Are any of you currently enrolled in the BSN/Nursing program at VCU or know anyone in it/Currently are RN/CRNA?

Should I apply as a freshmen in college when enrolled at VCU to the program, or when I'm a sophomore? Applying as a freshmen doesn't that mean that they look at highschool GPA? Rather than if you were to apply as a sophomore, they would look at your college freshmen GPA?

I heard that the nursing program is very competitive and only accept thirty freshmen plus 30 sophomores to enroll. Wouldn't they have to look at your GPA in highschool if you're applying as a freshmen?

What's popular is to complete the RN program at community college, then apply for the BSN completion program at a four year school. VCU and UVA both have BSN completion programs intended for registered nurses with associate degrees.

Still, even at the community college level, getting into the nursing program is competitive. You will have to complete 15-30 credits of general studies, and unless you have a 4.0 GPA, you aren't getting into the RN program.



You might want to check out Bon Secours in Richmond. The hospital system has its own nursing college.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2015 01:34AM by eesh.

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's popular is to complete the RN program at
> community college, then apply for the BSN
> completion program at a four year school. VCU and
> UVA both have BSN completion programs intended for
> registered nurses with associate degrees.
>
> Still, even at the community college level,
> getting into the nursing program is competitive.
> You will have to complete 15-30 credits of general
> studies, and unless you have a 4.0 GPA, you aren't
> getting into the RN program.
>
>
>
> You might want to check out Bon Secours in
> Richmond. The hospital system has its own nursing
> college.



Thank you so much for your input! I appreciate it so much.

You can try applying for the traditional BS Program as a college freshmen if you are considered as highly qualified. If not, like what they said above, try applying for a RN program at a community college. Then you can go for RN-BS Program at VCU.

Very competitive even at community college level. Most applicants have a gpa of 3.7-4.0 but they accept from 3.5.

Just asking, why do you want to become a RN? It seems like you're not yet in college and you've already decided to head towards this field. It's not going to be easy if you're just in it for financial stability.

kangaroora Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just asking, why do you want to become a RN? It
> seems like you're not yet in college and you've
> already decided to head towards this field. It's
> not going to be easy if you're just in it for
> financial stability.


The ones who have been nurses for 20 plus years for the money hate it

http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/nurse-rn/Want-leave-nursing-advice-please/t451784/c2555019#c2555019

maybe not a good choice? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kangaroora Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just asking, why do you want to become a RN? It
> > seems like you're not yet in college and you've
> > already decided to head towards this field.
> It's
> > not going to be easy if you're just in it for
> > financial stability.
>
>
> The ones who have been nurses for 20 plus years
> for the money hate it
>
> http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/nurse-rn/Want-leav
> e-nursing-advice-please/t451784/c2555019#c2555019

It's 50/50 for me.

I've been an RN for over 20 years. I completed the nursing program at a community college, passed the NCLEX and then pursued the "RN to BSN" accelerated pathway at a 4-year institution.

Admission was fairly competitive at the community college level but having completed the A.A.S degree in nursing and passing the NCLEX assured me of getting into the program at the 4-year university level. From that point on, it was only another 30 credit hours to complete the BSN.

It was, however, quite challenging to complete the 30 credits because, back then, there were no computer courses and distance learning for any of the content and requirements. Working rotating shifts as a new nurse in an ICU was the biggest hurdle as some nurse managers wouldn't always accommodate the RN going to school. I was fortunate, mine did. However, when she left a new one came who wasn't accommodating at all. Add to that that several courses were only offered during one semester rather than year-round and course times were also very limited (sometimes only 1 or 2 different course times in one semester during the entire year), that helped to stretch out the time needed to complete my BSN. After that, I completed an MS degree and now I'm done with academia.

The money isn't bad at $80k+ / year. Although I do hands-on patient care, I'm fortunate to be in a postion which doesn't require me to work nights, weekends and holidays or to be "on-call".

If I had to do it all over again, however, I'd probably study accounting or government or perhaps something else, because, regardless of which profession one finally settles into, one always pays a price - either on the front end through the cost of paying for classes, working while going to school and time to complete the degree, or on the back end in terms of paying back student loans, doing all the grunt work and crummy shifts and not having a “life” with friends because when they're working, you're often at home - sleeping. When you drive to work, most people are coming home from work. When family and friends go places and do things on weekends and holidays, you're often working. That's why I'd probably pursue something different. In the long run, however it pays off. Most things worth pursuing always do - if one puts in the work.

If you do choose to pursue the nursing degree and you intend on working as well, make sure you don't work more than 16-20 hours / week. You will be doing more reading, researching, studying and practicing than you ever imagined. Get a job as a certified nursing assistant or nursing tech. You'll need to get the certification(s) but you'll be working in an environment wich will provide you with experience and insight not only into your future profession but provide you with more knowledge and insight into your nursing studies. If you're lucky, your employer will provide some tuition assistance (may depend on the number of hours your work).

However, NEVER forget the knowledge required nor the responsibility and liability working as an RN entails. There's also an immense amount of satisfaction and financial stability the job can provide.

To be considered for admission to the School of Nursing, applicants must:

Be eligible for readmission or be in good standing at the last college or university attended
Submit a completed application with all required materials to the School of Nursing
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on a scale of 4.0 on all college course work
Present no grades lower than B in anatomy, physiology or microbiology (Lower grades are not accepted for these courses. Anatomy, physiology, and microbiology must be taken within 10 years of enrollment into the nursing program. Grades lower than C in any other required courses are not accepted.)
Provide additional information with the application according to the English language proficiency guidelines for applicants who are international or non-native English speakers without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university.

These are the general requirements, which VCU asks from the candidates:
1. A GPA, which won’t be less than 2.5, based on a scale of 4.0. Many disagree that University introduced such a high GPA in the admission.
2. Lower grades than B aren’t accepted at all. Here I would disagree a little bit, because there are persons who aren’t good in history or geography, but do well in anatomy or physiology.
3. The complicated application must be submitted with all necessary material on their website.
4. The University checks your background history at the previous college or school. It means if you have a bad reputation in your last education institution, then no chances for you.
5. The last and not least important point is to write an inspirational motivation letter. In this letter you should present the best part of you. It is really important not to screw up on this point, because the eventual interview will be based on it. You better ask professional nursing essay writing specialists to give you a hand with it.
This is mostly it. I wish you good luck!

UltraRight Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
These are the general requirements, which VCU asks from the candidates:
1. A GPA, which won’t be less than 2.5, based on a scale of 4.0. Many disagree that University introduced such a high GPA in the admission.
2. Lower grades than B aren’t accepted at all. Here I would disagree a little bit, because there are persons who aren’t good in history or geography, but do well in anatomy or physiology.
3. The complicated application must be submitted with all necessary material on their website.
4. The University checks your background history at the previous college or school. It means if you have a bad reputation in your last education institution, then no chances for you.
5. The last and not least important point is to write an inspirational motivation letter. In this letter you should present the best part of you. It is really important not to screw up on this point, because the eventual interview will be based on it. You better ask professional nursing essay writing specialists to give you a hand with it. This is mostly it. I wish you good luck!


Have you used this service? How about the quality?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2020 11:32AM by jamieduffy.

Strongly encourage you reconsider what sort of lifestyle you want and what your values are. Hospitals are laying off and furloughing nurses, stopping retirement money contributions and raises for those who keep their jobs at same they've been on front line risking their life running into the fire while public school teachers sit safely at home collecting full paychecks, state pensions, paid sick leave, summer off, week long holidays, early releases, delayed start times, snow days, teacher workdays etc. Know that nurses lose their jobs if they can't make it in on a snow day. Hospitals do not provide any sick leave so most go to work sick instead of using paltry vacation days. I lost a large part of my youth being a hospital nurse while my friends and family were celebrating holidays and time off. Check out FCPS pay when it's published... you'll be appalled at how much money they make with incredible benefits that are not awarded in healthcare and all the while rarely working a full week. So if you value a nice lifestyle to include a very generous pension for your retirement years, I'd stay away from healthcare. Also you have enough time off from school schedule to have several part time jobs so can end up making way more money than a nurse but will anyway just on teachers salary. It's a very tough career choice and one that is not rewarded anywhere near what public school teachers receive. I would never ever choose nursing knowing what I know.

You’re gunna love MCV.....
Lots o niggers loitering.
Lots o niggers robbin’
Don’t cross that bridge after dark.