Totally Dejected........2 year waiting list!!!!!!!!!

llg, PhD, RN · May 15, 2007

This might be a situation in which you will have to make a sacrifice in order to make it work. In other words, you may have to actually move your residence in order to find a school without a significant waiting list. Not everyone grows up in a town that has a college within easy driving distance -- or a college that offers the specific program an individual might want.

People have "gone away to college" for generations. If you don't want to wait until a spot opens up at a school where you live now -- live somewhere else for a couple of years. See the world. Moving to a new place, meeting people from other areas of the country, etc. can be a great growth experience.

I've done it many times. I grew up in Pennsylvania, went to college in North Carolina, worked in PA, then went to grad school in Indiana because Indiana is where they had the specific MSN program I wanted. After working for a while in a couple of different places, I got my PhD in Colorado -- and now live back on the East Coast.

There are lots of nice places to live and go to school. With the internet and telephones, etc. it's relatively easy to keep in touch with family and friends "back home." Yes, it can be a little scary to move away from home -- and inconvenient. But it can also be a great learning adventure and a great way to expand your views about the world and life in general.

Is there any reason you can't move in order to fulfil your career goals?

livinglighthouse, ADN, RN · May 15, 2007

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I'm 37 years old with a husband and 4 children....moving just isn't an option at this point. My husband has a career here in the area.

I have moved around a lot over the years and did see the country......I am wishing that I had that kind of freedom now, unfortunately though......I don't. I have kids in Jr High and High School, my husband's career and live in California where I couldn't sell my house if I wanted to because the market is so bad.

If I were young and single I would do that in a heart beat, but for me.......now......at this point in my life.......I have to make this work where I am.

Thank you for the encouragement though

shancouchon · May 15, 2007

Are there any other academic choices that you can use for pre reqs? Maybe do sonography, or something similar, get into a hospital and when the RN program opens you can get your hospital job to pay the RN bill?

catzy5 · May 16, 2007

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I'm 37 years old with a husband and 4 children....moving just isn't an option at this point. My husband has a career here in the area.
I have moved around a lot over the years and did see the country......I am wishing that I had that kind of freedom now, unfortunately though......I don't. I have kids in Jr High and High School, my husband's career and live in California where I couldn't sell my house if I wanted to because the market is so bad.
If I were young and single I would do that in a heart beat, but for me.......now......at this point in my life.......I have to make this work where I am.
Thank you for the encouragement though

I am sorry for your frustration I have been there too, I started school in 04 only to hear a million and one horror stories about getting into school, I can say is just keep plugging away even if you do have to wait 2 years, 2 years will come and go very quickly and if you don't keep plugging away the time will pass and you still will not be in nursing school. Check out some alternative programs, private schools maybe? I thought there were no schools near me without waits and since learned there are some other options, also over the past 3 years many things have changed, new schools open, old ones start new programs etc....all you can do is focus on today and do what you can for today. Good luck it WILL happen.

NoeIssa · May 16, 2007

If there is nothing you can do about it then just try to make best. It took me two years to get my prereqs done because I have two kids and I wanted to spend time with them while doing prereqs. Take classes and youll get there eventually so what youll be 39 that is still young. Did you hear about that lady on Oprah who started Med school at 40! Keep taking classes so the Nursing Program will be easier. Good Luck

DesertRain · May 16, 2007

Are there any other academic choices that you can use for pre reqs? Maybe do sonography, or something similar, get into a hospital and when the RN program opens you can get your hospital job to pay the RN bill?

This is a great suggestion. A lot of students at my CC will take the CNA program or Phlebotomy or EMT programs if they are not accepted. By the time they get to NS, they have a lot of health care experience, have their foot in the door, and also have made time fly by.

livinglighthouse, ADN, RN · May 16, 2007

I think it is a great idea too, unfortunately, at my school, they penalize you if you are in another health care program. So, I would not get on the waiting list if I apply or am in another health care program at the school.

Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?

MB37 · May 16, 2007

If you're going for ADN, get your BSN prereqs out of the way. If you're going for BSN, finish a degree in something else and apply for an accelerated program.

catzy5 · May 16, 2007

I think it is a great idea too, unfortunately, at my school, they penalize you if you are in another health care program. So, I would not get on the waiting list if I apply or am in another health care program at the school.
Isn't that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?

yes that is really nuts!

I was thinking of taking the CNA course but its a whole semester and I am 90% sure I'll get in for the spring so I don't consider it worth while, so I am going to just try and enjoy my time off and enjoy my kids because I know after it will be work work work again.

livinglighthouse, ADN, RN · May 17, 2007

I think I will work toward my pre-reqs for my bachelor's. I only have 3 courses to take I believe, but that will let me take one class a semester and take it easy.....

Maybe I can find a hospital job (not a lot of jobs in this area, period!) in the meantime as well.

Thanks for the suggestions.

EGKB · Jun 26, 2007

Don't lose heart. 2 years may actually turn into a shorter wait... Just because the waiting list is full through two years now doesn't mean there won't be plenty of people dropping off the list as time goes on. Circumstances change all the time.

My suggestions have already been made, but I think they're worth repeating... 1) you could take prereqs for a BSN program while you're waiting for your program to open up, 2) you could try to get a job in a hospital to pay the bills while you wait, and maybe they will even help you with tuition when you start your program (not sure how the job market is where you are... forgive me if this is more easily said than done!), or you could apply to an accelerated or BSN program. Since you'll have so many general ed requirements done from your first degree you might get to start on advanced status, but it will probably depend on how many prerequisites you have left to take. The only problem with the second bachelor's degree is that you have fewer financial options.

Also, can you get the non-nursing coursework for the program you're waiting for out of the way while you wait? The cc near me allows this. I'm sure that (having to take fewer courses each semester) would make family life a lot more manageable once you do start the nursing curriculum.

I know how difficult it is to try to figure things out when you have so many other responsibilities and not too many options... I wish you the best of luck!!