatomys (2), microbiology, chemistry, math, english, psych, electives) and then it takes 2 more years to get the nursing clinicals done as well. I had no problem getting accepted into the college and declaring myself as a nursing major, but spring of 2004 I had to petition to start nursing clinicals in September of 2004. I gained one of 60 seats, but 120 petitioned. So half were rejected. And many of those petitioned to get into the spring night program and got in.

So at least apply to the school(s) you want in the meantime and start taking required classes. No nursing school will let you start clinicals without college level sciences.

As for becoming an EMT, it takes about 3-4 months, costs about $600 for the whole course. You take the national registry test and then you can get a job, but a lot of places are leery of hiring fresh EMT's. Many times they tell you to volunteer at a local squad first before getting a job and it pays about $10-12 an hour.

You can always get a job as a tech in a hospital or PCA (patient care assistant). The hospitals will train you and it pays $9-11 an hour. It's a lot of grunt work, though.

I hope that gives you some ideas?