I have been told that some students in my state are waiting at least 1 year to get in the BSN program. I have good grades and am not really worried about getting in but I don't really want to wait. On the other hand, the associates degree at the community college is a first come, first in type of thing. They have a week which they take apps and with about 5 cc's participating (one app and you rank your choices) I have not known anyone who has at least a C in all prereqs and 50% on the net not getting in. The state university also has a RN-BSN program that is pretty easy to get in according to the rumor mill.
I am really leaning towards the cc as I will have all of the prereqs done in the fall (except A&P 2 which I will do in the Spring) and will be able to start in next Summer. If I go the uni route I will have another semester on top of that and won't be able to start until Spring 2006.
Call me biased - after all it's what I'm doing - but I don't see any problem with going through an ADN program first. I think practically it works out better to be able to get out and get the experience while continuing your education.
I look at it this way. As a nursing student (two year or four year) you are ONLY a STUDENT until you finish but as a Nurse who is also a student you are a NURSE. This means you have the ability to shop around among programs AND employers (some of whom may be more generous toward helping you reach your goal) while completing your education. The sooner you start practicing the sooner you broaden your options.
Something to think about, eh?
Terence
I agree with you Terence! The problem is, depending on where you live, the ADN programs are taking just as long! That is what I think is ridiculous. When I was considering ADN, the CC I was at kept adding prereqs. and making it so close to the BSN program that it seemed like a waste of time. But, BSN was the way for me to go but if I was in a different area I would have been fine doing an ADN program. It just pays to do your research and really compare the two before you decide.
I agree with you Terence! The problem is, depending on where you live, the ADN programs are taking just as long! That is what I think is ridiculous. When I was considering ADN, the CC I was at kept adding prereqs. and making it so close to the BSN program that it seemed like a waste of time. But, BSN was the way for me to go but if I was in a different area I would have been fine doing an ADN program. It just pays to do your research and really compare the two before you decide.
I was told by the cc health programs people today that they actually had more spaces than bodies to fill them for this semester.
MLOS, how are you liking your diploma school? Mine is great. I love especially how they put us on clinicals after 6 weeks. Our instructors are the same RN's that we rotate clinicials with so you know them well and vice versa and feel very comfortable with them. And they go out of their way to help you in understanding anything you might be having problems with. It's a really close-knit group and very personalized.
My last clinical days (freshman) are today and tomorrow and I've learned so much! Next week is my last week of school...just exams; we're already done with the lectures. Can't believe that in August I'm going to be a junior nursing student...this freshman year went so fast it's unbelievable!
Shows what I know. I didn't realize you could get a diploma. I don't think it is available in my area (Phoenix) so it never occured to me.
Geez! No reason to be offended... I've been searching the net and I don't think there are even such things as nursing diploma programs here in Michigan anymore. Looks like here it's the thing of the past. I only learned last summer that there was such a thing ever anymore.:uhoh21: Not saying you won't make a good nurse at all, just simply a lot of people don't even realize there is such a thing anymore. Glad you like your program. Oops! This wasn't supposed to be posted to you, but to the people that were offended that they were "left out of the poll".
Shows what I know. I didn't realize you could get a diploma. I don't think it is available in my area (Phoenix) so it never occured to me.
No problem. I wasn't offended at all. It's true there aren't as many diploma programs as there used to be but they're still out there. I just consider myself lucky to have been accepted and am learning so much.
I just consider myself lucky to have been accepted and am learning so much.
Cheers :)
Same here, Suzy! :) It's a life-changing experience to be sure!
It was only after spending some time here at allnurses.com that I realized that some areas of the country don't have diploma programs. As I sit here I can think of 8 that are within 50 miles of me, just off the top of my head. They are uniformly respected as a quality education, and many diploma graduates go on to complete a BSN to enhance their career path.
Suzy, I get no sleep, I'll have no life this summer due to med-surg class - 2 full days of class each week, and 2 full days of clinical, but I LOVE IT!! I'd love to compare notes.
Same here, Suzy! :) It's a life-changing experience to be sure!
It was only after spending some time here at allnurses.com that I realized that some areas of the country don't have diploma programs. As I sit here I can think of 8 that are within 50 miles of me, just off the top of my head. They are uniformly respected as a quality education, and many diploma graduates go on to complete a BSN to enhance their career path.
Suzy, I get no sleep, I'll have no life this summer due to med-surg class - 2 full days of class each week, and 2 full days of clinical, but I LOVE IT!! I'd love to compare notes.
Take care all! :)
You sound like you have the same schedule that I have this summer. Good luck to you! I'm looking forward to starting it Monday! We should share experiences. :)
My school's program is 22 months if you go full-time, and 33 months if you do it part time. The so-called *part-time* option (which I've done) has you complete the 30 credits of non-nursing courses (A&P, micro, nutrition, etc.) before starting the nursing courses. Otherwise, the full-time students take A&P and the other courses that seem to commonly be considered pre-reqs concurrently at the same time they begin the nursing courses.
Hope we both survive the med-surg summer ... take care! :)
mariessas_mom
66 Posts
I agree with you Terence! The problem is, depending on where you live, the ADN programs are taking just as long! That is what I think is ridiculous. When I was considering ADN, the CC I was at kept adding prereqs. and making it so close to the BSN program that it seemed like a waste of time. But, BSN was the way for me to go but if I was in a different area I would have been fine doing an ADN program. It just pays to do your research and really compare the two before you decide.