Which RN program would you choose? Help!

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hello, i waited to join allnurses.com until i got my acceptance into a nursing program and i ended up getting two!

now i am trying to figure out which program to chose from. please help.

program #1

pros:

- very close to me (4 miles)

- well established

- high pass rate (100% pass the nclex, for those that actually make it through the program)

cons:

- only half of the people in the program actually make it all the way through the program :eek: (only 23 out of 45 people admitted to the program make it all the way through)

- people who have graduated have told me it is a really hard program (which explains why only half the class makes it through), one person actually used the term "nazi boot camp" to describe the program.

program #2

cons:

- is a brand new program so i dont know if they are a good program or not (i dont really want to be the "test class" where they figure out what works and what doesnt)

- is farther away (about 30 miles)

pros:

- smaller class size (only 22, compared to 45 in program #1) so i might get more individual attention / help from the professors since they will be trying to establish themselves as a good school.

- is brand new so they dont have all the horror stories, yet, so they might be a nicer program but they also might not.

i am scared to death that i am going to chose the wrong program which will end up haunting me forever so i would really appreciate you help with this decision.

which would you chose?

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It's up to you of course, but I'd rather be in a new program than a Nazi one! :eek: None of those things you mention would get you dismissed from my program...reprimanded yes, but not dismissed! AND the NCLEX pass rate is important...50% is very poor! The new program is trying to build a rep to draw more students, so I'll bet it will be good.:D

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Specializes in LTC.

I would personally choose program 1 due to the high nclex passing rate. You can't go by what you hear all the time. I haven't met one person who said nursing school was easy. The school is also close to you so there fore you may not have to travel far for clinicals as well.

I'm not saying nothing is wrong with the new program, but I rather go into a program that is not new that way I won't feel like the guinea pig.

Let us know what you choose and Good luck.

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I personally would never choose a new program, ever. I am just too cautious to trust anything that isn't tried and true.

Program #1 sounds great. You have to ignore that people say that it is hard. I mean seriously, is nursing school supposed to be easy? Nazi boot camp sounds like a serious exaggeration. Would you rather be prepared for the real world via intense training or unprepared. Boot camp could be a good thing! The fact that about half drop out is irrelevant, it happens in nearly every nursing program. It doesn't say anything bad about the school.

Congratulations on getting accepted into nursing school!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

What type of schools are they a part of? Are they both at Community Colleges? 4-year colleges? Vocational schools? What degrees do they offer? ADN? BSN? etc. Those sorts of things make a difference.

Also, is program #1 accredited by either the NLN or AACN? That also makes a difference. If an established program is not accredited by either of those two organizations, that's a real danger sign.

I'd lean toward the established program ... but if it is not accredited by either NLN or AACN, I would avoid it. I would also avoid it if there were anything doubtful about the school it is a part of ... IF the new program is part of a respected Community College or 4-year college. I'd be considering the overall quality of the school of which the nursing program is a part as part of my decision.

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Both of the options are community college ADN programs.

Program #1 is certified by the National League for Nurses so that helps

Program #2 is just starting so they don't have anything like that yet

Thank you for your answers so far beth66335, nursing student 19, futureNOVARN, and llg I really appreciate your responses so far.

Which program would other people choose?

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Without a doubt program 1. The hard program will probably make you a better nurse and you know your chances of passing the nclex are great. Plus its closer which will mean your clinical sites are closer. Also the NLN issue with the new program would make me nervous

Good luck with your decision.

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I would choose the 1st program. It has a high pass rate and trust me....a lot of people don't make it through the program. I had a friend tell me once that on her 1st day of class, the instructor told them to look to the right and to the left and 1 of those people aren't going to be in the program in the end. So no matter where you go....nursing is tough! Good luck with your decision!

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Specializes in LTC.

Lets tally up the votes. Drum role please. ( blitatatatata) Program 1 wins ! Yaaaaay !

I'm sorry after my orthropedic lecture tonight and finals next week I can get kinda silly.

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