GMU vs NOVA vs Marymount

U.S.A. Virginia

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Hello all! This is my first post....I have applied to 4 nursing programs-all accelerated-I just found out a couple days ago that I got accepted into NOVA and Shenandoah....still waiting on Marymount and GMU. I think GMU is my first choice...Marymount is so expensive!...NOVA is 2 years AND you don't get a Bachelors....and if I went to Shenandoah I'd have to move...so many things to consider! I already have a Bachelors from Virginia Tech so I've heard that it really doesn't matter if NOVA is only an Associates...I can still go on and get my Masters....any thoughts on these schools? Besides the info sessions how do I find out which school would be best for me? Honestly, I seem to hear more negative things about Marymount than positive, and I always hear great things about NOVA...what about GMU? Any thoughts from nursing students and others applying like me would be much appreciated!

I live in Ashburn as well. We might be neighbors! So which program are you referring to in regards to the 3.8 GPA? Is that for NOVA Traditional program? Or the GMU program you are enrolled? I am only applying for the program at NOVA. I am just interested in getting my Associates to get into the field and plan on enrolling in a RN-BSN later in life but I am not worried about that right now. I am fully aware of the advantages of the BSN degree but I want to start out with the AD at NOVA. I certainly encourage you to work towards and finish your BSN in nursing, you will be better off in the end no question about it, the extra effort and work will give you more opportunities. I have a question for you though, do you have insider information as to whether or not there is a serious waiting list at NOVA nursing?

I have no clue on a waiting list for NOVA (NVCC) I nyrs past there has been, but for the Fall of 2007 I heard they took everyone. Starting this Fall of 2008, it is competitive, so your GPA is going to matter!! The minimum GPA is 2.5. Here is a few links for NOV'a program, 1 link is even a power point presentation:

http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/health/nursing/nur_info.htm

http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/health/n...fo/slide1.html

Hi Sumi,

I live in Brambleton, next to Loudoun Valley Estates. The GPA I was referring to was for GMU transfer students. If you already have a Bachelors, it would make sense for you to go into GMU's accelerated BSN which takes a little over a year. Why would you do two whole years and get an ADN? Also, I heard recently that INOVA does not want to hire anymore ADNs. If that is true, then you'd be limited to Reston, the VHC, and hospitals downtown. If you spend two years getting your ADN and then go back for the RN bridge, that's another year or a year and a half depending on where you'll go. The only valid reason I can see for going that route would be money and not getting accepted into a BSN program. There are many scholarships out there. I have two. You could start the paperwork for the scholarship--INOVA's Edelman scholarship grants 50 per year. So, do the math on NOVA times 2 years tuition plus the cost of the bridge program versus three semester of the accelerated. I didn't have the extra time or the extra money so I focused on the scholarships and getting through as quickly as possible. I'm starting my applications for grad school next month--more time and more money! Just my opinion; from someone who went to NOVA, Marymount and GMU. Email me if you need anymore info, and best of luck!

Good advice from the above poster. keep in mind that Nova does have one program where ya start in the Fall, and finish the following Dec, one goes to school throughout the summer, where as the normal program does not. This takes place at the Arlington Campus. Not sure what the BSN costs, the credit rate for Nova i think is around $80 for a VA resident and if ya already have a degree some of ur classes may transfer over. Not sure where you heard Inova is cutting back on ADN nurses, it may be true, buty I talked to one person quickly at INOVA (just finished a rotation there) and she stated they love Nova (NVCC) nurses.

Maybe the fast track BSN degree would be best, but I heard its a pretty face paced program and a higher failure rate, I could be wrong, my sources on that are just other students,lol One just has to sit down and do whats best for yourself. As well some hospitals pay for further education.

Good advice from the above poster. keep in mind that Nova does have one program where ya start in the Fall, and finish the following Dec, one goes to school throughout the summer, where as the normal program does not. This takes place at the Arlington Campus. Not sure what the BSN costs, the credit rate for Nova i think is around $80 for a VA resident and if ya already have a degree some of ur classes may transfer over. Not sure where you heard Inova is cutting back on ADN nurses, it may be true, buty I talked to one person quickly at INOVA (just finished a rotation there) and she stated they love Nova (NVCC) nurses.

Maybe the fast track BSN degree would be best, but I heard its a pretty face paced program and a higher failure rate, I could be wrong, my sources on that are just other students,lol One just has to sit down and do whats best for yourself. As well some hospitals pay for further education.

Does NOVA have a campus in Arlington for nursing? I know that the nursing program is in Springfield. I didn't know that there are any other options with NOVA. The cost is about three times higher at GMU. I heard the ADN thing from few instructors. It depends on the unit, the shortage and the acuity of that unit, but a BSN has the advantage (all other considerations being equal). It all boils down to what your ultimate goals are within nursing. If it stops at bedside nursing, then I'd go to NOVA since it's the least expensive and their program is excellent. BTW, I had no summer breaks with GMU's program.

Does NOVA have a campus in Arlington for nursing? I know that the nursing program is in Springfield. I didn't know that there are any other options with NOVA. The cost is about three times higher at GMU. I heard the ADN thing from few instructors. It depends on the unit, the shortage and the acuity of that unit, but a BSN has the advantage (all other considerations being equal). It all boils down to what your ultimate goals are within nursing. If it stops at bedside nursing, then I'd go to NOVA since it's the least expensive and their program is excellent. BTW, I had no summer breaks with GMU's program.

Yes its new program that started in the Fall of 2007. They do all their classes on one day (currently Friday or Saturday) and their hospital rotation on the other day (Friday or Saturday) And they go all year round and finish in the following Dec. I have never been to the campus, but its somewhere in Arlington,lol someone mentioned it was close to Ballston mall, but don't quote me on that. As well one still has to fit in your other classes such as Pharmacology, psychology's, etc etc I will most likely go on and get my BSN, I'm in my mid 30's so I just want to get back into the work place, and go from their!!

And Nova just started an online course. Not sure of all the details, but the lecture portion is online. Stay at home with ur coffee and take in the same powerpoint and lecturer as one would in class!! Plus it is saved online, so one can go back and view it again. of course the labs and rest are not online. Another option, especially if one has to travel a great deal to get to the campus. And one can still ask questions.

Best of luck to all and to the above poster on her Masters degree!! We shall forever be paying my wifes MAsters degree off,lol

Yes its new program that started in the Fall of 2007. They do all their classes on one day (currently Friday or Saturday) and their hospital rotation on the other day (Friday or Saturday) And they go all year round and finish in the following Dec. I have never been to the campus, but its somewhere in Arlington,lol someone mentioned it was close to Ballston mall, but don't quote me on that. As well one still has to fit in your other classes such as Pharmacology, psychology's, etc etc I will most likely go on and get my BSN, I'm in my mid 30's so I just want to get back into the work place, and go from their!! Best of luck

I'm 42 and I'm in a mad rush. I've been a flight attendant for 21 years and want to pursue anesthesia. I'm looking at many more years of schooling. Thankfully, I've been offered several ICU positions and will start fellowship in Fairfax July 28th.

I'm 42 and I'm in a mad rush. I've been a flight attendant for 21 years and want to pursue anesthesia. I'm looking at many more years of schooling. Thankfully, I've been offered several ICU positions and will start fellowship in Fairfax July 28th.

I was in the Canadian Armed forces for 15 years. Was in the Air Force flying in the P3C (operated various electronics gear), miss those days,best job in the world,lol I'm more of a hands on guy, those why I went with the ADN program, and really dislike school,lol but surprisingly I'm doing well thus far. I have two sisters back in Canada that are RN's, both have their BSN, 1 is a diabetes coordinator and another I believe is in the ICU. I have no clue on what I want to do when I grow up,lol

I was in the Canadian Armed forces for 15 years. Was in the Air Force flying in the P3C (operated various electronics gear), miss those days,best job in the world,lol I'm more of a hands on guy, those why I went with the ADN program, and really dislike school,lol but surprisingly I'm doing well thus far. I have two sisters back in Canada that are RN's, both have their BSN, 1 is a diabetes coordinator and another I believe is in the ICU. I have no clue on what I want to do when I grow up,lol

Love Canadians!

I'm not crazy about school either, but I can't seem to get around the requirement.

Thanks for your input on the differences between the AD and BSN programs. I would encourage everyone who can to finish a BSN degree of course, but I know it is not for me right now. I have a couple of friends who are INOVA nurses and they have assured me that NOVA graduates with ADs are well respected and there are plenty of jobs for them. In fact, I've heard that NOVA graduates are more prepared than most from GMU nursing programs. They tend to get considerably more clinical time during their hospital rotations. I will also disclose to you that I got into the accelerated SU nursing program last fall, and I survived the first semester, but the second one nearly killed me and I had to withdraw. I am not going to say that I was not smart enough for the program or anything like that because that was not the problem (my grades were always great) but it totally did not work for me. We had to take all our classes in the same room from the same seats, and it did not work with my learning style at all, and we had very little time to work at a job to make some moneyu. The only ones I knew in the program that had a job while in the program were single girls with lots of family support. I recently moved into an apartment with my fiance, and I could not afford not to work, at first it worked out fine like the first semester, but we had several things that happened that put us in deep financial stress. And I started slacking off in the classes, because not only was I stressed over being in the same room. I started getting panic attacks and severe anxiety during classes, and it was not good. I understood soon enough that I had entered the accelerated program way too fast without looking into how it consumed your life. I don't mean to rant at all or act like I need sympathy or anything like that but I want to share how the SU accelerated program works and why I will not try accelerated nursing again. I would not encourage anyone to take the Accelerated program at Shenandoah, I think it was far, far too overpriced and it will stress you in ways you never thought possible and even more critical, when you go over stuff in class, you go over it so fast, that before you know it you are jumping over important topics, and you have so little time to go back and re-read previous material, there isnt time to go deep into issues and I think many students lose out in the end. I already know the SU accelerated program has a lower than average pass rate for the NCLEX. I do not know much about the Accelerated program at GMU, maybe because it is at a bigger university they are kinder to the students and make them move to different classrooms and don't isolate them into one room, I don't know. I am taking the HESI exam the first week of next month, and it is my goal right now to get in the 90s percentile for all the subjects, so I am working towards that. I think that INOVA in the end is better...not for everyone, but for me at least. I really hope to take classes in the Arlington Campus. Two days a week of classes would be fabulous and I could work 2-3 days a week as well and devote the rest of my time to studying and practicing. I am also looking into the online program, I might apply to both, I have a friend who is in the NOVA nursing online currently and she says it is a very good program but she would not recommend it because it is hard to met other classmates. But she says it is great to "go to class" online in her pajamas and eat her breakfast there. I am wondering at this point, how many accepted students are sent to Arlington and how many to Springfield? and do you get to chose where you go? I've heard the INVOA nursing program is competitive now and is not first come first serve like last year...that means GPA will count a lot more...so its getting to be more like GMU, SU, and Marymount.

Flames,

I am fascinated with the healthcare system in Canada because it is so different from ours. Tell me about how nurses are treated and paid in Canada. I am curious, because I've heard very mixed views about the healthcare system there. In comparison to standards of living and opportunities and salaries in USA (VA in particular to keep things simpler) how does the salary and lifestyle for a nurse in Canada compare? I'd love to hear more about this since you are blessed to have experienced both sides of the USA/Canadian border.

The acc program at GMU is very stressful too. The first semester has 21 credits. I'm sure you'll do great whatever your choice will be.

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