Need Advice For NYC Based Part-Time BSN Programs

[SamB91]

Hello Fellow New Yorkers,

So I just got a job in Quality Assurance at a Brooklyn based hospital under nursing administration. Needless to say, I've been pretty happy so far but want to keep this job and go back to school because I want to slap the RN on top and go further as a quality assurance / informatics based nurse.

I really found that nursing would be my calling after two years of AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps service, and am at least glad to be working with nurses again under quality control.

Also, if it helps, I live in Rego Park, Queens and commute to Brooklyn for this 8-4 PM job.

That being said, I've had a rough time trying to find a NYC based program that would fit my needs. I already have a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biotechnology, and have a good majority of pre-requisite courses that most programs need, which include: Intro Bio I&II with lab, Gen Chem I & II with lab, Organic I & II with lab, Biochem with lab, Genetics, Ecology, English Comp, Intro to Sociology, Intro to Psychology (to name a few)

I am missing: Statistics, Lifespan Psychology, and Nutrition. I just got a $2000 scholarship so I plan on taking two of these courses online through John Hopkins online nursing pre-req course program for the fall.

The options of schools I looked at so far to my dismay have included: LIU Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate, Medgar Evars, and BMCC.

LIU Brooklyn part time for the BSN looks promising but I wanted to know if someone can clarify if the clinical are indeed on the weekend or if the program is worth it because it might be a good option to start next year since I don't think I could possibly find a statistics course in time (along with taking the entrance exam) before September which is the start date of the program. I read a bit of bad things about the program and wanted to know people's opinions on this.

I went to SUNY Downstate on Tuesday in person to find out more inforrmation only to realize they really only cater towards their accelerated program for students with a bachelor's of science, which would be a full time commitment, and I just don't want to give this job up.

Medgar Evers' part time BSN program is full in terms of slots until Spring 2018 so that's not a choice either apparently.

BMCC only offers the associate's RN degree and apparently the counselor told me I could finish it in two years since I have a good majority of the courses that are required (Microbio, etc), but again, I didn't read any good and positive reviews

So I'm stumped at the moment! Should I do the associate's and then do an online RN to BSN program? I literally was in St. Luke's Roosevelt's ER this year when I was sick and was talking to one of the nurses, and she said she did this route. Also, another nurse at Downtown Presbyterian did the same route when I visited a friend at that hospital as well.

Thank you guys so much for reading my post!

Sincerely,

Sam

[SamB91]

Okay, in terms of the ADN route, here's what I was thinking:

If I were to get the ADN, pass the NCLEX and become an RN, I would then do the following:

Keep this job from 8 to 4 PM, and work night shifts to get experience as an actual nurse at a hospital or clinic that would hire someone like me AND do the RN-BSN online.

Would this be possible? And what are good ADN options in Manhattan and Brooklyn that I should consider that have clinicals on the weekends?

Also, what are good online BSN programs that would be looked favorably upon employers?

I literally work in the same office as nurse directors who doing hiring on a daily basis, and they said experience is key for all of this though.

[Bklyn]

At Medgar Evers College (MEC), you must be a student the college for at least one semester before you can apply to their program.

MEC's ADN nursing program starts once a year in the Fall (late August). Therefore, you will not be able to enter their program till Fall 2017, and that's if you make it in. They don't have a lot of seats available, so it is very competitive to get into their nursing program. Make sure you apply to more than one nursing program just in case.

MEC doesn't have a straight BSN program; you must have an ADN and pass NCLEX to enter their BSN program.

MEC's ADN nursing program is an evening program and their clinicals are on the weekends.

A good online RN to BSN program that some RN's that have graduated from nursing schools in NY attend is University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There's a lot of threads about it on this website. It's a good college that's accredited, 8 week classes and affordable.

Good luck!

[SamB91]

Hey thanks for the advice!

I have a couple more questions though:

Are any of these following part time evening programs worth considering?:

Associate's:

BMCC, City Tech, Medgar Evers (I know you said its on the weekend, but how is the quality?)

Or should I try going for the part time BSN:

LIU or Adelphi?

I'm just kind of torn because my work colleagues are super honest in that no hospitals are hiring nurses with associate's in nursing, so I'm scared in a sense if I could possible nail a job with the associate's and continue with the bachelor's of science in nursing online at the same time.

I think I would be down to get the associate's but want to know the best options to consider for a weird case like myself that has a bachelor's but really needs to be going back part time for school.

I have heard such mixed things from all of these places so I'm kind of scared to what's truely part time and manageable. I just don't know too many nurses that went my route other than the two I randomly met in two different ER's in the city.

[ga_super]

Depends on your finances, if you don't want to rack up any debt then go with a CUNY ADN program followed by a rn to bsn program. I graduated from Medgar this May and I'm currently preparing for my boards. Overall it's a good program, it has the same headaches found in the other CUNY programs have but I didn't mind dealing with it since I manage to earn my ADN for free after grants (actually I ended up getting paid to do it since my grants were more than tuition).

If you have money you should definitely just go with a private bsn program because it's very hard to get into any of the CUNY programs.

[SamB91]

True. I just want to consider all my options before I just resort to those two.

To be honest, I wouldn't mind taking out a loan if it was worth it. I was told that the private schools are better, though if anyone can provide me with input on LIU or Adelphi's program, that'd be awesome because that would seem the most logical.

Though, I'm willing to do the associate's and do the RN-BSN online as well.

By the way, thank you so much for the input so far! Seriously, it helps a ton because all I have read is negative feedback on pretty much every option I've considered, and just want to know what's the best option for someone who works from 8 to 4 like me.

Thanks a bunch, nursing fam :)