Need help with accreditation decision

llg, PhD, RN · May 3, 2017

Also, in many regions of the country new grads with only Associate's Degrees are having trouble finding good jobs. There may be some jobs available for new grad ADN's, but they are probably not the best jobs -- giving the best orientation programs, offering the best clinical experience, paying the most benefits. In most (but not all) communities, the best jobs are going to BSN grads.

Before you decide to go the Associate Degree route, make sure the BEST employers in your region hire new grads from that school

mitchelldog · May 4, 2017

Thanks for the help and I was meaning to get into a RN-BSN program I am lacking the RN license and thats why I was considering going through them so I could then apply for RN-BSN programs. But from what it seems I might pass on going for the RN route through them. If I wanted to just get a job at a nursing home or etc i would probably be fine and be able to get a job but I really want to work in the ER and go to graduate school down the road so I feel like this could be a roadblock for me.

mitchelldog · May 4, 2017

With that being said I am interested in their LPN program and is how I originally found there school. What I was originally looking into was to get my LPN license and start working and getting experience while I finish school. I would like to enter a LPN-BSN or LPN-RN program from an accredited school (ACEN or CCNE) if I did go that route. There are a few community colleges that offer LPN programs by my house but most of them are 2 years long or only enroll students once a year and etc. so thats one reason I was leaning toward that program so i could be done in a year. Any input and suggestions about that plan? LPN-BSN? From what I believe, LPN accreditation is different and not as serious as RN programs. There mainly focused on taking and passing the state test to get licensed. But enlighten me if im wrong.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · May 4, 2017

I am a bit confused by your post, especially when you are referring to "the only thing I am lacking is my RN license". This makes it appear that you have already completed all the course work to sit for the boards and are waiting to test. It doesn't appear that this is true. Also, which type of degree are you seeking?

From what it sounds like you have finished many prerequisite courses?

In order to sit and take the exam to get the RN license, you will have to have completed a nursing program, LPN, ADN/ASN, BSN.

If you pursue a non-accredited program, and want to transfer, you will need to contact the school and see if a degree or courses from that school will meet the standard of the other school.

mitchelldog · May 5, 2017

What im trying to say is that I was looking at RN-BSN programs because there is a lot more of those programs around and I like the fact that you can do them mostly online while you continue to work. I don't have a current RN license so saw that school in oregon and thats why I was considering on doing it. Basically im looking for an RN program to get my license so i can start working and then do the RN-BSN route and then later down the line get my masters. Why I considered the Oregon program is because i thought it would be a way where i could get my rn license and start working so i could then continue my education part time while gaining experience.

Extra Pickles · May 5, 2017

What im trying to say is that I was looking at RN-BSN programs because there is a lot more of those programs around and I like the fact that you can do them mostly online while you continue to work. I don't have a current RN license so saw that school in oregon and thats why I was considering on doing it. Basically im looking for an RN program to get my license so i can start working and then do the RN-BSN route and then later down the line get my masters. Why I considered the Oregon program is because i thought it would be a way where i could get my rn license and start working so i could then continue my education part time while gaining experience.

Understood. But I think you are glossing over the baseline nursing education in favor of what might happen several years down the road. For instance, WHY is it you are not able to get into a nursing program in your home state? What is it about your transcripts or placement tests that is keeping these accredited schools from accepting you? Choosing an unaccredited school because you have a good chance of getting enrolled doesn't mean that the school provides the same level of education you would receive at an accredited one. If you complete their program and cannot pass the exit exam needed to graduate because it's a poor school, what then? If you graduate but cannot pass the NCLEX, what then? Please don't assume that the NCLEX is a formality, it's the one thing that separates a nurse from a non-nurse.

I think you're putting an awful lot of carts before your horse. Yes you have to consider the importance of a degree that will be useful later on for continuing education. But MORE importantly, first and foremost, is figuring out why you can't get into what I'll call "better", meaning accredited, schools. If they see in you something that indicates you won't be a successful student, and they are right, all the rest is completely moot.

mitchelldog · May 5, 2017

Thanks for the input and I have a solid science GPA for all the core nursing requirements. GPA is a 3.2 which isn't outstanding but isn't terrible either. My overall GPA for my associates is around a 2.8 because when I first started out of highschool I wasn't serious and kind of screwed around. My overall GPA has hurt my chances which irritates me because my first year of school shouldn't determine my chances of getting into a nursing program especially when i finished strong and all of my hardest classes such as microbiology, A/P, chemistry and etc are my best grades with A's. Ive had an upward trend in GPA but those few first classes are holding down my GPA and making me less competitive. My only other weakness is math more specifically stats. I don't know what it is about that class but it will be the death of me lol. But i know i want to be a nurse and eventually want to specialize by getting masters down the road im not in it for the money or lack the motivation and hard work. I just wish a school would give me a chance and look at the overall picture instead of, oh you have 3.5 GPA. I know a strong GPA is important but thats one reason I liked that program is because their application process was different and wanted to know more about the person and why you want to be a nurse not just based off of numbers.

subee, MSN, CRNA · May 13, 2017

No, they don't care about you as a person. They want your MONEY. Why would you go to associate degree RN program if you already have AA degree? In the same amount if time, you could get a BSN. Also you need to work on your writing skills.

Extra Pickles · May 13, 2017

. IBut i know i want to be a nurse and eventually want to specialize by getting masters down the road im not in it for the money or lack the motivation and hard work. I just wish a school would give me a chance and look at the overall picture instead of, oh you have 3.5 GPA. I know a strong GPA is important but thats one reason I liked that program is because their application process was different and wanted to know more about the person and why you want to be a nurse not just based off of numbers.

Not sure what to tell you anymore, you have now had input from a variety of sources about your question regarding going to a non accredited school.

All I can add at this point is that no school cares about you as a person. They care about their profit margin and/or their ability to have a high NCLEX pass rate. There are posts on this site from students who went to schools that had easy entry requirements and cost a pretty penny. They were students who didn't want wait lists and didn't want anything stopping them from enrolling in nursing school, despite them not being good candidates for accredited, respected programs. A good number of those stories end in posts about not being allowed to graduate, not being able to pass exit exams, being told they need another semester or another year before they will be able to pass all the requirements. The school counts on a good number of those students paying a lot more money in tuition and fees and ultimately probably not graduating anyway. Of the ones who do manage to graduate, the NCLEX still awaits.

A school with easy entry requirements does not care about you more than they care about your GPA. They care more about their bottom line, they know that strong academic candidates will not consider their school so they appeal to students who are not strong candidates elsewhere, telling them whatever it is they want to hear to get them enrolled. If I sound harsh it's only because somebody needs to tell you this. Perhaps you will get through their program in a reasonable amount of time. Perhaps you will graduate and be able to take the NCLEX and pass. Perhaps you will still be able to achieve your goals further down the road. But please do not discount all the people --and I mean ALL the people-- telling you that this may not be a smart move ultimately. Good luck.

Extra Pickles · May 13, 2017

No, they don't care about you as a person. They want your MONEY. Why would you go to associate degree RN program if you already have AA degree? In the same amount if time, you could get a BSN..

Because he cannot get into a BSN program. He is not a competitive candidate and is therefore looking to get into any nursing program that will take him. In this case, one without accreditation.

Question has been asked and answered many times. Now it's up to him.

mitchelldog · May 17, 2017

I know they don't care about me as a person I would just like to explain my situation and prove that i have what it takes because I am a different person now then when i was 18 and started college. I took a couple years off after starting when I was 18 and ever since i returned to school, I finished my associates I have gotten all A's and high B's. Thats why i'm irritated that I cant get into a program based off of my first year of school when I was 18 years old and lost about life and what I wanted to do lol Since this is an open discussion forum I wasn't really concerned on writing perfect grammar as if i was writing an essay, i was trying to get my thoughts and concerns out to start a discussion so sorry if it comes out sloppy.

mitchelldog · May 17, 2017

Because he cannot get into a BSN program. He is not a competitive candidate and is therefore looking to get into any nursing program that will take him. In this case, one without accreditation.
Question has been asked and answered many times. Now it's up to him.

I found their program when looking for an LPN program actually. Once I saw they had an RN program I thought I would test the waters to see what people thought since I cant get into a BSN program due to lack of programs in my area and the competitiveness/wait list for the few around me. After hearing the opinions from you guys I am going to pass lol the program was almost 50k which is way too high and gives me too many concerns that I might run into down the road especially since I plan on going to grad school someday. With that being said, I recently got accepted into one of my dream school's so I am going to continue and get my BS in biology or psychology while working as either an MA or LPN so that I will be a competitive applicant for my masters down the road.