If you decided to be a RN, think again..

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This thread is not to deter anyone who is already in their specified nursing school, but to broaden the horizons for the anybody who is thinking of pursuing a nursing degree. I have just graduated with my ASN and as most know the competition for a Bachelor degree isn't too "stiff" anymore, considering most just get their BSN through an online program or even continue on at the same school as their ASN. This thread is to allow the people who are pursuing their nursing dream to relax, and take some advice from someone who has gone through the program.

If you were anything like me, you probably ended up pulling your hair out, just from the application process alone. Let me give you a little background about myself, I had attended private school my whole life, and graduated with my associates degree before pursuing a nursing degree. I had decided to go back to school a year or two after finishing my first degree (Yes, I know i am crazy) When I had realized that the nursing application was different than the other applications, i knew then, the competition was going to be extremely difficult. It isn't a secret that nursing degrees are in popular demand, but are they? Or is school just too difficult to get into. I was completely appalled by the nursing application process to just GET INTO the program. For those who are reading this, who are thinking about getting into or applying to nursing school, if you don't take anything from this article, take this... Get REAL good with taking difficult tests. In order to even be looked at or considered into the nursing program, you need to pass your TEAS v or some are required to take the HESI. I highly recommend getting the specific study guides for these exams, because they are not cheap tests to take, and the competition to get into school is becoming more difficult by the day.

After taking this exam if you pass, you then apply to the nursing program, and send out your transcripts from high school and any classes in college that you have taken that could be possibly be transferred into your intended major. But, just be aware that this too, is a "money grab" because college credits are only good for a number of years. I work alongside RN's now who have been nurses longer then I have been alive and in order for them to go on to get their bachelors degree (Before 2020) they have to retake science courses for their ASN! These women, whose experience should speak great volumes does not speak at all! Even the Community College system requires ASN nurses to retake classes from their first degree. I find this very sad and degrading to any RN because they too, have earned their title. Now, getting back on topic, once you send out your transcripts colleges review them, which they do very specifically. Most colleges have a college grading requirement, which will tell you what you need for a letter grade to get into nursing school, for my school it was an 85 or better for science classes and a 75 or better in all non science courses. Most colleges and Universities, tend to stay around this given area.

As for recommendation letters, I was required to have two, and it had to be from a superior of yours, whether work or school related, no family is allowed. I worked at a hospital for years before applying to nursing school, so getting recommendation letters was not to difficult. But, working at a hospital didn't do me much good anyway, so if you think working in a hospital will make or break their decision, think again. Most schools don't even take that into consideration, or at least ones on the East Coast didn't. Even though I had met all the requirements with flying colors, I still did not get in my first year applying. I only had one prerequisite class left to take, which I was going to take over the summer but this was not acceptable, because they required all my prerequisites to be done before applying. (Notice how I said they wanted their prerequisites done before the first nursing semester, but yet, this still did not matter because at the time i had applied, It looked like my application was incomplete over one prerequisite that I was in the process of completing over the summer.) Make sure you specify to your college when you are taking your last couple of classes so they can take this into consideration. most colleges want you to complete all of them before going into your first semester of nursing school, but like I said COMMUNICATE. The college wont communicate with you it is your responsible to communicate with them. You are just their money maker, and if you keep this in the back of your mind, you will be less apt to be played by the college system.

The good news is, once you are in, you're in. No one can take that from you but, the application process, is less than easy. Like I stated before, this thread is not to deter anyone or change anyone's mind. It is to shed light on this situation, we need to empower each other, and stick together. I wanted to write this kind of thread because I wish I had someone telling me what I am telling you, now. Nursing is not intended to be an easy major, but the nursing shortage gimmick, is a joke! It is the application process that should be reconsidered because that is what deters anyone before they actually get into school. More colleges need to be aware of their application process, and then maybe we wouldn't have such a nursing shortage!

So from my understanding of this OP, the moral of the post is to not go to nursing school because the application process is to hard.

If you are worried about the time spent applying to your college of choice, then you aren't going to be happy with the time spent in the actual program.

I took the hesi and it cost me 60 dollars. Would have paid 10 times that because nursing is the career I wanted. The hesi tested on basic math and science that anyone out of high school should know. Being that I was out of high school 5 years when taking it, I did get a review book to go over fractions and things of that nature.

The application process at my school was not difficult, maybe a little time consuming , but it my opinion if you want it that bad spending an hour or so filling out paperwork shouldn't be a hindrance. I personally was ecstatic each step of the way.

Perhaps nursing school really isn't for you.

Specializes in Tele, Interventional Pain Management, OR.

My school's application process was pretty straightforward, right down to a printable checklist so we could keep track of items as we completed them. Yes, there were many moving parts--prerequisites, immunizations, online modules, signature pages, entrance test--but the program did a good job of removing any mystery from it.

Speaking of the entrance test: I took the HESI A2 (just one time) and paid something like $30, if that. I purchased the study guide published by the testing company for around $10 and got a really good score. I actually wrote a still- "liked" and viewed post on AllNurses about HESI A2 prep nearly three years ago (!) and would link to it here if only I knew how...

Anyway, nursing school itself will present quite an uphill battle for anyone too daunted by the application process. The good news is that a little rule-following and deadline-meeting go a long way when applying to nursing programs.

And, a nursing student who graduates in December, I can say the application process is totally worth it!

Specializes in ER.
I need an advice, i got accepted to an accelerated BSN program that will take me 2 years to complete and the cost is 25000(starting in may), on the other hand i applied to an accelerated ADN program that is in my state and would take me 12 months to complete and the cost for the entire program with books and all is 10000. I am positive that they will accept me for the program. My question is will it be wise for me to drop the accelerated bsn for the accelerated ADN. I'm looking at the money involved here. By the time i'm done with the ABSN for the entire two years, i will owe close to 37000 in student dept, whereas the Accelerated ADN i will owe close to 16000. What do you suggest i do?

I get paid more for having my BSN.

To add my 2 cents, I don't know what TEAS and HESI are - unless those are entrance exams for colleges, I'm sure I had to do those. I went to a nursing ADN program, west coast - had only Master's prepared nursing instructors. I had been prior military before going into nursing school and the hoops for the ADN program were brutal. Had to submit references, write an essay - transcripts out the ying yang. Had a waiting list that I was not on, thankfully. There were people vying for the spots. There are and were limited nursing schools. That is the reason for the competition, not for a lack of applicants.

Weeded out 50% of my nursing class (of 13). It's designed to be that way. Nursing is not for wussies.

BSN was difficult - a lot of writing and Statistics. I love to write, but a lot of clinical requirements, a lot of time and energy. Not for the weak-minded. Depends on the school you are with, but definitely an accomplishment.

For my ADN program, Chemistry and Microbiology were requirements, of which I have heard many ADN trained nurses never had to complete. I think the stiffer the requirements, the better the nurse. It can never be wrong to be educated. Choose the school you will be proud to say you obtained your degree.

the ADN Application process was a pain, as were care plans, schedules, etc. It's just the nature of the beast. Prepares you a bit for actual nursing. It's all a flash in the pan. Move up and on.

I guess I got lucky. All I had to do to apply was forward my transcripts, take the hesi and submit my app which was just name and address basically. No essays, no recommendations and maybe 50 dollar total cost??

It was all worth it when I see my pay checks now :)

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I'm applying to two programs.

Program A requires me to take the TEAS test & it cost me $42 & I can take the TEAS test 3 times.

Program B doesn't require any entrance test. This program is the better of the two. It's accredited & has better NCLEX pass rates.

It will all be worth it when I can write RN at the end of my name.

I'm currently finishing up the application process for Nursing. I decided to go back to school after being in the dental/surgical field for 8 years. I understand that the application process alone is very stressful and meticulous but, aren't you glad? Think about it... you don't want just anyone becoming a Nurse. I know I don't. If myself or a loved one is in the hospital I better have a nurse that know's what he/she is doing. The process should be demanding.

If you think getting into nursing school is hard or even nursing school is hard, the work world is going to slap you in the face.

Specializes in RNC-MNN & Operating Room.

I can't believe that your whole rant was about the application process. 😩😩 I clicked on this thread expecting something totally different. If the application process got you that riled up, I hate to see how you react over assignments.

So, this has absolutely nothing to do with this post but...im a new member, and how the heck do i start a thread? these nursing forums are really annoying, I've joined 2 and neither give me the option of asking a question!!

I didn't find it that hard at all to get into nursing school associate's program. My college credits from previous degree were 15 years old and most transferred. I graduated with honors after getting a full scholarship. Then I applied for my BSN program at an accredited school not in my state. I had to re-take only one math class from 20 years ago, and was lacking in one science course that I had never taken before. All other credits were accepted. I did not need a letter of recommendation, I just needed to prove I was a working registered nurse in good standing with the BON.

I did find it more difficult to apply to a major four-year university in my area for my BSN. Despite have a degree in that subject, they wanted me to retake two basic undergrad classes in that same subject I have my degree in. It's like asking an engineer to re-take Algebra 1. I found it ridiculous.

They also could not seem to handle the fact that when I first applied there as a senior in high school (didn't end up going there), I had a maiden name, and I was applying now with my married name. They treated me as two separate people and it was a huge mess when trying to get my transcripts looked at. The cost was going to be $18,000. I finally walked away from that program after being accepted, which took more than 6 months.

Specializes in Certified Nurse Midwife.
So, this has absolutely nothing to do with this post but...im a new member, and how the heck do i start a thread? these nursing forums are really annoying, I've joined 2 and neither give me the option of asking a question!!

Go to the forum page and click on the green button that says "start a new topic"

Now that you graduated... Are you discouraged from the difficulty of applying for jobs? The process is pretty similar and you even will have to do a face to face interview haha.

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