Quick $127k RN in 3 years, or waitting a LIFE TIME on waitting list?

Published

HI everyone... im new, just got my registration done... sorry if im posting this wrong.

Im 27, almost 28 y/o and working at a Children Hospital as a Medical Assistante/CNA. I want to become an RN but dont know where or how to start, i dont have any of the pre-req done.

My question is: Should i start going to a comunity college for pre-req? or a private college and get it done quick?

Is it worth being on the waitting list for 3 years and pay less.... OR pay 127K and become an RN in 3 years (program offered in a private university) I definatelly dont have the money, but i also dont have kids nor a morgage payment. I been working with little kids my whole life (started working in Labor and Delivery as a CNA when i was 18) and Nursing is definatelly my call. I just dont want to keep wastting my time, im almost 30 and i feel like my career hasnt even started :crying2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do some reading about West Coast University in the distance forum. You will not find many positive comments. From the tuition you quoted, I assume you are talking about WCU. Do yourself a favor and start at your local community college with the courses you will need to transfer to a nursing program. Take your entrance tests for math and English. Look at the nursing program requirements for any of the two year programs, you will find you need anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English 101, maybe chemistry, maybe biology (as a prerequisite to anatomy), psychology, developmental psychology, speech 101. Get started with these courses and you will have time to decide which nursing programs you want to apply to. You are more than likely best off not even considering WCU. How would you like to pay your first $32,000 in loans and then not be able to progress to the next term because you couldn't pass the HESI exam? WCU is just too much hype and not enough in the "good" program department. If you want to spend a lot of money on tuition, consider Mount St. Mary's College. At least you would be getting an education from a school with a good reputation. JMHO

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Absolutely WAIT IT OUT. There are no RN jobs right now, period. I would HATE to be $127K in debt with no job prospects. Don't bother. Wait it out until the economy picks up and go the cheap route. You'll be thankful you did. Spend some time on the graduate nurse forum and see for yourself how hard it is for a new grad RN to get a job right now and you'll have your answer.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

$127K????????? For basic RN licensure? That's not a typo or anything??? Wow .....

There's no way I would ever consider or recommend anyone else consider a program that expensive. Esp. these days -- with the economy as it is, many new grads are not finding jobs, many hospitals/employers have cut back or eliminated whatever tuition reimbursement/repayment benefits they used to offer, and times are v. tough for nurses in general (like everyone else). You do not want to try to start out a career in nursing with that kind of debt hanging over your head. Shoot, you could move to go to a more affordable program somewhere else (esp. if you could get in sooner) and still come out ahead. There are a kazillion nursing programs in this country (the vast majority of them costing a heckuva lot less than $127K!!!) -- shop around!

Best wishes for your journey!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Awwww! thank you so much to u all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been looking in to it and it is definatelly not woth the money (127K for BSN)... lots of bad reviews!!!!!!!!!!! I will consider moving i think, there is nothing tying me down here in cali except my job, Thanks for the reply... I'll shop around :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Awwww! thank you so much to u all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been looking in to it and it is definatelly not woth the money (127K for BSN)... lots of bad reviews!!!!!!!!!!! I will consider moving i think, there is nothing tying me down here in cali except my job, Thanks for the reply... I'll shop around :)

Since it seems you live in SoCal, look into WGU. Now there is a pretty good bang for your buck. Get a CNA certificate and work as a CNA. Take your prerequisite courses in the nearest community college, online, if you want convenience. Apply to WGU and finish your remaining two years at $4250 each six months for a total (WGU portion) of $17,000. Now there's a bargain if there ever was one. Online University | Online Degree | Accredited Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.

Gripes .....that's outrageous money !!!

You could come down here to Australia or New Zealand to study and then work. Probably be more able to get job too.

Just make sure your program has enough clinical and education hours in peds/obs/psych so you can transfer to the US later

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks Caliotter3!!!!!!! that is some GREAT info!!!!!!!!!!! Oh wow! really good deal! and yes i live in Orange county and work at CHOC... I already have my CNA since i was 18... then got my Medication Aide certificate in TX (not available in CA) now i work at CHOC as a MA.

I will start from the begining and go the "safe" path... get my prerequisite and then look into getting in a private program... to avoid the LOOOONG wait there is... Thank soooo much for ur reply, you just made my day :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

WGU used to be (when they started the program in SoCal last year) that you had to have all prerequisites finished before you apply, ready to start the nursing portion, last two years. Now their website says you can enroll before then and work on your prerequisites before entering the nursing portion. I do not recommend this because of their different format "competency modules". Instead, take traditional courses at your community college to transfer in and start with the nursing program. Traditional courses can be transferred to other schools if something should happen that you decide to leave WGU before graduating. JMO

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Most schools are eliminating their wait lists because there has been changes in the State Legislation regarding nursing program admissions processes. Given that your grades are good (hopefully great,) you stand a great chance in gaining admittance into a school sooner than you might think. Hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Another option is, consider an out of state BSN...I started 12 months ago and have 3 months left. Had I remained in California it could have been YEARS until I was finished....too many applicants and not enough schools in California. Heck, San Diego just lost one ABSN program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Another option is, consider an out of state BSN...I started 12 months ago and have 3 months left. Had I remained in California it could have been YEARS until I was finished....too many applicants and not enough schools in California. Heck, San Diego just lost one ABSN program"

WHERE R U GOING TO SCHOOL??? WHAT STATE????? I WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER MOVING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THEN I CAN ALWAYS COME BACK, THATS JUST GREAT... CONGRATS! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion