I want to get in to an RN program but have no clue where to start

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Just need a little help. I would like to start taking up nursing but have trouble figuring out where to go. I went to pima they said i have to take my pre reqs someplace else. Is there a school in the east valley with a fast track to an RN program? I would like to be able to start this year i have a limited window to so it raising kids and all. Any help pointing me into the right direction would be much appreciated. ������

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Do an internet search for RN programs in the area that interest you. Go to the nursing program link for each school and read up on the admissions process. Write down the list of prereq courses required and note whether all of those courses must be completed before applying to that nursing program. Then, take it from there. While you are doing this, you can get started by going to the nearest community college near your home and starting to take general education courses. You know that all schools are going to require the equivalent of Freshman English for a degree. Get it out of the way while you sort things out.

While you are researching programs, write down all of your questions. Call, visit, or make an appointment with, the nursing advisor at that school to answer those questions that you can't answer for yourself by looking at the program's website.

Curious as to why Pima told you to take prerequisites elsewhere. Is that a public school?

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Pima appears to be a community college, so your OP confuses me. Are you ineligible to take prerequisite courses because you need to take developmental education courses first? If so, go to the Academic Counseling Department at Pima and ask them to tell you where you need to go to take those. (I am from a different state, but community colleges here in Ohio offer developmental courses to get students ready for prerequisite courses.) In addition, they should be able to assign you to a mentor who can help you navigate your way through all of the ins-and-outs of college admission. You may even be eligible for support through programs made for first-generation college attendees, veterans, homemakers returning to college, second career students, minority students, etc. Under no circumstances should you be so eager to go to nursing school that you get involved with a for-profit school, which will cost much more money, may not meet your needs at this point, and may make it difficult to transfer credits later on.

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Pima appears to be a community college, so your OP confuses me. Are you ineligible to take prerequisite courses because you need to take developmental education courses first? If so, go to the Academic Counseling Department at Pima and ask them to tell you where you need to go to take those. (I am from a different state, but community colleges here in Ohio offer developmental courses to get students ready for prerequisite courses.) In addition, they should be able to assign you to a mentor who can help you navigate your way through all of the ins-and-outs of college admission. You may even be eligible for support through programs made for first-generation college attendees, veterans, homemakers returning to college, second career students, minority students, etc. Under no circumstances should you be so eager to go to nursing school that you get involved with a for-profit school, which will cost much more money, may not meet your needs at this point, and may make it difficult to transfer credits later on.

I believe the Pima she is speaking of is Pima Medical Institute. It is a private, for profit college here in AZ. From my understanding, they don't offer the pre-reqs for nursing.

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Yes, Pima is a private school. Im actually looking at the private school options due to I want to finish the course sooner. Im in my late 30s and would like to finish a little sooner. The only thing I am also weary of is the tuition 50k for RN and there another one chamberlain 100k for a BSN. The prices scare me a lot. Community college is an option But last I heard was the wait list to get on to the program was anywhere fro 2 to 2 1/2 years so im just confused on which option to pick.

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Yes, Pima is a private school. Im actually looking at the private school options due to I want to finish the course sooner. Im in my late 30s and would like to finish a little sooner. The only thing I am also weary of is the tuition 50k for RN and there another one chamberlain 100k for a BSN. The prices scare me a lot. Community college is an option But last I heard was the wait list to get on to the program was anywhere fro 2 to 2 1/2 years so im just confused on which option to pick.

You can do CEP and bypass the waitlist.

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Specializes in MSICU.

Hi! I am also working on entering a nursing program! It is a career change for me as I have a bachelors degree in social work already so our paths may be a little different but I'm willing to help with what I can; I've done quite a lot of research. Where are you located?

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Yes, Pima is a private school. Im actually looking at the private school options due to I want to finish the course sooner. Im in my late 30s and would like to finish a little sooner. The only thing I am also weary of is the tuition 50k for RN and there another one chamberlain 100k for a BSN. The prices scare me a lot. Community college is an option But last I heard was the wait list to get on to the program was anywhere fro 2 to 2 1/2 years so im just confused on which option to pick.

The Maricopa community colleges offer a CEP program now; it is an ADN/BSN hybrid. You take the ADN at the college and the Bachelor classes online with a university. The entire program runs at around $20K, give or take based on the University you choose. The CEP program is competitive, however, and therefore you will need to have all the pre- and co-requisites completed before you can apply.

Late 30s is young, I wouldn't stress that whatsoever. Many people enter the nursing profession as a second, or even third, career change in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s. If you started your classes now, you could even do the pre- and co- reqs online, you could be done by your early 40s.

The private colleges don't ask for many pre-reqs because they want to enroll everybody who comes through their door, and remove as many obstacles as possible in the name of profit, IMHO

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Hi @Changes1 , I'm looking at PIMA for their ADN program, did you choose this program for your RN?

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