Do I honestly have any chance of getting into UNC or Duke nursing schools?

giardiafan · Feb 10, 2009

There is no quick fix answer to your questions. However, I would add the following:

Yes, you do qualify for the accelerated BSN programs. Prerequisites vary from program to program, but you'll need a minimum 2 classes in anatomy/physiology, 1 in microbiology, 1 in statistics, 1 in psychology/sociology, as well as 1-2 classes in chemistry, nutrition, pathophysiology.

Your undergrad GPA is a bit on the low side, but still acceptable. Most schools give greater, or equal, consideration to your 'prereq' GPA (calculated independently of your BA GPA), as well as relevant experience. So, if you had a 3.7+ on your prereqs, you'd be in a good position. Additionally, 100-200 hours of appropriate volunteering or 6 months work as a CNA/PCT/other gives your application greater weight.

OK, the truth: are you just looking for a career change, or are you really dedicated to nursing and caregiving as a vocation? This is the big difference, and overshadows the silly difference between a 3.2 and a 3.5. If you are dedicated to becoming a nurse, are willing to spend a 1-1.5 years satisfying the prereqs while getting work/vol experience, do it. If otherwise, then keep your current job and spread the prereqs out over 2 years or more. Many of them can be done online at your own pace.

FYI, I am in a similar boat. I work in business and am interviewing for a number of ABSN programs. I had a liberal arts degree with a 3.4 GPA. I did 21 units of prereqs over a six month period (summer and fall) while working 25 hours a week, and volunteering 6 hours a week at a local peds wing...and now I'm ready to start nursing school, assuming I get accepted. I had little free time, social activities for those six months, but I'm ready to make the change. I liked the classes, I like the volunteering, and I like the nursing/hospital atmosphere.....

Tony Stark · Feb 10, 2009

OK, the truth: are you just looking for a career change, or are you really dedicated to nursing and caregiving as a vocation? This is the big difference, and overshadows the silly difference between a 3.2 and a 3.5. If you are dedicated to becoming a nurse, are willing to spend a 1-1.5 years satisfying the prereqs while getting work/vol experience, do it. If otherwise, then keep your current job and spread the prereqs out over 2 years or more. Many of them can be done online at your own pace.

Honestly, I don't know. I left a job last year to move closer to my family and now I am in a new area and don't know anyone or have any contacts to network with. I really have no direction in life and don't know where I see myself in 10 years. My mom used to be a nurse so I know a little about it and I think it would be a fulfilling job and a job that is in demand and pays well. If I did this I would just take all the pre reqs this summer and get it over with and then apply for spring 2010 semester. I have never had a job where I felt fulfilled or that I was making a difference and that is why nursing intrigues me. I know nursing school is hard but honestly if I got in I would be willing to dedicate those 16 months to school and have no life. Hell, I don't have any life now as it is. At least I would have a future to look forward to with a light at the end of the tunnel.

Tony Stark · Feb 10, 2009

The other worry I have is that I spend all that time and money going back to school and then become a nurse and hate the profession. I know it can be tough at times when you have the life of someone in your hands. I also know dealing with overbearing families can be overwhelming.

Tony Stark · Feb 11, 2009

I also like the idea of shift work. I'd much rather work 3 12 hour shifts a week and be off 4 days. You also get paid extra for overtime/extra shifts when in many other salaried jobs extra work/overtime is just expected and not compensated for. My last job I worked 10-12 hour days 7 days a week for 2 months at a time so I'm no stranger to long days.

giardiafan · Feb 11, 2009

Don't kid yourself. After working a 12 hour shift in any acute care/ER/MedSurg or other demanding unit, you're an exhausted, drained zombie. You go home and the next day is spent in a partial haze. 12s are doable, but rough. Any experienced nurse will tell you this. It takes several years to acclimate the body and mind to working a 12. 4 10s in the long run may be healthier, but do as you please. But realize that on a 12 hour shift day, you will do nothing else but go to work and go home.

And don't expect to get the ideal positions straight out of school. You may end of pulling night shift, weekend shift, or the standard 8-9 hour shift for training/preceptorship for the first year.

Nursing is a field where new RNs pay more than their fair share of dues to climb the ladder. Nothing comes easy.

Tony Stark · Feb 11, 2009

When did I say nursing was easy? Obviously on those 12 hour days it's come home eat dinner and go to bed. Been there done that. If I can handle construction 12 hours a day I think I can handle this as well. Like I said earlier I worked 7 days a week for 2 or 3 months without a day off, so I know what it feels like to work ALL the time and be sore every morning. I don't buy the partial haze comment, at least for myself. As long as I get 7-8 hours of sleep I'm fine. Please don't take my response the wrong way but I feel like nurses put up a front many times and get all defensive when someone is interested in the field. I wouldn't mind working night and weekend shifts for the first couple years actually. More money from shift diff. to pay off my loans quicker and save for a house.

WantAccel.BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2009

Honestly, I'm not sure how competitive you would be for UNC's ABSN program. I don't tell you this to discourage you, but only to be honest based on the research I have done and the people I have talked to. It is very competitive. If you volunteer a lot, that might make a difference b/c they put a huge emphasis on that, but I think you would probably have a far easier time getting into the 2 year traditional program. It's only 8 months longer, and, from what I understand, a more manageable pace.

Duke might be a better shot for you, as strange as that may seem. I know firsthand of several people that did not get into UNC, but did get into Duke. They attribute it to the fact that UNC is much more affordable, and EVERYONE wants to go there (thus making it more competitive). Duke has some sort of program that if you commit to working for them for a certain amount of time, they will forgive your student loans (or a large percent thereof...not exactly sure). You should be aware, though, that they require you to take the GRE for that program.

My only question to you would be why you did not choose to further pursue education after getting a degree in that field. In my mind, it is easiest to tell if someone will be a good match for something by analyzing why other things were not a good fit...just my perspective.

Good luck to you! I'm sure you will figure out what is best for you. Just do your research (throughly), make a decision, and commit to it.

Tony Stark · Feb 11, 2009

My degree is BS in Education, but my major is actually sport management. After working in different sports jobs I have come to the realization that while growing up sports was always something I wanted to be around, the job conditions are just not good. Low pay, brutal hours, and totally not as "cool" as I thought it would be to hang around professional athletes. The awe wears off fast and then it is just like any other job but more difficult and unfulfilling in many different ways. Plus, there are only so many sports teams and jobs out there and everyone wants to work for a team so it's highly competitive and hence why salaries are low. If you don't want to work in sports the degree becomes kind of worthless. I'm stuck not knowing what I really want to do and what direction to go in next.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2009

If Duke hospitals paid it's nurses enough to pay back Duke University student loans, I would consider it.

However, I would wager that a Duke University RN grad probably starts out at the same salary as a grad at Duke University hospital at the same wage.

There is just no way I would pay that kind of money for a nursing degree.

bestclassever · Apr 6, 2011

I encourage you to consider shadowing nurses in different areas to see if you would really enjoy nursing.

It is expensive to go to nursing school at Duke, and everyone I know who went there has a lot of debt. I had considered UNC's program when I first looked into nursing school but I ended up choosing the program at Wake Tech. It was possible to work while going and it was much more affordable. I already had a BA and could care less about getting another bachelor's degree. For me, it proved the right decision. When I graduated, I ended up getting my dream job in arguably the busiest and most intense ICU at Duke Hospital. You can either choose a school based on name, cost, convenience or other factors, but what you do while in school and the learning opportunities you seek out will help you get into the field and land the job (and if your fortunate, multiple job offers) that you want before you even finish your last semester.

There is still a nursing shortage, but things have shifted the last few years where new grad nurses from nursing programs in this area have a tough time finding a job right after school. Some have waited 9 months or more. If you choose this field, you'll need to do what you can while in school to make yourself competitive for when you finish. We still need nurses, desperately, but for some reason this shift occurred. I think experienced nurses are delaying retirement these days, and some are coming out of retirement. So hospitals are opening fewer new grad positions. This will hurt them though, so hopefully things will change. You should just be aware.

This is a great field. It can be very challenging and rewarding, and the possibilities once you enter it are so numerous because there are so many different areas you can go to. You should consider shadowing as well as volunteering, to see if you have a strong interest or not. If you discover you don't have a strong interest, you might want to save yourself the time and money and stick with the field you're in. If you discover you DO have a strong interest though, then you'll hopefully see it's worth the time, effort and money to do the prereq's and get into a program.

I can tell you that Duke pays the least of all of the hospitals in the area. The order is something along these lines: Rex, WakeMed, UNC, and Duke. All of the hospitals will take New Grads from any accredited nursing school, whether you get your BSN or ADN.