bubbley1021

thanks, Cardiacwiz! I really would love to go straight for my BSN, but cost is really an issue as I do have student loan debt from my previous Bachelors, a house, child, etc. But we'll see. If I wait about 4 years I could probably do it, or I could start my ADN at the comm college in 2 yrs and be done w/it before I even start the BSN. At this point I'm just going to start taking pre-reqs that will apply to either and see how things go! I would def. want to start my BSN right away, though, while working and gaining experience. Also, I know Munson in TC will not hire ADN unless you agree to get your BSN within a certain amount of time, but have not heard of any GR area hospitals doing that yet?

I'm glad I came across this, I am on a "ready list" for an RN program but probably won't start until 2011 or 2012. I am currently working full time in a different field (social work) I have my CNA but honestly even if I worked full time as a CNA where I am, I would not be making enough money. I know EMTS/parameds arent paid a lot but def a lot more than CNAs, and I really want to get into the medical field before Nursing school and while in school so I was also thinking of doing an EMT course... I too am really interested in emergency/trauma care, the fast pace, and acute care experience. I'm sure the experience will be great for nursing, and you could always see how you like the work and go back to get your RN later. best of luck to you!

fyi, i attended the informational meeting tonight for the gvsu second degree program. the accelerated second degree program has been suspended so they can make some changes, and should be accepting students again in 2012. the regular second degree program is still in place, but they usually get about twice as many applicants as they can accept, and the cutoff gpa was 3.6 last semester. in addition, gvsu is phasing out all msn programs after this year as they transition to the dnp program, so they will also not be offering the rn-msn bridge option, you will have to have the bsn to go into the dnp program to become a nurse practitioner.

my sister in law is in nursing school in TC, here is some RN wage info from Munson's website: Salary Expectations Base $21.00 - $30.75 per hour $.70 per hour shift differential afternoon shift (3 - 11 pm) $2.00 per hour shift differential midnight shift (11 pm - 7 am) Clinical advancement: +$1, +$2, +$3 Midnight incentive paid out two times per year Here is a link to their main website: http://www.munsonhealthcare.org/ Also, just so you know, they are now requiring RNs that currently work there or that they hire in to obtain a BSN within a certain amount of time. My sis in law also has a BS, but not in Nursing, so she is going to see if it would be acceptable to go for an RN-MSN instead if she gets hired in there. Also, this hopsital acheived Magnet status in 2006. Good luck! TC is an awesome place!

thanks seconddegreenurse, I am going to an info session in a few weeks so I will see what they have to say about the temporary suspension. I probably won't be called to start the ADN program at GRCC until Fall 11' at the very earliest so I'm not looking for the quickest way necessarily... I'm just thinking that since it will end up taking about the same amount of time, the BSN may be better as far as my ultimate career goals. Have you started the GVSU pre-reqs or have you already completed them? Maybe we will run into each other at some point :)

Hi all! I am currently on a wait list for the GRCC ADN program, I have a BA in Psych from MSU and I have also been looking into the GVSU 2nd degree BSN program. I don't have any of the pre-reqs (except the Psych obviously) so between working full time while taking pre reqs, I would probably finish the BSN program the same time as the ADN program( b/c of the wait list.) I am just looking for opinions on whether not the extra cost is worth it... my goals are to eventually work in nursing case management and then become an NP, but I know there are also RN-MSN programs for people who have a Bachelors in another discipline so don't know if the BSN would be a better route or not? Any advice on the ADN vs. BSN debate? Thanks :-)

thanks for the info on Everest! It is crazy how long the GRCC wait lists are. I have also been looking into the GVSU second degree BSN program ( I have a BA in Psych) as it would take just as long by the time I finished the pre-reqs, etc. It's just a lot more expensive than GRCC and I am wondering if the BSN is even worth the extra cost? Unfortunately, it is better for me to work full time in the field I am now than to work as a CNA as I can make more doing what I do now (not a lot more though)

good luck w/your HESI! I am on the "ready list" for ADN, decided just to wait it out instead of doing LPN first.. I will be taking A/P I (BI 121) either in Jan or Sep 10' and am working full time in a different field in the meantime. I don't plan on being called to start until Sep 11' at the earliest hopefully by then the economy will be better, because at this time I haven't seen ANY hospitals hiring new grads... maybe we will meet in a pre req class!

wow that's great! I am going to try again at my local office as $10,000 would pay for my whole program... do you know how they qualify a "high demand" Bachelors degree? (for example, my degree is in Communications with a minor in Psych, and although I am lucky enough to have a job at this time I make a far cry from $40,000 per yr!) Thanks again for sharing your experience with us :-)

sounds like some good news on this program! I know more funding was on the way for this courtesy of Obama's stimulus package... god-is-love, I am just curious do you already have a Bachelors degree in another field? I know you said you were looking at an accelerated BSN program... I was just wondering, if you do have your Bachelors in another field already and you are approved for the funds will you let me know? Thanks and I hope everything goes well! :-)

Hi all! Any students or nurses who went to or graduated from Grand Rapids Community College or the west side of the state? I lurk around on here often but really only see posts from the east side or sometimes northern MI. Just wondering if there is anyone out there :-) I'm on a very long wait list for GRCC ADN program and would love to hear any feedback from current students or grads!! Also wondering about general opinion of the state of nursing - shortage? no shortage? growing?- over here on the west side!! Every day when I drive past all the new medical construction downtown I can't help but be optimistic!

Hi! I would check it out, I am currently a Case Manager for a similar state program, and I can tell you at least in my area there IS funding that needs to be used. You will need to stick it out through an orientation meeting, then you will need to do some testing and make sure you have a resume created and probably go through a job search skills type class. IF your family makes less than $40,000 per year, and the program you want is less than 2 years long, ends in you obtaining a degree or certificate, and is also considered "high demand" (which RN still is as far as I know, despite things we may be hearing lately that would say otherwise), then you could be approved :-) The only other thing is, I know you said it's an accelerated BSN, do you already have a Bachelors in another field? If so, this might trip you up. I am on a *very* long wait list for an RN program, but was originally going to do a one year LPN program right away, and I could have been approved but I already have a Bachelors degree in another field so it was a no go :-(

My first question is, do any of you have experience w/wait lists? Not wait lists where they give you points or judge who gets in based on GPA, etc, but just straight up wait list - first come, first serve? if so, do you think the wait time predicted by the school is always right or sometimes shorter, and if shorter- how much so? Also, if you could avoid a wait list and start a program pretty much right away, but it was 45 mins. from home- would you make the drive? even in MI winter? ;-) I am really struggling w/what to do right now in regards to doing an LPN program right away or trying to wait out a 2.5 - 3 year wait list for RN and hope it is MUCH shorter or possibly drive to a school where I could get into the RN program quickly? keeping in mind I am going to have a child to take care of (but lots of help from my husband/family). any opinions would be much appreciated :-)

I could have written this post! I too have a previous Bachelors degree and have been looking into accelerated BSN programs due to the ridiculous wait lists for RN programs. However I too am RIGHT on the fence and just barely meet the minimum GPA required to even be considered. Also I do not really have that many of the pre-reqs and gen eds since I was not a science related major in college so even if I got into a program it would still take me about 3 years to finish. In addition, I am having a baby any day now and also have student loan debt that I need to think about when planning finances and going back to school. So for me, getting into an LPN program (I'll be be finished in Nov 2009) and being able to earn a decent income as an LPN while finishing my RN, is the way to go. and will only take me about 1 1/2 years longer than trying to do a very intense and difficult BSN program, and will take about the same amount of time to finish as getting on a waitlist for an RN program and waiting to get into and finish that! another thing to consider/look into is MSN programs for RNs who hold non-nursing Bachelors degrees- I am finding many of these in MI and I'm sure they exist all over... basically if you do the LPN-RN route and decide further down the road that you want to go for your Masters, you will have options for doing that since you already hold a BS, even though it's not in nursing. and it seems to me that the MSN is where the real career advancement comes in! best of luck w/your decision.. I don't think there is any one "right" way to go except what's right for you and your situation

Hi there! Does anyone know if the HESI pre-admission exam (reading, writing, math) can be waived based on the fact that I just graduated from a University w/a Bachelors in 2005?? thanks!