There are few career opportunities as wide open as the field of nursing. With a degree in hand, one can work in the sterile environment of a surgical suite, the intenseness of a critical care unit, or the chaos of a medical floor. One can also work in an outpatient clinic, home health, or hospice. Eventually, there are options away from the bedside in case management, administration, or education.
The opportunity to serve mankind by touching hearts when at their most vulnerable is a unique facet of this field and should not be taken lightly. It is a field in which we are also encouraged to seek counsel and guidance from our local pastors before pursuing. We do well to enter it with prayerful consideration.
In writing this article I interviewed many of our nurses, both from the US and Canada, including numerous who are currently in school. It was interesting to hear the variety of routes nurses have taken to arrive where they are today. I have tried to compile a concise guide, focusing on commonalities instead of regional, state, and country differences.
First Steps
Whether you have a high school diploma or not, your first step should be finding a nearby college or university with a nursing program. Use an internet search engine, or ask around, drive there, and simply walk through the front door. At the front desk, ask to see a student advisor or guidance counselor. Or simply call them. Guiding you is their job.
The student advisor will be your key to almost every aspect of your college journey. They will advise you about their entry requirements and what type of high school preparation is required. When I applied to nursing school, I merely needed a GED. In my case, I had to procure this first, which took me a couple of months. Today, many schools no longer accept a GED, and at least some core high school courses are required. Whatever the case, the student advisor will point you in the direction you need to go to begin the journey.
Do not take your previous experiences, such as your grades in our private schools, as an indicator of how you will do in nursing school. Your motivations now are different; your interests and inspirations are mature. I was a B minus to C student in our Mennonite parochial school; I did well in art and recess, gloomily in English, and abysmally in math. These sad facts from the past weighed on my mind when I thought of going to nursing school. However, I found out within a couple of weeks of sitting in my first college class that our Mennonite schools prepared me very well for whatever I was going to face in higher education. I would say the majority of a class of fifty students in my first anatomy and physiology course were not able to write or think critically at the level that I had been taught in our schools. This was a huge boost for me and gave me confidence that I could actually do it.
One simple piece of advice I heard from numerous nurses is to simply keep moving forward, one small step at a time. Make that one phone call, send an email, make some inquiries, and follow that lead. In my experience, there has always been a next step forward.
Schools
There are traditional on-campus schools, online schools, and hybrid schools (a combination of both in-class and online courses). There are technical schools, state-run community colleges, private liberal arts colleges, and large state and private universities.
Different things work for different folks. I personally preferred the traditional in-classroom approach and ended up taking all my courses on a local campus. It was important for me to be able to sit with my professors and discuss things face-to-face with them. I especially needed this in the courses that I found difficult, such as advanced algebra, chemistry, and statistics. There were a few hybrid classes where one would take a part online and a portion at school. I heard from nurses, however, who have taken exclusively online coursework and found it preferable. Understand, however, that you may have to arrange your own practicum or clinicals in these types of programs.
Make sure the school you are considering is accredited nationally. Research their national nursing licensure (NCLEX) pass rate and compare it with other schools.
It is also important to network and ask a lot of questions. Reach out to nurses you know and take time to question professors and fellow students on the best courses to take. One professor advised me that the course I was scheduled to take would not provide me with enough credits to satisfy future requirements. I was able to switch to a different course easily and was thankful later. I had many experiences where it seemed like God put people in my path that gave me good advice and direction exactly when I needed it.
I personally recommend getting your first degree, whether it is LPN or RN, at a community or technical college. They may not provide as many student services, but they are less expensive, and in my experience, the education is just as good as anywhere else. I received my ADN-RN from a community college and my BSN-RN and MSN-NP from a private liberal arts Mennonite College. The reason for this was that the community college did not have a BSN program. Many hospitals nowadays will only hire a BSN-prepared nurse or will require you to get your BSN within a couple of years of hiring. Canada does not offer an ADN program.
From a faith-based perspective, a so-called Christian college may not be the best option. State or community colleges will not promote religion, but evolution will be embedded in many of the courses. I did not personally find this to be an issue at all. There is nothing like a deep dive into microbiology to make you appreciate the intricacies of creation and the wonders that God has created. It only serves to point out the fallacy of evolutionary theories.
On the other hand, as good as it was, there were facets of the liberal arts Mennonite college that were much more deceptive and disarming. My religion professor proclaimed the Bible to be full of myths and legends. Liberal agendas were alive and well there, and I found numerous ideologies that challenged my faith. At the end of the day, I would recommend the state community college over a Christian college. Of course, there are differences in Christian schools, and I know there are nurses among us who have had good experiences in faith-based higher education. No matter where you attend school, it is imperative to be grounded in your faith if you are to thrive spiritually during the process.
A note here on prestige. I have heard the thought raised that it matters where you go to school, and the bigger the name, the bigger the opportunity. This may be true from a business or political standpoint, but from a nursing perspective, I simply do not agree with this. In all my interviews for nursing positions, as well as after I became a nurse practitioner, no employer, manager, or colleague seemed to care where I went to school. I’m not even sure my grade point average mattered at the end of the day. What did matter was that I had my license.
Prerequisite Courses
A good advisor will guide you through the often-confusing maze of entry requirements that include pre-courses—known as prerequisites—and entry exams. You will receive a course list and guidance about the entry requirements for the nursing program.
There is also a program called CLEP (College Level Examination Program) where one can test out of some of these prerequisites and save a lot of time and money. A simple search will lead you to websites offering courses that are accepted by almost 3000 schools nationwide, both in the United States and Canada. Again, your advisor will point you in the right direction.
Finances
Financing nursing school can look daunting and, for some, nearly impossible. I was there once myself and did not initially see a way through it. Once again, start by seeing a financial advisor at the college. They have the knowledge and experience to help you navigate the maze of grants, scholarships, and loans and how to apply for each one.
Nurses that I heard from received family or parental loans, saved up money in advance, took out student loans, took advantage of grants and scholarships or received colonization loans.
Schools, of course, differ widely in how much they charge per semester and course credit. Oftentimes they will advertise only as the cost per credit hour. However, keep in mind the hidden costs in nursing programs, such as equipment, books, and scrub uniforms, that can sometimes add thousands of dollars in a semester. And don’t forget that all nursing programs require physicals and full vaccination updates, all at your expense.
Many nurses report working part-time during their schooling. Some have saved up money through working and take courses as they can. Usually, this works with prerequisite courses, which you can take online at your own pace. However, once you are in a nursing program, you will likely be required to continue with the rest of the class. It may be difficult to find a part-time program, although they may be available.
Another thing to consider is your proximity to the school. Out-of-state/province residents pay more. Finding a local school will save you money.
As noted, the total cost of nursing programs differs widely and depends on many variables. Community colleges typically offer only 2-year RN programs (ADN) that start at around $10,000, whereas private liberal arts colleges typically offer only 4-year courses that start at between $20-30,000. Well-known, larger universities may be double to triple that cost.
Support
Support from your family, spouse, children, and even your congregation is important. Schooling is stressful for sure, and there will be some late nights studying after everyone has gone to bed. Exams can be a time of anxiety, pressure, and stress. Clinicals combined with coursework can make for full weeks. However, as daunting as it may seem, with prayerful, encouraging support, nursing school is doable for almost anyone.
BF
Note: This article first appeared in the June issue of the Business Bulletin. This fine little magazine publishes articles to suit a wide variety of interests, including humanities, business, farming, and, of course, healthcare and nursing.
There is also a new audio version out now that you may prefer.
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