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Discussion

Getting Accepted into BSN program w/o work experience?

I have a sales job currently and I am taking my pre-reqs to apply to a couple BSN programs, after this semester I only need to take 4 more classes to have all my pre reqs. I was told I will need at least a 3.2 gpa to be competitive, and I should have a 3.3 or so, I was also told they highly recommend volunteer experience, and that work experience is helpful but not required.

I tried getting hospital jobs that would pay for my school and give me related experience but that didn't work out, the best offer I got was $10 an hour working 10 hours a week (5 hour shift on a Sat & Sun). I told the hospital recruiter I need more hours and all I can do is apply next time they have new positions available. They didn't offer tuition assistance either.

If I keep my sales job, volunteer when I can, and get my gpa to a 3.3 or higher, will that be good enough? How many volunteer hours did you log prior to nursing school?

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I think that nursing school's suggest volunteering or work experience so that you are certain that Nursing is what you want to do. I'm in the BSN program at UTMB, and before nursing school I did not have any hospital experience. This was also the case for many of my classmates. There were some that were CNA's or PCA's during the summer prior to beginning, but it wasn't half the class. Hope this helps...

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Helps a lot, thank you.

They did say the last thing they want is a student to all of a sudden decide nursing isn't what they want to do and drop out, which matches what you are saying.

It really, really depends on the school. I know at the University of Washington, it's so competitive to get into that they actually require 1000 hours (i think that's the number) of volunteering, recommendations, and great grades. Here in Georgia, you don't need any work experience or volunteering. Almost no one in my class has work experience, and I think only 2 people shadowed a nurse for a day before applying. All you can do is try to apply and see what happens. If you're worried, apply to more than one school. If you don't get in, call the nursing school and see what you can do to make your application more competitive. Good luck to you!!

I already got into one program and am waiting to hear back from one more. I don't have any work experience in the medical field but I volunteer at a hospital (usually four hours a week, which is pretty easy to fit into a busy schedule of work and school). I also volunteered at a children's hospital for a little while. As a previous poster said, one of the main reasons that many schools want you to have volunteer experience to see if you REALLY want to become a nurse, and they want you to get comfortable being in a hospital setting around sick patients. I've heard that some people get to their first clinical and are completely in shock because they've never been in a hospital and have no idea what nurses really do. Apparently you don't get to make out in the on-call room with Dr. McDreamy or something.....? :D

Apparently you don't get to make out in the on-call room with Dr. McDreamy or something.....? :D

HA!! Hilarious Mr. Simba!!

I believe what you currently have is already sufficient. Your interview will weight a lot, so prepare well for that.

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