Is it always hard to get into school?

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So I've been having hell getting into school here in Texas, it seems like once I think I have all the required stuff done they want more ie. shots, testing, etc. It just seems alittle unfair because alot of Africans get in (I mean from Africa) with what seems like almost nothing. Half of them can hardly speak english! I know because they come and train where I work. Maybe its just me but if there is such a demand for nurses you think it would be easier to get into school. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Certainly Africans aren't taking up spots in your nursing school with such ease.

But yes, it is that hard to get into nursing school. Good luck.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I'm in Fort Worth, TX. I'm employed as an LVN at a nursing home, and a significant number of my coworkers are African people.

It is not wise to assume that Africans are getting into nursing programs with requirements that are more minimal and relaxed than everyone else. Virtually all of my African acquaintances and coworkers in Texas have earned 3.8 to 4.0 grade point averages in their prerequisite classes, and high test scores to top things off. A heavy accent or poor pronunciation of English does not automatically exclude people from nursing, especially if that person is intelligent.

I am not sure which area of TX you reside, but I'm here to tell you that the competition is fierce in the DFW metroplex regarding admissions to RN programs. To get ahead of the competition, you may need to boost your grade point average and test scores. To answer your original question, getting into a nursing program is difficult these days due to the sheer number of people who want to become nurses. If 1,000 people apply at a specific nursing program every quarter for only 60 available spots, the school must employ methods to weed out most of these people.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Are you saying that you got accepted into a nursing program, and that you were unable to get vaccinated, or produce records of vaccines, or are you saying that Africans have easier access? Each student is required to go through basically the same requirements and a physical, in conjunction with vaccines and titers is mandatory. I have seen situations where the expression "It is not what you know but WHO" is a fact, but believe me, the school would have to justify allowing people who have not acquired good grades to get into a nursing program, particulary RN programs.

You may have to alter your route like others have done; become a practical nurse, then, bridge over, or take on line classes to become a registered nurse. But, believe me, in most places, acceptance into RN programs are very competitive.

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I don't think it's about the Africans. I'm sure they have to meet the same requirements you do. It's just hard to get in nursing schools. My advice to you is to keep trying.

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I don't think it's about the Africans. I'm sure they have to meet the same requirements you do. It's just hard to get in nursing schools. My advice to you is to keep trying.

I agree with all of you guys. I also think it's very competitive to get into a nursing program. You have to make sure you keep a good grade point average, finish all of the prerequisites. And even when you're in the program, there's a lot of weeding out that goes on, as someone mentioned earlier in the posts. I don't think it's about giving priority to minorities, I'm a minority with also a heavy accent, but there's not a day where I go to clinicals where I don't translate or educate someone in my native tongue, it is a very rewarding feeling to be able to do that. I'm happy that minorities are getting into the nursing field, we need them, there's only 2% Hispanic nurses in the US and hopefully the numbers go up.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

hi, unkipunkie, and welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

all that other required stuff (shots, testing) are also required for most nursing jobs as well, so you will have to look forward to that as a licensed nurse every time you are hired onto a new nursing job.

you didn't mention anything about waiting lists. at some of the nursing schools the big problem is having to wait for years to get a spot in the nursing classes even after you've done all the required stuff.

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There is a constant battle for Nursing schools. My suggestion is take the pre-reqs for the community colleges first, get on as many of those waitlists as possible. Then start on the ones for a BSN program, that way you have tons of options and you've opened as many doors as possible to get in. I hope that helps.:no:

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