I'm in the thick of determining which schools to apply to -- since it appears most of the application deadlines are coming up in the next several months. One of the programs that interests me is a combination Diploma / ADN from West Pennsylvania Hospital. I have learned that hospital-based diploma programs were the primary means of training up nurses until colleges took over that role. Students enrolled right at the hospital, who ran their own training programs and issued a diploma at the end. Most of these programs have disappeared, but there are still some remaining, mostly on the east coast.
What appeals to me about West Penn is that they offer this traditional training, which seems to be more clinical focused, and in conjunction with their local community college, students can still receive their Associates Degree along with the Diploma. I like that they have dorms available on site, and that it is a Magnet hospital. I'll be applying to a few diploma programs, as well as my local area schools.
My real challenge is finding that sweet spot between programs that I'd like, that I would qualify to apply for, and that will allow me to get going on my training as fast as possible in order to avoid the dreaded couple-year waits that many wannabe nursing students have been facing. I have been preparing my friends and family that it might be necessary for me to move away in order to do this...since any delays become fiscally nightmarish!
In order to apply to many schools I need to write the TEAS exam. Groan. Having been out of academia for so long...my general knowledge is at this point unknown! What exactly DO I know? Practice tests...here I come!
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