Nursing school recommendations?

[kirsten18]

Hi everybody! This is my 1st post at this forum :-)

First of all, I'm Kirsten from Washington State. I graduated 10 years ago with a degree in BS Architecture. After a long struggle in the architecture field, I realized that designing houses and buildings is not what I want as my long - term career.

I thought of changing my career to become a nurse but I have no idea where should I start. Thankfully, I found this website! :-)

Since I already have a Bachelor's degree, I realized I'd concentrate on becoming a BSN rather than taking the laddership from RN to BSN. I have not started yet with my pre-requisites because every school requires different pre-requisites. I think I like to know first where I should be studying before taking the pre-requisite subjects. Btw, I'm taking a lot of pre-requisites because I never had any biology, chemistry etc. subjects when I studied Architecture. It might take me about 1 year to finish these subjects.

Schools that I inquired in Washington State are University of Washington and Seattle University.

University of Washington has the Accelerated BSN. It's a 15 month "intense" program (plus my 1 year pre-requisite). I heard the Program is very good and one or the best in the nation. But it has a LOT of requirements and very competitive. I thought I needed another school that is not really fierce :-)

I also inquired at Seattle University. It's a private university and I thought they don't really require a lot to get in. They are offering 2 years of study plus 1 year of pre-requisite to graduate in BSN. I had the chance to visit the university and I really liked it. My only drawback is that 2 years seems long (with a tuition of 31,000 per year) plus 1 year pre-requisites that I have to take in a community college . I'm not sure if 31,000 per year is worth it after I graduate BSN?

At this point, I'm considering moving out of state. I'm also checked on Drexel University (private university) in Penns state. It's a 11 month program but I didn't like their mandatory use of e-book to study. I always prefer the 'real' book because it's what I'm used to it when studying.

I think my questions are: can you pls. recommend any school that I should inquire or research on? Or a univesity that you recommend? Anywhere in the US is ok but I really prefer a university with an uban setting or in a city with good transportation system rather than slow paced (I don't have a car). I will be also studying full time. I'm open even it's public or private school and doesn't need to be the BEST but still a good nursing school. As much as possible, it should take me less than 2 years to study BSN and not too expensive? I'm not sure if I should ask this but I'll give it a shot: A school that doesn't have a lot of requirements and not require very high pre-requisite gradesto get in? :-)

I apologize if my inquiry is very long :-)

Thank you very much for your help in advance!

- K

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

I think you will find the average is 2 to 3 years for the accelerated program. I am in a 14-month program. It is quite intensive. However, I was required to have: A&P 1, A&P2, Chem, and Micro prior to starting the program. That took me a year because I was unable to take A&P 2 the same time as A&P 1. Generally a person needs to have A&P 1 before A& P 2. However, there are those summer sessions and 8 week sessions. I suppose if you get the academic counselor to back you on taking A&P 1 in the first 8 weeks then A&P 2 in the second, then your prereqs will be completed within a semester. And depending on the start date of the accelerated program, I suppose you can finish it in 2.5 years.

The only other suggestions I can think of are those programs that include Anatomy and Physiology within the nursing curriculum rather than having them as prereqs. I find most of those programs are the private ASN programs.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me, and I will be happy to answer.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

The first courses I took towards my prereqs were A&P 1 and 2, took them both during summer sessions A & B respectively, 6 weeks each, all while working full-time. It can be done. I purposely took these two during the summer because I wanted to get a taste of an accelerated pace to see if in fact I can realistically go for accelerated programs being out of school for over 10 years. I know taking one class for 6 weeks (in actuality, it was a lecture and a lab with different tests and requirements, so in essence one can argue it was 2 classes) does not equate to an accelerated BSN, but clearly when one is working full time and bogged down with other responsibilities, it's gotta be close.

So for starters, I would recommend taking A&P and microbiology first (provided you don't need or have taken prereqs for them) and getting the highest grades possible in them. These courses I consider the backbone of nursing prereqs because every school I have looked into requires them. Then concentrate on other prereqs that your intended schools want.

Also, take your courses at a community college. Schools don't generally look down at the place you take these classes unless they are not accredited places.

I did apply and got accepted into Drexel this year, but I declined the offer due to the high cost of their tuition. Had I had the money to spend I would have gone, no doubt. The eBook situation was not a deterrent for me, in fact. I think as nurses we should begin to embrace technology head on, as it is likely going to define a lot of our work in the years ahead.

Good luck!

[sunray12]

IMO community college programs are your most affordable option, but if you'd rather get in the profession with a bsn then look at state U programs where you qualify for in state tuition. Alternatively consider private schools that have scholarships and grants that you qualify for and this could reduce your out of pocket cost to an amount that could be similar to in state tuition. Usually if this type of financial aid is available you can find out about it on the school website. Since you already have a bachelor's degree you may also want to look at direct entry MSN programs.

With regard to prereqs since every school wants different things I think you should just stick with the list of prereqs required by schools you plan to apply to. Everything required to get into nursing school is no more than first or second year undergraduate level material so you don't really need to pre-study for prereqs. Just sign up for the classes you need, and while you're in, focus and study the material and you'll do well enough to get into nursing school.