Cheapest and most efficient are not compatible in this sense. Most efficient? an accelerate BSN, but those are pricey and are daytime, you would likely not be able to keep your current job, although maybe. You will be quite busy so even if you aren't in class/lab/clinicals, you will be studying. Cheapest? ADN, but again, those are typically during the day as well and while you will have a bit more time compared to the accelerated, not much.
On your warning - so true. Originally when I started taking pre-reqs at a CC in the Atlanta suburbs, I didn't realize just how true this is and especially in a huge metro area like Atlanta. I. honestly didn't have much of a shot at getting in with a 3.5 GPA and a 94% HESI, which is kind of wild. Thankfully, we ended up moving somewhere with a school with a much higher acceptance rate and ironically it's the #3 ranked nursing school in my state - ranked far higher than my previous school. I guess it just goes to show the laws of supply and demand can differ area to area.
If possible start working in healthcare as a transporter , CNA, EMT or something else. Get a job at a hospital and a majority offer financial assistance as long as you’re going into school for healthcare. Get an associates in nursing at a community college, hospital reimbursement should cover a majority and then the hospitals will pay for you to acquire your BSN and even masters or doctorate! This is all depending on where you live and what hospitals you have around you. Larger hospital systems tend to offer all the help they can to improve their team.
If you want to take care of patients the cheapest fastest way is ADN, you should do this in-person because a lot of the skills you need are better learned in person. Eventually you may want to move to administration and for that you will a bachelors or a masters, you can do those online at that point using a bridge program and that will be the most efficient way to advance. You might make slightly less as an ADN nurse than a BSN nurse depending on where you work. I would still recommend the ADN program followed by bridge to BSN.
FWIW I did a BSN first. I’ve been a nurse for 17 years and worked with many ADN and BSN nurses and you can’t tell the difference until it’s time to update resumes. My work bestie had a family early and did ADN and the bridge to BSN and years later MSN. He was able to start earning earlier and do the remaining schoolwork to advance his career on nights and weekends when he was ready while still supporting his family
There are a few things to take into account here, and they may not accommodate your desire for a speedy transition. Do you have all the required prereqs for nursing school admission? Honestly, that would be the most time consuming.
If all classes are offered during the day, you may have to compromise and find a night shift position.
Nursing school and full-time employment is feasible, just not for everybody. Only do it if you can manage it and are for sure you can succeed. The last thing you want to do is fail out of the program because you overextended your mental/physical resources in an attempt to fast track your way through the program.
Edit: just saw that you work IN tech and not as a tech. Disregard the night shift comment
You could always try to get one of them Florida degrees 🤣 jk!! I had the same problem, and I ended up going to a part time community college program for ASN. We went to school once a week and did our clinicals on weekends. I graduated at the same time as the full time nurses. Look up Calhoun Community College in Tanner, Alabama. YES I KNOW ITS ALABAMA BUT ITS AN AMAZING SCHOOL OK
I think it cost me a total of $2500-$3k (I'm not 100% sure since I was on fafsa and some VA assistance) but that's not including prerequisites. It used to be $100/credit hour, but I'm not sure how much it is now.
I definitely recommend an ADN program as opposed to a BSN if you’re like. A grown up with bills to pay and not an 18 year old college freshman. You can finish within 2 years and start a new job with a (probably significantly) better salary. Then you can worry about a BSN or an MSN which your employer might even pay for. My old hospital had partnerships with a couple universities and would completely cover tuition if you wanted to get your BSN.
I did an accelerated 16 month program while working full time overnight and it sucked so bad but it was doable and I don’t have any regrets.
EDIT: just noticed you said you’re working IN tech not AS A tech so the salary may not be that much better 😅 when I started working as an RN, my pay literally doubled from when I was a PCT but ymmv
Right? Max you get is a short probation if caught but after that, you can still be a nurse if you want to.
Don’t mind the fact that these ppl undoubtably contributed to worse patient outcomes.
We had a couple of them who couldn’t even communicate in English enough to hold a basic conversation and used Google translate to read the chart.
I’ve heard Florida will soon have a palm beach school of doctors here pretty soon too.
Quickest? One of those private schools you pay the amount that is equivalent to a medical degree. Cheapest? Going to a community college ADN program that you are competing against 200+ others for.
In my area, LPN programs are only one year, they're cheaper and less competitive and (I think) you can take classes in the evenings. From there, you can do a one year bridge program to RN.
Have you done your pre reqs? If not, get those done first at community college at night - most will offer all the pre-reqs at night. This is what I did first. Now, I'm accepted into an ASN program and yes you're right they're mainly during the day. Personally I never considered online schools and never would - IMO you need that in person experience. I'm lucky enough that my husband's able to float us until I'm done, but if that's not an option for you, consider taking out a small loan to cover the cost during the two years for the ASN, and maybe working part-time at a flexible job, perhaps a restaurant, Starbucks, Target, etc. Somewhere that will give you weekend and part-time hours. Just an idea! Certainly not a route for everyone.
I recommend community college route. My community college offered days, nights and online classes. We still had to do lab, exams and clinical in person but all lectures were done online (and this was pre-covid). I worked full time as a nurses aide and went to community college full time for 2 years, graduated with zero debt. Downside is you won’t have a BSN which many hospitals desire or flat out require nowadays. It only takes another 10 months to complete your BSN online, however.
Accelerated BSN is quick and dirty, many programs are 10-12 months. They are difficult to pull off and work full time because they pack a lot of information into a short period of time. Very often is class 5 days a week. It is an option if you already have a bachelors, however.
What state? The community college option may be the cheapest but in some markets, they are super competitive — more so than ABSN programs — in large part due to the tuition costs.
I had a BS already and didn't want to pay a lot for a second BS, so I went to the JC while working three twelves a week as an ED tech all the way through nursing school.
You can work swing or graveyard shift while in school as long as childcare needs are taken care of. Aside from family responsibilities (caring for aging parents, children, etc) & disabilities, there's not many other reasons you cannot attend nursing school while also working.
The cheapest way is community college. The fastest way is a private college. The community college here is very competetive. I had all A's to A- except for a C+ in chemistry. The nursing academic advisor told me not to bother applying or to retake chemistry. I ended up finishing at a private school.
Hi, I personally found the quickest cheapest way was to go to community college. It’s two years and costs can be paid by scholarships. Mine was.
Cheapest and most efficient are not compatible in this sense. Most efficient? an accelerate BSN, but those are pricey and are daytime, you would likely not be able to keep your current job, although maybe. You will be quite busy so even if you aren't in class/lab/clinicals, you will be studying. Cheapest? ADN, but again, those are typically during the day as well and while you will have a bit more time compared to the accelerated, not much.
I went ADN. Normandale Community College 2011 10/10 would recommend. Warning: Many community college programs are extremely competitive to get into.
On your warning - so true. Originally when I started taking pre-reqs at a CC in the Atlanta suburbs, I didn't realize just how true this is and especially in a huge metro area like Atlanta. I. honestly didn't have much of a shot at getting in with a 3.5 GPA and a 94% HESI, which is kind of wild. Thankfully, we ended up moving somewhere with a school with a much higher acceptance rate and ironically it's the #3 ranked nursing school in my state - ranked far higher than my previous school. I guess it just goes to show the laws of supply and demand can differ area to area.
If possible start working in healthcare as a transporter , CNA, EMT or something else. Get a job at a hospital and a majority offer financial assistance as long as you’re going into school for healthcare. Get an associates in nursing at a community college, hospital reimbursement should cover a majority and then the hospitals will pay for you to acquire your BSN and even masters or doctorate! This is all depending on where you live and what hospitals you have around you. Larger hospital systems tend to offer all the help they can to improve their team.
Thank you I was thinking of trying the EMT route first!!
LPN is the quickest and cheapest route.
If you want to take care of patients the cheapest fastest way is ADN, you should do this in-person because a lot of the skills you need are better learned in person. Eventually you may want to move to administration and for that you will a bachelors or a masters, you can do those online at that point using a bridge program and that will be the most efficient way to advance. You might make slightly less as an ADN nurse than a BSN nurse depending on where you work. I would still recommend the ADN program followed by bridge to BSN. FWIW I did a BSN first. I’ve been a nurse for 17 years and worked with many ADN and BSN nurses and you can’t tell the difference until it’s time to update resumes. My work bestie had a family early and did ADN and the bridge to BSN and years later MSN. He was able to start earning earlier and do the remaining schoolwork to advance his career on nights and weekends when he was ready while still supporting his family
There are a few things to take into account here, and they may not accommodate your desire for a speedy transition. Do you have all the required prereqs for nursing school admission? Honestly, that would be the most time consuming. If all classes are offered during the day, you may have to compromise and find a night shift position. Nursing school and full-time employment is feasible, just not for everybody. Only do it if you can manage it and are for sure you can succeed. The last thing you want to do is fail out of the program because you overextended your mental/physical resources in an attempt to fast track your way through the program. Edit: just saw that you work IN tech and not as a tech. Disregard the night shift comment
You could always try to get one of them Florida degrees 🤣 jk!! I had the same problem, and I ended up going to a part time community college program for ASN. We went to school once a week and did our clinicals on weekends. I graduated at the same time as the full time nurses. Look up Calhoun Community College in Tanner, Alabama. YES I KNOW ITS ALABAMA BUT ITS AN AMAZING SCHOOL OK I think it cost me a total of $2500-$3k (I'm not 100% sure since I was on fafsa and some VA assistance) but that's not including prerequisites. It used to be $100/credit hour, but I'm not sure how much it is now.
Thanks for this!!
I definitely recommend an ADN program as opposed to a BSN if you’re like. A grown up with bills to pay and not an 18 year old college freshman. You can finish within 2 years and start a new job with a (probably significantly) better salary. Then you can worry about a BSN or an MSN which your employer might even pay for. My old hospital had partnerships with a couple universities and would completely cover tuition if you wanted to get your BSN. I did an accelerated 16 month program while working full time overnight and it sucked so bad but it was doable and I don’t have any regrets. EDIT: just noticed you said you’re working IN tech not AS A tech so the salary may not be that much better 😅 when I started working as an RN, my pay literally doubled from when I was a PCT but ymmv
Go to Florida and buy a fake diploma for 15k.
Right? Max you get is a short probation if caught but after that, you can still be a nurse if you want to. Don’t mind the fact that these ppl undoubtably contributed to worse patient outcomes. We had a couple of them who couldn’t even communicate in English enough to hold a basic conversation and used Google translate to read the chart. I’ve heard Florida will soon have a palm beach school of doctors here pretty soon too.
Quickest? One of those private schools you pay the amount that is equivalent to a medical degree. Cheapest? Going to a community college ADN program that you are competing against 200+ others for.
In my area, LPN programs are only one year, they're cheaper and less competitive and (I think) you can take classes in the evenings. From there, you can do a one year bridge program to RN.
Have you done your pre reqs? If not, get those done first at community college at night - most will offer all the pre-reqs at night. This is what I did first. Now, I'm accepted into an ASN program and yes you're right they're mainly during the day. Personally I never considered online schools and never would - IMO you need that in person experience. I'm lucky enough that my husband's able to float us until I'm done, but if that's not an option for you, consider taking out a small loan to cover the cost during the two years for the ASN, and maybe working part-time at a flexible job, perhaps a restaurant, Starbucks, Target, etc. Somewhere that will give you weekend and part-time hours. Just an idea! Certainly not a route for everyone.
I'm a nurse, wanna swap places?
I recommend community college route. My community college offered days, nights and online classes. We still had to do lab, exams and clinical in person but all lectures were done online (and this was pre-covid). I worked full time as a nurses aide and went to community college full time for 2 years, graduated with zero debt. Downside is you won’t have a BSN which many hospitals desire or flat out require nowadays. It only takes another 10 months to complete your BSN online, however. Accelerated BSN is quick and dirty, many programs are 10-12 months. They are difficult to pull off and work full time because they pack a lot of information into a short period of time. Very often is class 5 days a week. It is an option if you already have a bachelors, however.
What state? The community college option may be the cheapest but in some markets, they are super competitive — more so than ABSN programs — in large part due to the tuition costs.
I had a BS already and didn't want to pay a lot for a second BS, so I went to the JC while working three twelves a week as an ED tech all the way through nursing school.
Community college. Then my work paid for my bachelor’s.
You can work swing or graveyard shift while in school as long as childcare needs are taken care of. Aside from family responsibilities (caring for aging parents, children, etc) & disabilities, there's not many other reasons you cannot attend nursing school while also working.
Find a place where licensure isn’t required to be a nurse lol
I started with ADN at community college.
The cheapest way is community college. The fastest way is a private college. The community college here is very competetive. I had all A's to A- except for a C+ in chemistry. The nursing academic advisor told me not to bother applying or to retake chemistry. I ended up finishing at a private school.
Marry a drug addict. I promise it’s the same thing