Why Are So Many Students Worried About Expensive Tuition

kacey0423 · Jun 18, 2009

You seriously are not asking this question right? All I have been hearing about is how no one is hiring new grads--I am about to start nursing school at a community college--and the reason I am attending that school is MONEY--I don't know if your parents paid your tuition or not, but most of us have to pay our own. In these hard times, with no guarantee of a job at the end of this journey, not to mention the fact that we are not trying to get jobs merely to pay off student loans--I, for one, have a family and bills to pay. Why would I want to pay 40,000 dollars more for the same degree--This is one of the dumbest questions I have seen on this site

is5512 · Jun 18, 2009

You seriously are not asking this question right? ... Why would I want to pay 40,000 dollars more for the same degree--This is one of the dumbest questions I have seen on this site

While I applaud the zeal, I would wonder how many people who agree with those sentiments are scratching their heads wondering why Yugo didn't force Toyota and Honda into bankruptcy years ago.

...perhaps it was because the Yugo senior management all got their degress from Community Colleges?:sofahider

LEN-RN · Jun 18, 2009

While I applaud the zeal, I would wonder how many people who agree with those sentiments are scratching their heads wondering why Yugo didn't force Toyota and Honda into bankruptcy years ago.
...perhaps it was because the Yugo senior management all got their degress from Community Colleges?:sofahider

You have got to be kidding. There is nothing wrong with community colleges.

is5512 · Jun 18, 2009

You have got to be kidding. There is nothing wrong with community colleges.

Ok, without getting all emotional and fired up about it, I would suggest that community colleges are the equivalent of the Free Clinic or the V-A. I have gotten significant treatment from the latter because of my income (or near absence thereof), and will almost certainly donate some of my time and talents, such as they are, to the former.

But if Mom needs a bypass or if my Nursing advisor says I need a total brain transplant, those two institutions won't be my first choices.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

LOL!
With all due respect: The next time they wheel you into the ER, would you feel happiest knowing your Nurse went to the cheapest school accredited by the Nursing Boards?

No, you're right. I'd feel much better to know my nurse racked up $80K in student loan debt and has been working 80+ hour weeks to pay it off. Because everyone knows that a tired nurse is a safe nurse :-P

Seriously though, ***? If a school's accredited it's not going to be churning out graduates that aren't able to function as nurses. Comparing CCs to free clinics makes me think you just have no clue what you're talking about.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

nevermind...

is5512 · Jun 18, 2009

No, you're right. I'd feel much better to know my nurse racked up $80K in student loan debt and has been working 80+ hour weeks to pay it off. Because everyone knows that a tired nurse is a safe nurse :-P
Seriously though, ***? If a school's accredited it's not going to be churning out graduates that aren't able to function as nurses. Comparing CCs to free clinics makes me think you just have no clue what you're talking about.

I would hope that the free clinic I donate my time to would be a respectable operation, and not something operating out of the back of somebody's camper that has to change locations every time the cops drive by. But I stand by my analogy: CC's, like free clinics and the VA, are places you go when you can't afford (or don't want to pay) for having the job done right. There are certainly skilled and dedicated people there. But they are not what define the institution.

"Churning out grads unable to function in their field:" It happens, my friend. Should we limit the hours a Nurse or Doctor can work before we consider them unsafe? Interesting discussion possibility. But student loans wouldn't be the only thing to cause that. But sure: Let's outlaw tired Nurses. And Doctors. And Truck Drivers.

I have no clue what I'm talking about? Normally I only hear that from people who've married me. No offense taken.

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 18, 2009

What incentive do colleges have to control their costs when people have shown that they will pay just about anything to attend?

Part of me wonders if this issue is a generation change where a new generation is raised to consider paying off debt part of everyday living.

Debt is losing its stigma.

is5512 · Jun 18, 2009

What incentive do colleges have to control their costs when people have shown that they will pay just about anything to attend?

I believe the incentive is called "profit." But that brings up an interesting point: Let's say a Nurse has worked his/her tail off, is dedicated and smart, and hears of two teaching vacancies. One is at a CC; the other at a private institution with fee$ commen$urate. Which would attract the Nurse's atention and why? Which institution would likely attract and hire the better and more qualified instructors?

Oh Dear Heavens, I'm starting to sound like one of my instructors. Somebody slap me.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jun 18, 2009

Well as someone with another degree already, I am getting my RN from a community college.

I did look into the difference between BSN/ADN programs and actually spoke to students and graduates from both. My previous degree is from a big ten university that is extremely competitive to get into (that tidbit for those thinking I might be of inferior intelligence getting my RN from a community college).

The only difference in a BSN is that you spend 4 years. You will take a lot of filler, maybe you might get something of interest out of it. I have learned that often in BSN programs a student will list how many clinical hours they have had. People I speak with frequently who have chosen that path tell me a lot of it is not direct patient care but time filled in research papers, careplans etc. Both of which are good, and needed and are present in ADN programs as well. But the actual patient direct care time is the same. My BSN pals got to go in the day before to hospital, review the chart, review the meds etc. totally briefed on the patients they would have the next day in clinical. In my program, we go in cold, as a nurse would in real life. We better know our stuff. Receive report, then assess, be ready to report SBAR and be able to expand upon any point of physiology asked by our instructors as well as have researched all meds ready to pass and be questioned on all pharmacokinetics, basically be a walking PDR all within 30 minutes of being given the pt room number, initials, and RN name. This even if interrupted by physician, lab, code brown or whatever. If dressing change, foley etc. required be ready to do all at once if at all possible. Another difference is that some BSN programs are easier to get into. Those I am pals with could not get into my ADN program, so they went BSN. I think that there is such a ADN program demand because of the $ factor. Which can be good, because the only way to choose from so, so many applicants is to choose the top students first. Having said that, the door closes quickly. And that shuts a lot of people out. Which sucks if you have taken your prereqs busting your tail and are always one point off of ultra perfect. I know some ADN program colleges (mine) do make a killing on all those people taking their prereqs hoping to get into the nursing program.

Thing is all programs are different, you have to seriously look into them, and their reputations as well.

Sure I might do a AP program, but I know I want to get to work fast, and have a bit of tution reimbursement too! Any further edu I do will go that way. I have already paid off huge student loans once in my life :wink2:

carolc415 · Jun 18, 2009

You seriously are not asking this question right? All I have been hearing about is how no one is hiring new grads--I am about to start nursing school at a community college--and the reason I am attending that school is MONEY--I don't know if your parents paid your tuition or not, but most of us have to pay our own. In these hard times, with no guarantee of a job at the end of this journey, not to mention the fact that we are not trying to get jobs merely to pay off student loans--I, for one, have a family and bills to pay. Why would I want to pay 40,000 dollars more for the same degree--This is one of the dumbest questions I have seen on this site

I disagree: this is not a dumb question, and it's none of anyone's business how someone is getting their tuition paid. We're having this discussion because we're all in the same boat: we have a career goal/goals and we're trying to figure out how to get there financially, and what to expect once we make our financial decision. Humility (or lack thereof) is certainly reflected in some of the posts in this thread...and EVERYBODY has to pass their state board(s) and earn their license...let's be nice to each other because we may be working side by side someday! :nuke:

CuriousMe · Jun 18, 2009

The only difference in a BSN is that you spend 4 years. You will take a lot of filler, maybe you might get something of interest out of it. I have learned that often in BSN programs a student will list how many clinical hours they have had. People I speak with frequently who have chosen that path tell me a lot of it is not direct patient care but time filled in research papers, careplans etc. Both of which are good, and needed and are present in ADN programs as well. But the actual patient direct care time is the same. My BSN pals got to go in the day before to hospital, review the chart, review the meds etc. totally briefed on the patients they would have the next day in clinical. In my program, we go in cold, as a nurse would in real life. We better know our stuff. Receive report, then assess, be ready to report SBAR and be able to expand upon any point of physiology asked by our instructors as well as have researched all meds ready to pass and be questioned on all pharmacokinetics, basically be a walking PDR all within 30 minutes of being given the pt room number, initials, and RN name. This even if interrupted by physician, lab, code brown or whatever. If dressing change, foley etc. required be ready to do all at once if at all possible. Another difference is that some BSN programs are easier to get into. Those I am pals with could not get into my ADN program, so they went BSN. I think that there is such a ADN program demand because of the $ factor. Which can be good, because the only way to choose from so, so many applicants is to choose the top students first. Having said that, the door closes quickly. And that shuts a lot of people out. Which sucks if you have taken your prereqs busting your tail and are always one point off of ultra perfect. I know some ADN program colleges (mine) do make a killing on all those people taking their prereqs hoping to get into the nursing program.
Thing is all programs are different, you have to seriously look into them, and their reputations as well.

Sorry, just had to give a different perspective here. I'm sure there are BSN programs that aren't as competitive or as thorough as your ADN program, but I'm equally sure there are other ADN's that aren't as competitive or thorough as your ADN program (what immediately comes to mind are all the ADN programs that use minimum requirements with a waiting list or lottery). Oh and I did get into the very competitive ADN program in my area (lest you think I ended up in a BSN program d/t my lack of competitiveness as an applicant). ;-)

Additionally, the pre-reqs for my BSN program are about the same (there's a requirement to take a statistics class and have two terms worth of foriegn language under your belt) as for the CC programs in the area. The nursing program is 3 years in comparison to 2 years at the CC level. There are 3 upper level electives required (we're in quarters, not semesters, so one year's worth of upper level electives of some sort). The extra year is not spent on "filler" it's spent in nursing courses. Additionally, we have 1440 hours of clinicals, and none of that is research, care plans or anything other than clinical time. I get to do all my research & care plans on my own time. As a first year student, I do go into the hospital the night before clinicals to gather patient info, but that doesn't count as clinical time. So, really....it seems that your program's clinical hours, do include research time ;-) My last two terms (so January through the begining of June) will be spent in a preceptorship. So, that will be 24 - 30 hours a week, working an RN's shift with them.

I say all this not to say which of our program's are better (a ridiculous exercise)....but to counter some assumptions in your post. It does frustrate me that, for some reason, nursing is a profession where more education is somehow seen in a negative light. That somehow, by getting a bachelors degree will make me LESS competent clinically. I just don't see how that perception exists. I get a grade in clinical, just as I do in theory. If I didn't succeed clinically, I wouldn't succeed in my program.

I wish you the best in your education and practice.

Peace,

CuriousMe