Questions regarding Maricopa CC's Nursing program

U.S.A. Arizona

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issue resolved - and no useful information in my posts, hence no need for it here

That sounds like a good opportunity, but it certainly isnt for me. Too much money (I couldn't even get a student loan that big) and I don't want to be in a 2 yr program w no good breaks, either.

One of the reasons why I want to get into nursing is to be able to make a living while only working about 8 months a year.

You might want to consider the Banner Nurse Fellows program. Info on them can be located on Banner Health's main website. I have a friend who recently started the program, and she had many positive things to say about it. They use the MCCCD curriculum and the prereqs must be completed before applying, but the advantage to the Banner Fellows program is that they take GPA into consideration, they apparently start two cohort groups per year, the tuition and books are paid for by Banner, and I think that they even pay a stipend while you're in the program. You do have to contract to work for Banner for two years, but Banner has a number of excellent hospitals to work in anyway.

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well one thing the year wait allowed me to do was work full time so hopefully ill have enough money so i won't have to hardly work while in the program.. or maybe not at all.. because i heard from some people having a job makes it more stressful....i have acutally had time to relax and rest before i get accepted.. which i needed

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And if you thought EBSN was high, Pima (Medical Institute, not the other Pima) beats 'em: $36,000 (includes everything -- tuition, books, uniforms). Ouch!!!! But they'll get you through in two years.

I spoke with one of the counselors there a few months back regarding the CNA course. She had me take some reading/math test, a formality for all their programs I guess. She said I'd scored rather high. Sure I'm smart but am I anything extraordinarily special? I dunno, lol. They may just tell everyone that. Anyway, she said that if it weren't for all my kids (responsibilities) they'd love to have me go through their program.

My point? It's a 96 week accelerated program with all prereqs thrown in there. That's gotta be rough. You'd do well to be extra smart and have little on your plate.

What school were you talking about that you tested at? Pima or EBSN?

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What is it about this Ethel B school of nursing that makes it worth the 600% increase in tuition over M.C.C? There must be some sort of big incentive, or noone would pay it. You said you would rather go there than MCC, why is that?

Ok here is my reasoning......I have 3 kids. I waited 8 years between the 2nd and last one. In that time I went to school and started a career. After the last kid I have stayed home and now that we have 3 I cannot go to work and make enough to warrant even working. So, we need a second income and Ive wanted to go to nursing school all this time. I started my pre-req's and did this online which I found to be quite difficult. When I started my enrollment at GCC It was so deifficult to work a schedule with paying for daycare. I cannot afford full-time rates for just 10-12 hours of classes a week. I began to get frustated as this would be going on for atleast 2 yrs while trying to complete my pre-req's. So when I learned about the EBSN I figured OK 1 1/2 yrs, full time daycare for the little one, student loan that I can take up to 25 years to pay back. Id be a nurse in less than 3 years and my family would have a second income. No juggling schedules with the community colleges and whatnot. For me and my family it seems like the best option. It's an investment. Im barely into my pre-reqs so it will be nearly 5 years before Id be am R.N through the MCC's program.

Of course if I had my pre-reqs done I would not go this route. Like I said this sems to be the best thing for me.....Im not recommending it for anybody else.

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Sassie, I was just reading your post on Ethel Bauer and not starting until Oct.07. Do they have a wait list at their cost of tuition? Does Pima and Apollo the other pricier schools have a waiting list? Thanks for your replies.

At this point I don't believe EBSN has a waitlist. The reason Im not going to get in until Oct 2007 is I have to complete a CHEM and Algebra class through them and then I can actually apply(March) . I dont want to start the June '07 dur to my kids being out for the summer so the next class starting is Oct. Apollo, you still need the pre-req's in order to apply there and Pima is just too far to drive for me.

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Makes sense. I have 9 prereqs to take myself - A&P 1 and 2, CHM and MIC. After that, I just have to do the 2 years in the nursing program.

If I still had to take eng 1 and 2, psych, math, and a humanities, I might be looking for a faster way to do it also, but I already have all that out of the way.

Good luck with that program, I look forward to learning more about it and how it is.

Edit May of 2007 - that's down to 5 prereqs now.... Piece of cake, I can't get enough!!!

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Ok here is my reasoning......I have 3 kids. I waited 8 years between the 2nd and last one. In that time I went to school and started a career. After the last kid I have stayed home and now that we have 3 I cannot go to work and make enough to warrant even working. So, we need a second income and Ive wanted to go to nursing school all this time. I started my pre-req's and did this online which I found to be quite difficult. When I started my enrollment at GCC It was so deifficult to work a schedule with paying for daycare. I cannot afford full-time rates for just 10-12 hours of classes a week. I began to get frustated as this would be going on for atleast 2 yrs while trying to complete my pre-req's. So when I learned about the EBSN I figured OK 1 1/2 yrs, full time daycare for the little one, student loan that I can take up to 25 years to pay back. Id be a nurse in less than 3 years and my family would have a second income. No juggling schedules with the community colleges and whatnot. For me and my family it seems like the best option. It's an investment. Im barely into my pre-reqs so it will be nearly 5 years before Id be am R.N through the MCC's program.

Of course if I had my pre-reqs done I would not go this route. Like I said this sems to be the best thing for me.....Im not recommending it for anybody else.

I understand your choice, SassyB, of EBSN. I've considered Pima because it is an accelerated program. Yes, it is expensive, and yes the 96 week accelerated program will be intense, but I'm a single, older re-careering student, and I don't have the time to take to finish my pre-reqs, (about 2 semesters), and then wait the 1 1/2 years on Maricopa CC's wait list. I have a healthcare background anyway, and a BA in Liberal Arts, so the Pima advisor told me that more than likely my program wouldn't be the full 96 weeks. Also, Pima and EBSN have an LPN option, so there is the opportunity to take the NYCLEX-LPN and work while we're still finishing the RN courses. Anything worth having is worth working hard toward!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I guess that depends on what courses one has already taken.... possibly.

For me, I would need to take 59-62 credits to complete the ADN at MCC, and I would need to complete approximately 100-104 to get the BSN at ASU. That's a HUGE difference. I'm not sure how it is possible for both to be about the same, when one program is an associates and the other a bachelor's. Also, ASU requires the Biology 101 and 102 credits to be in the last 7(?) years, while MCC apparantly does not enforce that. So probably add another 8 credits (of courses I have already taken) to that 104. No way, not for me. I've already got about 100 credits in school, I'm not adding another 112. I'm not too happy about doing another 59 as it is.

You're right, Jeff. I'm a second bachelor degree seeking student. ASU gave me credit for about one semester's worth of work towards my new degree. The community college, while requiring fewer credits, does require pre-reqs to the BIO and CHM classes that the university does not require. So, while I will be taking a lot more credit hours at the university, I will be finishing with a bachelor's degree within a semester's time that I would have finished at the community college with an associates. So, more credits, but about the same amount of actual calendar time. I hope that makes sense.

PS - The professional program at ASU is 64 credits and you may transfer up to 64 credits from the CC towards your pre-reqs. That will cover them all as the pre-reqs are only 56 credits. You need a total of 120 credits to graduate.

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What school were you talking about that you tested at? Pima or EBSN?

Pima

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Pima

That's interesting. When I called them they told me "we don't just take anybody" and "there are 30 slots for 400 applicants". It was sort of discouraging. I have been a 4.0 student at the MCC schools. When I spoke to EBSN they were much more encouraging. Not to mention Pima wouldnt give me much info over the phone. They wanted me to come to the info session and test and everything. I dont have time for all that. Im interested in getting into the nitty-gritty and getting started. I don't know about you but I dont have alot of friends and family in the area to call upon as babysitters so my free time is limited.

I am a little nervous about being in such an intense program(any R.N program will be). But atleast I can buckle down and get it done. Yeah I will be a walking zombie for 1 1/2 yrs but that is the price I pay....all of us. All of these programs are intense and I don't think EBSN will be any different. How are you handling motherhood and school together....any secrets you care to share??

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Yeah, it was very off-putting to have to come in for any information. But I needed a backup plan in case the community college CNA courses filled up, so I went. The info session wasn't a hard pitch like I was expecting. They're pretty free-flowing with the info once you're there. But EBSN is cheaper and it was said they're working on accredidation.

****

The key to my success, lol, is online courses. I've always preferred self-teaching to sitting in a classroom so it works out very well for me. I study after the kids go to bed, sometimes can study during the day in bits and pieces. So far I'm only taking one class at a time and devoting my all to it. It helps that my prereq lists are short due to prior college -- Chem, A&PI, A&PII, and Micro for MCCCD; A&PI, A&PII, CNA for CAC. (I constantly waiver on where I'll end up yet.)

I don't have much in the way of free babysitting but I do have a husband with a very flexible work schedule. My mom will ocassionally pick up one of the kids for an overnight, which settles the remaining ones at home with me and I can usually get a little more done then too.

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I am taking a class at MCC right now. I was handed a sheet that had all the pre-req's on it, and then a few co-req's. I have a previous degree that covers the arts, math, and humanties classes, but I have to take or re-take all the sciences. Since some are pre-req's for others, it's going to take me about 3 years to complete them all, one class at a time.

I have heard from classmates that the Bio 181 class (pre-req to A&P) is very hard and is meant for future doctors and such. It is also hard to get into and there is usually a waiting list. My friend who just got into MCC nursing school gave me a tip. She said to take Bio 156 at one of the other Maricopa County colleges as a pre-req to A&P. MCC does not offer Bio 156, but it's easier than 181 and either way, you can take the A&P class. You may have to take it at South Mountain or one of the other college. Either way, you get your credits and you don't have to deal with the craziness of waiting lists.

I am taking Bio 156 on-line through Rio Salado next semester since it's a repeat class for me (I took something similar 10 years ago but it's expired). That might be an option for you if you are really dedicated and have self-discipline to do it. Rio offers all the nursing pre-req's on-line. You may still have to take the lab in person for some classes.

I am a mom of a 5 year old and a 2 year old. We cannot afford daycare for the 2yo. My husband is being supportive of coming home early so I can go to class, but I think the on-line classes will be better for our schedule. By the time my little one is old enough for K I should be about ready to get accepted into nursing school. At least that's the plan.

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