Nursing Schools and Future Employment

[BuXcho_96]

Hello All! My name is Nick and I just joined allnurses.com. First of all, I'd like to apologize if I put this thread in the wrong sub-forum. I'm still a novice at navigating this website. Anyway, I'm 18 years old, and I will be going to nursing school next fall (or perhaps March? You'll understand why March in a moment). Ok, so I will be applying to some local universities and colleges that offer a BSN here in Chicago. So, for me the first choice is UIC (University of IL at Chicago). I know that this school is very popular and that it also has a good rep as a nursing school. As far admission, I was assured by a UIC counselor I spoke to that I would have a "very very good chance" of being accepted, since my GPA was "way, way above our average/requirement". I have a GPA of 3.7/4.0, by the way.

Recently, however, I noticed DeVry's Chamberlain College of Nursing (I will be referring to it as CCN) has a location no more than 3 miles from where I live. This is EXTREMELY close to where I live (FYI, I will be living Off-Campus w/ Parents) and the commute would be a breeze, versus a ~2 hr train + bus ride to UIC. As far as I know, CCN has a ton of campuses all over the US and has some online MSN programs. I also know that they offer a 3 year BSN, no prereqs, have a class starting March 2015 (I graduated early from HS 12/2013 so I would be available 3/2015) and a 2.75 GPA minimum for admission. Now I might be wrong, but to me, CCN seems a little less elite (lower rank/not ranked) than UIC. My concern is, if I choose CCN due to its proximity and shorter BSN, will I have the same job opportunity as a BSN grad from another school, say..UIC? Will my (potential) degree from CCN be looked down upon by employers after I graduate? Do employers go for people with degrees from these chain universities (multiple locations)? Are both degrees equally competitive in the job market?

[Nienna Celebrindal]

No one cares where you went to school honestly. They just want to see your RN license. HOWEVER where you go to school can matter in other ways, mostly clinical sites and how you can use those clinical sites to get a jobn. Some schools get better clinical sites, and better hours. For example you want clinicals that are in the morning during the week, because honestly that's when all of the stuff happens. Schools with less pull or standing with a hospital get evening or weekend clinicals if they have already given out their mornings. Not all ICUs are the same, some ICUs in small hospitals have pretty low acuity and you won't see much vs trauma centers. I do advise you to go to school where you want to live after, because you can sometimes use networking in clinicals to land that hard to get first job.

More importantly to me though is what is this schools pass rate? Just because they are all over the country doesn't mean its a good program.

[RunBabyRN]

Avoid DeVry!! While your alma mater doesn't matter nearly as much in nursing as it does in, say, business or law, it does matter some. Those tech schools have a horrible reputation for a reason. They prey on people with low GPAs who are willing to be in debt for the next 30 years and sign over their firstborn child in order to obtain a degree, and managers and HR departments know this. They also see these students in clinicals. Schools develop reputations based on how their students perform in clinicals, and I know there are schools in the area where the students have a very hard time finding work because they perform so poorly in clinicals (I have seen them- yikes). Even if the manager doesn't know the new nurse personally, if they went to THAT school, they are marked with that reputation. In connection with the PP, that school has clinicals on Saturdays on PM shift. The nurses are in the nurses lounge during their lunches complaining about the students and their total lack of initiative or accountability (saw this during my preceptorship).

Some states will not accept a BSN from a school like this. Check into the cost, accreditation, reputation, NCLEX pass rate, etc.

Also, like PP said, look at a school that is where you want to live and work. If you're smart, you will use your time in clinicals to build relationships and connections that you will need when you earn your RN license.

[BuXcho_96]

Hi NightCrow, and thanks for the quick reply. So I looked up both schools' NCLEX pass rates and both total out in the upper 80s/lower 90s percent, with CCN having a percent or two of an advantage. Like you said, clinical sites are important for hands on experience. UIC's College of Nursing happens to be very close to the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences Center. I would assume nursing students at UIC get to go there for clinicals. About CCN, I honestly don't know if they are affiliated or have some sort of agreement with a hospital to send students there for clinicals. If anyone else has more info, please share. Meanwhile, I'll keep researching...

RunBabyRN, I just saw your as I was typing a reply to NightCrow. Thanks for the information. I totally understand what you are saying about the school. It is exactly what I was afraid of. I don't want to be crossed off by the HR manager or supervisor because of the school's rep. I really haven't read reviews about CCN, but I will read some now. As far as accreditation they are accredited by the CCNE and HLC.

[Nienna Celebrindal]

Some states will not accept a BSN from a school like this. Check into the cost, accreditation, reputation, NCLEX pass rate, etc.

That's a good point, you want to make sure you attend a school where theory and clinicals are done at the same time. For example med/surg theory/lecture class is taught the same semester and med/surg clinicals. Some schools so theory one semester lecture the other and those classes do not transfer to every state. You may not plan to ever move but why pigeon hole yourself?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Any accredited University program is fine. Those "for profit schools" can have issues. Go through a regular college nursing school and it will not matter which one it is. You sound really mature and intelligent for your age and i think you will do great.

[BuXcho_96]

CrunchRN, thanks for your reply. NightCrow, once again, thanks for sharing. So I did some research on CCN, turns out there are horrible reviews not so much about their program, but their administration. This isn't something I want to deal with, so I'll probably apply to UIC and maybe a regional school, and keep CCN as a safety school. Thank you all for contributing! You really helped me out! I'm proud to be a part of allnurses.