1 or 2..........

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Here are my choices:

1. Very prominent School. Tuition is $10000 per semester. I would perform clinicals at 2 of the hospitals I would be interested in working at. One is a children's (with my goal of being in the nicu) The other is a very good hospital as well. They say they offer extensive scholarships and grants. I only have $6000 out in loans currently. There Nclex pass rate is 93%.

2. School number 2. Said to just be coming off probation. They had a nclex pass rate of 76% currently it is %90. They just finished an accredidation of some sort, I am not sure for what. Tuition there is abou $3000 a semster.

My main question is: Looking at the tuition difference here, how do I make sure that I am getting that much better of an education from the more expensive school that school #2. Also, if I am doing clinicals at the hosp I am interested in working at, does that make a diff in the decision.

Point me in the right direction here people. DH is leaning towards the more expensive school. He wants me to have the best education offered. Also, he feels it a great advatage that they offer clinicals where I am eventually hoping to work. One more thing, both of the hospitals offer $5000 per semester for every 12 months sign on.

Thanks a mill guys!

Jenny

If it were my choice, I would go with the school that offers clinicals where I want to work. (If it is feasible economically) I don't think that the cost of tuition makes the school, if you want to find out about the quality of the program, I would go and see if you can talk to any of their current or recently graduated students.

Good luck, I know it must be a hard decision!

Wow! Those are both some expensive schools. My school is less than $7,000 total for the entire program (including books & fees) and I will be an RN with it. I will be honest money is a factor for us. There's no way I could afford to go to a school that was $10,000 a semester, but only you can decide what is the right decision for you.

Teresa

Originally posted by JennyRN2B

Here are my choices:

1. Very prominent School. Tuition is $10000 per semester. I would perform clinicals at 2 of the hospitals I would be interested in working at. One is a children's (with my goal of being in the nicu) The other is a very good hospital as well. They say they offer extensive scholarships and grants. I only have $6000 out in loans currently. There Nclex pass rate is 93%.

2. School number 2. Said to just be coming off probation. They had a nclex pass rate of 76% currently it is %90. They just finished an accredidation of some sort, I am not sure for what. Tuition there is abou $3000 a semster.

My main question is: Looking at the tuition difference here, how do I make sure that I am getting that much better of an education from the more expensive school that school #2. Also, if I am doing clinicals at the hosp I am interested in working at, does that make a diff in the decision.

Point me in the right direction here people. DH is leaning towards the more expensive school. He wants me to have the best education offered. Also, he feels it a great advatage that they offer clinicals where I am eventually hoping to work. One more thing, both of the hospitals offer $5000 per semester for every 12 months sign on.

Thanks a mill guys!

Jenny

I would go for #1 for the reasons you listed, it has a record of a high NYCLEX, and you'll be working in the two hospitals that you like, giving you a more firsthand opportunity to see it, and it's prominent reputation will be noted in the hospitals you are doing clinicals. If you look,you will find the money needed to meet the tuition expenses. The fact that your DH is also in favor of this, is very supportive.

I would be worried about #2 especially due to its being in a probationary period...Do you know why? It might cause conflict in their hospitals if it was clinical related. The nurses working in these hospitals might have negative feelings and that might interfere in your clinical learning...JMHO.

Best of luck!

Kris

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Jenny,, i think i know which program you are speakin of. I am in ILL too. I would definately go with the first option.

They are most likely on the watch list and at any time they could lose the accredidation. Dont risk the heartache of working hard just to have to find another program.

Most of the students in that program ended up having to transfer to another school just so they could graduate and take NCLEX from what i heard. Good luck,, there are a lot of scholarships and grants out there.

Either way you'll be an RN, so it's up to you what you're willing to handle...I don't think I could stomach 20,000 a yr now matter how great the program was...but if your husband is supportive of going that route then that's great!

Good luck with your decision--the program will be what you make it! ;)

Well, I would research as to why they had such low NCLEX pass rates, my school had a similar problem when they revamped the program's academic sched. They moved things around and had to get everything in place, unfortunately, they dropped to about an 80% pass rate if I am not mistaken. We are now back to 90 something (I don't know what last years number are off hand).

But ultimately, look into who just accredited them (we just had the BRN for CA come through) and for how long. I agree with those above, you don't want to go into a school that may lose it's accrediation part way through your schooling and leave you high and dry....:(

That would be a bad, bad thing

Hi Jenny,

I was just talking with my aunt who is a nurse about applying to schools, etc. and she was telling me about when she was applying for programs back in the '80's.

Anyway, the gist of the story was that no matter what name of school is on that diploma, or how much money you spent on credits the really important thing is passing the NCLEX. It doesn't matter if you spend 100 dollars a credit or 1,000.00. If you cannot pass the NCLEX then it really doesn't matter.

She was telling me about one school in particular that she interviewed at. It is a local school, very prestigious and expensive, but they had lost their accredidation and very few of their students successfully passed the NCLEX. She ran from that school and ended up going to another with a really high pass rate.

So, even though money is just about always a consideration, I would say that having a high percentage of students pass the NCLEX and being an accredited school is one of the most important factors.

Also, I'm not sure if a program can truly turn itself around in a matter of a few short months or even years. The school that my aunt "ran from" still has a bad reputation of students not passing the NCLEX and it's been almost 20 years. Maybe others or more experienced nurses have a better idea on this.

As always, Good luck with everything.

Col

Well guys,

I guess for now I am headed for the more expensive/good school. I think it is the best for what I am looking to obtain in the end. I am really excited, scared, terrified...but I think it will work out. I will do my part to apply for every scholarship, grant etc that I can find.

I laugh at myself though, when I went to the University the other day, I felt really Old, and intimidated. I am only 30 mind you! However, there were a lot of younger people on campus. As a matter of fact, the only other "older" person that I saw ended up being "Father somthing" :chuckle I am hoping I really won't end up being a minority.

However, if I am...oh well. I am there to obtain the best education I can!;)

I'll let ya know when I and if I get officially accepted!

Jenny

meownsmile and jenny...if you don't mind, could you please let me know which school your talking about for the latter choice. You can PM me if you don't feel like posting it. I'm in IL too and I'm more than a little curious. Thanks!

~Bean

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

no matter your decision, much success to you.

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