Nursing advice!!

[emilyh0228]

I'm currently a junior in high school doing my CNA clinicals at a long term care facility. I'm hoping to go into nursing after high school for BSN. What's the best route to go? Straight four years or do a two year degree for my RN then go to BSN? What's the best college/university in Indiana? & what classes will i have to take? I'm wanting to do pediatric nursing and work at Riley Children's Hospital.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

If you already know what facility you would like to work for, then you can start by looking at the requirements on their job postings. Do they require a BSN to apply? Do they require it to be completed within a set number of years if one is hired? What does the job market look like- are new nurses having a hard time being hired because there's too many of them compared to open positions? What can you do, like start with that BSN, to make yourself stand above others?

As for schools, the state BON should publish a list of approved schools. Then there is the optional national accreditation- which in some areas is actually being required to apply, plus many schools require accredited program graduation to apply for graduate level study. Those programs can be found by searching ACEN and CCNE.