4 answers
Fairy
Student
Spring, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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I am a high school senior who is really interested in pursuing a BSN. However, I am unsure which college would be the best fit. I live in Houston, TX. I am primarily interested in competitive universities and I always look for ones with low acceptance rates, as I have a pretty decent GPA and good stats and would like to challenge myself further. Please provide me with some advice on what my priorities should be when looking for a college. Also, does it matter if a college has a high acceptance rate? I feel that attending a university with a high acceptance rate makes me believe that I am among people who may not be as competitive, and I feel that I deserve to challenge myself more.
Also would like to know if it would be easier for me to get an in-campus job as soon I will get my EKG and phlebotomy certification through High school. Like any universities that have good medical centers nearby that will get me a part-time job. Please any sort of advice would be appreciated thanks!! Let me know if you all have good recommendations for cheap and good universities.
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4 answers
Maureen Komperda
Nurse Practitioner
44
Answers
Elmhurst, Illinois
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
Wow Fairy,
You are in a state loaded with BSN nursing programs. I would recommend going to US NEWS & WORLD REPORTS and type in best BSN nursing programs in Texas or the United States. I quickly went online to do some quick research, University of TX, Austin is 17 in the nation. Austin also has a medical corridor of hospitals with some of the finest in the nation. I went to the University of Evansville in Evansville, IN for my BSN then onto University of IL at Chicago (MS in nursing) & Rush University in Chicago (for my NP) (U of I and Rush are ranked in the top 10-20 nursing schools in the nation in any given year).
Several important factors you want to consider in a nursing school:
1. Accreditation of a nursing school by: Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) AND Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
2. National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) pass rate for the state nursing board exam (% of students who pass the nursing boards to obtain their RN). How successful is the school at helping you achieve your goal of BSN/RN?
3. Student to Clinical Instructor ratio: how many students does each instructor supervise during a clinical rotation. Do you get time with the instructor during your rotation or are the clinical nurses on a unit or in a clinic solely in charge of you.
4. What specialty of nursing are you interested in? You will have rotations in: medicine, surgery, obstetrics/women's health, pediatrics, acute care and more. I knew I could not care of children during my pediatric rotation. I felt like I was hurting them even though I love caring for children.
5. I would highly recommend either working or volunteering at a clinic or hospital to help you figure out your interests. I was a volunteer at Holy Cross Hospital in a surgical inpatient unit and a nursing assistant in the ED of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on the night shift, boy did I learn a great deal.
I hope this helps. Yes, you want to challenge yourself but choose a school that will expose you to the kind of nursing you would like to practice!
Best wishes, Maureen
You are in a state loaded with BSN nursing programs. I would recommend going to US NEWS & WORLD REPORTS and type in best BSN nursing programs in Texas or the United States. I quickly went online to do some quick research, University of TX, Austin is 17 in the nation. Austin also has a medical corridor of hospitals with some of the finest in the nation. I went to the University of Evansville in Evansville, IN for my BSN then onto University of IL at Chicago (MS in nursing) & Rush University in Chicago (for my NP) (U of I and Rush are ranked in the top 10-20 nursing schools in the nation in any given year).
Several important factors you want to consider in a nursing school:
1. Accreditation of a nursing school by: Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) AND Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
2. National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) pass rate for the state nursing board exam (% of students who pass the nursing boards to obtain their RN). How successful is the school at helping you achieve your goal of BSN/RN?
3. Student to Clinical Instructor ratio: how many students does each instructor supervise during a clinical rotation. Do you get time with the instructor during your rotation or are the clinical nurses on a unit or in a clinic solely in charge of you.
4. What specialty of nursing are you interested in? You will have rotations in: medicine, surgery, obstetrics/women's health, pediatrics, acute care and more. I knew I could not care of children during my pediatric rotation. I felt like I was hurting them even though I love caring for children.
5. I would highly recommend either working or volunteering at a clinic or hospital to help you figure out your interests. I was a volunteer at Holy Cross Hospital in a surgical inpatient unit and a nursing assistant in the ED of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on the night shift, boy did I learn a great deal.
I hope this helps. Yes, you want to challenge yourself but choose a school that will expose you to the kind of nursing you would like to practice!
Best wishes, Maureen
Rachel Gilmer
RN, Labor & Delivery; College Faculty
21
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
Wow! It sounds like you are ready for a challenge!
Nursing School, no matter where you go will be CHALLENGING!
The name/prestige of the school matters less than the NCLEX pass rate of the school. I suggest you look into the pass rate of the school and what resources are truly available to you while at the school to ensure you get all the assistance you need in passing your courses.
Some schools use a program called ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute, Inc) in helping to prepare the students for the Next Generation NCLEX exam, which is very successful. When you take these assessments, the results show where your strengths and weaknesses are so that you know where to concentrate your studying.
State schools (colleges and universities) are less expensive than private schools usually, but you can consider completing your nursing prerequisites at a community college, then transferring into the university. This will reduce your overall cost as per unit, community colleges are cheaper. This was the route I took. Some colleges have affiliations with universities that guarantee acceptance into the university if you sustain a high GPA.
Depending on high the demand is to get into a specific school, there may be a 'lottery system' for acceptance, unfortunately that means you are not guaranteed acceptance the year you want to start, so you may want to look into the acceptance policies for the schools you are considering.
Again, no matter what school you attend, the only thing that matters in the end is that you pass the NCLEX. Find the school with the better pass rates and least cost (if that is a consideration). ADN and BSN students take the SAME exam.
Nursing School, no matter where you go will be CHALLENGING!
The name/prestige of the school matters less than the NCLEX pass rate of the school. I suggest you look into the pass rate of the school and what resources are truly available to you while at the school to ensure you get all the assistance you need in passing your courses.
Some schools use a program called ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute, Inc) in helping to prepare the students for the Next Generation NCLEX exam, which is very successful. When you take these assessments, the results show where your strengths and weaknesses are so that you know where to concentrate your studying.
State schools (colleges and universities) are less expensive than private schools usually, but you can consider completing your nursing prerequisites at a community college, then transferring into the university. This will reduce your overall cost as per unit, community colleges are cheaper. This was the route I took. Some colleges have affiliations with universities that guarantee acceptance into the university if you sustain a high GPA.
Depending on high the demand is to get into a specific school, there may be a 'lottery system' for acceptance, unfortunately that means you are not guaranteed acceptance the year you want to start, so you may want to look into the acceptance policies for the schools you are considering.
Again, no matter what school you attend, the only thing that matters in the end is that you pass the NCLEX. Find the school with the better pass rates and least cost (if that is a consideration). ADN and BSN students take the SAME exam.
Wilvind Abellar
RN
7
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Wilvind’s Answer
I wholeheartedly agree with the answers above. Nursing would always be challenging no matter what school you go to and both the ADN and BSN do take the same board exams. The better the school, the better the student. It's always up to the student to succeed no matter what the acceptance rating is. Don't based yourself on the ratings but what you will learn from the teachers or professors that teaches it. One professor in college of mine said that it is important that the school is ACEN certified. I agree with that statement especially when you are getting more degrees because of the courses you took. Just remember this, it's not what your GPA or school acceptance says, it's when you have a license that says it all. Because when your licensed, it says that you did the work and you are capable, knowledgeable , competent, and certified of doing the work.
Olivia Kelly
Registered Nurse
2
Answers
Apache Junction, Arizona
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
I'm really impressed by your enthusiasm! It's evident that you're truly invested in the prestige of the school you're aiming for.
1. Considering schools with a range of acceptance rates is a smart move. Remember, the acceptance rate isn't the be-all and end-all of a school's worth!
2. The place you earn your degree doesn't hold as much weight as the connections you make during your course. Treat your clinicals like they're your "job interviews". I suggest securing a position as a CNA or a nurse extern in the gap between your third and fourth year of school. Many nurse managers oversee not just nurses, but CNAs too, and catching their eye is a fantastic way to land a job after you clear your boards. Some might even offer you a job before your board exams, provided you pass them.
3. Wishing you all the best in your future pursuits!
1. Considering schools with a range of acceptance rates is a smart move. Remember, the acceptance rate isn't the be-all and end-all of a school's worth!
2. The place you earn your degree doesn't hold as much weight as the connections you make during your course. Treat your clinicals like they're your "job interviews". I suggest securing a position as a CNA or a nurse extern in the gap between your third and fourth year of school. Many nurse managers oversee not just nurses, but CNAs too, and catching their eye is a fantastic way to land a job after you clear your boards. Some might even offer you a job before your board exams, provided you pass them.
3. Wishing you all the best in your future pursuits!
Thank you so much!
Fairy