simplymemyselfandi

Student_FNP, could you please tell me which school you are going to? I am also looking for inexpensive online NP programs. Either PM or post? Thank you.

That was a good question. I didn't know the difference either. It's good to get your homework done now. Glad you're thinking about it. Sorry you had to be raked over the coals for asking a simple question.

Congrats on the job. I also live in a rural community and am considering becoming a NP if the salary really is that much more lucrative to make the extra amount of school (and debt) worth it.

I just wanted to respond to your questions. I also got a private message but thought I'd just respond to it here. As far as the cost of Concorde, if you take every single credit in every single class like I did, it is about $40,000. You can transfer in credits from other schools, which can save you a lot of money. Either way, it's expensive but it would've taken me three years minimum to get through school otherwise. Even if I could've done it at a community college for six to ten thousand dollars, I'm still money ahead by going to work a year and a half sooner. That's how I look at it anyway. I was able to get government aid from workforce center. They gave me about $6000. I don't have to pay it back. I don't know how to explain this program very well. It's not exactly a grant but it's not a loan. It's just money that they give to qualified people. As far as I can tell the only thing you need to do to qualify is to prove that you are going into a career that will pay you more than your previous career. It's a federal program run by the counties in each state. I would google workforce center in your area. Funds vary depending on county. I got federal loans for the rest of the cost. As far as the $20k loan repayment, this is available if you go to work for IHS (Indian Health Services). These are hospitals located on indian reservations run by the federal government and indian tribes. You have to be hired by IHS to be eligible for this program. It's not guaranteed you'll get the loan repayment money but I think most people do. I realize not everybody is interested in moving near a reservation but this was one of the closest hospitals to where I lived and it worked out great for me. There are threads about IHS on allnurses if you're interested. As far as Concorde goes, I had my fair share of frustrations with the school. There were times it definitely felt like they cared more about the money than the students. I will say that in talking to many other students who attended community colleges, 4-year universities and other private schools in the Denver area, they had pretty much the same complaints that I had. In short, while I'm sure there are a lot of good schools out there, I think most schools are in it for the money. It's very hard and very expensive to run a nursing program and a lot of times students get the short end of the stick. I don't feel Concorde was any worse than many other schools. Many of the instructors really did care and were high quality and in the end it got me eligible to pass the NCLEX and I was able to pass.

Worked for me. Took test on Thursday, 12/10 at 2:30 pm. Had ALL 265 questions. Finished at 6:00 pm. Did "trick" at 11:00 pm. Got the good pop up. Paid for online results on Saturday afternoon 12/12. Said I passed! So... it worked for me and for a few of my fellow nursing students that I told this trick about...

Another update. Sorry I didn't get back to you guys with specific questions. My wife had a baby in March and with the accelerated program I was enrolled in, I didn't look at this thread. I hope you all found what you were looking for. I enrolled in the RN program at Concorde Career College in Aurora, Colorado in March of 2008. I had to move from Arizona. It was hard on my family, but we knew it would be. Classes started in July of 2008. I graduated there in October of this year (after 15 1/2 months). I took the NCLEX on December 10th and passed! (It was hard.) I have a job starting January 4th working on the reservation. (The government is still hiring new grads and paying up to $20,000 per year of school loan repayment.) I'll be enrolling at Grand Canyon University online to get my BSN. This program can take between 8 and 16 more months to complete... as long as you are willing to work hard. So it can be done if you are willing to relocate and work HARD. Much less than two years later, I am an RN with a job and in another year or so I will have my Bachelors as well. It CAN be done. Good luck to all of you. To all of you purests who felt I cheated the system, thank goodness there are more ways to receive an RN than the traditional four-year route (with pre-req's, wait lists, etc.) We are all in different situations and may not all need the exact same solution...

Just a quick update. I found it, thanks to this thread and your many good suggestions. I had to move but I started school in July and will be a RN in November of '09. A sixteen month program that includes all pre-req's like A & P & Micro. Where there's a will there's a way. So far it seems like a great program and I've been very impressed with the instructors. I have also heard from outside sources that the school has a good reputation for turning out good nurses. It's condensed and there's tons to learn but I have the confidence I'll have the tools I need to be a good nurse when I graduate. Clinicals start the end of next month. We have to jump right in but I can't believe how much I've learned so far. I'm not promoting this school or any others but there are schools out there where you can get your RN in less than 2 yrs. These programs include all of your pre-req's and no waiting lists. They are generally more costly but because time is money and working at a low paying job while I plunk through school was not an option for my family, this seems the most financially reasonable way to go... after doing the math. They don't accept just anybody and you have to brush up on your basic skills to get a good score on some entrance tests but it's really doable if you know your High School reading, critical thinking and math. So for all you neigh sayers out there, and especially for any of you who believe you can do it, you can!

I can't tell you much about Concorde Kansas. My husband began the Concorde program in early July in Denver and is just about done with his first 10 week term. I can tell you that the program is really well put together. We have been impressed. My husband is in his thirties and he says that he is about the average age in his class. Some students are in their fifties. He says that it is so important to the school if the students pass that the instructors take as much one-on-one time necessary to see that you don't fail. It's not like a traditional college where the instructor doesn't have much incentive if you pass or fail. It is a lot of information and if you go into it knowing that it's a full-time job to be a student then you won't be overwhelmed. We actually feel like he has more time to be with his family than we thought he would but we expected for him to be crazy busy. Each 10 week term has more or less free time than the other terms depending on what classes are scheduled that term. Clinicals start already in the second term and we're told that it is the most time consuming term of all six. So if you can get through that... It's also great to have 6 or 7 days off between terms. Also, nobody in his entire class has dropped out. That should say something. He really is learning too. It isn't a condensed course because they cut out some stuff, it's condensed but you've still got to learn it all. Concorde has a good reputation out here of turning out good nurses... so if you're going to do it be ready to learn but know that there will be lots of help. And as far as my opinion of the cost? I know it's a lot. We wrote down our finances and mapped out how much it would cost going the traditional route, taking the pre-req's and then put on a waiting list. It would be at least 3 years, probably 4 before he'd be done. And for us, financially, it didn't make any sense to work at a low paying job in the meantime. It actually would have cost us much more with the cost of living and all, waiting that long. We have a family and kids though so it's not going to be the same for everyone but be sure to look at the big financial picture before you make a decision. Plus, we found many, many hospitals will pay off your student loans if you work for them, as much as $20,000/yr. for some of the hospitals on the reservations. Anyway, that's what we found out. Do your homework. I'm sure you'll make a good choice. Good luck!

Thanks to all who have responded. Yes, I do have 56 college credits already in just the basics but that was 11 years ago and most of these places say they will only credit you if you've taken the credits within the past 5 to 10 years. (Although I could probably test out at a few schools.) Thanks Gizmosmom. I did check with the state's Board of Nursing to find stats on the NCLEX passing rates for the different schools. It was very helpful. I haven't entered this decision lightly. I have researched the different CC's in my state and even attended information sessions and met with counselors. I know that long road is not for me. I really appreciate all the advise, I do. Do any of you have any info on specific private schools? I have found four in my state that are potential candidates but I'd like any information anyone else has on these schools (Apollo, Pima Medical, Everest and Maricopa Skills Center) or on any other similar program in any other state. I am willing to relocate. Thanks.

I am brand new to this site and brand new to nursing. I need to get my RN as quickly as possible. I am pretty set on going the private school route as they don't require any prerequisites and no waiting lists. I am a really good test taker so I think I will be able to score pretty well on the NET entrance exams. My question is, where is the best private school in the nation? I am willing to move to get this done fast. I have three kids and need to provide for them ASAP. I have been in real estate for the past ten years and need a change of profession. I will have to live off savings while I go and I don't have enough money to wait years and years to get into a CC and go through their program. I have always wanted to be a nurse so I'm going to go for it. Any of you attended a private school and could get your RN in less than two years? Where? What schools? Any prerequisites? I know some schools are better than others but I am a hard worker and will make the most of my situation. Thinking maybe Apollo?... Price is not as much an issue to me as time. Time is money... Thanks!