Non accredited school

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My school is not yet accredited by the NLN. They do have canidate status.

Is this going to hurt me when I have to look for a job?

it is also an associates degree so if it will hurt me will going to an accredited bsn program help?

Thanks

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It might. Some hospitals don't hire new grads from non-accredited schools. And some BSN programs will not accept students who did not graduate from accredited programs. You'll have to talk to the specific possible employers and/or schools to get your question answered.

Attending a non-accredited school is a big risk. Sometimes, people lose out becasue of it. Other people do just fine.

I wish you the best of luck.

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If your school is a formal candidate for accreditation while you are attending, and they do end up getting accredited, the accreditation is retroactive back to the point at which they entered the accreditation process -- so, in that case, even if you've already graduated, you will then be a graduate of an accredited program. The accreditation process itself takes a few years.

(The accreditation is not retroactive beyond the point that they started the accreditation process, so people who graduated prior to that will forever be graduates of an unaccredited program.)

In regard to BSN completion or any other formal education you pursue, an accredited school would be a better (safer) choice than one that isn't accredited.

Best wishes for your (and your school's :)) journey!

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It is too risky to go to an unaccredited school in my opinion. Everywhere job opening in my area requires you to graduate from an accredited school. I would at least look into how this would hinder your options more in your area.

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I agree, too risky.

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All the job posting that I see in my area say nothing about school, they say "FL Licensed Registered Nurse". Doesn't say anything about an AS degree or BS degree. Sometimes they require at least one year hospital experience. I was told by my school that our clinical hours many times can be used as hospital experience when applying for a job.

Bottom line: The way I understand it is, as long as you are able to sit for your State Boards after you graduate from your school you should be able to find a job.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I would definitely check out job postings in your area and RN-BSN programs as well. Where I live you'd be hard-pressed to find a hospital job with a degree from an unaccredited school. Almost every acute care job posting lists it under requirements. And every RN-BSN program (other than those from unaccredited schools, of course) requires graduation from an accredited school as well.

From where I stand there is absolutely no way I'd chance it. If I could only get into an unaccredited school, I'd probably pick a different career, rather than pay good money to be unemployed. But if you find that no one in your area cares, I'd say go for it.

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I have been a RN for 3 years and I graduated from a school that never received accreditation. Despite being a LPN for 5 years prior to that, with hospital experience, I am unable to get a job in a hospital in my state. The reason I chose to go back to school was for better oportunities and I am now stuck with a $28,000.00 student loan and a job in home care or nursing homes. I am now warning people I know about the schools that are designed to become a RN in 18 months, without an accredited school, I may as well have continued my nursing career as a LPN, since the opportunities are the same.

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All the job posting that I see in my area say nothing about school, they say "FL Licensed Registered Nurse". Doesn't say anything about an AS degree or BS degree. Sometimes they require at least one year hospital experience. I was told by my school that our clinical hours many times can be used as hospital experience when applying for a job.

Bottom line: The way I understand it is, as long as you are able to sit for your State Boards after you graduate from your school you should be able to find a job.

Good luck!

True as far as it goes. State boards do not have to let you take NCLEX if they don't want to, and they don't want to let graduates of unapproved schools sit the exam.

Furthermore, some state boards may let you take NCLEX if you graduate from a school they approve in that state, but your RN from that state #1 may not qualify you for an RN license by reciprocity in state #2 even if you passed NCLEX in state #1 if state #2 doesn't recognize your school's "accreditation."

Word to the wise. Do NOT go to an unaccredited school.

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By GrnTea,

Word to the wise. Do NOT go to an unaccredited school

I agree and wish I had known all of this 5 years ago when I started school. I thought Sacs accreditation and the board of nursing for my state was good enough. NLNAC accreditation is what employers are looking for and since our class was the second to graduate from this school, they had to apply for that accreditation based on our NCLEX pass rate.

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Every job posting I've seen in my area states: graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Double post!

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