University verses Community College

Both are great options and will get you where you want to be which is an RN. Community colleges are great options because they are less expensive and are shorter in length.

For me, I chose a university because I want to get my masters and you need a bachelors to be accepted into any masters program. If you choose the CC route you can always go back and get your bachelors and masters if you choose to do so. For me I thought the best route would be to get the bachelors out of the way ASAP before life gets in the way (even more than it has!). Plus it's a little slower paced (fewer classes per semester) so I can easily work 30 plus hours and still maintain good grades which I'll need to get in a masters program. And I think as a new grad having a BSN over an ADN will help as most new grad programs seem to be "BSN preferred" (but once you're out in the world working with experience it doesn't seem to matter a whole lot unless you're wanting to go into management).

Whatever you decide it won't be the wrong decision. Good luck!

Same as what Katie said. For me, it has been a matter of being able to work while getting the BSN. If I were doing this when I was younger, I would just go the BSN route and get it out of the way quicker, because I want my Master's too. But life changes as you get older, and economic realities bite you in the behind sometimes.

The bachelor's doesn't seem to lead to more prospects necessarily...like, if you wanted to do regular nursing on the floor, ADN vs. BSN doesn't mean more money or prestige (from what I've heard). But, if you want to get into management, or go on for the masters, it is required that you have a BSN in hand. I have also heard of RN to Master's bridge courses that award the bachelors as part of the course work along the way.

For me, I already have a lot of undergrad done, but I wanted something complete (ADN) and will finish up the bachelor's as time and money permit.

I think going straight for your BSN is your best bet. Get it done and over with. It is not that much longer. Otherwise, you will be in school forever getting your BSN.

:bowingpur:bowingpurDoes anyone know how long the bsn nursing program is at wayne state university?:heartbeat:heartbeat

It's three years long.

They assume the "first year" of the four you are taking prerequisites (though I took two to do them as did most people).

The nursing program itself is three fall and three winter semesters. You have summers off which is very nice and you can do externships during them. If you have any questions about the program let me know since I'm currently in it!

It all depends on your situation and what you want with your nursing career. For instance: Floor RN? Management? Teaching? Nurse Practitioner? Nurse Anesthetist?

I started school in fall of 06, not transferring any credits over... I mean starting fresh. I took my pre requisites at a CC for 1 year straight took my net test and got onto the waiting list fall 07. While I was waiting, I rested for the fall semester ... then, I transferred to a university in winter of 08 and took some of the additional science courses that universities require for their program just so that I'd have options (CC or University) in case the wait was too long. During my transition I received an invitation to start the nursing program at the same time. Not sure what to do, I decided I wasn't ready to start the nursing program just yet, so I postponed until fall 09 and continued on my path with the university. Toward the end of my semester at the university I was invited into an accelerated CC program which started in the spring of 08... so as soon as my semester at Wayne state ended, I went straight into my Nursing program at the CC and I'll be done August 17th 2009 (If I'd started in January when I was originally invited, I'd be walking across the stage in May--BUT never mind.

When I pass my N-CLEX test in October of 09 (which I will), I will apply for an accelerated bachelors program with U of D which is 1 year, In the meanwhile, I will be working as an RN, gaining the floor RN experience that I will need for the career path that I have decided which would be CRNA School. That may change, but for now this is the path that I'm following and it works for me.

This route works best for me. I am 27, married with two kids and 1-2 years of pre-req's and 3 years of nursing school, before I'd become an RN is much too much for me as it relates to my lifestyle AEB bills that need to be paid (mortgage, car note, utilities, insurance, groceries etc...)

You'll figure out what will work best for you. Good Luck!

You could always apply for a job as an Nursing assistant. Some hospitals don't require previous experience and depending on how many hours you work, they may offer tuition reimbursement to help you pick up the slack.

You could take out a loan or 2 just to supplement your income until you get a job that pays a little more, but just know that being in Nursing school means huge sacrifices so you may have to make some major adjustments on your end as well.

Once you finish up your 1st semester of Med surge you are eligible to work as a nurse extern, but it doesn't come automatically. With the economy, there has been a hiring freeze on a lot of various hospital positions and nurse externs are no exception. You will have to first find out who's hiring and apply. The positions are far and few between and you have nursing students from everywhere competing for these positions so it is no easy feat.

As far as the LPN program, I have no idea you may have to do a little research to find that answer or just look at your schools course catalog to find out the requirements. Hope this helps!

Good luck to you... whatever you decide.