Need some advice

DiscGolfNurse, BSN · Dec 24, 2016

I do not live in NY nor did I go to school there. I don't know anything about their program or how competitive they are. I do know that most nursing programs all over the country are competitive and sometimes difficult to get into. Most of the information regarding classes to take for a 4 year are found on their nursing program websites. You can always speak to your counselor about what classes transfer to different 4 year universities. Personally, when I began applying for nursing programs I researched multiple and applied to as many as I could until I was eventually selected. Volunteering also makes you more marketable and shows programs your desire to be a nurse outside of the school setting. I hope you find this information helpful.

Buyer beware, BSN · Dec 30, 2016

This advisor is misinformed. If all students at that school or any other were all required to get perfect grades there would be few nurses in the world.

That goes for medical school too.

Go to the advisor's boss present your good credentials and with a professional demeanor ask for a more supportive advisor.

As far as the BSN being what the hospital's want, that would be one of Santa's reindeer.

I think his name was bolderdash.

hornen27 · Dec 30, 2016

I'm a current BMCC student and currently waiting to know if I got into the program. Yes everyone aims for all A's some achieve it and some don't! To get into the nursing program it's very competitive hundreds of applicants, and the advisors always tell students they need all A's but I think if your GPA is no less than a 3.5 you should still apply, because when I met with the nursing advisor I was told that a 3.5 is the lowest GPA they allow to take the entrance exam. So apply and also keep your options open.

GOOD LUCK :)

DoGoodThenGo · Jan 1, 2017

Pretty much all CUNY nursing programs admissions work the same way: a ranking is created of applicants based upon pre-nursing sequence completion by GPA alone, and or a blend of that score and test results (TEAS, NLN, etc...).

Once that list is made up admissions just goes down the line in order of rank until all open slots are filled. Obviously the key here is ranking vs. number of applicants.

If there are 200 applicants for an incoming class of 100 nursing students, and the break down goes:

100 with GPA 4.0

75 with GPA 3.5-4.0

25 GPA 2.5-3.0

The first will totally fill class and the rest won't have a shot.

Years ago when no one wanted to be come a nurse/demand was low it was not only possible but happened that people got in with the bare lowest GPA (2.5 in most cases). Again that was because the applicant pool was so low compared to open slots everyone got in. Now that everyone and their mother wants to become a nurse this is no longer happening.

CUNY nursing programs both ADN and BSN represent good value for money. As such they are all currently swamped with applicants. Pick one; from Hunter-Bellevue right down to College of Staten Island, everyone has more applicants (a majority with GPAs of 3.5-4.0) than they can accommodate.

If it makes you feel any better students having completed pre-nursing at Hunter with very high GPA and test scores get shut out their first, second or even third attempts. Many get fed up and go to a private school (NYU is a popular choice).

Best thing to do now is to ace the remaining pre-requisites to help get your overall pre-nursing GPA high as possible. Since BMCC uses results from Kaplan exam as part of their nursing application process aim for highest score you can get. This will assist (to some extent) in compensating for any "low" grades in required classes.

AreEnd · Jan 5, 2017

Thank you so much for your reply, very useful.

My second question is: I work at New York Presby (big hospital in NYC) and I know first hand that they no longer want nurses with an associates, what should I do? I already chose my clases for thr fall and am set to go but I can change it to something that will satisfy a four year college. Any one here done this before?

OR I can stick to it and do a RN to BS right after.

DoGoodThenGo · Jan 5, 2017

Thank you so much for your reply, very useful.
My second question is: I work at New York Presby (big hospital in NYC) and I know first hand that they no longer want nurses with an associates, what should I do? I already chose my clases for thr fall and am set to go but I can change it to something that will satisfy a four year college. Any one here done this before?
OR I can stick to it and do a RN to BS right after.

That is a tough call that only you can make.

Yes, all the large hospitals/healthcare networks in NYC (NYP, NYU Langone, Northwell (formerly North Shore-LIJ), Mount Sinai, etc.. ) all say they prefer or mandate the BSN for new grads or all nurses (both new hires or current staff), but every now and then you hear of an ADN grad who says she or he was hired regardless. Often these are nurses already enrolled in a bridge program if not almost completed.

It really comes down to how flexible your future goals are and or life. If you are willing to relocate to someplace that *is* hiring ADN nurses you can move, work and either remain as such or take a bridge program. Once armed with the BSN and some experience try returning to NYC and finding work.

Or, graduate from a NYC area ADN program, at once start a RN to BSN program (assuming you pass the boards), while also looking for work.

Quite honestly for those already holding a four year degree and or otherwise qualify for entry into a second degree BSN program, going the ADN route does not make sense to *me* at least.

Either way it will take about two years or so to complete either an ADN or ABSN program, difference is at the end of one you are done, and once licensed can focus on finding work and building a career. The other means you most certainly will have to go back to school *again* to get the BSN, especially if you want to practice in any of the major urban (and high paying) areas such as NYC, much of CA, MA, etc....

Years ago when places still hired ADNs routinely can see why those with four year or even graduate degrees went that route. The partner (now husband) of a good friend went though a mid-life "career" change via this route (went to Beth Israel's program) in his early 50's. Graduated, passed the boards and began working at BI, no problems. This was back in the early 1990's however and he since has gone on to get the BSN.