What are my options in San Diego?

BuckRN · May 16, 2013

I know of a few schools that do 2nd degree Accelerated BSN programs, but I am not sure about the online pre-reqs. The two I know about are Azusa Pacific and Oklahoma.

ExPharmaGirl, BSN, RN · May 16, 2013

There is also National University for the ABSN. They won't accept online science classes. You need to have lab classes.

University of Oklahoma no longer has a program in San Diego. I met their marketing person at a conference a couple of months ago.

zzbxdo · May 20, 2013

Just retake the classes, no rush. Market is tough here in sd, might as well do it right the first time around.

sdwannabe1 · Jun 10, 2013

Nursing is a highly impacted field right now. Layoffs and budget cuts are keeping staff levels at a minimum and retiree aged nurses are putting off retirement (I work with 2 in their late 60's and they are long past due for retirement!). Palomar just laid off nursing and other staff this past week. UofO no longer exists. They were in talks to sell the program to SDSU, but that fell through. National has a wait list several months long, so retaking the classes is not a bad idea. You might be able to take the classes through the local community colleges (labs are included in the prereqs).

luv_o_so_much · Jul 14, 2013

The 2nd degree programs I know of are Cal State San Marcos ABSN, National Univ. BSN, and community colleges that give points for already having a degree. University of San Diego has an ELMSN and Azuza Pacific (I'm not sure if that is ELMSN or ABSN). My friend is trying to get into Azuza (spelling??) because she has some online courses but to my knowledge for the A&P classes they require labs. Every school has a different set of pre-reqs with SDSU, CSUSM, and the community colleges being the closest. National requires that you take a few of their specific classes to apply (such as their upper divison biomedical stats class that does not transfer or count towards other schools requirements in the area, and the other schools lower division stats do not count for NU).

I can go on and on because I had to learn the hard way. I was going to go the "fast route" with NU so I took all of their pre-reqs. It was COSTLY. I did not like the environment. I had a few great professors and met many great people but I had one prof that could NOT teach. The class was so expensive and since their courses are so quick and only happen maybe once a year I had no other option with NU. I did get an A but the cost was not worth it. I ended up going to a community college to take another stats class and a real chemisty class for pre-reqs for the local community colleges and state schools. The bottom line is this:

Look at all of the pre-reqs whereever you want to go then look at the points system. Do whatever is on there plus get as many A's as you can. National I believe will not evaluate your courses unless you pay the $60 app fee. CSUSM Extended learning I believe will.

Check out Azuza P.

If you will need to take in person science classes NU has them 1-2 times a year and although costly, CSUSM, SDSU, and Palomar Community College all accepted them for my app. Many of the community colleges have the classes but you may need to crash them all. CSUSM Extended Learning may have them available, and although they may cost more than a first degree or community college, it is less than National.

I attended a Nat Univ. "nursing forum" and asked for a break down of costs. It is about $40k not including the pre-reqs verses CSUSM ABSN which a friend told me was around $30k. (I am starting the first degree Generic BSN at CSUSM in the fall and it will be approx $24k). Community colleges are WAY less. My coworker paid approx. $3k at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista.

I hope this info is helpful. I hope you don't have to take any classes over. Good luck!!!!!

luv_o_so_much · Jul 14, 2013

Sorry I know I already posted so much but I wanted to also mention my boss (I work in a local ICU) told me not to bother with Kaplan. That most managers have plenty of applicants that have attended one of the other approved schools. In the past they took new grads from there but not anymore.

As far as waitlists.... I believe the majority of schools do not have waitlists (at least the ones I applied to). They all use a point system that you must reapply to each year. You don't need to be a current resident to get in but some point systems look at where you took the previous majority of units and assign a point value opportunity.

Good luck!

anonymous 456 · Jul 14, 2013

I took my pre-reqs at a local community college, then applied SDSU, Grossmont, San Marcos, and National. National will wave the 60 dollar fee if you are from a local community college. In the long run National accepted me first, so that is the door I walked through. I graduated last January with my BSN. While I got a good education, I do not favor the accelerate format, and would recommend a traditional school. Take your time and get the highers degree at the best school you can, even if you have to repeat a few pre-reqs. best wishes.