Krystin

Update: I spoke to an RN-BSN program in the state and they allege that this will be fine.

My community college is starting an ADN with a local hospital. The hospital formerly had a diploma program but this year have discontinued it in favor of the ADN. The problem is that, being a new program, they aren't accredited yet. You have to sign a waiver and everything stating you knew that when you entered. They are seeking accreditation with ABHES and NLNAC and should be under review for this class. They obviously have experience with nursing education due to the long track record of their LPN and diploma programs, but they will not make any statements to the positive on whether or not the first class will be considered from an accredited program. What it essentially means is I wouldn't be able to use their program for a BSN later - which I do eventually want to get. The ARE approved by the state higher education council and the Virginia board of nurses. On the other hand, I ultimately want a local job. This is the system who runs all of the local hospitals. They do a ton of hiring out of their nursing school and this would be the most ideal scenario. Does anyone have a similar experience?

I failed precalculus. Completely. I knew around the final drop date that I was nearly doomed, but I'm on the GI Bill and if I drop a class at my school, the government would charge me about $2k that I do not have. So, I doubled up on tutoring (even paid a tutor outside my school) and tripled up on study time for *just that class alone*- and I still failed it. All of my other grades? Almost all A's, 2 B's. I've only had 1 C (this is with around 50 hours) The school I go to makes you take precalc before chem. I should probably mention my goal is(was?) to apply to the accelerated BSN program at Johns Hopkins. My school is a very small school with a matriculation agreement with Hopkins - but I'm pretty sure this might be a deal breaker. It's not my first F either. Years ago I was moving across the country. I had to drop for the semester. Well, somehow I dropped 3/4 and neglected the last one. I didn't realize this until 3 years later when I was gathering transcripts. I petitioned the school of receipt but they don't want to hear it. 1 was enough. 2? Goodbye any hope of a decent GPA.... So, I think I'm screwed. Getting into nursing school these days is like getting into med school. All my girlfriends who are trying to do the same thing have never gotten F's so why on Earth would any program take me over them?

I want to be a CRNA. I'm not an RN at this time. I start schooling to become an RN in the fall. I have a 3.7 GPA (30+ credits) and I'm 28 years old. I do not have a previous bachelors degree, but I do have 6 years military experience. Becoming a nurse dawned on me, in the form of an epiphany, when I was working at this testing range in AZ. A girl I worked with invited me to an event her mother was attending. I got to talking with her mother...who was a nurse... and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Anyway, once I settled on nursing as a goal I started reading voraciously about all of the things nurses can do. I read about all of the things individuals in this profession are capable of and then i saw anesthetists. It was attractive to me immediately. Not because of the allegedly fat paychecks - I hadn't even gotten that far - but because of the history. To me it is just the coolest [expletive deleted] specialty in the world. Did you know that when a person has certain brain surgeries they have to be kept completely lucid for it!? That's so awesome I can hardly stand it. I also have a lot of family members who are opiate addicts. My sister and brother (I am the middle of three) are heroin addicts. I believe this specialty was attractive to me because of them. For the past ten years my siblings (and myself by extension/relation) have been surrounded by the negativity this sort of addiction brings. I feel this deep down, almost spiritual need to use these sorts of drugs for what they were intended for, or at least what they're the most useful for. I've seen so much misery caused by them, it's as if I must find their true purpose and devote my life to it - like my siblings, but not as the physical user. I never became addicted to any substances, I won't either. Anyway, I know it's a long road. I don't care. This is what I'm going to do. I will do anything I have to in order to fulfill this career. So, I made this decision at 27 with no previous degree and minimal, paltry credits. I started taking more classes while working one job - paying out of pocket - but no science - in 2009. In 2010 my spouse and I moved states. I enrolled in a CC and began science prereqs as per the advice of a local private school (based on their prereqs.) I found a private college 40 minute away and applied. I'm accepted to begin my BSN training as of the fall. I will be an RN in 2 years - and i can begin working once I pass the NCLEX and get a job. I hope to get into critical care asap. While employed for this year I will finish my BSN and take a class in organic chemistry. After 1700 hours I will certify for CCRN. Once CCRN certified and assuming I meet the requirements I will begin applying for every CRNA training school near a family member (I've already informed ALL of them I intend to live with them - on their couch if i have to - while in CRNA school. My father, mother, aunt, grandmother, even my husbands' family members. Under my current plan I will have at least 1 semester (hopefully 2) of the post 9/11 GI Bill available to pay for at least a portion (if not all) of the school. I am hoping that with the number of schools at my disposal, and assuming my GPA stays comparable to what it is now, I will have this goal accomplished before I am 35. I want you to really think critically here though. On paper a CRNA appears to make a LOT of money. Since the OP already has a bachelors, they are already better equipped than I am on paper, however given the amount of training I don't feel in any way inferior. Anyway, after you consider loans and the length of time invested - the financial contributions on the back end aren't so significant. I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's a long road ahead. If you're only looking at the salary - you're doing it wrong. It doesn't matter how much money a job pays, if you don't absolutely love it, you're in for a life/world of hurt and disappointment. It is a lot of work, a lot of school, and a lot of money. I want to be completely clear here. I feel like a broken record but this really isn't the type of work you get into solely for the money. You get into it to save lives. Personally I want to volunteer overseas and in adverse situations, but I've been in such scenarios before so they aren't new to me. The way I see it, my life won't matter nearly as much as the ones I save. This thought process is what makes the rest of the hurdles seem like no more than speed bumps....

I am officially starting at the Jefferson College of Health Sciences this fall.

That was the question, yes, but it implied a lot more - as we can all see from how the thread evolved. I guess my point is, just because a program is harder to get into or more competitive, it absolutely doesn't make the program or school better - just more crowded.

I disagree completely. I'm applying to one of these programs because I can start this summer or fall instead of having to wait to even apply till April 2011 for a class seat in Fall 2011 only to be in school for yet another 3 years. I have a 3.7 GPA (cumulative with 30+ credit hours, mind you) and no doubt I'd ace any standardized TEAS or whatever else entrance exam. As long as a school is accredited nationally and by either the CCNE or NLNAC the rest is pretty much bull. As I stated in my last post, schools that offer 50+ degree programs are harder to get into - and pickier - because their space is limited and they have so many other degree programs they don't want to expand nursing. It's a teeny piece of their pie. They care more about their sports teams and business majors (or whatever.) In an (accredited) health sciences college they're focused on a much smaller scope and because their programs start more than once per year they get more students through. It isn't even necessarily more expensive. The three schools nearest to me all cost the same but because the other two have a bajillion degree programs, they only enroll once per year, and have ridiculous prereqs. Going through the ridiculous prereqs before one is even allowed/eligible to apply doesn't make them more qualified to go to nursing school... it just means that school has less to do for your degree...

I think in regards to schools like the one I'm sort of pinning my hopes on access in general is easier. It's not solely based on "if you can pay, you're in," but that sort of is what feeds them. It's "easier" to get into because of the rolling admissions. It's also easier because, since they're specialized, they are equipped to enroll every semester. They don't have 50 different degree programs, only a few. I feel this is in some ways a benefit because your major is known as soon as you walk in the door. Every other person in there is going into a health field. It's kind of cool. Their RN-BSN is also front loaded. They're set up specifically to get you your RN first so you can start working. After that, you complete your BSN through them and you can do it in class or online, it doesn't really matter. Unlike traditional four year universities that expect you to wait the entire 4 years to become a nurse, a school such as this knows exactly what your goal is and facilitates it. I don't think their standards overall are lower because they don't care about the future of nursing. More "prestigious" schools have to be super picky because of how limited their slots are. In such schools the nursing program is but a tiny piece of their puzzle, and they have many other concerns so nursing actually comes down on their priority list. In a dedicated health sciences college all the fat is trimmed, they end up with more spots, so sure, people with a GPA below 3.5 have a shot. But, it's still more expensive, and given the above, I see why. Supply and demand more than likely.

I have applied to a local(ish) private, for profit, accredited school. Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Of the schools in my area they are the only ones with a rolling admission (spring/summer/fall) and they specialize in health sciences. I do insist on completing a BSN for future endeavors. Only two other schools in the area offer a BSN and I cannot apply to them until April 2011 - I can only honestly attend one out of two of these too - they are both private "prestigious" schools with wait lists - and one is a fundamentalist baptist school. With the private health sciences college (assuming I'm admitted, I can't imagine I won't be) there are no prerequisites other than SAT/ACT or 12 previous hours (any 12) and all the other usual transcripts. They sure are a lot more expensive. I was in the military and will attend fully under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If it weren't for that, I probably would not be considering it at all.

Apply anyway. The worst that can happen is rejection - but you can't even get THAT if you don't try. Do not fear it. Are there any other schools you can apply to in the area, at all? I'm currently considering a school 45 minutes away, in addition to the one near me.

I am unapologetic about good grades. I earned them. If they didn't - that's their fault/problem! OF COURSE I don't go about rubbing it in or being a jerk. I constantly offer study groups and assistance, I give out my email and phone number, facebook, you name it. The other ladies (so far no gents) who study with me get great grades too. We help each other. It's awesome. Don't apologize or feel embarrassed! You earned that grade! Smile! Be proud of yourself!!!!

Congratulations!!!! And GOOD LUCK!!! I'm currently putting the finishing touches on my application and I'm already so nervous. Things like this really just make us feel so inferior even if we shouldn't, don't they? I have no current degree but I've been in the military and worked for the Department of Defense - in all non healthcare related positions. My volunteer work is limited as well. I've been a "buddy" for camps for special children most summers and answered phones for NPR pledge drives. The problem is the local hospital requires a certain number of hours per week for a minimum of six months that at this time (working 50-60 hours and going to community college part time) I simply can't afford! I just hope what I've put on my application and letter of intent are enough, as I'm sure you're hoping too!

Ok, I'm pretty sure I've got this where I want it. I just want to thank you again UVA for your insight. Like I said, I was just worried it would start reading like "oh poor me and my tragic life" but I think I've managed to write it more how i see it which isn't so tragic at all.

Thanks so much for your reply. The problem is this school isn't asking any specific question. It simply says "A personal statement or letter of intent" is recommended. I see what you're saying though. It should be relevant to the major probably more than anything, correct? Coincodentally I'm applying to a school in Virginia.

I am attempting to write a personal statement for BOTH entrance to a school as well as their nursing program (it's all one app there's no seperate nursing app). I've googled and googled and received numerous examples but I'm still not 100% sure exactly WHAT i should include. I have everything outlined and my reasons for nursing and everything are solid, so it's not really a nursing specific question... I'm 28. I served in the military for 6 years (in a job totally unrelated to healthcare) and I had a really...interesting young and young adult life. What I need to know is exactly what should I focus on? I believe my ...interesting... life has certainly attributed greatly to what it is I am trying to accomplish, but I absolutely do NOT want to come off as "oh poor me and my crappy childhood." Because although it will probably read that way, that's NOT how I feel about it. So do I make a case for coming from a wildly diverse background? Do I gloss over it and pretend it wasn't all that bad? Do I just focus on the "good" from age 18+? All input is HIGHLY appreciated!!!