BC Nursing Institutes...Is it wise to be picky?

[ecl4]

I just got out of high school this year, and now I'm in the department of Science at UBC Vancouver. I originally was accepted to UBC Nursing at Okanagan since the Vancouver campus stopped direct entry for nursing this year. However, my parents said that it is too far away and my housing fees will be too expensive so I stayed behind to do Science, and then try to transfer to Nursing during my third year.

About a week ago, I received a phone call from Douglas explaining that I have been accepted to the Nursing program for January 2008. This seems too good to be true because of the interviews, 2-3 years waitlist, and fierce competition from other institutes (BCIT, Langara, etc), and UBC needs a high GPA and also has a high dropout rate in Nursing. Also, UBC's nursing program is only 2 years, which means 2 less years of experience. However, my dad is the only one who is not very pleased with my acceptance. He really wants me to do nursing at UBC or BCIT because he considers these like name brands. He believes that hospitals will most likely hire UBC or BCIT students because one is a university and the other is a popular specialized institute. He also believes that if I were to work as a nurse in US, they will recognize UBC more.

I really want to start the Nursing program right away, so I want to drop most of my courses (math, chem, and biology lab, that are surprisingly not needed for nursing at Douglas) to get and job and volunteer, while trying to get my First Aid and CPR certificate by next year. My dad thinks that I am a coward and "running" away from the fear of trying to get a high GPA to get in UBC nursing. It is partially right, because my high school grades are not exceptionally well (average around 86%), and many UBC students claim having a very low average compared to their high school grades. I read in some forums that many UBC students were rejected after their interviews.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate UBC Nursing because I know that UBC has "a strong international reputation and award-winning faculty and students". However, when I see this opportunity in front of my face, I can't help by being tempted by it. Should I really hold back to attend a more prestigious university, or should I fight off my dad and take the "easiest" and fastest road that provides me more experience? One more thing, do all Canadian nurses need to do some exam (eg. MCAT) to work in the US?

Thanks...I know I typed a lot. I tend to blab on and on when I get carried away.

[Fiona59]

Uhm, basically it doesn't matter where you obtain your nursing education, it's more important to pass the national exam.

My employer doesn't care where you went to school as long as you graduate and obtain a full license.

Sounds like your Dad wants bragging rights not what might be the best opportunity for you.

[ecl4]

Thanks for your reply, Fiona. I'll try to show this to my dad. However, if I were to work in the US later on, would it be better if I went to UBC? If I have to do another exam for international nursing, than I guess it wouldn't really matter.

[Fiona59]

Many of the RNs I work with have worked in the US. They basically have said as long as you have good employment references and can pass their nursing licencing exams you will be hired.

If anything your employer references are more important than your school because American hospitals are big on "customer service". Most of my coworkers stayed only as long as their contracts and came home. One actually broke the contract and returned after a couple of months due to a racist workplace.

Not saying the US is a bad place to work but you have to realize it's a different culture for health care.

[ecl4]

Thanks again. I'm not very intimidated by the racism warning (although I'm Asian). However, the only reason I am curious about working in the US is because with the health care shortages and the immense competition from the interest, I'm concerned that by the time I graduate, there will be more than enough nurses to work in BC. I think I might be overestimating, but I just want to make sure.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I'm concerned that by the time I graduate, there will be more than enough nurses to work in BC. I think I might be overestimating, but I just want to make sure.

I sure wouldn't worry about that. The average age of the Canadian nurse is 46; the average age of the retiring Canadian nurse is 55. At the rate education programs are graduating nurses in Canada, there will never be enough graduates to replace the nurses who are eligible to retire in any given year. The projected nursing shortage in Canada by 2011 is over 15,000. So I think you'll be safe.

[ecl4]

Thanks Janfrn.

Wow, picking an institute for nursing is more complicated than I thought. Now I'm being injected with rumors that Douglas professors favour particular students (which is pretty hard to believe), and that the program itself is not as satisfying as others. But I still want to aim to get into the nursing program asap. Maybe I can transfer to BCIT later on for "reinforced" experience.

I just hope my dad act like a kid and hide the admission letter from Douglas. He is the only one who has access to the mailbox. :stone

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I just hope my dad act like a kid and hide the admission letter from Douglas. He is the only one who has access to the mailbox. :stone

Maybe you need to get a post office box... Tampering with the mail is a federal offense, but I know it's hard to prove someone you live with is hiding your mail from you.

[Fiona59]

My co-worker said the racism wasn't directed toward the nurse (visibly ethnic) but in the way the facility treated the patients. It was down in Texas.

It sounds like your Father isn't very supportive of nursing as a career. He seems to be more interested in being able to say XX is a UBC grad.

Like Jan said, there is no way that 4-5 years from now there is going to be a glut of nurses. Ageing population and all (not just the patients, but the workers)

[ecl4]

Wow, the "minorities" are racist against their patients? That's sickening.

It turned out that my dad did hide my acception offer. He gave it to me today because we had a big argument in the morning. He says that I should go withdraw from my courses in UBC (which is what I want to do if I were to go to Douglas Nursing, except I would just keep English, go volunteer, and get a job), and not support me anymore. Because of my previous suggestion of withdrawing from courses, he thinks that I'm scared of studying and want to go to Douglas to play (he assumes colleges are lax in education). Now he's making me feel guilty if I drop the courses, and I'm even more frustrated.

[Fiona59]

Are you the eldest child in your family and your father is the immigrant?

I think you should talk to an advisor at Douglas about the nursing programme and drag him along for the ride.

Silly man needs to be hit over the head with a few facts.

Community Colleges offer quality eduations, usually at a lower price. The classes can be smaller resulting in more individual attention from the instructors.

Langara in Vancouver had a nursing programme way before UBC and has produced some excellent nurses.

Oh, and irregardless of where you go to nursing school (or any educational institute) teachers/professors have favourites. Fact of life.

[orangecampino]

I just started in UBC Nursing this year after doing 3 years of Sciences at UBC. You're right - it is really tough to get in... even getting a high GPA doesn't guarantee anything. But as much as I love UBC, I wish I would've gone to a college like Douglas or Langara. BC is in desperate need of RNs and you will get hired no matter what kind of school you graduate from. I've even heard rumours that hospitals prefer non-UBC students because they have 4 years of training instead of just 2.

Basically, if you KNOW you want to be a nurse, then it sounds like you've got a great opportunity at Douglas!

Good luck with whatever route you choose. :)