Look for a College for my Daughter

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We are starting to visit community colleges here in Iowa for Nursing. I would love some advice from students and grads on what colleges are worth visiting. We don't have a lot of time to waste since I have to take time off of work and pull her out of school. We have visited NIACC and were going to go to Kirkwood but Kirkwood worries me now after seeing the reviews:no: here. She want to be ARNP so we want to start out small, save some $$$, and then go get her BSN at a great private school.

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

I am a graduate of Iowa Central and they have a good program. From my viewpoint, for the ADN, either ICCC or NIACC. I don't really know about anything of the community colleges in the southern part of the state.

A lot of the community colleges here in Iowa have arrangements with Universities in Iowa for earning your BSN through online classes. One can work as much as they like while getting their BSN. There will be some times where you have to find a place and a nurse to do some clinical work. You just don't have to attend classes on a campus. That is the way many ADNs are earning their BSN.

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Can you help understand the step(degree/certifications) in order? I am lost on what ADN, LPN, RN and etc. I do know CNA is the first step, BSN is a 4 year degree. Thank you

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Can you help understand the step(degree/certifications) in order? I am lost on what ADN, LPN, RN and etc. I do know CNA is the first step, BSN is a 4 year degree. Thank you

CNA is not really a "first step" toward licensure. It is a nursing assistant, useful for experience but not required for nursing school (although some individual schools do require it).

LPN or LVN is licensed practical/vocational nurse.

RN is registered nurse.

APN is advanced practice nurse.

I hope your daughter is doing her share of the research.

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Yes, she is I just want to understand it myself and help her pick the right school and hopefully not have a bad experience or delay she nursing because of the academic program at the school. Is it best to go to a school that is accredited or does that not really matter?

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Hi. Your daughter should check in. AN has a very active Pre Nursing Student section. She will get lots of feedback there. If she is mature enough to be considering becoming a nurse, then she should do her own leg work.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread moved to Pre-Nursing forum.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I would add that those "great private schools" to get the BSN might not be the most cost effective choice. In nursing, it doesn't care that much where you get your BSN from, as far as if it's the #2 program in the country or the #28 program. A public college may be a cheaper (and just as good) option. Just avoid the for-profit schools. Yes, the program should be accredited. I've heard many say that they name of the school matters more for the grad school than the undergrad, but that is still a long way off for your daughter. She will first need to become an RN, get her BSN degree, and ideally work as a bedside hospital nurse for at least a couple of years before taking that step.

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There is no need for her to go to a private school to get her BSN, unless there is a particular school you are set on for the other things it offers apart from its nursing program. There are many great public universities that have top nursing schools. What you want to focus on is its NCLEX passing rate, and the number and quality of clinical sites it offers the students. You want your student to have access to all kinds of facilities. Research universities with alliances with teaching hospitals make great choices. A small school out in hicksville that can only offer its students clinicals at a couple of nursing homes would be a poor choice.

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Definitely agree that a BSN is a BSN. I would not recommend spending big bucks at a private school for a BSN. Save that money for a top notch ARNP school. Like you are already planning, it is cost effective to go the ASN then ASN to BSN route. Try to avoid private, for profit schools in general.

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Definitely agree that a BSN is a BSN. I would not recommend spending big bucks at a private school for a BSN. Save that money for a top notch ARNP school. Like you are already planning, it is cost effective to go the ASN then ASN to BSN route. Try to avoid private, for profit schools in general.

This may depend on the area. Where I live it does matter what BSN program you graduate from, at least for the 1st job. After that it doesn't matter though :)

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
A small school out in hicksville that can only offer its students clinicals at a couple of nursing homes would be a poor choice.

I can vouch for this, from personal experience :(

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