I really am in a pickle and in some SERIOUS need of help/opinions/advice. I am a 24 year old pre-nursing student in Arizona and was one of the students that got totally screwed by Grand Canyon University when they merged with Apollo College, tanked their nursing program, and got sued left right and center. Thank GOD I was quick to the draw and got out early with my school credits in tact...sadly I was still left in a really bad spot because I was done with nearly all my pre-nursing school credits but now I have no nursing school to attend that doesn't have a 2 year waiting list attached. The 2 years is NOT avoidable and GPA, test score, recommendation letters, past certifications have NO BEARING the ONLY thing that helps is working at a partnering hospital. Issue? Everyone is trying to get one...
I have the ability to get my EMT certification reissued and am investigating a CNA as well because if you work in a partnering hospital you get wait time shaved off on the waiting list. The problem is I have been applying to every hospital within a 25 mile driving distance whenever I see an opening and check it every day with zero luck. Arizona State University (ASU) is so bad that they require a 4.2 GPA with a 90% test score so THAT is not happening, and I checked Coolidge College and their break down system is totally nuts and impossible.
Now I am left with these last and final options...
1) Go up to Northern Arizona State University (NAU) and hope to god that their nursing school situation is better. Is anyone up there and know what their situation is??? I have a 3.2 GPA and have been holding off on taking the NCLEX because of the 3 test limit and my indecision in regards to which school I wish to attend. Do they have a partnership with the hospital up there? I was going to drive up but if it's a total waste of time I might as well not bother and these people are a nightmare to get a hold of on the phone....
2) Go down to Tuscon and do the same the same information fishing at University of Arizona? Anyone know about that????
3) Stick it out in Scottsdale at Scottsdale Community College on their 2 year waiting list and keep praying to god a magic job appears out of nowhere and sit around till then...
THOUGHTS???? Keep in mind I'm 24 and I'm going to be running out of insurance at 26 on top of the additional irritation of constantly being reminded that I should already be in school and would have been finished by Summer 2012. God this is so frustrating >.
My advice is not popular but I would do the 2 year wait if you know you will definitely get in. Why? Because of the difficulty new grads are having getting hired. By the time you'd be finished the healthcare act will either be underway and people may be hiring again, or it will not be underway but people will hopefully have retired and hopefully hiring picked up. Ideal solution? No. But I don't know that there is one. Use the time taking classes that will help you down the road: business or computers, or volunteering or working if money is an issue. Good Luck, tho.
DSkelton711
312 Posts
My advice is not popular but I would do the 2 year wait if you know you will definitely get in. Why? Because of the difficulty new grads are having getting hired. By the time you'd be finished the healthcare act will either be underway and people may be hiring again, or it will not be underway but people will hopefully have retired and hopefully hiring picked up. Ideal solution? No. But I don't know that there is one. Use the time taking classes that will help you down the road: business or computers, or volunteering or working if money is an issue. Good Luck, tho.