Rn vs bsn hiring critera

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Hello All :)

This is my first post so if I am doing something wrong please understand.

My name is Aaron and reside in AZ. I am in my early Forties and for the past 18 months I have been earning my pre and co-requisites (which I will have completed by the end of the first summer session) at PVCC. Like many I am very discouraged with the wait list (over 2.5 years as I have been told by numerous sources) and have chosen to look at private nursing schools. Yes, they are very expensive but I have to look at the wait verses years lost of earning potential, and with over a 2 year wait going to a private school seems the best choice (if I can obtain financing)

I havent been in school close to thirty years (left school in the ninth grade due to bad circumstances as a child) but have worked very hard to get to where I am now, VERY Hard and have a nice GPA.

I have completed my HESI and Passed. Now I have a choice to make, I have called three local hospital human resource departments to ask a simple question. "Do you hire (as a norm) new grads with an ARN or are they overlooked by a new grad with a BSN?" Their reply, from all three hospitals, was the same. " We do not over look, however we will hire the nurse with a BSN first and if we do hire a nurse with an Associates we immediately have them enroll into a program to earn their BSN" The reasoning behind this is, by a certain date (I forgot when) that in order to comply with new rules and regulations that at least 80% of all nurses in AZ (and other states to follow) have a BSN. There are also reasons due to the possibility of ObamaCare becoming a reality that this 80% has something to do with it. I will have to do some more research on this subject, but this is leading to my question.

Is it worth earning your BSN according to the trend that seems to be upon us? I ask here because I would like to hear from real people in the field. Also what are your opinions of Everest? Chamberlain? Brookline? I understand that brookline is not regionally accredited so they are pretty much out anyway. Everest will not accept your science class (bio/ap/micro and chem) credits unless you score over an 80% on your hesi exam in those areas, which I find ridiculous.

After touring all three I found Chamberlain to have their ducks in a straighter row, but again I would like your opinions. I have many more questions but for now Ill leave it at this, thank you in advance !!

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Hey Amerk,

I too, am a re-careered older adult (35), and I have graduated from Chamberlain College of Nursing recently. I think you have moved through your research very well, discovering the Institute of Medicine's 80 by 20 initiative and the focus that the majority of hospitals are moving towards. That said, I feel that Chamberlain's curriculum, instructors, and active involvement in students success is far superior than the other schools that you have mentioned. It can be postulated that I say that because I'm an Alum, but I have spoken with numerous students who are currently or have graduated from those programs and I get a general feeling that they may not be as prepared as those graduated from CCN. The curriculum has evolved over 122 years and I have numerous peers who have two or three degrees and they all agree that, while the program is hard and ever-evolving, it's fundamental base is solid.

I also like your stance on the cost; as an older adult time is of the essence, so waiting 2-3 years to get into an ADN program that may or may not ensure I get a job after I'm done 5 years later is troublesome. I justified spending the money because I understood that I would start working 2 years sooner, so I would be no worse off financially at the finish line, but I certainly would have at least two years of practical experience and moving forward in lieu of stagnant.

I'd be more than happy to answer questions from you if you want otherwise, good luck!

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Hello Amerk,

I once faced this very challenging decision myself. I had most of my prerequisites done when I applied to the community college system. At the time there was a 2-year waiting list and I couldn’t see waiting that long to get into nursing school. Taking into consideration the amount of money I would potential loose waiting those two years I decided that I wanted to start right away. I ended up going to Chamberlain in Phoenix. I would have to say that I am pleased with the decision that I made.

I decided on Chamberlain because of the small class sizes and the individualized learning that was stressed. I know that Chamberlain is a private school so the cost of tuition is more expensive than a community college but in the end you will have your BSN and would graduate before even getting into the community college system. Adding up the cost and time that would be lost, choosing Chamberlain in the end, ended up saving me a significant amount of money and time.

I have to say that getting your BSN is probably the best decision you will ever make. Right now in the state of Arizona the ratio of ADN:BSN nurses is 70:30. There is a proposed plan that by 2020 the ratio of ADN:BSN should be 20:80. That is a huge overhaul but by taking that step to get your BSN your making yourself much more marketable in the nursing profession. I know that certain hospitals are only hiring BSN prepared nurses because of magnet accreditation as well.

I really don’t know much about Brookline or Everest but I know that I really feel like Chamberlain prepared me to enter the nursing profession. I really hope this answers some of your questions. Please let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them. Good luck with everything!!

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Hey Amerk,

I too, am a re-careered older adult (35), and I have graduated from Chamberlain College of Nursing recently. I think you have moved through your research very well, discovering the Institute of Medicine's 80 by 20 initiative and the focus that the majority of hospitals are moving towards. That said, I feel that Chamberlain's curriculum, instructors, and active involvement in students success is far superior than the other schools that you have mentioned. It can be postulated that I say that because I'm an Alum, but I have spoken with numerous students who are currently or have graduated from those programs and I get a general feeling that they may not be as prepared as those graduated from CCN. The curriculum has evolved over 122 years and I have numerous peers who have two or three degrees and they all agree that, while the program is hard and ever-evolving, it's fundamental base is solid.

I also like your stance on the cost; as an older adult time is of the essence, so waiting 2-3 years to get into an ADN program that may or may not ensure I get a job after I'm done 5 years later is troublesome. I justified spending the money because I understood that I would start working 2 years sooner, so I would be no worse off financially at the finish line, but I certainly would have at least two years of practical experience and moving forward in lieu of stagnant.

I'd be more than happy to answer questions from you if you want otherwise, good luck!

Hi JasonJacobson

Thank you! I will be contacting you with a couple questions very soon, I agree with you very much and will be applying Monday to Chamberlain, its by far the better choice I feel compared to schools I have researched. One of the biggest decision makers for me was Accreditation, I would in the future like to earn an NP and its imperative that credits transfer and the school actually educates you! Chamberlain seems like a winner and the small class sizes are just what Im looking for. Did you have all your pre and co's finished before attending or did you take those classes there? (MAT,STAT etc..)

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One of the biggest decision makers for me was Accreditation, I would in the future like to earn an NP and its imperative that credits transfer and the school actually educates you!

Chamberlain is fully accredited, but I think a common misconception is that once you graduate, you have the degree and there are no credits that need to be transferred. As opposed to, for instance, you moved your credits that you obtained at Chamberlain to another college in the middle of the of obtaining your BSN.

Did you have all your pre and co's finished before attending or did you take those classes there? (MAT,STAT etc..)

I had some pre's and co's finished but not all. I took stats, anatomy 2, ethics, etc. but those are really pretty easy comparatively speaking, so you can add those into your course work pretty easily.

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I would look into GCU, ASU or the CEP programs that the community colleges offer before I went to a private school and forked over $70,000 for a BSN that may or may not let you progress to a masters or NP later. I am 39 and just finished my pre's. I was accepted into ASU and start there in the fall. I was also looking at GCU. GCU would be cheaper and you won't have to worry about credits transferring later. Chamberlin & the others (from what I understand) might cause problems down the road. For me it is more financial than anything. GCU is cheaper.

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I would look into GCU, ASU or the CEP programs that the community colleges offer before I went to a private school and forked over $70,000 for a BSN that may or may not let you progress to a masters or NP later. I am 39 and just finished my pre's. I was accepted into ASU and start there in the fall. I was also looking at GCU. GCU would be cheaper and you won't have to worry about credits transferring later. Chamberlin & the others (from what I understand) might cause problems down the road. For me it is more financial than anything. GCU is cheaper.

Thank you for your input wbthomas,

I would love to go the ASU route however the wait list and too long for me. I cant wait two and a half years. Chamberlain is a regionally accredited school and is accredited by the same accreditation commission as ASU. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of The Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

So if (which I intend to do) I want to earn my masters and obtain my NP my credits will transfer and/or my degree is recognized by Higher Learning Universities.

Your understanding is correct with most private schools though (brookline etc..) they are nationally accredited and credits more than likely will not be recognized by universities.

What is the CEP ??

70K is the cost if you haven't taken any school before and you are starting out fresh. I have my pre and co-requisites finished so the price comes down 23-25K.

So 53K for a BSN is still high but I dont have to wait, the classes are very small and the instructors are excellent.

The wait for me to go to the community collage route and transfer over to ASU (bridge) is close to 6 semesters, I dont have that much time, well I dont want to wait that long not that I dont have the time.

CONGRATS ON ASU!!!! THAT'S GREAT!!!!

If I can ask ??? HOW did you get into ASU without a wait?? Also you must have a very high GPA.

Mine is 3.2 which is not "good enough" for ASU. I was told you need a 3.5 or higher to even be considered.

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Also the ASU and Chamberlain are accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Eduction (CCNE) which is the big accreditation etc..

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ASU has no waiting list, it is competitive. Yes, your gpa needs to be closer to a 3.8 to be considered. I have a 4.0 selective gpa with ASU.

CEP is the Concurrent Enrollment Program. You bypass the wait list and start the block at the community college while at the same time taking online classes with either ASU or NAU. You end with a BSN. I would check into this.

The last time I checked, which wasn't long ago, Chamberlin was NOT accredited. They are working on becoming so, but have yet to get it. That seems like a risk to me. What if they don't get it? You can sit for the boards, but you cannot transfer any of the credits to another school. The BSN is worthless (as far as progressing to a CRNA or NP).

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One of my teachers last semester also taught at Chamberlin and she informed me of their accreditation status. Maybe she was referring to another accreditation that they lack?

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one of my teachers last semester also taught at chamberlin and she informed me of their accreditation status. maybe she was referring to another accreditation that they lack?

your instructor may be referring to the nlnac accreditation, which no school in arizona currently holds that accreditation. ccne is the regional accreditation that chamberlain holds in arizona through their illinois campus and has been approved by the az board of nursing.

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