Nursing School Newbie HELP!!

JulianaRose · Oct 23, 2013

There is nothing quick about a nursing degree. Both 2-year programs and 4-year programs typically take 4-5 years. My advice for you would be to look for a community college that accepts based on your application date and does not consider high school gpa. This was the route I took. I am in my last semester of pre-reqs and should start core classes in August (I am taking a semester off to have a baby this May).

omgnurse · Oct 23, 2013

JulianaRose- Are you in NY? Congrats on your baby :) How long did pre reqs take for you? Are you in school ft or pt?

queserasera, RN · Oct 23, 2013

A few things I wanted to point out to you here OP, I apologize for the length here, but I just wanted to give you a thorough answer.

First of all, your HS diploma will have NO affect on your admittance to Nursing School. I didn't even graduate high school! I know in my area (Baltimore-DC Metro area) not a single Community College refers to high school transcripts with the exception of AP classes counting as credit.

If you choose to go the ADN route (Associate's "2 Year"), the entire program from pre-reqs to the end of nursing school can take you as little as 3 years if you take full course loads for pre reqs. Most CC's require basic pre reqs for the ADN programs including College level Math, College Level English, Psychology, Sociology, Developmental Psychology, A&P I/II, Chemistry, Microbiology. If you pair 2 sciences with 2 Humanities per semester, you can easily get that done in a years time, and even lighten your load by taking a few summer classes.

I read that you plan to get your ADN and then have the hospital you work in pay for your BSN. While this was a very popular option a few years ago, unfortunately this just isn't happening very much anymore. Depending on your area, hospital are choosing not to hire new grad ADN nurses (Heck, even new grad BSN's have a tough time.)

What hospitals, at least in my area, seem to be looking for are experience and a bachelors degree. Or one or the other. I know if I look at the job listings of my areas hospitals nearly all listings specifically indicate "BSN Preferred". I'd imagine this is the situation in NYC as well. BUt don't take my word for it, search the jobs in your areas hospitals.

I personally went the direct entry BSN route. I did 59 credit hours of pre requisites (all the ones mentioned earlier in my post + more humanities classes). Usually this takes 2 years but I took 15+ credits a semester (winter, spring, fall and summer) and was able to complete my pre reqs in 16 months. I'm currently in the application cycle for University of Marylands BSN program and will, hopefully, hear back from them shortly. Since I chose to go to a state school the cost shouldn't be too unbearable. I plan on living as a broke student my first year or two of full time work and paying my debts off in full to alleviate that financial burden on my future self.

Your determination is what will be key to your success as you begin your educational journey. Perhaps with small children it is your best option to take on school in small chunks and then apply to a nursing school of your choice. I really do suggest doing research about the job market in your area. If you strive to participate in an acute care setting in a big city getting your ADN may not be your best bet. If you wouldn't mind working in long term care or at least starting there (sometimes hard to transition from LTC to Acute, though I'm sure it's been done) getting your ADN may be right for you!

Don't rush it, enjoy the process and if you want to be a nurse, go get 'em!

mrsboots87 · Oct 23, 2013

Agreed with everything above an just wanted to add a little. Most f NY is highly competitive a has very high unemployment tea for new grads. I get a job you have to know someone most of the time. This is not tos are you out of nursing but to prepare you. If you can relocate r maybe get your CNA first. If you get your CNA you can apply for jobs all through school until you get a hospital CNA( also hard to get but you will have time), that will get your foot in the door so when you graduate you can try to get hired on as an RN at your hospital. And probably best to try direct entry BSN since most hospital nationally want BSN nurses. You can take your ore Reqs at a cc and then transfer them to the universities you apply to. As for clep, you would need to ask the nursing advisors at the programs you are interested in. They may take some or none. No schools look at your highschool GPA unless you are tryin to do your pre Reqs at university. CC usually don't care. Then once you have college credits, the unis only look at pre req GPA. Strive to get As because the programs (especially BSN) are very competitive. You will also need to score high on the program entrance exam. So basically since you have been out of school and did less than stellar in highschool (no judgement here because I did poor in HS as well) don't overload yourself in school. If you have children, plus a job, and school it will be hard to get good grades without sacrificing home r work life. If you do poorly in the pre Reqs, you will be setting yourself up for a very hard, if not impossible, time getting accepted into a program. Nursing school is neither quick nor easy and there's no way aroun that, but f this is your passion ten go for it because all the hard work and time will be worth it in the end.

Sorry for formatting. On my phone.

omgnurse · Oct 23, 2013

Thanks so much for all the input. The longer the post the BETTER :). I have heard that it will be very challenging to find work with my ASN? Im just wondering what is the difference between going for your ASN and then your BSN? Then going straight for your BSN? Do you save time/money??

The reason I plan on going for my ASN besides (hoping) to land a job in a hospital is that my husband is also in school and we try to squeeze in work as much as we can to support our family.

I really wish you a lot of luck in your future plans :)

omgnurse · Oct 23, 2013

THANK YOU!!! Excellent advice :) do you have more information on becoming a CNA? How long it takes? CNA schooling?

queserasera, RN · Oct 23, 2013

IMO, You wouldn't save any time that way you may save a nominal amount of money.

mrsboots87 · Oct 23, 2013

You will probably save a littl money getting your ASN first because CC tuition is cheaper than Unis, but not much because you will be tKing more classes. A direct BSN may shave a semester or 2 off your total schi time over bridging from ASN RN to BSN. For a CNA, most schools with nursing program offer them as well as private schools. The oeuvre will e more expensive. If you take it at a CC it will be a semester or less then you take the cert test. Maybe if you get your CNA ad fun a job you can earn money while getting your BSN and skip the ASN all together.

As far as the difference between the 2 programs, the core nursing programs for ASN and bans are very similar and your RN lisence will be the same regardless. But the BSN also add upper division credits as well as nursin management classes and something else I forget that you don't get in the ASN program.