quickest Route to a RN

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

Where are you working right now, and what's their incentive to "help pay" for your BSN? Regardless of how the economy is doing, furthering your education is always an investment in your own future, and expecting to be able to get a degree with little or no personal expense and/or loans is somewhat naïve. Even if you work for a healthcare facility now (the only institution that I would think might want to help you out financially), there's generally a requirement to work for them for a certain amount of time after you become an RN.

As for the length of the programs -- Google is your friend. Almost every school out there will have a website for its program, and with a little digging you should be able to find both the nursing curriculum and any prerequisites for admission.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

Also, it would really behoove you to post this in the Missouri state forum, since you're asking about specific programs.

arelle68 · Mar 7, 2009

Excelsior College, an online program, may well be the fastest way. Not the easiest. The CPNE is horrendous. I got the Nursing Concepts done in about 2 and a half months, but I had already been to nursing school years ago. It takes about 9 months to get the CPNE. It is a two and a half day clinical test. It takes about 9 months to prepare for it. If you are an LVN or an EMT, or if you've already been in nursing school, and have a lot of clinical hours, you can get in. It is not cheap, but you don't have to travel to classes. You do have to get to where they have a CPNE, so you'll have to travel there. It costs about $440 a year to be enrolled. It costs about $280 to take a NC exam. They are designed just like an NCLEX (good preparation!), and there are 7 or 9 of them. The CPNE cost $1900 just to take it, and then you have to travel. There is also a $495 graduation fee. You could finish with $5000-6000 paid in if you pass the CPNE the first time. (Don't count your chickens!) The degree you get from them at that point is an associate, but they also offer BSN and MSN.

I'm glad that I went through Excelsior, mostly because I'm FINISHED and an RN. Thank the GOOD LORD!

kcoa11 · Mar 7, 2009

I would say that your local community college with the nursing program is the best decision for you! You'll get your RN in 2 years and can began working soon after while allowing whomever you work for pay for the rest of your education. I would say that is the smartest decision.

As with your pre-reqs. They don't really take 3/1/2 years. It depends on the person and the amount of work you're willing to put into each semester. Usually your pre-reqs for your associates degree in nursing is not more than 12 credit hours. (Which is classified as full time). However, you may not want to take those science classes all at the same time, so give yourself 1-2 years to complete your pre reqs. You'll be glad you did.

Look up your community college and see exactly their requirements/pre-reqs and stick with that.

Also, come to work soon...we NEED you!!:wink2:

Absolutely13 · Mar 7, 2009

If you have never taken college courses, expect a year and a half, at least, to finish prereq's as a full time student before entering an 18 to 24 month ADN program. Have excellent grades! With the economy the way it is, the competition will be greater than the usual cut-throat version.

My program has a 90% NCLEX pass rate and I would be careful with any program that offers "fast" as a selling point.

Good luck!

live4today, RN · Mar 7, 2009

I graduated 22 years ago this month from the best community college in the entire world. :up: Throughout the years, I've compared other schools to the one I attended, and to other colleges and university nursing programs, and still believe I entered nursing at the right time, and graduated from the best school ever. Now that says a whole lot about my school. I have no regrets for going to that college. I graduated with a great GPA, and had 133 credit hours when I graduated (that's enough credits to have landed me a masters degree, but my second major was psyche).

If you really want to be the best nurse you can possibly be, make sure you get a great start at a great college regardless of whether it's a community college, or a four year college. Your first two years at the four year college are mostly college required classes any major needs; plus the sciences you'll need to get into the nursing segment of the program.

When I went to college, there were students who were single living at home with parents who went full time, and stated many times how challenging the program was for them to do in a two year period of time. Some students attended part-time due to having to work as well, and struggled with trying to complete the program in two years. It's next to impossible to do it successfully...on the average...because there are always those few students who master academics with no trouble at all, and can easily get through the program in two years. I'm not sharing from that perspective because it's not your average situation.

Full time at my college was 15-16 credits per quarter. I was married with children, so my plan (and I stuck to it) was to complete all of the non-nursing classes first. Then, when I entered the actual nursing classes, my total focus was on nursing lectures, labs, and clinicals. All of that took me two and a half years, but I had already completed many of the college required classes before the actual science courses for nursing, so that helped shortened the time.

I think it helps one make up their mind better if they hear a nurse share this way where you can get a better visual than just telling someone to do this or do that. You have to do what is best for you.

Plan on continuing your education until you receive your BSN though because that is what hospitals and most healthcare businesses are seeking today (depending on where you live). At my age, I'd like to return, but I'm more interested in returning to becoming a psych major to get involved in counseling rather than more nursing.

You still have many options to choose from today, just don't stop until you at least have your BSN. I didn't use to be so gung-ho about this, but I am today. I have three daughters, and I encourage them to do the same because this is the way of life for many young adults now.

I wish you well no matter which route you choose to begin on. :)

live4today, RN · Mar 7, 2009

P.S. And I might add that my college always had a 97 to 100 percent pass rate first time around. All of our instructors were required to be master degreed; even in my non nursing classes. The college ran a sharp program no matter what the major. I applaud them for giving me the best education ever. :)

Absolutely13 · Mar 7, 2009

Going to sneeze?

Absolutely13 · Mar 7, 2009

P.S. And I might add that my college always had a 97 to 100 percent pass rate first time around. All of our instructors were required to be master degreed; even in my non nursing classes. The college ran a sharp program no matter what the major. I applaud them for giving me the best education ever. :)

Respectfully, this was 22 years ago. All of my instructors are masters level and my A&P professors (2) are PhD's.

The pass rate I referred to was NCLEX, not course. I would love to take an NCLEX from 22 years ago, but that isn't an option.

I wouldn't bring this up but for the superior tone of your post, however I respect your accomplishments and experience.