Health Unit Coordinator or pre-reqs?

[penelopelp]

I am at a loss as to what I should take this fall. I am just starting out on my pre-nursing classes. I only need to take sciences, because I already have a B.A. To make matters more complicated, I am still considered an out-of-state student. If I take more than 6 credits, it will cost me a lot of $$. So, I could take the Health Unit Coordinator classes. This would cost me over $1200 because it is 11 credit hours. (I have to take the class and clinical during the same semester.) If I waited until next summer, I could take these classes for $167. However, if I take the classes now, I'm pretty much guaranteed to have a job as a unit coordinator by the end of the semester. I'd at least be working in a hospital.

Or, I could take 1 or 2 pre-reqs. I could take Biology and a lab, and it would cost me about $200. If I take both biology, chemistry, and labs, it would cost me about $800 (because of the out-of-state fees). It would save me $$ to take the science courses. However, I have (so far) not been able to find a job in a hospital since I have no training or experience in healthcare. I do not want to work in my current field (teaching) because I don't think I would have the energy to take classes after teaching classes all day. Oh, I could work as a substitute teacher. It would pay some bills, but of course, it's not in the healthcare world.

Any suggestions? I know this is long, but I am at a real loss.

TKS.

[Marjones5]

I would take the HUC course. If you are guaranteed a job than the hospital usually offers tuition reimbursement for all courses taken once you are hired. HUC's do not make a lot of money, but the future benefits are helpful. I took the HUC course and without any hospital experience it was hard to find a job in that environment. It is a great job in terms of learning. Make sure you network well during your clinical experience to increase your chances of working permenantly. Good Luck I would also get your cna or monitor tech cert. to increase your chances for hospital work.:wink2:

[penelopelp]

Thank you. It looks like the course is going to cost me more like $2200, which is sounding like an impossible amount. I'm a little frustrated, but I knew this was going to be an issue when I moved.

[dallet6]

Just wondering what state you live in? Having 11 units only cost 127 with residency is really nice. I'm in wa state and even as a resident I paid about 900 for my two courses at the cc this summer.

[penelopelp]

I'm in NM. Believe it or not, the cc in my area charges $0/credit hour for tech courses if you are in-state. The $167 is a fee for the course. That covers scrubs, parking at the hospital, ID, background check, etc.

Other courses cost about $40/credit hour if you are in the county.

[penelopelp]

I still may be able to take the HUC course. My bf may loan me the $$ for the class. I would really like to do this because I want to be able to get a job at the hospital and get started on this career. I'm tired of my life being in limbo.