Looking into Nursing Program, Weighing my options

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hello all,

i am looking for advice on which program would be the most logical in my situation to attend.

i have a bachelors of music and have applied to (schools in houston texas) chamberlain school of nursing, houston baptist university, and houston community college. i have been accepted to hcc where i plan to take some pre requisites i did not meet while gaining my bm.

i already applied to chamberlain and i am currently studying to take the hesi a2 exam before i can learn of an acceptance.

i have already applied at hbu undergrad program and have no idea when i will be contacted to notify me if i was accepted or not. i was told that completing as few as 12 credits will give me preference when i decide to apply to their nursing program.

there are three options that i have if i am accepted to all three. ( not sure of the chances that it will happen)

:confused:

1. would you advise i take all of my pre requisites at hcc (fall 2011) and possibly complete adn and then transfer to hbu? (expected cost for entire program approx. $5,000 at hcc)

2. start at chamberlain (summer/fall 2011) and complete my bsn in three years?

$69,000

3. attend hbu (spring 2012) and complete bsn in 4 years?

$79,000

since this is my second degree i am hesitant to spend $69,000-$79,000 dollars for a second degree.

what would you do in my situation? which has a well known respectable reputation? which would future employers prefer?

thank you in advance for all of your help!

:)

*i currently volunteer at a hospital and i will be applying to cna course during summer of 2011 to start working in a hospital.

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I think your doing all the right things, including thinking about your situation financially...One thing to consider is scholarships and grants. If you can deal without having a refund check, it may be a good thing to consider...

There are THOUSANDS of scholarships out there, if you take the time to look for them, im sure you can find some to take care of a big portion of this amount. Talking to the financial aid department at the schools you are considering can seriously help you in a lot of ways. They want that money and they don't care where it comes from, so they will help finding scholarships and grants....

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Thank you I will definitely look into applying for scholarships. I know that will help tremendously.

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Why don't you apply to ABSN programs since you already have a bachelors degree?

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Sadly, if you already have a bachelors degree there really aren't too many scholarship programs available to you. That's just my own experience. I'm now looking for loan reimbursement programs once I complete my bsn.

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Why don't you apply to ABSN programs since you already have a bachelors degree?

That was my initial plan. Unfortunately, the amount of pre req's that I have completed with my BM does not include any science courses. Chamberlain advised that I enter the traditional program and also noted that I may finish a semester early because of my BM credits.

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That may sound very tempting, but I think they're trying to pull a fast one on you. Did they tell you that you would be admitted to the nursing program right away. From my experience, most Bachelors programs need you to apply separately to the nursing department for admittance.

Let me tell you what I did and it worked for me. After getting my BS, I took most of the necessary pre-reqs at a CC (anatomy, physio, soc, psych, etc) in order to apply for an ABSN program. Even with out of state fees, my tuition should be around 30K for my BSN. This is the fastest way to get through school so I can begin working.

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Do community college. The market isn't great for new grads and the last thing you want is +70k in loans (if you can even get banks to loan that kind of money), and no way to pay it down.

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That may sound very tempting, but I think they're trying to pull a fast one on you. Did they tell you that you would be admitted to the nursing program right away. From my experience, most Bachelors programs need you to apply separately to the nursing department for admittance.

Let me tell you what I did and it worked for me. After getting my BS, I took most of the necessary pre-reqs at a CC (anatomy, physio, soc, psych, etc) in order to apply for an ABSN program. Even with out of state fees, my tuition should be around 30K for my BSN. This is the fastest way to get through school so I can begin working.

Thanks that sounds like a great plan. (Taking pre req's until I meet ABSN requirements)

As for Chamberlain the school is for nursing only so once I am accepted I will be a Nursing student. I will just be taking pre req's until my Nursing Classes and Clinicals kick in. They have worked a 9 Semester program broken into two sessions per semester. You are correct it is tempting.

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Oh I see. Chamberlain is exclusively for nursing. That explains the fees. There are so many different ways to become a nurse. The best thing you can do is look into all of them. Just keep in mind the finances and that it is imperative to get a BSN. It's hard to get a job as a new grad, but much harder for an ASN. Plus, considering that you already have a BN, I would think you would want a degree that would be equivalent. Good luck and study hard!!

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Another thing to consider is getting a job in a hospital now. Many hospitals will help pay (or pay for entirely) your schooling. Our local hospital even has ties with the community college that ensures X amount of their employees be accepted into the nursing program each semester, so people working there can get away with not waiting the two years that I'll have waited when I start in the fall.

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Oh I see. Chamberlain is exclusively for nursing. That explains the fees. There are so many different ways to become a nurse. The best thing you can do is look into all of them. Just keep in mind the finances and that it is imperative to get a BSN. It's hard to get a job as a new grad, but much harder for an ASN. Plus, considering that you already have a BN, I would think you would want a degree that would be equivalent. Good luck and study hard!!

Thank you will do. I am weighing all of my options. I will continue to work for my BSN so I appreciate your kind thoughts!

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