School competition/ what to do?

dorkypanda · Oct 12, 2014

I share your worries too! applying to state schools for the BSN program in your particular state can be daunting due to the fact that the applicant would need an almost perfect GPA and perfect test score if required to get accepted. there is another route to BSN , the downfall is you would spend an extra year or so in school compared to if you went directly into a traditional BSN program but it's hard to get into as a transfer student(BSN program). You could do associates first and then do RN to BSN afterwards.

There shouldn't be too many prereqs to complete for the BSN compared to the adn program. The difference is chemistry, sometimes statistics, nutrition, human development.. Check some programs you're interested in and compare the requirements.

dorkypanda · Oct 12, 2014

Another way to get there would also be to start at a lvn or lpn program. There are also bridge programs to RN. I've read somewhere there may be an lpn bridge program to BSN ? I'm not sure.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

Good day, applekors27:

What is the unemployment rate of new nursing grads in your geographic area? That has a lot to do with why some areas are more competitive than others as there is no nursing shortage.

Thank you.

applekors27 · Oct 12, 2014

I'm actually looking to go out of state/ out of my area. I will check out my area though, in case I decide to come back here for work.

applekors27 · Oct 12, 2014

Thank you for your help! I'm looking out of state, because California seems to just love making things difficult for attempted nursing students lol. I'll look into some of those other routes you suggested.

RunBabyRN · Oct 12, 2014

Be aware that getting your nursing education out of state will make it more difficult to find work upon your return. CA has a 47% unemployment rate for the first year and 43% for the first 18 months for new grad RNs. It's CRAZY, and yet schools are still graduating nurses by the thousands. Jobs are obtained through connections, for the most part, or through luck with insane competition.

2 years isn't very long to have been in school. Most of us take much longer. Be patient!

Use those prereqs to pull up your GPA, even if it means taking a lighter course load and adding 6 months or a year to your timeline. It's not worth slamming them out and then not getting in anywhere, thus taking longer in the long run. You don't need a perfect GPA, but your prereq GPA will often be weighed about as heavily as your overall GPA, as will your TEAS score, so knock them both out of the park. Make sure you also look at prereqs at various schools, as they can vary some, even within the CSU system. Look at what's required at every school to which you plan to apply, as you want to at least be eligible if you're going to spend the time and energy applying.

You can look at private schools or CSUs that are away from the coast (Bakersfield, Fresno, etc). Don't rack up a zillion dollars in student loans for this, though. Definitely avoid any tech schools, like Everest.

zzbxdo · Oct 12, 2014

It's not abnormal to be on the 5+ year plan when getting your BSN. You don't see many 22 year old graduates. Took me 3 years for prerequisites and 3 years for my program.

GoodnessFlows · Oct 12, 2014

I think most of us feel like it takes a ton of time. It can be frustrating at times, but remember it is a journey. If you truly want this, just keep pushing forward, and remember that you are 1 step closer today than you were yesterday. :) Good luck.