Very small nursing schools?

[TPtogo]

Hello!

I am heading to a very small nursing school this spring and I am very excited too! When I say small, I mean their last graduating BSN class had 83 people and it's a part of the hospital itself (at least this one does have dorms). This is exactly what I want, I was never very keen on the big university thing. Well, with only one semester of prereqs left I'm feeling a bit anxious.

I've combed the internet but with such small numbers at these little schools, I havn't been able to find any students talking about this specific experience, only university nursing students. Has anyone here attended any of these small, private, 2+2 schools? How was your experience there?

In addition to this, I am a bit nervous becuase it almost seems like most of the students at colleges like this are older, where as I will still be 18 when I get there due to the hard work I have put into my education. I know this is the right school for me, but some reassurance would really help me right now.

Thank you!

Tplourde:heartbeat

[ICUchick]

Welcome!

I have not yet started school, my program starts in January, but I am also attending a very small private nursing school. The classes have 70 students...to start, who knows how many make it to the end. I am an "older" student and I asked the same question because I had the opposite concern...I would not have anyone in my demographic to connect with. I am sure every class is different but she told me that the age range of the last class at graduation was 22 through 48, which means they started at 18 through 44. I am almost right in the middle of that so I am hopeful I will have a few classmates I can relate to. I wouldn't worry too much though, during my CNA class one of my closest classmates was an 18 yr old girl that I got along with remarkable well because of her maturity, the combined nursing interest and well hopefully I am still a little young at heart! :-)

Good luck and don't fret to much...these are great years for you!

[pitaya]

Good luck! My graduating BSN class has about 30 people, so 83 does not seem small to me. And age ain't nothin' but a number.

[IUstudent]

Yeah im at a hugeeeeee university and our class is only 60. Its super competitve because its ranked high nationally. Good luck!

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

if 83 graduated there were probably at least 100 to start.. thats not a small nursing class at all. mine started with 65, were in 2nd semester with 54... last graduating class had 40-something..

[ddunnrn]

I think your outcome will depend on the philosophy of the school--are they there to graduate you with all of the support they can give you, or are they there to "weed you out"? I am really upset when I hear from other nurses and students how their instructors were unnecessarily harsh. I went to a hospital nursing school, which graduated 80 out of 80 (I was #2, darn it!). I was poor, single, and had a full-time job, and they did everything they could for me to lessen my burden. Thank goodness, I had no academic problems, but they were very supportive otherwise. At the end of the program, I owed the school money, but they still let me graduate and take the boards.

I hope you have a similarly enriching eduacation and nursing career.

Dave Dunn, RN

[email protected]

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

48 in my class

[NSGstudent12]

Wow 83 is more than any nursing school has around here! We started with 45, now down to 28 in 3rd semester.

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

our ADN class only allows 62 students per year...

[glenlorie]

I agree with everyone's post, 83 seems large compared to my class here in southern Oklahoma. I believe we had right at 60 students accepted for the 2013 class, they told us when we first applied that they may only take 45 students, so I was nervous I wouldn't get in. I am so glad I did and so far, I'm loving it. I really like the small classes because our instructors really get to know us and can spend more one on one time with us. I hope you have a wonderful experience!!!

[citylights89, BSN, RN]

83 students graduated? that's not small at all. shoot, at my school, you'd be lucky to get 20 students to graduate, which I rarely see happen. they usually graduate only around 10-15 students a term or so. the classes usually start with 30 students or so. this is a BSN program at a private university.

[juliaann]

My class is 32 students. I love the small size, we're almost done with our first semester and we're all already really good friends. :) I