Chiro

i have been a chiropractor for 15 years and i just completed my bsn. i am fortunate to have a weekend bsn program in my area, so i worked part-time and went to school friday-sunday. i have a bs, but i had to retake some prerequisites before i could apply. if you want to continue to work, a weekend or night bsn program may be the way to go. i would not have been able to run my practice and go to school full-time any other way.

Thats the way I am going to do it!

I do not trust the MidAmerica program either. I heard the other day that the program is going to take 3.5 years to complete instead of the 2 years they were announcing when the program first began.

Contact the professor by email. She had to add me to her list of students.

The lecture notes for patho are on blackboard.

B Hart, you can find some post from chiros on this thread who have entered the program at Hardin-Simmons University and they gave their opinion about the program. The students I have talked with did not give glowing reports concerning the program, but in the end they get their RN and NP degrees.

Waterchickvick, thank you!

Hey everyone, I was on the waiting list for the weekend program and I received the acceptance call last week. Thought I would say hi! I have not taken patho yet and I am getting a little nervous. Does any one have a syllabus for the present class? I would like to get a copy of it so I can start reading before school starts. I look forward to meeting everyone.

Super Sweet, I received your message. I don't have 15 post yet, so I can't PM. I have not taken Patho yet, but being in the part time program should help. I live in the Frisco/Little Elm area. How about you?

Looks like I was accepted after all! I found out Tuesday. SuperSweet, I am also going to attend part-time.

I am retaking two classes this semester and if all goes well I will have a 4.0 next time. I only applied to the weekend program and they do not know at this time if they are going to continue the program. I am going to try to get into the TWU patho class in the spring.

I did not get accepted. I have a 3.7 gpa with a 91 HESI and 888 critical thinking. Also 13 years of health care experience.

Chiros 2005, I applied to a second degree BSN program at TWU. I will know if I am accepted in a couple of months. I looked into the Mid America program, but I could not afford the tuition. I am planning to keep my practice open part time and go to school. Hopefully I will start in January.

I have applied to the weekend program.

I am planning to take the HESI next month and I have a question about the math section. Are you able to have a pen and paper with you during the test to work the math problems? I had read there is a calculator on the screen you can use during the test, is this true? Thanks, Troy

Dr Julie, I have not applied to an RN program yet. However, I am retaking some classes at this time. All of my course work is over 12 years old and some of the programs will not accept classes that old. I am hoping to start in a BSN program in 2010. This will give me enough time to figure out what I am going to do with my clinic. Sell it or close it. I have talked with a few chiros who are enrolled in the program at mid-america and I have heard a lot of the students are going to drop after the first year and enroll in a different NP program. I believe they also went up on the price. I still have not ruled out PA school, but at this time I am leaning toward a BSN program. Troy

Riley, I am wanting to leave the chiropractic field for a number of reasons. 1. Every year the insurance reimbursement fees decrease, so you have to get more new patients into your clinic to make up the difference. 2. Overhead for your clinic continues to increase every year. 3. Chiropractors tend to eat their young. 4. Chiropractors cannot come together to take care of legislative issues. We are always having to defend ourselves against MD's, DO's and PT's. 5. Only 7 to 10% of the population go to chiropractors. If someone has low back pain, they can go to their GP, ortho, neuro, PT etc. We have a lot of competition for patients. 6. This year since the economy has softened, my practice has dropped off about 35%. 7. Chiropractic practice is very hard on the Dr's body. I have friends I went to school with who have repetitive injuries to their shoulders, wrist and low backs giving adjustments. I am looking into PA and RN school. If I go the RN route, I would likely then go on to NP school. I am leaning toward RN because I can go part time and still run my clinic. With PA school I would have to go full time. At this point I think I would like to go into ortho, neuro or the ED. I may get into school and find something else I really like. I know the grass may not be any greener in another area of health care but I am 40 years old and have been a chiropractor for 12 years. I am ready for a new chapter in my life. Troy

For the chiropractors on this thread who are now RN's, why did you choose to go the RN route instead of going to PA school? Troy

Robin, the Mid America program started its first class this year. From what I understand, the $30,000 is due up front. Student loans are not available at this time. You have to get private loans. I know a few chiros that enrolled in the program. I have not had a chance to talk with them yet about their experiences with the program. I have heard your courses are online and you have to go to the school for hands-on training. They called it "Hell Week". They were out there for 5 days. During the info sessions, the Mid America faculty states if you have your DC degree, you can get your BSN in one year and your FNP in one year. Two years and $60,000. I think there is a little more to it than that. Troy

Kevin, the website for the Mid America NP program is www.midamsnp.com. Troy

Hey everyone, I need some advice concerning a new online BSN and FNP program. This program is allowing RN's and chiropractors direct entry into their BSN program. After one year the student will sit for their boards and if they pass, they continue with the NP Program for one year. The program is through Mid America and Hardin-Simmons University in Texas. I have been a chiropractor for 11 years and I am looking to leave the profession. I am planning to go back to school to become a NP or PA. I am a little concerned about the online BSN and NP Program. Is a student adequately trained by an online course compared to learning in a classroom? You have some hands on training and you have to go through your rotations, but I am not convinced the student is ready to care for patients without more on the job training. My goal as an NP or PA is to work in orthopedics or emergency medicine. How many NP's work as first assistants in the OR or the the ER? While I am taking some prerequisites classes, I am planning to get my paramedic certification and get some experience outside of the chiropractic field. Thanks for any advice you can give me. Troy