Dillema

[vettech]

Heya Folks,

I'm in a dillema and could use some input, esp from the recent grads.

I've got 2 really good ADN programs near me. I believe I have a really good chance of getting accepted to either (or both).

If given the following - which would you pick?

School #1

Total Credit Hours to Completion - 43cr

Estimated Tuition Cost to Completion - $2197

Distance from Home - 16.1 miles, estimated 32 minutes

Avg NCLEX Pass Rate 1996-2002 = 93.82%

School #2

Total Credit Hours to Completion - 40cr

Estimated Tuition Cost to Completion - $1357

Distance from Home - 9.9 miles, estimated 18 minutes

Avg NCLEX Pass Rate 1996-2002 = 89.28%

A few comments about the above. The listed credit hours to completion reflect that I already have had many of the courses and have confirmed that they transfer. The NCLEX pass rates are directly from my State Board of Nursing. The reason for the difference in cost is primarily due to districting. I'm currently working prereqs at School #2.

My real question is this - would you fork over the extra money ($840 over the course of the program) for only a 4.54% increase in their pass rate? Both schools have equal reputation in the local medical community as far as I can discover.

[Dr. Kate, BSN, RN]

Life, nursing schools, and nursing jobs area lot like chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.

How well you do is largely up to you, not the school. Some great nurses have gone through poor programs and vice versa.

For my money go for that which will minimize your stress. Do you ever have to go from clinical back to school? If so what is the longest distance you'll be driving? In traffic?

Take a look at the library. Do they have long accommodating hours. What nursing resources do they have? Go in and ask the reference librarian what electronic resources are available, what nurisng journals they subscribe to? How many are research journals? What are their resources in psychology adn education journals (nursing overlaps those fields a bit.) Tell the librarian why you're asking the questions (that will really impress her or him, trust me.) The one with the best library will be the school with the greatest commitment to nursing. (Library funds get cut on a regular basis and if there is a real commitment to nursing there effort will be made to maintain the quality of the nursing library.)

[rosemadder]

Either school is close enough to you that mileage shouldn't be a problem. Many people communte one-two hours one way to go to nursing school. The pass-fail rate isn't that significant. One school in our area has a 100% pass rate but only have around 14 graduating each May. Our school has a 89% pass rate (1st time taken) and graduating classes are usually around 35-38 people. Personally I would meet the instructors, visit the school and just see which one gives you a higher comfort level. The bottom line is that whichever school you attend--passing will be up to you!