Published
If it came down to two candidates with identical grades, experience, and interview skills, they'd likely choose whoever went to a better school. It may be possible to work during your program, not very likely though. I'm in my first semester, working, and drowning. The time consuming part is reading and writing multiple papers. The science classes really arent too bad. The other people in my cohort aren't working or are only working one day a week. That's only for the first semester, we aren't allowed to work after this semester.
I cant imagine they would care where you complete your BSN. Science classes, pharmacology, etc are the classes they really care about. I agree that if it was between you and another candidate that were totally equal, then they MIGHT compare where you got your BSN at. I bet they would more likely compare your science grades and where you took those at first though.
Save money and look into other ways to make your application look better.
1. I don't think you can get a BSN from a community college. Any cheap instate university will probably do.
2. The program Ive been accepted to highly recommends their students not to work. My friends in different programs also recommend not working.
3. I have my CCRN only. Not required by schools but HIGHLY recommended.
BecomingNursey
334 Posts
Hi all!
I am an RN that graduated from a small community college with an associates in nursing in May of 2015. I started out in a Level II trauma center ED in south Alabama. So far I've had 1 year & 5 months of experience in the ED. I'm planning on starting an RN to BSN program ASAP. I'm also planning on transferring to the ICU at my facility ASAP.
Here are my questions.
1. Does it matter where I obtain my BSN? Example: A university where I will have to pay for expensive tuition or a community college where I can pay for it out of pocket? Will this matter to a CRNA program?
2. Have you been able to work PRN while in a CRNA program or have you saved before going to school?
3. Any advice on certifications I can obtain along with experience that will help my application to CRNA school stand out? I have BLS, ACLS, and PALS and I will obtain CCRN after working in ICU and gain some experience there.
Thank you.