Not sure where to apply and how to chose a program?

[mlh84]

Hello

I've been reading off and on allnurses.com for a couple of years now. Nursing school is something I've been back and forth on and just haven't been 100% sure.

After college I graduated and did a 2 year stint in the Peace Corps in West Africa and did public health education and worked at a hospital and I really enjoyed that and always thought I might go back to school for a BSN.

Well fast forward a few years and I ended up as a Child Protection Services Investigator and I've done that for 4 years. It's a job that I love but it's not one that I anticipate doing forever (the turnover rate when I started was 18 months and now in my area it is even less) and there are a lot of reasons for that. But for the last couple of years I've been taking pre-requisites for nursing school here and there. At the time my fiancee wasn't really supportive so just knocking them out and getting them done wasn't really a priority.

Well fast-forward to now and my fiancee and I just broke up and I'm free to do whatever I like. In fact this is finally the kick in the pants I need to get going back to school. I lack all but the A&PII and have enrolled to take that and will have that course completed by early May.

I've started looking at 2nd Degree programs since I already have by BA but I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. I've always just considered going to area schools but the only reason I was staying here (West Texas area) was because of my relationship.

To me the 2nd Degree program makes the most sense because while it may be more money up front it would just mean one year of not working and I have enough savings and was fortunate enough to avoid student loan debt before that I'm willing to take some on now. But I would like to avoid taking on massive debt if possible.

I'm just not sure how to narrow it down. I don't particularly have a geographic preferences and my only goal would be to start sooner rather than later (hopefully Fall 2015). My overall GPA from my BA is not awesome it was 3.19 but my Pre-requisite GPA is 3.8 and I know I'll have good references from my job but I do lack recent volunteer experience in the medical field and getting some volunteer hours even now would be challenging because of my work schedule (I'm frequently on call and work 60 plus hour weeks and my schedule is never predictable).

I've registered for the TEAS V test but in looking around other schools require other things but I'm prepared to take the HESI or the GRE if necessary.

I frequently search these forums and look at various advice for different schools and my guess is a lot of people pick programs based on geography and lifestyle (they have a family, etc.) but for those of you who could pick anywhere how did you even start to chose?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome!

Your search is too wide...you need to narrow it down. Pick a place to live and decide where to go to school. GRE is not one of the tests required. Nursing programs have become very competitive so apply to a few.

Here is a link state by state of programs by the ANCC....American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Program Directory

[secondlifenurse, MSN, RN]

mlh84 you have brought up several good decision-making factors:

Location, Fall 2015 start date, cost, and entrance requirements. Of course, all of these "things," though different, are connected. I can't speak for all of the direct-entry programs out there (both BSN and MSN), but I know for my program and others, the application deadline is usually in the fall for a start date the following year (summer or fall). I'm including for you here a list of the direct entry BSN programs (Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Programs) and the direct entry MSN programs (Direct Entry MSN (Masters in Nursing) Programs). If I remember correctly, there are some programs that have a winter application deadline (some as soon as December 20-something) for a fall start date. There may well be others that have deadlines after the new year for a fall start.

The costs vary by program as do the admissions requirements, sometimes requiring a course (or courses) in addition to the basic A&P I and II, microbiology, nutrition, etc. Not surprisingly, if you attend out of state, tuition can be significantly more than if you had in-state tuition.

Regarding your current work experience and your Peace Corps experience, don't sell yourself short! Those are very important experiences working with people. Most nursing schools will value those experiences. And remember, if there are nursing schools out there that don't, you don't have to consider them

While you're concerned about your GPA, I think you might be worrying more than you need to. My advice is to look through programs and find what interests you. Are you interested in being in a city at a level I trauma center that is also a teaching hospital. Do you prefer a community hospital setting? Some programs will have you do your clinical hours a long drive from the "home base" of the program. If you're fine with that because you want the experience, then that's a good thing to consider. If not, it's good to know that, too. Also, what size cohort would you like to be in. The range can be anywhere from 20 to nearly 100. You may also want to consider how your clinical hours are precepted. Do you have a nurse preceptor to yourself? Or are you in a group of 5, 8, 10 nursing students who follow one preceptor? If you're part of a group, it can be difficult to get hands-on experience. And that's another thing to consider: what is your scope of practice as a nursing student in that program? In some programs, nursing students are limited to taking vitals and communicating with patients. They are not allowed to handle or distribute medications to patients until they have graduated and passed the NCLEX. In other programs, the nursing student passes meds, but everything must be witnessed by the precepting RN.

While I completely understand that you want to start as soon as possible, nursing school is an investment of much time, energy, and money. If you can, I recommend attending an information session. Some schools even have online information sessions, so you don't have to buy a plane ticket or drive there :)

Best of luck in your search for the right fit. If nursing school and nursing is what you want, I am certain you can find something that suits you! :)

[mlh84]

Thanks so much for the advice! Definitely brought up some things I wasn't considering in terms of what would really be a good fit for me. I know I'm impatient right now but I know that slowing down and taking some time isn't bad. I've waited this long so another semester or two wont kill me to find the right fit.

[secondlifenurse, MSN, RN]

mlh:

Believe me. I know all too well how exciting it can be to prepare to go to nursing school. Finding the right fit will simply mean that you land in a program that suits you. Hopefully, this will make the stressful days less stressful. And this should make your rewarding days that much better. Best of luck to you in your search!