sacwebb

I'm from Iowa as well near the Des Moines area. I think it's great that you are considering nursing. I did the 2 year ADN program at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo and currently work in Ames and I am doing a 1 year BSN program through Upper Iowa University. I know that Allen College in Waterloo has an accelerated program but it is so expensive. DMACC would be a pretty economical way to get the RN degree and then most hospitals will help way pay back loans or aide in the pursuit of the BSN. Like the previous post stated, Iowa doesn't have amazing pay rates. Without a BSN I'm making the lower $20s. I am not sure what your financial situation is but hopefully that helps! Also the U of Iowa would be a great learning experience. I am going to start their Nurse Practitioner program in August and just love their school and program. Many of my friends are in the RN-BSN program now and think it is fantastic! Anyways, best of luck to you!

I have been submitting end of semester grade reports to the dnp program I'll start this coming August. The minimum GPA for mine is 3.0 and I am just now sitting at the 3.0. I was taken with a 2.85. I had work experience and great references. The grades are not always the best representation of who you are. I know I'll just have to work harder than other students!

If you're serious about nursing and are in Iowa, there are a lot if great programs that are two years to get an RN and then Upper Iowa University offers a 1 year BSN program. I saw that your were afraid of being behind and that is a great option too. However, if you decide to go to med school after, you may have to take another year to get some higher stat or organic chem class that aren't offered in nursing. I personally attended Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo Iowa, attend Upper Iowa now and start the DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice) program at the U of Iowa in the fall of 2014. I interviewed for med schools and the DNP program and had conditional acceptance for both. But I decided to stay the nurse route and be a practitioner in the future. You have to decide if you want to be a nurse and apply to schools now. There usually is a bit of a wait list at some schools and if you don't want to fall "behind" you need to start now even if you aren't sure. You can always decline acceptance. I had your same though process to only do the 4 year BSN route but for financial reasons took the 2 year route for the RN. I really liked that because I have worked full time all year while finishing my BSN and it's great! I am making great money to pay for school and have no student debt. That's just my thoughts and maybe you have it all figured out! Let me know if you head to the U of Iowa, it would be great to have some people I know when I head that way! Best of luck to you!!!

I enjoyed this post! I work in peds as an RN and am starting a DNP PNP program soon. I have been called gay, queer, baby molester, pedophile and so on. Means nothing to me and you just have to let it go every time. I'm the one of my friends that has a job, could buy a new car, saving for my future while my friends go back to school cuz they can't find work. I never brag about my money, success, or gorgeous wife (who was attracted to me for being a peds nurse) I just look past it knowing that I make a difference day in and day out for the little people I see. I'm proud to be a nurse! It gets frustrating at times but I just remember that I am second to my patients always, and they are all that matters.

I started my career as an LPN doing home care nursing in pediatrics. A father of an 8 year old girl asked if I was gay and when I said no asked me to not come back. He though I was a pedophile because that is the only reason I wanted to work with kids. I think you see this in certain specialties. It's unfortunate, but as an RN I still see it.

I interviewed last month at the University of iowa and was just accepted this week! Personally, my interview was very laid back. It was PNP centered but I got asked the following... Why PNP? Why this school? What do you want to do with a DNP? I had to discuss my GPA and how that reflects who I am academically. (Mines just over 3.0 because I'm am anxious tester) Are there any major life changes coming up? ie wedding, planning children, job changes Our school offers full and part time...do which did I prefer? Then general questions like all interview like to talk about myself and where I worked...stuff like that! Hope that helps!

Do not get discouraged! You sound passionate so I know it will work out! I was in the same boat until last weekend. The University of Iowa just accepted me for a PNP program. They are the 6th best PNP school and take a 3.0 for all cohorts. Not sure your proximity to Iowa but they have a large portion of the program online. I was also borderline on the GPA but they took me anyways. I had to discuss in length why my GPA is not a picture of who I am. I'm just a anxious test taker. Anyways, best of luck! I hope to see someday that you got in somewhere!

I interview last month with the University for DNP school. I also toured the hospital and met with some of the staff there and found that everyone was extremely kind. Just be personable! You sound passionate about your wanting to have a career there so show them that. Best of luck! Let us know what you find out!

I have been there...it is a horrible place to be, trust me. I took 2 years to get through a 1 year LPN program and I felt the same way through those two years. I failed a class my first semester and felt like giving up but, and I do not know why, I stuck with it. It was not my first class to retake either. Now I am an RN and in the process of advancing to the DNP. Looking back, I am so glad I stuck with it because I absolutely love being a nurse. I work in peds and every day is a blessing to help sick young people get healthy. It can feel so dark and alone in nursing school because our friends do not understand what we go through. Nursing is no cake walk, it requires work and dedication because it is a life or death career. I know it is hard now, but try to look at what is a head. You sound strong and I feel you have thought about this a lot. Just know that many nurses out there have been in the same place as you, you are definitely not alone. SW