evening nursing school

memphispanda, RN · Mar 16, 2003

Southwest Tennessee Community College has an Evening/Weekend nursing program. Classes for this program start in January only (last I heard) and they only accept 60. It's competitive and getting more so because my school is not taking new admissions.

http://www.stcc.cc.tn.us/

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 16, 2003

This is really quite simple. It is Because they are catering to the traditional fulltime college student and he/she typically is NOT earning a degree AND a living, putting food on the table for a family in so struggling. Until they realize the non-traditional adult learner brings a lot fo $$$ in, they won't bother. I find it very exciting all the increasing online opportunities there are, however. It will come to that more and more. When they realize the demographic they are dealing with; the average age of RN students is 33-34 years old, they will come around more and more. $$$ rely on this. Money always talks, especially in universities/colleges. It's the name of their game.

psychonurse · Mar 16, 2003

It is also economic problems also. At our community college they are closing so many classes that it is hard to get any degree at all and when it is specialized like nursing it is even worse. They are trying sooooo hard to get as many people as they can into the online programs and they seem to keep making it really hard on the people that are trying to do schooling in a part time way. Good luck on your search.

nessa1982 · Mar 16, 2003

Maybe the instructors arent too crazy about the hours. They might have went into teaching to get more "normal" hours. Plus many students, even adults w/children are willing to stop working for awhile to go to nursing school. A part time program would be nice though

Rapheal · Mar 16, 2003

I agree with SmilingBluEyes that they are catering to the traditional fulltime college student and are ignoring the needs of the average nursing student.

I do not however feel that this is going to change any time soon. There is a shortage of instructors which is a major problem. Instructors say they make less than if they were a hospital floor nurse.

BSN programs are typically a program within a university that has many more profitable programs running. I do not think they put alot of time and money into nursing versus polymers and other engineering and technical programs. They attract more students by other type of programs.

ADN RN programs are typically community college based and face competition in luring students from bigger universities. They also try to offer many certificate programs for other careers such as classes in computer programming, and others. Diploma programs-only 186 left in the US.

And as for the government trying to feed money into nursing programs- well IMHO this has been ineffective. Here is an example. My nursing school recieved money from the government to recruit new students. They recruited and doubled the enrollment of the students. Unfortunately, the school also failed 65% of their students. The government did not require that the school had a program in place that would meet the needs of these new students, such as adaquate amount of instructors, materials, ect.

So this was money poorly spent by our government to establish new nurses. My school did not lose money. The students and the taxpayers took the loss. Also did you know that if the Presidents' attempt to change how Medicare is delivered (HMO) that hospitals anticipate losing 30% if their revenue. Where do you thing the hospitals are going to cut spending? It will probally be on staff cuts (as history has shown) or many hospitals will have to close or merge with bigger hospitals to survive.

Sorry this is so long. But to answer your question, I feel that it just is not profitable and will not become profitable in the near future. The face of healthcare is changing and I do not think it will be for the better until all of us get together and start becoming active in addressing many political issues that run the gamut from education to healthcare, to the economy. And I would like to point out that I in no way pretend to know the intricities of all colleges and some people may feel that the program they attend does not fit into my generalization. For this I apologize in advance. Good luck in school and your career.

MrsK1223 · Mar 16, 2003

I understand the dilema. I had to quit my job to go to nursing school....which was almost an hour away almost every day, with classes spread out throughout the day so I couldnt even come home...and I had a small child. I had to take out student loans and is what I had to live on...granted I was able to get help, low income rent, paid off car etc.....and single at that. I ended up behind on bills and I'm just now getting my credit back on track again. It was perfect before I started school. Now I'm in debt for the loans which is fine, I can now pay them without sweating it out. The school I went to wasn't too non traditional student friendly.....I even heard it said you will do what you have to if you want the education we offer. Very unforgiving people.

debyan · Mar 16, 2003

"This is really quite simple. It is Because they are catering to the traditional full college student and he/she typically is NOT earning a degree AND a living, putting food on the table for a family in so struggling. Until they realize the non-traditional adult learner brings a lot for $$$ in, they won't bother. "

Smiling Blue eyes, I agree with this opinion. If the schools took the time to see how many potential students there are just wishing for a night class in their Field(not just nursing) you would think they would try to accommodate them. I wonder if they have looked into it? Would it be cost effective? You know worth the cost of hiring teachers for nights plus the cost of keeping the facility open. It sounds like a money maker to me but I am not a financial wizard. deb

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2003

I would have loved to go to nursing school in the evening too. We have an ADN program here that has 15 students in it. There's long waiting list. So the demand is there. However the $$$ and the nursing instructors aren't. (There is a nursing shortage that includes even daytime instructors, so staffing evening classes is tough as well.)

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 16, 2003

Grossmont College in San Diego, CA has an 18 month evening/weekend program....

With all the budget cuts in the great state of California, I don't know how long it'll be around!!!

:rolleyes:

rileygrl11, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2003

Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio has an evening ADN program. There grads had a 100% pass rate for boards. Top community college in the U.S.

Anagray, BSN · Mar 16, 2003

I didn't even realize, that some schools do not have evening classes.

Even though my city is the Capital of NY state, it is quite small and there is really nothing going on. We have 4 nursing schools in the area, all of which offer evening classes.

I'm doing an evening program and and many people atending have to fight for their place in clincals, because the flow of LPNs and other outside students, who want to do clinicals is so large.

I am in a private school and I heard that we have a dorm and also on-site daycare ( very expensive though).

I really like my school, the only problem is that it is pricey and I can never get any scholarships because I am part time.