Nursing school advice! PLEASE help

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I'm new to this site and don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what but my posts keep barely getting any responses so if you take the time to help I appreciate you in advance!!!! Here's my issue:

I started nursing pre-reqs right out of highschool, I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a child. I did really well my first year of college (4.0gpa) but then some personal issues got me off track and I ended up failing a bunch of classes. I took a year off and then went back and re took some classes and got my AA degree. My problem is that all the colleges/universities in my area rely solely on numbers (GPA, pre-req GPA, and teas scores) for admittance. My teas scores are competitive but my GPA isn't even after making up those grades and there's nothing I can do about that. I've been wait listed every semester at all four programs I've applied to for two years. I'm so frustrated and tired of waiting.

I wrote a post previously asking for opinions about a for profit trade school in my area where I could be admitted and begin the RN program in April. I got a few responses saying "don't do it" "you won't find a job" ect. But no elaboration beyond that. The school in question is Rasmussen college. They are not nationally accredited but are regionally accredited by the Florida board of nursing and the higher learning commission and graduation qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX. So besides the fact that it is expensive, I don't understand what the down side is...why would I not find a job if I pass the NCLEX and become a licensed RN?

Has anyone attended a trade school that is not nationally accredited? Or have any advice or info otherwise? Besides telling me "don't go to a for profit school"? I would really appreciate it. I'm so defeated and frustrated. I just want to be a nurse already!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Because the job market is tight in most of the country at this time, it is an employer's market. That means in addition to requiring/preferring BSN applicants, some facilities are requiring graduation from an accredited (as in, by ACEN or CCNE) school. Regional accreditation isn't the same thing as having the nursing program accredited by the nursing accreditation agencies. The type of accreditation can also affect your ability to continue your education should you choose to do so. There is a difference between accredited (ACEN/CCNE) and approved to take NCLEX (BON- not an actual accreditation).

Oh, and about not getting many replies? Your posts were all created right around Christmas. Typically, AN sees much less traffic on weekends. Throw in the holiday right before the weekend, and there will be even less traffic and therefore less people online reading and responding to posts.

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Deleted. (For some reason my page did not show that Rose_Queen had already answered this question.)

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Thank you Rose_queen! That clears up a few of my questions. That being said, what do you think I should do? I can't afford to just wait around any longer for other schools to accept me. I could choose another career but I don't know what and I'm so terrified I'll spend a ton of money and end up hating what I do and always regret not become a nurse.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

What to do is a decision you'll have to make after weighing the pros and cons.

Some paths to consider:

Start as an LPN/LVN, then take a bridge program. Could help with the GPA issue, would be affordable, and many bridge programs are designed with the working student in mind.

Understand the risks/benefits ratios and go to the for profit trade school.

Keep applying to the other programs.

Have you tried speaking with advisors at some of the other programs to see what you can do?

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Thank you Rose_queen! That clears up a few of my questions. That being said, what do you think I should do? I can't afford to just wait around any longer for other schools to accept me. I could choose another career but I don't know what and I'm so terrified I'll spend a ton of money and end up hating what I do and always regret not become a nurse.

If you really want something, then you will keep trying. I am competitive with myself and I didn't focus in a Intro to Psych and Stats. Ya know what? I just retook the classes! Sure, I had to pay for the classes out of pocket, but it's whatever. Money can be replenished. I am getting my ADN. We were told the program isn't accredited. We were told it was because not all of the staff held Master degrees. I don't know what all this means, but there are high NCLEX pass rates, people don't have an issue finding jobs, and some go on to 4 year schools for their BSN. Now, I don't know how this accreditation issue compares to a for profit school.

Aside from the accreditation issue, I've heard nightmares about for profit schools, such as the cost, finding your own clinical sites, and actually getting the degree once you are done. If your future in nursing is this important to you, then I would suggest sticking with traditional schools. You'll be thankful you did. Any nursing school, whether it's ADN or BSN is difficult to get into. Don't give up!

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Specializes in ICU.

National accreditation is what is needed to find a job, regional is needed to transfer credits. Are you sure they are regionally accredited? I find it hard to believe they have regional but not national. Regional is generally harder to achieve as 4 year colleges agree to accept their credits. Are your sure they are not selling you a story? Their admissions officers are no better than a cheesy, used car salesman. Seriously. Stay away.

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I am currently waiting for an acceptance myself for a post bac program but I may have some insight for you. I started college after high school because it was expected of me but definitely did not apply myself. So I ended up at the end of my Junior year with around a 2.0 and went into the Army. Many years later I got out and started working towards getting a BSN. Man, it was tough with me having so many credit hours; you can only overcome so much at that point. I worked my butt off and made sure I got A's in all my pre-requisites. The other thing that led to my acceptance was my choice of colleges. There is the gamut from lottery systems if you meet the bare minimum requirements, years of waiting list (seems to be at many of the local CC programs, and some that will look at at your pre-reqs more, and some schools that "look at the complete picture." After completing my pre-reqs and with the credits I earned in the Army (again all A's) I barely met the minimum GPA but applied to a public state University. They were willing to overlook my minimum overall GPA and concentrated on my pre-reqs and what I offered to the program in life experience. I would suspect that I had the lowest GPA in my class.

I started school and had a 4.0 but ended up getting called back in after 9/11 during my second semester So here I am, ready to start again after retiring.

Anyways, what have you been doing in these last 2 years? This is time you could be working on those life experiences. You could get CNA certification and work in a position at a hospital. If this isn't possible then besides working you could be volunteering at a hospital. That is what I did and it probably tipped the scales into getting into my program. You probably need to cast a wider net and find the school that is going to look at you as a whole person; not just your statistics. So maybe this means you have to delay to save up for a move. Not the end of the world. Possibly work at a different certification to get some healthcare experience and then go into nursing.Do some research and pick three schools whose entrance requirements fit your situation and start working towards acceptance. Plan, plan, plan -- have a goal and work towards it. Just make sure it is a realistic goal.

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Specializes in Ortho.

I've read a lot about programs that aren't accredited, mainly here on AN. The main issue is the quality of the program. If it's not accredited, then the quality is typically poor. I'm not saying this to be true of all, but it certainly is for the majority.

Another issue is passing NCLEX. These programs do not prepare you adequately to pass this test. And isn't that what nursing school is all about? If you can't pass that test at the end, then it's all useless. Now, if you are a diligent student and think you are capable of teaching yourself then you might have a chance to pull it off. Do you really want to take that chance?

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I would advise against a for profit school. Have you looked into getting an ADN from a community college? You can get your BSN as you're getting paid as an RN. Personally, I went through the same bad grade issues as you, but got accepted at my community college, where they only cared about the pre req grades and teas score, on the first try. Many of my other classmates have said similar things. Regardless, please think twice before going to a for profit school.

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport, Cardiac ICU, Rapid.

OP what is your overall GPA? If you know that the programs you're applying to are points based are you achieving high grades? Nursing is competitive pretty much anywhere ADN or BSN so unless there's something you can change i.e retaking classes then there's not much advice we can offer. Most for profit schools may be nclex accessible but the lack of national accreditation and even regional accreditation are why many will frown upon them. Add in the high tuition rates that compare to that of a 4 year and it's not a very smart choice

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

You have gotten some great advice here. I know it can be frustrating because you want to start a program and be done with everything but you must also do your research. For profit schools usually just care about the money and nothing further. I would call your local hospitals to see if they allow Rasmussen students to do clinicals in their facilities and if they hire them after graduation. Where I am located in Fl, Rasmussen students and ITT tech students are not allowed in to do clinicals in our facilities. Their graduates are definitely not hired either. Their resumes or applications end up getting "lost". I'm thinking it has to do with accreditation. I would hate for you to spend all this time, effort, and money and not pass the NCLEX or worse not be able to pay back your student loans.

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