I found out my nursing school wasn't accredited, is my degree worthless?

[rngilchrist]

I have been an RN since 2008. I've held one paying RN job. However, because my spouse is military, I've tried getting jobs at Military hospitals and the VA. I finally got a job offer at a VA and then they told me my school wasn't accredited by the CCNE or the NLNAC. So they are taking the offer back.

I am so bummed because I really needed a job and getting a state license to work where we live isn't an option because of the transient military lifestyle. Furthermore, I don't believe I quality for a GA ( where we live) RN license anyway due to the accreditation issue.

Will I be able to get my BSN and use my ADN credits towards the BSN degree if the ADN program wasn't accredited?

I could have sworn that I heard during orientation that the program was accredited, but turns out it was only accredited with the state BON. Why would they withhold such important information?

This was a well known community college program that had put out hundreds of nurses in our state. Now that I know that I won't be eligible to work at any government hospitals or clinics, I'm really saddened. I turned down another job, not nursing, when I got the initial offer from the VA. And I really need to work right now.

Is my degree worthless after this? I wasted so much time and money out of my own pocket. And I worked so hard to get that degree. I'm so upset right now I feel sick to my stomach.

[volcanikred]

Take two years and re-attend nursing school. Look at the bright side: you will have an edge and probably get recommended by the instructors for a hospital jobs. Just to clue you in, many of the students are medical professionals from abroad and they are the ones hospitals eventually hire.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

It's a shame that theses schools allowed to stay open. Maybe our profession should be doing better policing and regulate them out of existence. I wish Allnurses would make a permanent banner to serve as a warning to potential RN students. Meanwhile, just start taking courses, even if it's one at a time to get the general courses under your belt.