Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate my job and decided to change my career (I'm 32 years old so it's now or never). I decided to become registered nurse. However I am overwhelmed. Have no idea how i should choose the right school. Can't afford crazy expensive school but don't want to pick the cheapest one. I just need a great school with decent tuition. Any advise?

Ex-RN here. Nursing school is like law school it preps you to take the NCLEX exam to get your license in the end. Go cheap and close and realize there will be a time when in nursing school you can't do it part-time because of clinicals where you have to work almost full 8 hrs on the floor. There is also math. I know someone who is struggling passing the math entrance exam to get into nursing school. Not hard math ( I can't talk I had had Calculus III when I took it) but common sense math that most should know how to do anyway. Bone up on your math first just to get past that hurdle.

This is good advise. When I took the placement test to get into nursing school I was told most weren't getting in due to not being able to pass the math test. There was a waiting list of 300 at the time. Because I scored 100% the first time I shot up in the list and started classes right away. Bone up on your math.

I have a BA and went back and did ADN for my RN. I have a great nursing job. If you want to do NP in the future, then you will need BSN.
A license is a license.

Anonymous wrote:Do you already have a bach degree? Look into an accelerated program. Don't waste money with an ADN and don't do an online only place for your first nursing degree.

ADN works out fine, you can more than pass your state boards and get your license. Let the hospital you work for pay for your BSN later. Why do you discourage the ADN?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GMU for BSN
NoVa for associates

Get the associates degree first, then start working. Most area hospitals have tuition reimbursement programs that will help pay for your BSN. New grads with associate degrees start at about $28+ an hour, before shift differentials.

Excellent advice. Do the ADN first if you have BS already there are accelerated courses that will get you done in 18 months

Anonymous wrote:I hate my job and decided to change my career (I'm 32 years old so it's now or never). I decided to become registered nurse. However I am overwhelmed. Have no idea how i should choose the right school. Can't afford crazy expensive school but don't want to pick the cheapest one. I just need a great school with decent tuition. Any advise?

Ex-RN here. Nursing school is like law school it preps you to take the NCLEX exam to get your license in the end. Go cheap and close and realize there will be a time when in nursing school you can't do it part-time because of clinicals where you have to work almost full 8 hrs on the floor. There is also math. I know someone who is struggling passing the math entrance exam to get into nursing school. Not hard math ( I can't talk I had had Calculus III when I took it) but common sense math that most should know how to do anyway. Bone up on your math first just to get past that hurdle.

Anonymous wrote:GMU for BSN
NoVa for associates

Get the associates degree first, then start working. Most area hospitals have tuition reimbursement programs that will help pay for your BSN. New grads with associate degrees start at about $28+ an hour, before shift differentials.

Anonymous wrote:Look at the pass rates. No sense in spending $$, if you can't get licensed.

Yes! This is important. Also talk to current students if you can. I'm at NOVA for my ASN for a few reasons (need to continue working full time for $, CHEAP tuition, flexible hybrid program, GREAT NCLEX pass rates 97%), but I will have to go on to get my BSN to be employable in hospitals in this area (due to their magnet status). NOVA has a great reputation, also Georgetown!

GMU I've heard their program is a mess and they use the HESI exit exam (a test that is supposed to mimic the boards) as a gateway test and if you don't pass it you don't get your degree (something that the AASN prohibits and a practice that sneaky schools use to keep their 1st time NCLEX pass rates high). Go to Allnurses http://allnurses.com/virginia-nursing/ and you can get a lot of info about local nursing schools Good luck!!

GMU for BSN
NoVa for associates

Do you already have a bach degree? Look into an accelerated program. Don't waste money with an ADN and don't do an online only place for your first nursing degree.

Look at the pass rates. No sense in spending $$, if you can't get licensed.

OP do they have any 18 month certification courses around here? That's a really common, easy way to get to an RN if you already have your Bachelors degree.

Thank you !

Another RN here. Get the cheapest BSN you can find. School doesn't matter.

I would pick the one with the cheapest tuition, that's convenient to your house. RNs are in demand and they don't care about what school you come from. I've worked with some from Duke and they get asked all the time why they went there instead of state college. RN is more about the certification than your college.

I hate my job and decided to change my career (I'm 32 years old so it's now or never). I decided to become registered nurse. However I am overwhelmed. Have no idea how i should choose the right school. Can't afford crazy expensive school but don't want to pick the cheapest one. I just need a great school with decent tuition. Any advise?