Was your nursing program in a dangerous area?

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.

The closest nursing programs to me are in dangerous areas and I am kind of worried about how I am going to get through the nursing program without being mugged. The nursing programs are in areas where several nursing students/nurses have been kidnapped and killed in the past 3 years. Everyone is kind of worried for me and I am scared myself but, I don't really have any other options to become a nurse money-wise (I can only afford my A.S.).The safest program is in Fremont, but there is no garuntee I will end up in that program (I am applying to many) and it's still not safe because it's in a hilly area with no stops where cars break down often. Was your nursing program in a dangerous place but it turned out to be O.K.? What are your experiences with danger while in your program? Maybe someone could ease my worries.....Thanks:nurse:

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Where do you live?????

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I'd find a program in a safer area, even if I had to drive long distances. There was a program about 45 minutes away from where I live in another city, but it was in a dangerous area with a very high crime and murder rate (three different students were kidnapped and raped over the course of this year). So I go to a school an hour away in a totally different city and it's in a much safer area. Nursing school isn't worth dying for.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Mine was in a large, teaching hospital in our city, & the unversity was right next door across the road.

It COULD be dangerous at night. I used to park where there were lots of lights, or use lifts instead of stairs and if someone looked like they were following me (happened one night afer I got to the floor my car was parked on), I ran back down the stairs & waited for some other people to come in then got to my car. I always used a torch to look around & check inside the car to see no-one was there. And I always locked the doors after getting into the car & drove away immediately. I NEVER caught buses & trains at night - it's just not safe.

My gf caught a bus home one night, after working in a large hospital not far from the city. She had just got off the bus and it had moved away, when from behind the bus stop, somebody grabbed her back pack. She wasn't far from home, so she shrugged out of her back pack & just ran home. She didn't go to work the next day & her & her hubby got another car. And her work made a big fuss about it, saying they couldn't pay her for a day off just to go get a car etc. She quit not long after & got another job. ANYTHING could have happened to her & her work just didn't appreciate that.

Can you do an external nursing course then you don't have to attend internally? Also you could car pool, get to know some other people going there & always stay together for safety. Do/does the campus/es have security guards who can walk you to your car? Most universities do this now & they will also check ur car for you b4 u get into it.

When u say unsafe r u talking re guns, rapes or what?

I'd talk to the university re safety b4 making a decision or I'd do an external nursing course.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Get your CCW!

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.
Where do you live?????

I live in a safe town, but none of the nursing programs are in safe towns. I live in Livermore,CA, but, the programs are in places like Oakland (The worst by far in crime) Hayward (a girl from the program was kidnapped and never found last year) and Fremont (which, is pretty much safe except for driving there puts my car at a very high risk of breaking down). I went to Fremont for my CNA and my car broke down right after I graduated. They are all about 45 minutes away, in different directions, and the next couple of programs are a closer to 2 hours away. Money is the biggest issue for me, and I feel like I would have to find some way to move to successfully go into a far away program.

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Specializes in CICU.

Went to school in one of the most notorious cities in the country. Didn't have any trouble.

I guess you have to do what makes you comfortable, but remember that even if your school is in a "safe" area, the hospitals you have clinicals at may not be...

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.
Get your CCW!

What's that?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

CNA1991, I always had to travel over an hour to get to the university and my clinicals and work. You may just have to figure in more travelling time & expenses to go somewhere safer. It's not a very realistic world when students always want their uni's near them - I've always had to travel to work and study. I've never had my uni 5 minutes down the road (except my internal year @ uni).

can u do external studies at all?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

CCW - concealed carry weapon

Not legal in all states.

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Oh ok. The wording almost made me think people were purposely targeting nursing schools, but now that you said Oakland it makes sense. I had a choice like that to make when it came to a job. It was danger or no money. Had to weigh options and take lesser of two evils. I chose money and hoped for the best. Maybe once school got started you guys could institute the buddy system. Maybe everyone meet in a safer area then go to parking lot of school.

Unfortunately, all the options I can come up with like buddy system or carpooling involves relying on others. You won't know how receptive others will be until you're already in the program. Only you know what you're willing to compromise.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
CCW - concealed carry weapon

Not legal in all states.

Yeah make sure you check with your state/hospital if it is legal for not. I know it is not for everyone as well, but it is always an option.

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