How Much Does Nursing School Cost
Cost depends on the program, including whether you attend a state university or a private non-profit or for-profit school, as well as the type of program in which you enroll. For example, tuition for a four-year BSN program may differ from that of a two-year ADN program.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2019-2020 school year, the average total tuition, fees, room and board rates for a full-time student in a public four-year institution was $21,035 the cost for private non-profit and for-profit four-year schools was $45,932 the cost for public two-year institutions was $11,391 and the cost for two-year private nonprofit and for-profit institutions was $26,749.
Nursing students may also incur additional costs, such as purchasing scrubs for their preceptorship and paying fees for their licensing exam.
Are Nursing Prerequisites Hard
The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as a professor’s teaching style, the number of assignments, and the level of interest or skill for the subject matter. Some nursing students may find classes harder than others, doing well in a biology course, for example, but struggling with statistics.
Focus On Reading The Sections Of The Book That Your Professors Talk About In Class
Thats it. End of story.
Dont believe me? Thats fine. Believe these students who have followed our study tips and totally rocked it.
This stuff works. And I walk you through exactly how to study in THIS video here, and I also give you the full step-by-step nursing school study process here in THIS FREE checklist. The link is in the description for you to get it.
Now, youre probably wondering, Well Christina, thats great and all. But I need to wait until I start nursing school to do that. What can I do NOW before starting nursing school?
And I have the answer for you, my friend.
Did you know, that when you start nursing school, within the first 2 weeks you will have a dosage calculation exam? This is where you need to calculate doses for pharmacology using MATH.
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Personal Goals That Align With Nursing School
The first requirement of making the career change to nursing and applying to accelerated nursing school is to ensure its the right path for you. Think about your career goals and why you want to be a nurse, and why a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is important to you. Whether its because of the job opportunities, higher salary, growth potential or depth of clinical knowledge, consider why a BSN is the right path for you.
Also consider the time commitment of nursing school, and ask yourself if youre prepared to spend 40 hours a week on the blended nursing school curriculum, consisting of online coursework, hands-on labs and in-hospital clinical rotations.
Applying to nursing school is not something that should be taken lightly. Once youre clear about how nursing school fits with your vision, its time to focus on the other more subjective requirements to get into nursing school.
Choosing The Right Nursing School For You
There are many factors to consider when choosing which nursing schools to apply to. When researching potential programs, think about the following:
LOCATION
Are you interested in relocating and living on campus, or do you want to go to a local commuter school? Having the ability to move locations offers a wider variety of schools to consider while choosing a program close to home may be more affordable.
MODALITY
Are you interested solely in an on-campus experience? Do you want the flexibility of taking some or all of your courses virtually? Depending on your circumstances, it may be possible to attend nursing school online, such as earning your BSN degree through an online BSN program. However, you will be required to complete a preceptorship in a clinical setting where you are located.
SCHOOL AND CLASS SIZES
Do you want to attend a larger university with a recognized brand? Do you want smaller classes and more face-time with professors? When researching programs, be sure to look at the population of the university, as well as the number of nursing students in the program and average class sizes.
COST AND FINANCIAL AID
Affordability is another important factor to consider. In addition to looking at tuition costs, see what grant and scholarship opportunities are available through the nursing school.
PROGRAM QUALITY
RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS
PREVIOUS EDUCATION
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Faqs Regarding Specific Course Requirements
Q: What counts as an elective?
A: An elective is any academic course that is not being used to satisfy another course prerequisite. Physical education or kinesiology, vocational or technical courses, and remedial courses are not considered academic courses and cannot be counted toward the elective requirement. Examples of courses that do not meet the elective requirement include computer courses, nursing courses, and yoga or other fitness courses. The UTHealth Registrars Office will use the highest graded electives available on the transcript to calculate your prerequisite GPA.
Q: Can a graduate level course count towards the elective requirement?
A: No, only undergraduate courses can satisfy the requirement.
Q: What courses satisfy the visual and performing arts requirement?
A: Generally, any course with a prefix such as ARTS, DANC, MUAP, MUEN, MUSI, DRAM will satisfy the requirement. We accept dance, music, art, and drama courses. We also accept art, theater, and music history courses.
Q: Will a critical thinking course count toward the philosophy requirement?
A: Yes, critical thinking does count for the philosophy requirement. Intro to the Humanities does not count however, that course can be used as an elective.
Q: I took my prerequisites or received an undergraduate degree from a university outside Texas. Am I still required to take Texas Government?
A: Yes, all students pursuing the BSN degree in Texas must have taken Texas Government.
Tip #4 Recognize Your Learning Style
Everybody learns differently. Some people learn best by listening to lectures, others by reading textbooks. Some students need a lot of interaction to learn, while others can sit in a classroom and be perfectly content, not speaking to anyone the entire day.
The key to succeeding in nursing school is understanding your learning style and adapting your studying methods to fit you. If you’re somebody who learns best by listening to lectures, you’ll want to find recordings of all the lessons for the classes you’re taking and listen to them on your commute or while you’re working out.
The Notability App is what I used for recording lectures and taking notes on power point slides during nursing school. I found it super helpful and instrumental in my success in nursing school. Definitely check it out.
If you’re a visual learner, make sure to use lots of diagrams and charts when studying, and try rewriting your notes in a different color every time you review them.
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Ways To Increase Your Chances Of Being Admitted To Nursing School
Becoming a nurse is what youve always wanted. It means that increasing your chances of getting into nursing school is crucial. While getting admitted into nursing school is not always easy, it can be if you know and understand what it takes to make it successful.
Stay updated
Reading up on Science Daily or American Journal of Nursing publications is the smartest way to keep updated on current issues and trends in the nursing field. The challenges the profession is facing with the advent of COVID-19 are insights that are provided by these publications.
Learn First Aid/CPR
Aspiring nursing students will find the cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid skills handy when its time to enter nursing school. College applications get a boost when a potential student is CPR/First Aid-certified.
Attend the right classes
Science and math courses are the things that are heavily relied on in nursing. It follows that the obvious priority should be on these classes while in high school. Taking as many courses in these subjects helps an aspiring student meet the prerequisite requirements of nursing schools.
Become a member of HOSA
HOSA or Health Occupations Students of America is a group that helps to connect high school students to the nursing world by way of scholarships, events, competitions, and other resources. Becoming a member offers great opportunities to aspiring nursing students.
Become a volunteer
Find out about waiting lists
What General Education Classes Do I Need To Take For A Nursing Major
A degree in nursing prepare students for both theoretical aspects of medicine and practical hands-on experience working with patients. Universities offer students who are interested in pursuing this line of work a variety of options including associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. Generally, students who decide to major in nursing complete a Bachelor of Science degree, which includes a number of general education classes.
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Prerequisite Classes For A Nursing Program
An education to become a Registered Nurse starts before entering a program. Prerequisites are courses that must be completed before being allowed into a nursing program. Some classes may take longer than others, as some require one course in order to progress to another. Specific required classes will vary from school to school, but there are some that are common to most programs. The typical time to complete the needed courses is about two years.
Applying To Nursing School
What are the BSN programs in Oregon?
Oregon Health and Science University offers programs at its Portland campus as well as its partner universities in the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education around the state:
- Eastern Oregon University
- Western Oregon University
- Southern Oregon University
- Oregon Institute of Technology
Several community colleges in Oregon are also partners in the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education and in addition to the ADN offer the OHSU bachelors degree on their campus with similar prerequisite and entry requirements.
- Clackamas Community College
- Mt. Hood Community College
- Lane Community College
- Southwestern Oregon Community College
- Rogue Community College
- Umpqua Community College
- Blue Mountain Community College
There are five private nursing schools in Oregon, all in the Portland area:
- Concordia University
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Nursing School Entrance Exams
All nursing schools do not require you take a nursing school entrance exam. But should you be required youll find an assortment of potentially required tests:
- PAX-RN, or the Pre-Admission Exam for RN students, developed and delivered through the National League for Nursing . The exam is broken down into 3 major parts: verbal, science, and math skills.
- TEAS, Test of Essential Academic Skills, includes 4 major parts: reading, math, English, science.
- NET, Nurse Entrance Test, tests candidates in 6 areas: reading, math, stress, social interaction, testing abilities, learning skills.
- Health Education Systems, Inc. exam
Nursing Career Outlook And Salary
According to nursing job projections from the BLS, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 9% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The increase in nursing jobs is due in part to the aging baby boomer population, which will need additional nursing care as they continue to develop chronic conditions that need management, such as diabetes, dementia and heart disease.
According to salary data for registered nurses, the median annual wage for RNs was $77,600 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $59,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $120,250.
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Associate Degree Nursing Programs Without Prerequisites
Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois offers a four-semester Associate Degree Nursing program without prerequisites, as long as the student does not need to take any developmental classes. Although the college encourages students to take general education courses before beginning the nursing courses, students do have the option of taking both general education and nursing courses simultaneously.
In Hickory, North Carolina, Catawba Community College offers a five-semester ADN program the program has no prerequisites as long as the incoming student has completed high school biology and chemistry. In the western part of the country, Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota offers a two-year Associate of Arts in Nursing degree that does not require prerequisite classes. A student in this program does have to take general education classes the program includes two summer semesters in addition to the traditional fall and spring semesters in order to accommodate these classes. In Crown Point and Fort Wayne, Indiana, St. Francis University offers a four-semester ADN program without prerequisites, provided that the incoming student does not need developmental classes and has taken high school chemistry. In Sioux City, Iowa, students can enroll in St. Lukes Colleges five-semester Associate of Science in Nursing program without completing any prerequisites.
Tip #6 Build Your Support System
Nursing school is a challenging time, both academically and emotionally. It’s essential to have a robust support system in place to help you succeed.
Here are some tips for building your support system:
– Talk to your family and friends or fellow nursing students about your goals and ask for their support.
– Join a nursing student group or online community forum where you can share study tips and encouragement with other students.
– Find a mentor who can help guide you through the challenges of nursing school.
– Look for resources such as tutors or study groups to help you stay on track academically.
– Lean on your loved ones when you need emotional support during tough times.
Having a supportive network will help make the journey to nursing school much more effortless. With the right people in your corner, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way.
And don’t forget to prioritize your mental and physical health.
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Apply To Your Chosen Programs
Once youve determined the type of nurse youd like to become and have identified some programs that meet your criteria, its time to start applying to nursing schools. Filling out an application can seem daunting, but just remember that every nurse who came before you had to clear the same hurdle.
Also note that many nursing hopefuls find it useful to block off a few hours when it comes time to fill out an application. You will need to pay close attention to the application guidelines and any supplemental materials required of you, such as essays and letters of recommendation.
Be sure to also pay close attention to any deadlines listed on the programs website and, if at all possible, submit your application early it can help reinforce your eagerness and commitment, while also showing the school that youre both prepared and reliable. This will also provide you with some extra time for the program personnel to contact you if any supplemental application materials are needed before the deadline.
You May Feel Overwhelmed On The First Day But Focus One Week At A Time
Your first few months will acclimate you to the seemingly impossible demands of nursing education. Many students wonder how they are going to keep up with the rigor of it all. Be prepared that you may see classmates drop out, but thats ok. School or the nursing profession isnt for everyone, and you have your own unique academic and career journey.
Focus one week at a time, and by the halfway point, you will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Having a support system is also essential for your well-being. Consider reaching out to friends, family members, or fellow nursing students who can be there if you feel overwhelmed.
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Additional Tips For High School Students
In addition to the taking the courses mentioned above, there are three other recommendations Id make for high school students:
Human Physiology With Lab
In general, if you completed an Associate Degree in Nursing from a California community college, the physiology course required for your ADN program will satisfy the RN-BSN prerequisite. If you completed your nursing degree at a foreign institution, you may be required to submit a course description or syllabus from your previous science classes to determine if the content completed satisfies this requirement.
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Will My Previous Courses Meet The Golden Four University Requirements
If you are unsure if the courses you have completed meet the university requirements, you can usewww.assist.org to double check. This website lists all the California Community Colleges and all transferable courses at those colleges. This is a very helpful resource for checking your Golden Four prerequisite classes.
To double check a course on www.assist.org, follow these steps:
If you need more guidance using www.assist.org, the website has a tutorial which will walk you through the process of checking your courses. Click the following link to access the tutorial: ASSIST Tutorial