I currently attend a local community college where I am enrolled in my last pre-req for the nursing program at my school. I live in an area where there is a prestigious health care university fifteen minutes away. When I am asked by my co-workers (I work in a hospital's radiology dept.) what nursing program I intend on applying to I tell them the community college I currently attend or 3 other prospective J.C schools. Each time I get, " Oh, so you're going to go to a community college? Loma Linda University has a nursing program." I obviously know Loma Linda University has a nursing program but I cannot justify spending upwards of $30,000 a year for an ASN. I don't want the student loans for the rest of my life and when I explain this they just give me a blank look like I am a leper. I would just like to know if I'm going to be missing an opportunity of some unforeseen sort if I just stick with the Community college route and get my BSN after I pass my boards or does it even make a difference?
You'll earn far more money with your community college nursing degree than the people who earned bachelors degrees in useless humanities majors at expensive private universities. Sorry, but there's not a huge demand in the job market for philosophy majors at the present time.
Seriously!!! I got my BA in English and Philosophy from an expensive private school.... I worked at an advertising agency for about three months and hated it, then worked at a daycare....and I'm now working as a nanny while finishing up my last two prerequisites for nursing school. I'll most likely be going to a private school for the nursing program because I already have my BA, so I'm applying for accelerated and entry-level Masters programs, but I think community colleges are great! There is one by my house (Saddleback College) and I've heard nothing but great things about their nursing program!
Are you missing out on some great opportunity by not going to a private school? Yes, the opportunity to pay thousands of dollars in student loans....and I'm sure that is an opportunity you'd be more than happy to miss out on, right?
I currently attend a local community college where I am enrolled in my last pre-req for the nursing program at my school. I live in an area where there is a prestigious health care university fifteen minutes away. When I am asked by my co-workers (I work in a hospital's radiology dept.) what nursing program I intend on applying to I tell them the community college I currently attend or 3 other prospective J.C schools. Each time I get, " Oh, so you're going to go to a community college? Loma Linda University has a nursing program." I obviously know Loma Linda University has a nursing program but I cannot justify spending upwards of $30,000 a year for an ASN. I don't want the student loans for the rest of my life and when I explain this they just give me a blank look like I am a leper. I would just like to know if I'm going to be missing an opportunity of some unforeseen sort if I just stick with the Community college route and get my BSN after I pass my boards or does it even make a difference?
I really appreciate all your help!
S.D
I just had to say I'm in your same boat and feel where you're coming from. Yes, I know about Loma Linda. Yes, it's a great hospital with a very good program. But NO. I don't want student loans forever either, and it's also a longer drive for me. My mother was hospitalized there for about two months--I'm very familiar with their hospital and program (did a lot of talking with staff/students), but it's not for me.
As far as I know it makes no difference if you go to Loma Linda, or Victor Valley, Chaffey, Mt. SAC, whatever. And so I intend on saving myself a lot of money and gas as well. I'll still be a great nurse and so will you--being at a JC doesn't mean I'll work any less hard.
How offensive. I graduated from a community college. When I got my degree, I had zero debt and found a job immediately as a new grad. Not one of my nursing peers ever asked me where I got my education nor did I care where they got theirs. As much as I learned in school, everything I needed to know, I learned on the floor from my mentors. It seems crazy to spend tens of thousands of dollars just to say, "I went there"!
I agree that it is important to get your degree to be a nurse in the path that is best for you, however there are some perks to have recieved a Bachelors degree. Also if its finances that you are worried about there is a lot of financial aid help out there, you just have to look for it. Although starting pay may not be very different depending on the program you graduated from, career advancement many times depends on having a Bachelors or higher degree. I did go to a private over $30,000 year college and prior to attending I researched the differences of ADN vs. BSN and really when you think about it you are spending the same amount of years of your life attaining an ADN vs. BSN. So why have to go back to school later when you can get it all at once? If you had to go back wouldn't it be nice to go back and get your masters? Don't get me wrong, Im not saying that at ADN is any less of a professional nurse, just why waste your time going to school twice for what you can achieve in one shot.
Everyone puts their pants on the same way, so to speak, when it comes to taking their boards. Does it really matter at the time what school you went to? Start earning a good wage right off the bat without a huge debt and work on your BSN on your employers dime! No muss, no fuss!
Tis the same NCLEX that is taken.... I know for a fact that in TN the difference in a RN - BSN vs a RN - ASN, is $ 0.50/hr more.... The only difference here is if you want management. A BSN will get you into management quicker, but if you are just doing the "bedside thing", you will make as much with an associates... Hope this helps :)
I too attended a community college and got my ADN. ( whe e all take the same state board)It was affordable, I got my RN (passed NCLEX after 75 questions!!!) There is a push to BSN which I haven't decided on yet but what ever you do make connections, RN jobs are getting hard to find everywhere if you have no experience or connections with the floor managers. The students that I graduated with that have been able to get in to new grad programs are making the same as the BSN nurses.
I went to a community college for my ADN and I don't regret it at all. Sure, maybe some day I'll get a BSN. But for now, I'm making a very good salary at per diem wages in the Bay Area. I canmake 60-70K a year just working 2-3 days per week! BSN's don't make more unless they are in management. Maybe you could tell these people "Good luck paying off your loans."
Do You know of any hospitals in the bay area hiring new Grads? How hard is it to get a New grad position in NICN?:typing
I currently attend a local community college where I am enrolled in my last pre-req for the nursing program at my school. I live in an area where there is a prestigious health care university fifteen minutes away. When I am asked by my co-workers (I work in a hospital's radiology dept.) what nursing program I intend on applying to I tell them the community college I currently attend or 3 other prospective J.C schools. Each time I get, " Oh, so you're going to go to a community college? Loma Linda University has a nursing program." I obviously know Loma Linda University has a nursing program but I cannot justify spending upwards of $30,000 a year for an ASN. I don't want the student loans for the rest of my life and when I explain this they just give me a blank look like I am a leper. I would just like to know if I'm going to be missing an opportunity of some unforeseen sort if I just stick with the Community college route and get my BSN after I pass my boards or does it even make a difference?
I really appreciate all your help!
S.D
CC in CA is significantly cheaper than private schools such as loma linda, I am also attending a CC and I pay 20 a credit hour, I will graduate in 12/09 with my ADN and can start working as an RN right away, if I feel the need to move forward with a BSN I can get reimbursement from the hosptital that employee's me, to me it makes finiancial sense (plus I will finish sooner).
I'm from the bay area and right now its slim pickings:grn:Most new grad programs have already selected those that they are going to hire or are finishing the interview process. What has been suggested to me is to start at a SNF for a year or two to get experience and then try again with the hospitals... the other option is to try to get into a small hospital that does one-on-one training versus a formal new grad program. Good luck let me know if you hear of anything.....
Hey - Absolutely nothing wrong with going to a community college. I was accepted to both the state university and the community college, and chose the comm. college. Why? Because it's $13,000 cheaper and closer to where I live. AND it's more highly respected than the university. AND when I want to get my BSN I'll be working as a nurse and the hospital I work at can pay for it, thank you very much!
MisterSimba, BSN
296 Posts
Seriously!!! I got my BA in English and Philosophy from an expensive private school.... I worked at an advertising agency for about three months and hated it, then worked at a daycare....and I'm now working as a nanny while finishing up my last two prerequisites for nursing school. I'll most likely be going to a private school for the nursing program because I already have my BA, so I'm applying for accelerated and entry-level Masters programs, but I think community colleges are great! There is one by my house (Saddleback College) and I've heard nothing but great things about their nursing program!
Are you missing out on some great opportunity by not going to a private school? Yes, the opportunity to pay thousands of dollars in student loans....and I'm sure that is an opportunity you'd be more than happy to miss out on, right?