Expensive but easier to get into schools- Fear

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jul 6, 2014

These types of schools cost a lot of money and accept anyone that is willing to pay their tuition. The thing you have to worry about is What is their NCLEX pass rate? Are they accepted by the state's BON? are they accredited? If you plan on getting your BSN or MSN, many hospitals require your degree coming from an accredited school. It would be a waste of your money if they don't prepare you well enough to pass NCLEX, can't get a job, or further your education.

TM856 · Jul 6, 2014

I'm starting the ABSN program at the Kramer School of Nursing at Oklahoma City University next month. It is a expensive private University with no wait list but after the G.I. bill and their yellow ribbon program all I pay for is $100 for parking a year and if books go over the stipend, which they haven't for pre-req classes and right at it for the first terms nursing books if you get the online used ones. You might want to look into it. I've enjoyed the last couple of terms here getting my nursing pre-reqs done. There's some bad press on here about the school from a couple of years ago, but talking to the current students in the program it's not as horrible as I've read and I've talk to a bunch of them. The classes aren't easy but I think that's most Nursing programs. Well i hope it is.... The Vet rep and people in the finance office are great.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2014

Could ANYONE provide me with the names of these schools across the nation? Preferably TX?

The schools are already in your backyard, although I'd avoid these places due to the shoddy local reputation.

RN programs are offered at for-profit entities such as Everest College in Fort Worth, Concorde in Dallas, and West Coast University in Dallas. The tuition is staggeringly expensive, the NCLEX pass rates are questionable, the educational quality is questionable, and all of these schools advertise heavily on daytime TV during the commercial breaks of the judge shows.

nlitened · Jul 6, 2014

I just wanted to say thank you for your service! And apply to whatever school you feel is right for you. Do your research on the program, pass rates, etc. Good luck to you!

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2014

Good day, Clodoveo and TM856:

Thank you for your service to our country; may you have success in your school journey.

RunBabyRN · Jul 6, 2014

Ok, first, you need to look at a few things.

How long will it take you to complete your degree?

Do you want to complete your ADN or your BSN?

If you're using your GIB, remember that it's time-limited. You only get 4 years with it. Use it wisely. If you complete your prereqs at a community college and then transfer to a university for 3 years, you need to make sure you have 3 years left to pay for it.

Also, know that some colleges and nursing programs offer a veteran's preference. What was your NEC? Doesn't sound like HM, but regardless, you earn preference as a vet in some places. How that vet preference works varies, and you'll need to do your homework (call, e-mail, etc), as I've never seen this listed on nursing program websites. As far as how the preference works, I've seen everything from vet status breaking a tie between you and another candidate to getting in as long as you meet the minimum requirements. This is why it's important to do your homework.

Have you spoken with the VA at all yet? Have you applied for disability? Talk to DAV or AMVETS, and work through them to navigate the VA. If you get a rating of 30% or higher, you qualify for vocational rehab, which gives you even more benefits than the GIB, and extends it by one year (sometimes longer, depending on what your goals are and what you need in order to complete them).

Also, you can't just go anywhere in the country. The GIB will only cover in-state tuition. It WILL NOT cover out-of-state or private university tuition. Should you attend a private university, it will only pay whatever it would cost to attend a state university as a resident, and you're on the hook for the remainder.

OK, now that the vet stuff is covered...

DO NOT just go anywhere. Look at your schools. Be a little pickier. Look at graduation rates, NCLEX pass rates, and the reputations in the area. I know that here, there are schools with good reputations and bad, and believe me when I say that there are no grads of the ones with bad reps in these hospitals (or at least not recent grads). If you attend some POS school, you will end up in a POS job for a long time (as in, non-nursing, most likely). Everest is in a lot of hot water right now- you don't want your name connected with them. Plus, their graduation rate is incredibly low (because of cost, instructor turnover, days missed due to lack of instructor availability, etc.). I don't know their NCLEX pass rate, but I doubt it's high.

Cast a wide net. Apply to as many schools as you'd consider attending.

In the meantime, do what you need to do to keep your GPA as high as humanly possible. Have you been going to school while on AD? If not, consider going part time at first so that you can figure out living and going to school and how to balance everything, even just for one semester. You don't want to do anything to risk your GPA.

Next, when the time comes to take the HESI, study hard and nail it. There's a whole forum on here devoted to the HESI, so peruse the forum and look at the tips. I know the NCLEX forum tips were helpful when that time came.

Clodoveo · Jul 6, 2014

Thank you so much for your responses and support everyone.... I am in a situation right now where I find myself for once a little lucky. I don't need to pay rent and not much for food right now, so ALL I want to do is study AS much as I can this semester and want to take MAX classes if possible. I will study at night if I have to , I am even thinking about going two colleges. But I want to have everything ready by January to apply (Including HESI). The tricky part is all these classes have around 3-4 courses but the last two courses usually vary from A&P 2, to Micro to statistics.....I am having a hard time with this at the moment. I wish there was any colleges that allowed me to finish A&P 1 and 2 in the same semester.....

Also why is it bad to go to a "bad name" nursing school? Is it because of the education you will receive or because jobs will ask for where you got your nursing degree from?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2014

Also why is it bad to go to a "bad name" nursing school? Is it because of the education you will receive or because jobs will ask for where you got your nursing degree from?

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you have reputable schools with nursing programs such as TCU, TWU, UTA, Southwestern Adventist, El Centro, Collin CC, Trinity Valley CC, Tarrant County CC, NCTC, Brookhaven, Hill College, Weatherford College, and many others.

You will be fine if you attend a less-reputable school if your desire is to work in nursing homes, clinics, or areas outside the hospital. However, if you want to work in an acute care hospital in Dallas, hospital recruiters and hiring managers are going to wonder why you did not attend a more reputable school when there are so many of them in the area.

The nursing job market in Dallas is flooded right now. For new grad nurse positions, hospitals are receiving 300+ applications for each job posted. So the new nurse who graduated from UTA will have a leg up on his/her competitor who graduated from one of the commercial investor-owned schools.

Clodoveo · Jul 6, 2014

Dang that worries me a lot....I decided to opt out of Pharmacy because of the saturation and it seems nursing is just as saturated..... :/ If I have to, I will go into rural areas or who knows maybe I will go back to Navy in the nurse corps....lol =__=

So I talked to somebody in Concorde and they seem to have NO requirements to join lol....should I do it guys? Will jobs really emphasize the type of schools? I mean obviously a UT grad is better but how much of a difference... ?

SBSN · Jul 7, 2014

Look into

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2014

So I talked to somebody in Concorde and they seem to have NO requirements to join lol....should I do it guys? Will jobs really emphasize the type of schools? I mean obviously a UT grad is better but how much of a difference... ?

If you want the prestigious new grad job and training internship at any of the Dallas-area hospitals upon graduation from nursing school, I'd advise against Concorde.

However, a degree from Concorde will not matter if you do not mind working outside the hospital setting. Nursing homes, clinics, hospices, home health companies, private duty companies, physical rehab facilities, psych hospitals, and other non-hospital employers will hire you with a degree from Concorde, but hospital recruiters will wonder why you could not get accepted into one of the many reputable schools in and around Dallas.