Hi! I was hoping someone would be able to help me out since I can't seem to make a final decision. I was accepted to both nursing programs that I applied to and while I am ecstatic and can't wait to start, I'm not sure which program to commit to. They are both two year programs- one is a diploma program at a hospital, the other is an associate's at a CC. I'm leaning toward the hospital program, even though the tuition is double that of the comm. college- it's a smaller program and while the CC is highly competitive, I haven't heard many positive things from students in the program. The hospital program allows you to work as a CNA while in school, and guarantees a job after graduating/ passing the boards. But I'm a little nervous about the whole diploma thing, versus getting a degree. I have a bachelor's already, if that makes any difference. Any advice from anyone on which direction to take? I know this isn't a lot of imformation, but if it helps at all, the two schools are Mountainside Hospital and Passaic County CC, both in New Jersey. Thank you so much!! Any advice is greatly appreciated.
i don't know how it works with a diploma school, but for sure if you already have a BA in something other than nursing & then get your ADN you can go straight to most MSN programs & skip right over getting a BSN. just a heads up for later down the line.
as far as picking between the schools, the person who brought up gas prices is so right... if prices are going up that much & that quickly, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't choose the program closest to you.
I decided that getting another Bachelor would be the best fit for me. Anyhow, a friend of mine actually graduated from PCC, she loved the program and she's absolutely a great nurse (I’m not just saying that b/c she's my friend, I’m also a unit secretary so I’ve worked with her) I know someone else who graduated from Mountainside and she loved the program also, she already had a bachelor degree, I believe she's working within the SBHC system; I do recall her saying that the program is very intense. Needless to say, not everyone experience at a school will be the same.
I was accepted to 3 different nursing programs and I made my final decision based on the classes I would have to take while in the program, the length of the program, where our clinical rotations would be, and the class size...I’m in an accelerated program so that is a big thing for me. Just to add, when I looked into Mountainside I know the person told me that they had a long waiting list; I know you were already accepted so I don't know if that applies to you. When I inquired about PCC, they didn't have a waiting list at all. Good luck!!!
As far as I know, mountainside does not have a waiting list. And it is easier to get into than community college.
Hey Jessiek, I'm also from NJ and I too already have a Bachelor degree. When I started the process of looking into nursing programs, I did look both at Mountainside and PCC....however, I decided that getting another Bachelor would be the best fit for me. Anyhow, a friend of mine actually graduated from PCC, she loved the program and she's absolutely a great nurse (I'm not just saying that b/c she's my friend, I'm also a unit secretary so I've worked with her) I know someone else who graduated from Mountainside and she loved the program also, she already had a bachelor degree, I believe she's working within the SBHC system; I do recall her saying that the program is very intense. Needless to say, not everyone experience at a school will be the same.
I was accepted to 3 different nursing programs and I made my final decision based on the classes I would have to take while in the program, the length of the program, where our clinical rotations would be, and the class size...I'm in an accelerated program so that is a big thing for me. Just to add, when I looked into Mountainside I know the person told me that they had a long waiting list; I know you were already accepted so I don't know if that applies to you. When I inquired about PCC, they didn't have a waiting list at all. Good luck!!!
puresass
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i don't know how it works with a diploma school, but for sure if you already have a BA in something other than nursing & then get your ADN you can go straight to most MSN programs & skip right over getting a BSN. just a heads up for later down the line.
as far as picking between the schools, the person who brought up gas prices is so right... if prices are going up that much & that quickly, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't choose the program closest to you.
good luck!!