Categories: Education

Nursing School Waiting Lists: How to Get Around Them

Nursing schools all around the country have long waiting lists, and prospective nursing students may have to wait as long as three or four years to get accepted into a nursing school program.

At many nursing schools, there are hundreds of applicants competing for dozens of slots in the nursing program. This is especially true at community colleges and state universities, which are much cheaper than private schools.

There are a number of reasons for the nursing school crisis. There is a shortage of nurses nationwide, and therefore, very high demand for nurses, which means good pay (average $40,000-$50,000 a year salary for a new graduate in most states) and plenty of opportunities for overtime and sign-on bonuses. Because of this, many people want to go into the nursing field, whether they’re high school students choosing a college major in nursing, or later-in-life career changers.

Also, most nurses seek jobs at hospitals and private employers rather than schools, because those positions pay better, so schools have a hard time finding enough nurses willing to accept teaching postions.

This means that there is a shortage of nursing teachers, which means there is a limit to how many classes can be offered each year at nursing schools. So what can you do if you want to become a registered nurse, but would like to get into a nursing school soon? There are several good alternatives.

First option: become a licensed practical nurse first. These programs are usually offered at technical schools and vocational schools and some community colleges, and those programs will fill up fairly fast. They are not as competitive as registered nursing programs, however. Also, private career colleges offer those classes, and are easier to get into, although much more expensive. The LPN program takes about a year full-time or 18 months part-time.

Then, when you get your license as an LPN, you can take an LPN to RN bridge program. There are online nursing programs which will allow you to get your associate’s degree in nursing, and there are community colleges and private universities that offer this option. Or, you can remain an LPN for your career, which many people do. However, RNs make more money and can be promoted to managerial positions, so many LPNs eventually opt to become RNs.

Second option: Become a paramedic or respiratory therapist first. There are paramedic to RN bridge programs, and respiratory therapist to RN bridge progams. Some of these are offered at community colleges, and some are offered at private schools or online. If you are looking for specific tips about nursing schools and how to get into them, www.nursingschoolprograms.com is a good source of information.

Before you choose an online school, check with your state Board of Nursing to make sure that they accept a degree from that school. Not all states accept online programs, and some of them accept the LPN to RN program but not the paramedic to RN programs.

Third option: Choose a private “career college” or “for-profit college.” Some examples of these schools include Galen, Keiser, Kaplan, Concorde Career Colleges, Phoenix University, Corinthian Colleges, Inc., and others. Every state has them. They are much more expensive; a two-year Associate’s Degree in nursing program may only cost $8,000-$12,000 at a community college, not counting the costs of books and educational materials, but it will cost about $40,000 or more at a private career college.

However, you will get in to these schools much faster, and therefore you will graduate much faster and be earning a salary sooner, than you would if you waited to get into a public community college or a four year state university. And many hospitals and nursing homes and other employers will repay some or all of your tuition costs if you sign an agreement to work with them for a certain amount of time.