| In considering going into the nursing profession, there | | | | National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. |
| are a few priorities that are crucial to determining | | | | When there is only a forty or fifty percent passing |
| future success. When individuals look at all of the | | | | rate on schools National Boards, this should raise a |
| criteria it becomes clear which schools would be a | | | | red flag for the prospective nursing student. There is |
| better choice. The first criteria that many people | | | | no greater disappointment then failing the boards on |
| face when going back to school is financial. Some of | | | | the first time around. |
| the factors that need to be considered about the | | | | Many hospitals will hire graduate nurses prior to their |
| school are for instance, how much will it cost per | | | | sitting for the national boards, on the premise that if |
| credit hour? | | | | they fail their national boards, one of two things will |
| Cost per credit hour depends on the school, whether | | | | take place; 1.their job as graduate nurse with the |
| or not it is accredited, a community college, a private | | | | hospital will be terminated, 2. they will be demoted to |
| college or a four year university. The other criteria | | | | a lesser position with less money, 3. they will be |
| for determining which nursing school to attend, is of | | | | demoted to a lesser position with less money and be |
| course whether or not one can obtain financial aid. | | | | offered a second chance with a specified time frame |
| Financial aid is available for many that are in the | | | | to sit for the national boards once more. None of the |
| working class. There are also Federal loans that can | | | | previous scenarios is an attractive option to any |
| be obtained with very low interest rates. It would be | | | | graduate nurse. Therefore the percentage of |
| considered a wise step to visit the financial aid office | | | | students that pass the boards at a particular school |
| of a college or university near ones home to find out | | | | should also be included in the criteria for choosing a |
| about the availability of government funding. | | | | particular nursing school. However, do not judge the |
| The next criterion, which may or may not be | | | | school too harshly on their rate of students who do |
| important for some, is the vicinity of the nursing | | | | or do not pass the national boards. |
| school. For many whom work and plan to attend | | | | The reason for this is due to the fact that some |
| school, the closer the school's location the easier the | | | | schools require a high grade point average, such as a |
| commute. In this society of multitasking, the closer | | | | four point zero just to get into the nursing program. |
| that work, home and school are to one another the | | | | This requirement will of course skew the results of |
| better. Also, gas is now a real concern. Driving fifty | | | | passing scores in favor of those with higher grade |
| miles may not have been a deterrent to some a few | | | | point averages. These criteria will of course preclude |
| years ago, but certainly with the cost of fuel now | | | | many from even entering the nursing program, since |
| days; it has become a real deterrent to many. Along | | | | many students are not four point zero in academics. |
| with the schools vicinity, one needs to look at | | | | Generally speaking, an average of seventy percent |
| whether or not the nursing school is accredited. | | | | and above passing rate on the national nursing boards |
| If someone is considering obtaining an Associates | | | | is a good predictor of the nursing school. But, it is up |
| Degree in Nursing from a non accredited nursing | | | | to the individual as to how much time and effort is |
| school, then if they decide to go on to their | | | | put into the program as to how much they get out |
| Bachelors of Nursing, they will find that they cannot | | | | of the program. |
| continue. The reason for this is due to the following; | | | | The nursing programs in general are very physically |
| an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, | | | | demanding, time consuming and mentally challenging. |
| requires and accredited degreed Nursing Program | | | | It is a very serious profession and there are those |
| from the two year Associate Degreed Nurse. What | | | | who find out that the field of nursing is not for them |
| this implies is that the two years Associate Degreed | | | | very early in the program. The best advice to those |
| Nurse who graduated from a non accredited nursing | | | | deciding on which nursing school to attend, is to use |
| school will not be able to transfer in their nursing | | | | the above mentioned criteria only as a guide, |
| courses to the four year university. | | | | because it will be up to the individual how well they |
| This may be a real stumbling block to those nurses | | | | do in the final analysis. |
| who wish to go on for a Bachelor of Science in | | | | Learn how to pass the NET the first time at The |
| Nursing. It is also important to know how the nursing | | | | Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide. |
| school graduates perform on the NCLEX®, the | | | | |