I didn't get accepted into a RN program. What should I do now? Find employment, school?

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So I came up with a few options about what I should do while I wait to reapply next year and I would like to know what would you do. I came up with these with the help from a career counselor at my community college and she introduced me to these ideas.

1. Go back to school to get my bachelors in Health Science. I have an AA in health science.

OR

2. Find employment in the medical field to get experience, for someone with no work experience.

OR

3. Go into a medical assistant program in my town that is free. The length of the program is 45 weeks. I can receive certifications after I have completed the program. I think this could help me find employment?

Honestly, I don't want to go back to school and take more classes. Therefore, I will get my bachelors later in the future if I have the desire. I am currently unemployed and I've never had a job before, so I would like to find employment in the medical field to get some experience. The medical assistant program sounds nice, but I don't know how I feel about being in the program for 45 weeks. Any advice? If you were me, what would you do? I am definitely going to reapply, but in the meantime I need to do something with my life. If I could find employment, that would be great.

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Do you know why you didnt get accepted? Was it your GPA? Your HESI score? Your TEAS score? Try to find a school in your area with a waitlist. They will you accept you, no matter your grades.

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The school selects the applicants based on a lottery system and mine wasn't chosen, I guess. Supposedly, as long as I keep reapplying I will eventually get in.

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A CNA certificate will get you employment faster than becoming an MA in most cases. There are more opportunities for CNAs and you will be exposed to a nursing work environment. If you want to expand the number of RN programs that you apply to, the CNA certificate could help. For some programs it is required, and for others, it shows interest in nursing, which could help in the admissions process.

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When I wasn't accepted my first round of applications I looked into other programs to broaden my chances. I also volunteered at a hospital since I never had any health care experience. If you can get a CNA certification in time I would do that also. I am not familiar with medical assistants since my hospital does not have any, at least none that I have seen.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I really like that you can do the MA program for free.

I would do the MA program and also apply for part time work that has some connection to healthcare. That sounds like a great opportunity.

Good luck.

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Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll see what I can do :)

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I second going the CNA route! Many of my classmates have their CNA and have worked as CNAs in various facilities. They are much more comfortable interacting with patients and easily acclimate to various clinical settings. The demand for CNAs is high, the programs are typically short, and you can gain some profitable experience. I wish I had gotten my CNA instead of working in a non-healthcare field prior to applying to nursing school.

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The health science bachelor's won't give you any clinical skills, so I would not bother with that unless you want to go into public health or something of that sort. Medical assistants usually work outpatient and CNAs in the hospital. If you want to work outpatient I would become an MA, otherwise go for the CNA. Good luck!

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i actually did your first option when i didnt get accepted into a nursing program for last fall adn i have an as. in health science. i transferred to csueb and and started my upper division courses for health science. While in that program i applied to a adn program for spring 2017 and i was admitted. The cool thing is that the upper division courses that i took last fall can be used towards my bachelors in nursing when i transfer from this adn program.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

Work. CNA if you want, but any job will have its benefits. No point in studying something else if you know you want to be a RN. Waste of time and money.

I didn't get accepted in a bn programme, and so took a year off working in a supermarket (my country pays well was $18/hr so was worth it). During that year I got customer service skills, which was great because interacting with pt was a breeze. I was able to pay for a lot of my education myself. I was out there in the "real world" and got life experience, because working and paying your own way in life is not like school at all. There's so much I learnt by working, that made the bsn programme/clinicals a bit easier.

Do what you want, but doing something because it sounds good/good opportunity isn't always as great as it seems.

A free course? Great if you wanted to do it for a living. Not as a filler. Think of all that money you would have earned in that 45 weeks if you just worked?

Or bachelors degree? Sounds great, I actually start a health sci bachelors too after not getting accept. Huge waste of money. I wanted RN. And spent all this money completing papers that were worthless in the end. Don't do something because it sounds good to others.

Work. Earn money. Enjoy you freedom before you start studying again.

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Apply to a different program.

See if you can take any nursing courses early while you wait.

Go be a waitress somewhere and save money before school starts.

GL!

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