CSN vs UNLV nursing schools

U.S.A. Nevada

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hi all, wondering if anyone has been in either programs. what are the comparisons from both programs? i know that you get the ADN at CSN within 2 years and you get the BSN at UNLV in a bout a year, is there a better school than the other? it is getting fierce out there and planning to apply to both at this point. anything helps! thank you!;)

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Actually if you include the prerequisites/corequisites that CSN requires it's more like 3.5-4 years and that's if you stay on track and pass all of your classes on the first try. I started my pre-nursing classes in the summer of 2011 and I will be done with the nursing program in the Fall of 2014 since I had to work and couldn't take more than 1 or 2 classes at once. I do love the program and I have the confidence that it will prepare me for NCLEX. As far as UNLV, that is a 4 year program so I'm not sure what you're talking about finishing it in "a bout a year".

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Actually if you include the prerequisites/corequisites that CSN requires it's more like 3.5-4 years and that's if you stay on track and pass all of your classes on the first try. I started my pre-nursing classes in the summer of 2011 and I will be done with the nursing program in the Fall of 2014 since I had to work and couldn't take more than 1 or 2 classes at once. I do love the program and I have the confidence that it will prepare me for NCLEX. As far as UNLV that is a 4 year program so I'm not sure what you're talking about finishing it in "a bout a year".[/quote']

The UNLV program is only 4 semesters, for example.. If I started in Spring my nursing school would consist of 1.Spring 2. Summer 3. Fall 4. Spring.

I would suggest UNLV to anyone over CSN.. I mean yes it is more expensive at UNLV but with the recent job market, associate degrees are having a really hard time! ( and those were CSNs words at their orientation )

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The UNLV program is only 4 semesters, for example.. If I started in Spring my nursing school would consist of 1.Spring 2. Summer 3. Fall 4. Spring.

I would suggest UNLV to anyone over CSN.. I mean yes it is more expensive at UNLV but with the recent job market, associate degrees are having a really hard time! ( and those were CSNs words at their orientation )

Well unfortunately it's hard for some to afford the high tuition prices at UNLV. I don't qualify for any financial aid so I have to go with what's cheaper for now. If I had financial assistance I would have picked UNLV for sure but I have to support myself.

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Specializes in ICU.

I applied to both programs, first to CSN and was accepted, but declined and went to UNLV. In terms of tuition, CSN is by far cheaper. Also the number of credits per semester is less, like 9 credits, at CSN. So if you want, you can work fulltime and go to school fulltime at CSN. UNLV is about 15 credits per semester. They do not recommend students to have even a part time job at all. I had a job when I started but had to quit in a couple of months because it was hard to keep up. If money is an issue, go to CSN. Prerequisites: UNLV requires approximately 60 credits of prerequisites before your can apply to their nursing program. That includes 2 chemistry classes, statistics, and NURS 299 which are required only for BSN. Nursing program itself: Both CSN and UNLV are 4-semester programs. It takes 16 months to finish at UNLV and 24 months at CSN. The difference is summer semesters. At UNLV there is no break in summer. Summer semesters are off at CSN. For example, if you start in fall, it will be 1 Fall, 2 Spring, 3 Summer, and 4 Fall at UNLV, and 1 Fall, 2 Spring, 3 Fall, and 4 Spring at CSN. Job market: Many acute care hospitals tend to hire BSN prepared new grads. That does not necessarily mean ADN prepared ones have no chance in acute care. However, many ADNs are having a hard time getting a job. Most of them seem to get a job eventually at nursing home, rehab, mental health, LTAC, etc.

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I applied to both programs first to CSN and was accepted, but declined and went to UNLV. In terms of tuition, CSN is by far cheaper. Also the number of credits per semester is less, like 9 credits, at CSN. So if you want, you can work fulltime and go to school fulltime at CSN. UNLV is about 15 credits per semester. They do not recommend students to have even a part time job at all. I had a job when I started but had to quit in a couple of months because it was hard to keep up. If money is an issue, go to CSN. Prerequisites: UNLV requires approximately 60 credits of prerequisites before your can apply to their nursing program. That includes 2 chemistry classes, statistics, and NURS 299 which are required only for BSN. Nursing program itself: Both CSN and UNLV are 4-semester programs. It takes 16 months to finish at UNLV and 24 months at CSN. The difference is summer semesters. At UNLV there is no break in summer. Summer semesters are off at CSN. For example, if you start in fall, it will be 1 Fall, 2 Spring, 3 Summer, and 4 Fall at UNLV, and 1 Fall, 2 Spring, 3 Fall, and 4 Spring at CSN. Job market: Many acute care hospitals tend to hire BSN prepared new grads. That does not necessarily mean ADN prepared ones have no chance in acute care. However, many ADNs are having a hard time getting a job. Most of them seem to get a job eventually at nursing home, rehab, mental health, LTAC, etc.[/quote']

Actually the workload at CSN is far greater than that of a typical 9 credit semester. I am in the full-time program and I only work limited hours on the weekends. Those of us that attempted to work full time along with school full time have had to drop to part time for either school or work. Very few people can do full time for both. They must never sleep! The instructors and have recommended that you do not work full time while in the full time program. They also offer a part time program which takes 7 semesters (2.5 years with no breaks) which is very doable while working full time but you do not have any breaks. I actually don't like the fact that they make us waste so much time in the summers. Since I started my 4 semester program in the spring, I will waste 2 full summers by the time I finish. But it is what it is :) I do enjoy the program and it's VERY challenging. The tuition is also reasonable though. I have only spent about $2000 so far and I'm halfway through.

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The UNLV program is only 4 semesters for example.. If I started in Spring my nursing school would consist of 1.Spring 2. Summer 3. Fall 4. Spring. I would suggest UNLV to anyone over CSN.. I mean yes it is more expensive at UNLV but with the recent job market, associate degrees are having a really hard time! ( and those were CSNs words at their orientation )[/quote']

Sorry, I meant 4 semesters in my original post :)

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Specializes in Public Health.
Actually the workload at CSN is far greater than that of a typical 9 credit semester. I am in the full-time program and I only work limited hours on the weekends. Those of us that attempted to work full time along with school full time have had to drop to part time for either school or work. Very few people can do full time for both. They must never sleep! The instructors and have recommended that you do not work full time while in the full time program. They also offer a part time program which takes 7 semesters (2.5 years with no breaks) which is very doable while working full time but you do not have any breaks. I actually don't like the fact that they make us waste so much time in the summers. Since I started my 4 semester program in the spring, I will waste 2 full summers by the time I finish. But it is what it is :) I do enjoy the program and it's VERY challenging. The tuition is also reasonable though. I have only spent about $2000 so far and I'm halfway through.

I have worked full time and did CSN's full time program and had time for a boyfriend and friends and holidays. I can count the number of all nighters on one hand. I prioritize, delegate, and I refuse to procrastinate. It helps that I pick up on patterns easily and am generally a critical thinker. It was hard and I am tired but I'm glad I did it the way I did because I will have a job as soon as I get licensed.

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The UNLV program is only 4 semesters, for example.. If I started in Spring my nursing school would consist of 1.Spring 2. Summer 3. Fall 4. Spring.

I would suggest UNLV to anyone over CSN.. I mean yes it is more expensive at UNLV but with the recent job market, associate degrees are having a really hard time! ( and those were CSNs words at their orientation )

i think it depends on the situation. My friend is currently an ADN GRAD, With 4 lined up jobs at a long term facility. If you are looking for a job at the hospital its 50/50 chance. She chose the offer at the hospital and works at Seven hills. If u have a problem with long termwhich will pay u lesse than a hospital then ok, I personally dont have a problem doingn adn thru csn, get hired at a long term, while getting my experience bridge my program to bsn at nsc. coz 1st off csn is soo cheap, I will not have loans, and while I'm earning money I can pay for my bsn program.

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Hi,

I'm a pre-nursing student at CSN. I graduate from CSN with an Associate degree in science this spring and will transfer to UNLV for the fall semester. I am planning on taking my exams in the summer, both HESI and TEAS even though I still have to take Bio 224 and some other pre-reqs like NURS 299. I have a 4.0, but I'm taking 223 and 251 this semester along with some other courses, so I don't know what my GPA will be after the semester. I am concerned about getting into the program. How does the point system at UNLV work? I will be taking some courses in fall 2017 and applying for spring 2018, so I won't be done with the courses before the application deadline. How does that work? Can I still get in? How can I increase my chances of getting in? Is it a good idea to take the HESI before taking 224? Any thoughts, suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

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