Is it really that difficult?

TheguyRN · Jan 13, 2009

If there is a huge nursing shortage, why are the schools only allowing a small number of students in?

This is due to the fact that Nursing schools only have a limited amount of teachers which limits the amount of students. IE without more teachers they can only admit so many students and still provide quality education.

But here's Question 1. I have to take these prereq's before I even know if I can get into a nursing school?? That seems ridiculous to me.

TWU has a 4 semester program, but I hear it's $14000 a semester. My friend was in the same situation in a small town in east texas and only paid $1000 a semester, finished in 6 semesters and has a REALLY good paying job now.

Hmm, TWU is also a private college which explains the costs. Your friend I'm assuming went to a public college and thus was able to save on cost. Bear in mind that in the long run both of you will be RN's just you can take a faster more expensive route.

Question 2, if I take the prereqs at a local Dallas community college will they transfer to most schools? Or do I need to move to a small town to get my second degree.

Im not going to be 100% sure about this, but I would call the school your applying to and ask them about which credits transfer and which do not. Many schools provide a transcript evaluation process when requested.

And Question 3, when I'm looking for an RN job, is anyone going to look down upon me for going to a small school?

In essence no. Your taking the NCLEX just like everyone else so if you pass your just as qualified as everyone else.

Question 4, if an RN is certified in a certain state, how does a travel nurse get to work in multiple states?

Sorry just started my first semester of school today... But I do know that certain states accept your certification through a State pact or something like that. Hopefully someone else can answer your question on this

(If I'm wrong on any of this plz someone correct me thanks :-P )

Also try checking out Accelerated programs for people with previous degrees. It requires a little less pre-reqs .

shasta12 · Jan 13, 2009

Thanks for replying!!

goopsy · Jan 13, 2009

If there is a huge nursing shortage, why are the schools only allowing a small number of students in?
This is due to the fact that Nursing schools only have a limited amount of teachers which limits the amount of students. IE without more teachers they can only admit so many students and still provide quality education.
But here's Question 1. I have to take these prereq's before I even know if I can get into a nursing school?? That seems ridiculous to me.
TWU has a 4 semester program, but I hear it's $14000 a semester. My friend was in the same situation in a small town in east texas and only paid $1000 a semester, finished in 6 semesters and has a REALLY good paying job now.
Hmm, TWU is also a private college which explains the costs. Your friend I'm assuming went to a public college and thus was able to save on cost. Bear in mind that in the long run both of you will be RN's just you can take a faster more expensive route.
Question 2, if I take the prereqs at a local Dallas community college will they transfer to most schools? Or do I need to move to a small town to get my second degree.
Im not going to be 100% sure about this, but I would call the school your applying to and ask them about which credits transfer and which do not. Many schools provide a transcript evaluation process when requested.
And Question 3, when I'm looking for an RN job, is anyone going to look down upon me for going to a small school?
In essence no. Your taking the NCLEX just like everyone else so if you pass your just as qualified as everyone else.
Question 4, if an RN is certified in a certain state, how does a travel nurse get to work in multiple states?
Sorry just started my first semester of school today... But I do know that certain states accept your certification through a State pact or something like that. Hopefully someone else can answer your question on this
(If I'm wrong on any of this plz someone correct me thanks :-P )
Also try checking out Accelerated programs for people with previous degrees. It requires a little less pre-reqs .

Believe it or not, but TWU is not a private school. It has a private feel and private cost, but it is not a private school. You can check for yourself because it says so on their website. It is pricey. But probably worth the education.

loricatus · Jan 13, 2009

I can help you with the last question:

If a nurse gains licensure a compact state and that state is the nurse's primary residence, the nurse can then practice in any of the other compact states without having to get a new license (by endorsement) Here is the site that shows the compact states https://www.ncsbn.org/158.htm

For instance: My primary license was Texas and I was a Texas resident; therefore, I could take a job in any of the other compact states. I moved to PA, so I had to apply to PA for a license by endorsement to be able to work there, since they are not part of the nurse compact; but, I kept my TX license active. Technically, while I lived in PA, the TX license was no longer considered compact; but, upon relocating back to TX, it is.

rn4lyfe08 · Jan 13, 2009

In a compact state you can choose a compact license. You home state is your primary license. You can move/go to another compact state and work w/o getting another license. If you permanently move to another compact state, that state becomes your primary license. BUT if you permanently move to a non-compact state, your beautiful compact license is demoted to a single-state license from your previous home state. So if you lived in TX and move perm. to PA, you now can work in only those 2 states.

If you're like me and live in a non-compact state like PA, you need a license for every state you want to work in. Unless you work at a Veteran's hospital or Medical center. This means applying to each state's BON and paying out the wazu for another license. You can be licensed in all 50 states at the same time if you'd like/ can afford to be. You have to follow each state's guideline for renewal of each license and report to each state all of the licenses you have/had in other states when applying.

As you can see, living and being licensed in a compact state has it's rewards.

This info can be found on the Texas BON website.

loricatus · Jan 13, 2009

I informed the TX BON of my PA address and they kept my license active as a compact license; and, when I renewed it while living in PA, it was renewed as a compact license (states so right on the license). Upon moving back to TX, I just had to inform them of my change of address. This is what I meant by saying 'technically'

UT97_2_TWU10 · Jan 13, 2009

I'm not sure I can answer most of your questions, but I wanted to comment on the price of TWU.

If you are talking about Texas Woman's University then tuition is not anywhere near 14000. For my first semester as an official upper division nursing student it is about 3500. It is much more than the community college, but not as much as TCU.

As for the other parts of the e-mail. I can tell you that TWU gives special consideration to students that have finished 16 hrs on campus (if they already have a degree). If you have any questions I would recommend e-mailing the nursing school in Denton. They are really helpful. Also the web site has almost every thing you need to know on it.

Good luck.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jan 13, 2009

TWU isn't private and it's very cheap. I had about 6K in debt after school and that was all tuition, books, scrubs, rent, gas..everything.

Hospitals don't care where you got your degree from or (usually) if it's even an ADN...as long as you're an RN!

So few students get in due to limited openings---due to limited educators. Clinicals have 10 students max to one instructor and instructors get paid more in the hospital rather than in teaching positions so there is a shortage of them

texkid, RN · Jan 13, 2009

As far as difficult. Well...it depends. I actually look at it as tedious. There is so much to soak in such short time. In the end, you have to not only know the info but also put it into practice. However, I have heard that Houston Baptist Univ. is super, uber hard.

TWU is a great school. I hope to get my Masters there. FIN

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jan 13, 2009

And HBU is super expensive.

Yeah, it's not 'difficult' material really, but it's a LOT of material in a very short period of time and a LOT of paperwork.

texkid, RN · Jan 13, 2009

And HBU is super expensive.
Yeah, it's not 'difficult' material really, but it's a LOT of material in a very short period of time and a LOT of paperwork.

I heard a rumor that its not hard to get into the HBU nursing program. Its just HELL to pass through.