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It's super smart to do your prereqs at a community college because the class schedules are better and classes are cheaper.
Community college only offer Associates degrees in nursing. Check the nurse job listings in your area to see if an ASN (also callend an ADN) is enough to be hired. You should also call local hospitals and ask if they hire graduates from the community college.
In some locations you need a Bachelors degree, or a BSN, to be hired in hospitals. You have to attend a 4-year college or university to get a BSN. Your community college credits should transfer to the university, but speak with an admissions counselor to be sure. Many schools have their course equivalency tables showing which classes transer. Here's a link for the University of Oklahoma, where I'm applying. tetables
Also, look online or call the community college and schools in your area to ask their pass rate for the NCLEX. That's the licensing exam every nurse (ASN or BSN) is required to take. You want to attend a school with a high pass rate.
I am going to get restarted on my prereqs fall 2013 when I get in state tuition. I have a few prereqs done when I went to college a few years ago. I will be in a community college doing it then applying to their ADN program because my cumulative GPA (3.1) wont get me into a BSN program but I can get into the ADN program with my prereq GPA if it stays where it is (3.6) and I do good on the HESI. Also in my area they hire ADNs in hospitals so I don't have to worry about not having a BSN right away. I will do the RN to BSN program straight after I graduate on a part time basis while working. If your GPA is a 3.5-4.0 I think it is worth it to apply to BSN programs because if you can go straight through and get your BSN it makes things easier.
I'm doing my pre-reqs at a CC and I'm applying for the ADN program at my CC. It's a great program, 100% NCLEX pass rate for the last 3 years. Also, in my area, ADN grads are hired just as easily as BSN graduates. This isn't the case everywhere, so definitely check and make sure that ADN grad jobs are available in your area, and that BSN's aren't more required. I plan to do my RN-BSN bridge once I graduate. Going the ADN route at my CC was financially better for me, compared to going straight for a BSN at a university.
Community College is the best place to get oyur pre-reqs. It's quality at a great price. Check with the RN programs in the area to be sure you are taking the right courses. Not all Anatomy and Physiology classes are equal, for example. In FL, the A&P class LPNs take is not good enough to serve as a pre-req for an RN program.
In FL, some of the community college RN programs are so competitive, it's very difficult to get in. The one in my area has a GPA cutoff of 3.8! The website says minimum of 3.0, but when there are more qualified applicants than available slots, only those with the highest GPA are accepted. If you talk with academic advising, they will tell you what GPA you realistically need to get in.
You might want to look into some of the ACCREDITED private programs. They cost more, however, if it means you don't have to wait years to get in, it is worth it. Time is money. If a nurse makes $60k a year, and the private school costs $30k, but you get in 2 years earlier, and start making $60k 2 years earlier, that private school tuition has paid for itself!
Best of luck!
shaylah
21 Posts
Im doing all of my class at a community college and also doing the nursing program there. Is this a good idea? Do I need to apply to more then one college for the nursing program?
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