For those of you in NS

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Oct 26, 2010

So, are you technically accepted now? If so, then can a representative at the school tell you if your credits transfer? There are several posts similar to your on this site. What I have found is that there tends to be mixed feelings. I am guessing you have been accepted into a for-profit, private school, correct? I personally don’t find anything wrong with those schools. One thing to consider is their accreditation in the event you want to pursue a BSN or a graduate degree. If it is a newer school, then they more than likely are not accredited. However, that should not suggest that the school will not seek it.

As for you’re the prerequisites you took, you can look at it like you are prepared to take them again since you already have exposure to the content matter. If the courses are A&P, take them again. You would learn something new from retaking the courses that will benefit you when you begin taking your nursing courses.

The cost is up to you. People will argue that attending a private is silly. I say, get in where you fit in. If you have been officially accepted, plan for it and do it.

Good luck.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 26, 2010

I personally would just wait it out. I got accepted into a school 1:30 minutes away, all my credits would have transferred. My current school I had a year to wait to get in and the school is 7 minutes away. I was excited to get accepted into the other school, especially after waiting so long and stuff, but I decided to do what was going to be better overall. Now I am in my 3rd semester and so happy I stayed to the local school.

It can be exciting and overwhelming, but best to think of all the pros and cons and really weigh out what would be best overall.

my4helpers · Oct 26, 2010

Yes, I am accepted now. It's an ADN program through a hospital; so it's fully accredited. It used to be a diploma program, but in 2006 they turned it into an ADN program. It actually seems a lot harder than my current community college. They are wanting me to take organic and inorganic Chemistry with Lab and the CC didn't require this, they require a higher math, Micro and A&P 1 & 2 all of which my CC didn't require. The only credits that will transer are Soc and Psych. I am honestly confused!

my4helpers · Oct 26, 2010

I personally would just wait it out. I got accepted into a school 1:30 minutes away, all my credits would have transferred. My current school I had a year to wait to get in and the school is 7 minutes away. I was excited to get accepted into the other school, especially after waiting so long and stuff, but I decided to do what was going to be better overall. Now I am in my 3rd semester and so happy I stayed to the local school.
It can be exciting and overwhelming, but best to think of all the pros and cons and really weigh out what would be best overall.

I totally agree, but I guess I just get nervous at the possibility off applying for the fall of 2011 and not getting in at my CC.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Oct 26, 2010

Yes, I am accepted now. It's an ADN program through a hospital; so it's fully accredited. It used to be a diploma program, but in 2006 they turned it into an ADN program. It actually seems a lot harder than my current community college. They are wanting me to take organic and inorganic Chemistry with Lab and the CC didn't require this, they require a higher math, Micro and A&P 1 & 2 all of which my CC didn't require. The only credits that will transer are Soc and Psych. I am honestly confused!

So you don't already have A&P 1&2 and Micro? When you said your pre reqs won't transfer, those are the Pre Reqs I was assuming you meant. Most programs require these classes, I don't know of any programs that don't require them before graduating. A lot of BSN programs will require some kind of Chem and Inorganic chem as well. (all the ones I have seen). So learning this new information. It might be smarter to go the route that will require these classes because I am thinking you will need them at some point anyway.

Which classes are you talking about that wont transfer?? My current college had a little bit different requirements than my previous one, not all credits transferred that they didn't require. (such as Inorganic Chem, and Organic Chem and a few extra electives I had) but when I go to do my RN-BSN those credits will transfer since that program will require it.

Not sure if I explained that right. Hopefully it made sense.

greatpyr_mom · Oct 26, 2010

Are there really any nursing programs that don't require A&P and micro as a pre-req? That seems crazy to me, since those classes are the foundation of nursing!

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Oct 26, 2010

There's no way I would do prereqs over again so I would just apply to the school you're already going to. Good luck!

jjjoy, LPN · Oct 26, 2010

Do you know the reputation among health care employers regarding grads from these two programs? If the hospital program is well-reputed and the cost isn't prohibitive, I'd recommend going for the program you've been accepted to already. It can be crazy competitive to get into community college programs, with acceptance sometimes by GPA, wait lists, and/or lotteries. And extra, perhaps more rigorous pre-req coursework can't hurt and might help in the long run. But there are many variables to consider that would make a difference. How much more the program costs than the CC program. What you can afford. The quality of the program. What you would do while waiting another year to apply to the CC program. Best wishes with whatever you decide!

my4helpers · Oct 27, 2010

Thanks everyone! Perhaps I am just getting cold fee! LOL!! I will try and provide a little more info. because I really do value every ones opinions. For starters, at the CC that I am attending, we do not have A&P 1&2 (4 credit hours per class). It's called Function and Structure and it was 5 credit hours and two days a week. The first half of class was spent in lecture and the second half was spent in lab. I called the CC today and asked if the ADN program required Micro, because it was not on my course outline and she said that I did need it, but it was not a prereq. I can take that once I am accepted. I have not done my Chemistry classes yet at my CC, but the Chem classes at the CC seems so much easier. They are Fundamentals of Chemistry (which is an intro to Chem) 3 credit hours and the second Chem class is Introduction to Organic Chem which is only 2 credit hours. The Chemistry classes at the hospital program are Organic (4 credit hours) and inorganic (4 credit hours) both with lab. At my CC, we do not have lab. Also, I was told that I would need a higher math class, because the math classes that I took at the CC were considered remedial.

So as you can see, the hospital program seems much harder! I do know that the class of Dec. 2009 all passed the NCLEX on the first try except one. The nursing instructor didn't have stats on the Class of May 2010 because not everyone has taken it.

Here is how I feel, I have worked so hard on getting my math and sciences out of the way that way I can dive into my nursing classes; that's if I get excepted into the CC next fall. However, with the hospital program, it feels like I am starting all over. I mean I could just take all my science and math classes first and leave my nursing classes for last, but I don't want to. I do feel that the hospital program is harder, but probably prepares you more. I am not sure if this is how other nursing programs work, but the instructor told us at orientation that the night before clinicals, we have to go to the hospital and meet our patient for the next day. After that we have to go to the computer lab and look that patient's chart up and study it. She said to plan on staying for a couple hours to study our patien.

CuriousMe · Oct 27, 2010

I understand that you said it's a hospital program that has converted to an ADN program....but they have to be tied to a school somewhere for the degree. Is this school a for-profit school? And while I'm sure they are accredited with the state, are they regionally accredited?

If you're at all interested in getting your BSN in the future, I'd contact a few of the BSN choices that you're considering and make sure that they accept credits from this program.

I wish you the best as you decide!

my4helpers · Oct 27, 2010

I understand that you said it's a hospital program that has converted to an ADN program....but they have to be tied to a school somewhere for the degree. Is this school a for-profit school? And while I'm sure they are accredited with the state, are they regionally accredited?
If you're at all interested in getting your BSN in the future, I'd contact a few of the BSN choices that you're considering and make sure that they accept credits from this program.
I wish you the best as you decide!

The school that it's tied into is a private not for profit school. I actually know someone who graduated from this hospital program back in 2005 when it was just a diploma program and she is currently attending the CC that I am at and getting her BSN.