Why do you think for profit schools becoming so common with nursing?

[pixiestudent2]

My question is, why nursing? Do you think it's going to devalue the nursing profession?

2 new for profit schools just came to my area, there were none as of 2 years ago.

So that means even more grads, causing a bigger glut.

Most of these schools have bad reputations and have multiple lawsuits, and generally lack accreditation.

Do you think people will begin to distrust nurses now that so many aren't even going to "real" colleges?

Why aren't other occupations being targeted like PTA, OTA, respiratory therapy? They are all two year degrees that make decent living. Maybe they are though, just not in my area.

I'm not really talking specifics, just making sweeping generalizations, I'm sure there are profit schools that provide a solid education.

I'm just wondering if anyone thinks this trend will impact nursing, if at all.

[pixiestudent2]

And I'm not bashing, those schools, if I was in a different situation one of those schools might have been an option for me.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I think for-profit schools exist because some who's DREAM it is to become a nurse have absoultely no other recourse except to apply to these "schools". If your credit is good enough, you can buy that coveted nursing degree. Some of these institutions, in my opinion, are litle more than legalized loan sharks who promise you a nursing degree, nothing more. Passing the NCLEX and securing a job is a whole 'nother ball of wax.

[Dranger]

Good discussion, there is a huge proliferation of for-profit schools in the NP realm. My guess is because many of these schools are flexible with little to no entry barriers that many people are drawn to them.

It is peculiar that for-profit and online seem exclusively related to nursing. There is only 1 for profit med school in existence as opposed to dozens of nursing schools.

Even scarier is the rate many beside nurses are leaving and jumping onto the NP bandwagon. As I have said before my ICU has only a handful of nurses with over 5 years experience and the majority of our nurses are in online NP (mostly for-profit) schools.

The problem lies with little to no REAL regulation from the nursing regulatory bodies. The medical community and AMA strictly regulate how many medical schools can form and they have a rigid set of entrance requirements. Nursing does not.

[pixiestudent2]

Do you guys think nurses will still stay the most trusted profession?

Do you think wages will drop?

Will nurses lose some "prestige" now that anyone can become a nurse?

I'm scared nursing is going to become the new for profit poster child degree like medical assisting.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

The problem lies with little to no REAL regulation from the nursing regulatory bodies. The medical community and AMA strictly regulate how many medical schools can form and they have a rigid set of entrance requirements. Nursing does not.

Why is there no regulation? Is it a financial issue? Or a lack of power?

Just curious, since I know little to nothing about healthcare regulation.

[Purple_roses]

I don't think this will affect how others view nurses, simply because a degree doesn't get you an RN job. Passing NCLEX does. The majority of RNs do not come from for-profit schools.

Also, hospitals are choosy. I spoke with the director of the spinal center near me, and she informed that she would absolutely not hire students from certain schools, and the for-profit in my area was listed. Grads from these schools simply aren't getting as big of an opportunity to degrade society's view of nurses.

I am not saying that a graduate from there cannot become a competent nurse. I am saying it is harder for them to do so. These schools are known for inconsistency as far as teachers are concerned, and some have even closed down mid-semester,leaving the students without a clear direction of where to go next. Their credits are often not accepted at other schools. It would be difficult to become a well rounded nurse with this kind of environment.

[OCNRN63, RN]

"Follow the money." That's why.

Bonus points to anyone who knows where that quote came from.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

The problem lies with little to no REAL regulation from the nursing regulatory bodies. The medical community and AMA strictly regulate how many medical schools can form and they have a rigid set of entrance requirements. Nursing does not.

This. The Nursing community does nothing to protect itself.

[elkpark]

"Follow the money." That's why.

Bonus points to anyone who knows where that quote came from.

I always think of "All the President's Men." I don't know if Deep Throat stole it from someone else ...