"But nurses are in demand, how can it be hard to get into nursing school"?

katchup · May 11, 2008

Anyone else getting this response from out-of-the-know relatives/co-workers/neighbors? I feel like they think I'm lying when I say the program I applied to has almost 450 applications for 25 spots. They look at me like I'm making it up!

Thanks for bringing this subject to fortfront because I ask my self that question and never received an answer until now.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 11, 2008

I get that, and I also get incredulous looks when I express concern for being able to afford school. "But, aren't there all sorts of scholarships out there?" Kinda, but not really, you know? My state just ended its nursing loan forgiveness program, and hospitals in my area are in a hiring freeze because of the economy and the scholarships that do exist are super competitive and certainly not guaranteed.

I applied to Eastman School of Music out of high school- 300 sopranos auditioned for 12 spots. I feel like I'm facing those odds again- hopefully I'll be luckier this time around!

JustKeepSmiling, ADN, BSN, RN · May 12, 2008

I know what you mean, original poster.

There are truly many qualified applicants applying for small selective spots.

Too many civilians are unaware of how educated today's nurses are and the rigorous training and schooling we undergo.

CSN for an ASN degree in NOLA gets, I think, 1000 applicants per deadline for admission for like 50-100 spots? I remember the counselor telling me...

I know quite a few extremely well qualified and bright students having to reapply because there was just too many extremely well qualified..:uhoh21:

coolpeach · May 12, 2008

My best friend, and I met when I was 2 years old, and she was born literally. Her parents are my God parents, and my parents best friends. She started to school the semester AFTER I did to become a teacher. She graduated last semester with a 4 year degree, and is now working.

It is true that I finally got my letter a couple of weeks ago, but I wont start until Aug, and won't graduate for a year, and a half after that.

I love my best friend to death, and she is always supportive, and understanding, but everyone else has driven me crazy.

How could she get a 4 year degree quicker than I could get a 2 year degree?

Are you still trying to get your associates degree dear?

HeartsOpenWide, RN · May 12, 2008

The year I applied and got into my BSN program (on the first try thank God) was in 2006 and when there were 38,415 qualified applicants turned away from entry level baccalaureate nursing programs...its a stiff competition. It took me two year to take all my pre-reqs and to be able to transfer, because getting As was a must. I want to get my masters so working my butt off has continued. People are always shocked when I tell them I have one year left. My program is three years, I will be a fifth year senior.

crazitree · May 12, 2008

YES!!! I hate explaining the situation to everyone who knows your "plan" and wonders why you are not a "nurse" yet??? I feel like a complete idiot half the time! I've been in the app process for a year now and just keep having to take more good-to-know classes while I wait! Hang in there, your certainly not alone!

Parade · May 12, 2008

Thankfully, I don't get much of this at home, since my mother is an RN and my aunt who lives with us is an LVN.

But other family members have been less than understand about the entire process. "You changed your major to WHAT? But you were so close to finishing, and on and on and on blahdee blahdee freakin' blah." And then they quickly jump to "Well, with the nursing shortage, I'm sure you won't have any problem getting into the program."

Riiiight. I have no idea how long the wait for the program here is or how many people have applied, but I was told that unless I was willing to bust it and study hard and make as many A's as humanly possible, I don't stand a chance in Hades.

I think part of the problem is that people don't understand what nurses truly do. They think it's all changing bedsheets and refilling water pitchers and turning patients and cleaning pee off the floor. Yeah, that may be part of it, but that ain't the only way the cookie crumbles. You do actually have to have a brain in your skull, which I think a lot of people don't realize.

It's hard to get into nursing school because being a nurse is hard.

beba42 · May 12, 2008

OMG! I feel the same way, I hate when people keep saying the same thing "oh your are still going to school!" they don't understand how hard it is to get in. :cry: .. I keep telling myself I cant give up. and I wont.