Concorde, NAU...can I get a job if I graduate from here?

Moogie · Aug 11, 2010

Megasa, I hear your frustration and I hope I can answer some of your questions.

First of all, the job market is very tight right now for graduates of any nursing programs. Nursing tends to cycle through periods of shortages as well as periods of oversupply and currently new graduates especially are having difficulty finding positions. If history repeats itself, the oversupply will end and we'll find ourselves in an acute shortage again---but it is hard to say exactly when that is going to happen. Don't let this discourage you from going into nursing but do be aware that the successful completion of nursing school does not guarantee a job.

Second, before you commit to any school, make sure that it's approved by your state board of nursing. My understanding is that if a program is not approved, a graduate of that program might not be able to sit for the NCLEX. There are some issues with several of the proprietary schools in some states so if you are considering a for-profit school, check with your state board of nursing before you sign a contract.

You will also want to look for a school that is accredited by either the National League for Nursing (NLN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The NLN typically accredits LPN, ADN, and Diploma programs whereas the CCNE accredits BSN and master's programs. Going to a school that is not accredited MIGHT hurt your job prospects and it might be a barrier should you decide, at some point, to pursue higher education in nursing. (The only exception to that might be a new school that is in the process of becoming accredited---often that takes a couple of years because the accrediting bodies review factors like NCLEX pass rates.)

I would like to inquire gently about why you seem adamant about not wanting a BSN. If you will look at some of the other threads here, you will see that some institutions prefer BSN graduates over ADN grads and it looks like this is a trend that might continue. There are many options for you since you already have a previous bachelor's degree: you could get into an accelerated BSN program designed for second-degree people such as yourself and complete it in about the same amount of time (or less) than it would take to get an ADN. You could also look into a direct-entry master's degree, also for second-degree individuals, that would prepare you to be either a clinical generalist (Clinical Nurse Leader) or a specialist (e.g., nurse practitioner). If it is a matter of cost, yes, many ADN programs are much less expensive than BSN or direct-entry master's programs---but the downside is that you might need to get a BSN or a master's anyway to further your career opportunities. You would be able to attend a bridge program to get your BSN or master's degree but that's adding a lot of time to your educational journey and it sounds like you want to get going as soon as you can.

I don't want to discourage you but I do want to point out that whether you go for an ADN or for an accelerated BSN, it will probably take 2 years---although some of the accelerated BSN programs can be finished in 18 months.

Here is some information from the American Association of Colleges in Nursing website about accelerated BSN programs for second-degree students:

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/nurse_ed/AccelArticle.htm

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/issues/Aug02.htm

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/AcceleratedProg.htm

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/IDS/pdf/BSNNCG.pdf

Please feel free to ask any other questions. I hope this information helps!

Megasa · Aug 11, 2010

Thanks for your response Moogie...I appreciate it. Here's my story in a nutshell...I'm interested in becoming a nurse and eventually going onto a Master's program (nurse practitioner or crna). I had most things ready to go for William Jewel and UMKC's accelerated BSN program. I was signed up for the last pre-req I needed and everything. After speaking with a few people in charge of various Master's programs, I discovered that if I had a Bachelor's degree in Biology (which I do) and had an ADN degree that it was the equivalent to that of a BSN. So I figured why not do the ADN program because I can still work and it's cheaper. So basically I'd be saving money.

The ADN program I'm currently looking at is at Concorde Career College. They have recently become accredited with the Missouri Board of Nursing so I'm not sure if they have those other accreditations (NLN, CCNE, etc). I read some posts from people that they couldn't find a job after attending there; however, they were older posts and it was mostly from people that attended their dental hygienist program (which I know nothing about).

It's not that I don't want to do the BSN route due to difficulty or money. And I do understand how several schools prefer that degree. But my longterm goal is to go through a Master's program and I just didn't see the point of going through it if it wasn't necessary for the next step. And I've been avoiding community college programs because they are typically two years and there is a waiting list. Concorde's program has no waiting list and is a 15 month program.

And NOW, I've missed the deadlines to start January (UMKC) and May (William Jewell) if I were to go the BSN route. The only other accelerated BSN program whose deadline I haven't missed is Mizzou's. However, I live in Kansas City, and really don't want to have to move to Columbia. And Concorde is located in KC.

I'm just very torn because I am so ready to get on with my life and go to school. I understand the importance of not rushing and maybe waiting for the right time. But I want to get school started before I get married and start having children.

Please please comment with your thoughts :)

Moogie · Aug 12, 2010

You are so welcome!

I'm not familiar with the school you mentioned but you might want to ask the folks at the CRNA programs you're thinking about considering if an ADN from this school plus a bachelor's in biology would qualify you for admission. CRNA programs are very competitive and you want to be the most attractive candidate possible to maximize your chances for admission.

If the school is accredited by the NLN (which would be appropriate for an AD program) then you should be okay. If it isn't accredited and there doesn't seem to be a reason why, I'd be wary. But do check first---while things do change and no one can assure you that you will get accepted into a CRNA program, it's best to make sure that the education for which you will put in so much time, energy, and money will pay off for you.

Most CRNA programs require at least a year of critical care experience for admission. So you are wise to consider your employment prospects after you graduate. Regarding getting a job after graduation, it all depends on the market where you live. There are some facilities that are not hiring ADNs at all, some that hire them into every area except critical care, and some that actually prefer AD grads. Talk to an advisor at the school you're considering and ask how many of the recent graduates have gotten jobs and where they've found employment. If no one can give you an answer, consider that a red flag. (I'd take the reports from the dental hygiene grads with a grain of salt---theirs is a very different job market and their lack of employment after graduation might be due to the school, problems with their program, or a tough market, so it might not have much bearing on employment for the nursing grads.) Also look at the NCLEX pass rate as well as the rate of student attrition. A low pass rate and/or a high student attrition rate could be red flags that there are serious issues with the program.

The last thing you want to do is to get into a program that will not suit your eventual career needs. Honestly, it would be better to sit out a semester or even a year if necessary so you can get into the best program in your area. I know---it's soooooo hard to wait when you know what you want to do!

Best wishes to you whatever you decide!