Best or REALLY good Nursing schools in GA or online?

Hi, I have been laid off twice in three years, recently I've decided to switch careers and get into the healthcare industry. I started off by taking a CNA course and becoming certified and now I'm interested in becoming a Registered Nurse. There is a lot of information online and a lot of schools, but I'm in Atlanta, GA and wanted to find out through individuals personal experience which schools are the best? Also are there any good/ affordable online Registered Nurse colleges. I'm looking for honest real feedback.

jen_atl in Atlanta, Georgia said: Hi, I have been laid off twice in three years, recently I've decided to switch careers and get into the healthcare industry. I started off by taking a CNA course and becoming certified and now I'm interested in becoming a Registered Nurse. There is a lot of information online and a lot of schools, but I'm in Atlanta, GA and wanted to find out through individuals personal experience which schools are the best? Also are there any good/ affordable online Registered Nurse colleges. I'm looking for honest real feedback.

Jen_atl in Atlanta,

Your decision to change careers is of course a sign of the times and a result of an unstable economy. However, the economy’s uncertainty is your gain; the healthcare industry is a very good industry although we have our economic problems as well.

I shared your posting with my mother-in-law who is Chief Executive Nurse for Henry Ford Medical Ctr in W. Bloomfield, MI. She is also an associate professor w/the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Nursing.

Her advice, to you, is to not pursue a nursing degree on line, but that you look at one of the nationally/regionally ranked nursing programs in the Atlanta area. Kennesaw State and Clayton State universities both offer very good regionally renowned bachelor of nursing (BSN) programs.

Although Georgia State University is a regionally ranked university its nursing program is nationally ranked #79 and it offers a nursing degree at the bachelor, master, & doctoral level.

Emory and Mercer universities both have nationally ranked nursing programs. Emory is currently ranked #21 in the nation, along with NYU.

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If a four-year nursing degree is not what you are seeking there are scores of good 2yr/associate of nursing programs in the Atlanta area to get you started in your career such as Georgia Perimeter College and Gwinnett College both offer applied science in nursing (ASN) degrees.

My mother-in-law highly encourages you if you can to pursue a BSN. However, if you are only able to pursue an associate’s degree at this time, no problem, because either of the aforementioned institution offers the RN to BSN program.

The reason she is encouraging you to pursue a BSN v. ASN is too many of her students indicate they wished they had earned a BSN from the start. A BSN earning potential is GREATER and the likelihood for promotion is higher. Also with a BSN they have a little more flexibility as they progress within their careers. Some have indicated they would like to become a Nurse Practitioners (NP), but because they have to earn a bachelor first, before they can pursue a master, too often delays and/or derails their goals. Others have suggested they have been passed over for promotions because they did not have a BSN. Bottom line she states that a mass majority of her students and RNs feel they have missed out on numerous opportunities because they didn’t have a BSN.

For me, if you have not gather, I am not a nurse, I am a surgical physician assistant (PA), specializing in orthopedic surgery in a modest group practice, with privileges at Grady and Southern Regional. But I was compelled to offer you some advice after reading through your posting and understanding the strain many Georgians are under since the downward spiral of our economy.

Good luck in your decision and I hope this helps!!

M
DHSc, PA-C

Thanks!! I really appreciate your feedback! I do have college credits and I am looking to pursue a BSN and Clayton State University was my first choice because of their program and I've been there before. This helps me out a lot! U should think about being a healthcare Recruiter ;o)

jen_atl in Atlanta, Georgia said: Thanks!! I really appreciate your feedback! I do have college credits and I am looking to pursue a BSN and Clayton State University was my first choice because of their program and I've been there before. This helps me out a lot! U should think about being a healthcare Recruiter ;o)

Jen_atl in Atlanta,

Thanks for the compliment and suggestion, but I love surgery and treating patients :-). Especially my elderly ones, helping most of them regain their range of motion/mobility is truly rewarding.

Plus I hoping to do another surgical residency/fellow at John Hopkins University really soon, good luck and best wishes.

M
DHSc, PA-C