Why don't programs take into consideration anything else?

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2010

There is no way to prove what you have seen. Anyone can say they have seen things that gives them an edge. Only things documented can be proven. This is not meant to imply you have not seen those things. Not at all. More just to demonstrate how subjective it is without the documentation. Even if they believe you, they have no way of knowing to what standards you have been taught nor the accuracy of it. I honestly do not think it is unfair at all.

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · May 25, 2010

I don't think it was held against you, it just gave the other applicants a leg up, once the pre-req points are all put in, and there are ties in numbers they look to see who has completed more courses toward their chosen degree. Take the class in the hopes that next year it will give you a leg up against someone else in the event of a tie. Some people started pre-req's and didn't get in and kept taking classes while waiting for the next application period, those that didn't get in and didn't take extra classes were most likely denied again this year. It shows them initiative on the student's part. Good luck and keep plugging away it :heartbeat

nhasty09 · May 25, 2010

I am about done with my basics and ready to apply for the nursing program, but I was wondering....should I go to a 4 year college and get it all done at once...or go get my associates and work part time while going back and getting my BA for my RN?

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · May 25, 2010

if you obtain a BA then you still will either need to enter an accelrated BSN course or an ADN course, ADN=2yrs after pre-req's BSN=4 years. Both take the same test and at the end of the day have the exact same license. the BSN can be obtained online after you get your RN. depends on the job market, some areas are flooded with BSN's so the ADN's are screwed job wise.

Streamline2010 · May 25, 2010

If you just want to work as an LPN, vo-tech schools run 1-year full time programs and they might start two or three classes per year, and do not require biology as a prereq. It's just HS diploma and score well on the admissions test.

The downside is that probably none of it will transfer to a AD or BS college curriculum, however. Some colleges might credit you for Nursing I or something more. It's rather arbitrary when you start trying to transfer things.

If you want to go to college, then knock off all of the AD or BS prereqs and gen ed classes that you can including the biology, as others have suggested. If you get A&P and microbiology out of the way before you start nursing classes, that frees up more time for studying pharmacology or respiratory or whatever other nursing subjects might require more time.

Music in My Heart · May 25, 2010

For admissions, you do not NEED to take the bio course to get in. It was being held against me because others already in the program took it.

It wasn't held against you, it was simply a criterion that worked in favor of the folks admitted.

I don't think it's fair that just because they have one science class (which is not a necessary requirement) that they get in and I don't. I know for a fact that over half of the people in the program has not experienced what I have.

It is fair. Whatever criteria the admissions committee chose to use in selecting their candidates were presumably applied to every candidate and those who most closely matched were the ones that they selected.

What would have been unfairwould have been for them to take into account your subjective experience of shadowing nurses in your mom's workplace - unless they explicitly stated that shadowing was a criterion for admission.

Your disappointment and frustration are understandable but to saddle the label "unfair" upon the admissions people seems unwarranted from what you've described.

Should I just give up now?

Of course not. You should complete whatever requirements there are and apply for as many programs as you're able. If you're as on the ball as you assert then you'll certainly gain admission to one and flourish there.

Saysfaa · May 25, 2010

Many schools take such experience into consideration - among the applications that met the lower hurdles. Lower hurdles being things like meeting a minimum overall gpa, having the required classes, having the required two letters of recommendation, having the required hours of shadowing (or alternative like cna job), having the recommended classes, meeting a higher minimum gpa in required classes. Schools vary; not every school will have all of these but it is a pretty standard list.

I agree that experience is important, so are things like work ethic, honesty, critical thinking, judgement. All of these are harder to evaluate than the elements in the list above, I think it is fair to use the less ambiguous elements to narrow the applications down to a reasonable number first.

I don't know of any schools around here that go strictly by gpa (either overall or in their list of prereq classes), so I haven't given that much thought.

honeycakes55 · May 25, 2010

What would happen if the LPN program wasn't accredited?

redessa · May 25, 2010

If the program is not accredited, you may find yourself unable to sit for the NCLEX-PN. And should you ever want to go on for an RN, you'll have to start from square 1. None of your nursing classes will count for transfer. Whereas if you choose an accredited LPN/LVN program, you can often start at the 2nd year of an RN program.

RNTutor, BSN, RN · May 25, 2010

I would stay away from unaccredited programs for any degree. You might have problems sitting for licensing exams, and you will definitely have problems transferring credits later.

Also, I wonder how well you highlighted your other experiences in your application. Did you have a nice cover letter explaining your experiences? Did you communicate how those experiences show that you are extremely motivated and increase your likelihood of being successful in nursing school? Were all of your written application materials typed, grammatically correct, and proof-read by several good writers that you know? Did you include any powerful references from people who knew (and were impressed with) your work performing nursing or related skills in the past?

A lot of people on this thread so far have really minimized the importance of real-world experience in getting accepted to nursing school (or getting accepted anywhere, for that matter). I disagree. I think it can definitely be an asset...if it is presented properly. I have personally had experiences when I have been hired for jobs that I was completely under qualified for...if they had only looked at my traditional requirements, that is. But because I was able to show them through my application materials, references, and interview that I was capable, then it became obvious to them that I was the right person to hire.

Of course, there will always be some nursing schools that are going to be 'obtuse' about it and just stick with more traditional requirements, but those are not the types of nursing schools that are going to be leaders in the field anyway. And (this is just my opinion), if schools continue to do nursing education like that, then they will not be able to keep up with the changing times.