Choosing a Nursing School

Hello, Everyone,

I have recently become interested in becoming a nurse. I am very interested in medicine in general. I am good with my hands. I want a job where I can feel like I'm having an immediate positive impact on others. I also like the idea of being able to work in the evenings/nights. My dream is to eventually work for Doctors Without Borders for a couple of years, after I've had several years experience in the states.

I homeschool my kids, and they are still young, so I am not looking to go to school immediately. However, I like the idea of starting my career well before my youngest finishes high school. I will be 45 at that point.

In this area, there are two nearby nursing schools at state universities, both with 2nd degree BSN options (what I'm interested in). One is more prestigious and is a day-only program. It has a 91% NCLEX pass rate. The other is less prestigious, has a nights-and-weekends-only option, and has an 85% pass rate.

The second, less prestigious school would be much more convenient for me. I would be able to get my degree and go to work much sooner that way. I also like the idea that they appeal to a diverse group of students and I would be amongst other people who are not available to take off all day for 2 years to go to school.

To meet the requirements of either program, I'm going to need to study for and CLEP some courses and take Anatomy & Physiology before applying, but that is probably something I can do in the evenings. I think I could be accepted to either program.

My question is, how much effect does the nursing school you went to have on getting that first job? Are there things I can do to make up for going to a less impressive school? Or would it be better for me to wait until I can attend the day program?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I wouldn't worry about the effect your school will have on your first job, but rather the effect the school will have on you passing your NCLEX. You could work as a nurse tech/assistant during school to help you land a job out of school, but this might not be worth it with your young family. Enroll in whichever program works for you and put your heart into it. The best way to land a job immediately out of school is to have a 4.0 GPA and make some connections during your clinical rotations. Best of luck in your endeavors.