Nursing School Questions: CCHS vs Queens

[JG23]

Hi,

I am currently looking into the programs at Carolinas College of Health Sciences and the accelerated BSN at Queens. I like the accelerated program, of course because it takes less time, and also because it awards the BS as opposed to the Associates at Carolinas College. Overall, Queens will be more expensive, but I believe it will be worth it. Are there any pros or cons to the BSN vs the ADN? I already have a degree in Biology, so I am looking to complete the nursing program in as short a time as possible.

Any suggestions on which institution may be more rewarding? CCHS vs Queens??

Thanks!!

[dhopgood]

The instructors leading the ABSN at Queens are great. I had both of them in the ASN program. In general, all nursing programs will be challenging and consume more of your time than you can imagine. The ABSN will take an immense commitment in order to be successful but I believe it is a great option! Students in the ABSN would NOT be able to work during the program so keep that in mind when your making a decison. Good Luck!!!:)

[JG23]

Thanks!

Are there any suggestions you could offer about an ASN vs a BSN? Those are the two main differences in the program. Are you currently working as a nurse in Charlotte?

Again, thanks for your help!

[EDis4me]

I just graduated from the Queens BSN program this past May. I absolutely loved it there. So much individual attention from the instructors! With the differences between ADN and BSN, I'm not so sure there is much of one when you are first starting out....The pay was the same for me as for an ADN nurse. The ADN nurses still know their stuff just as much. I think the main difference that I saw educationally was the emphasis on critical thinking. We had more opportunities to focus on critical thinking in other areas in the BSN program because the program was longer and we had individual classes focusing on the various ways of thinking. ADN nurses are definitely still critical thinkers, the programs that I looked at just didn't have the extra classes like Nursing Leadership, Nursing Theory, a seperate ethics class, stuff like that. However, I have noticed that clinically, the ADN nurses seem to be a little stronger than me as New Grads. If you plan on getting a Masters Degree in Nursing later, then the accelerated BSN is probably definitely the way to go so that you don't have to do ADN to BSN to MSN. I guess it's really just personal preference. On my job, there are many ADN nurses in management, so you are not always required to have BSN to manage. That's just my two cents. Hope it helps

[May2011Grad]

I am beginning in Queens ASN program this semester. I looked into their ABSN program but found that though it is only for 3 semesters, each semester you are required to take 21 hours and I have to work without a doubt. I am planning on returning though to do a RN-BSN program and at Queens you can begin the RN-BSN program and apply and be switched over to the RN-MSN program the first semester.

Just food for thought.

[QCNurse]

AVOID QUEENS. If I could do it all over again, I would go anywhere but Queen's. I had always been told that they had a fantastic nursing program, but that has drastically changed since Queen's took over the Prebyterian program.

It's a rumor that the ASN program will be closing down. Save your money, time and frustration. You're better off somewhere cheaper... where you are not treated like you're an inept human being.