Registered nursing degree

Question:
I have often kicked myself for not taking the college's advice and entering the nursing program 8 years ago. I have 2 Associates degrees in Business and General Education and was 1 class from a degree in Accounting when I left college in 1997. I was an A student and am thinking of going back at this point. I'm just not getting the financial stability or the satisfaction from my current line of work.

Does anyone know if any of the local hospitals have programs to assist in paying for tuition for students? If they sign a contract to work for a certain amount of time?

Answer:

Not sure if they still do but Durham Regional had some sort of plan where they pay your school tuition at Watts School of Nursing if you work there a certain number of years. My wife graduated 10 yrs ago from there but she did not participate. It may have changed after they were bought by Duke.

I have one daughter about to go into nursing (she's almost 18). You can get
trained for an RN at wake tech in two years.

It looks like tuition is only $568 per semester for in state, an excellent deal.
If you plan to move into management a BS or more likely a MS is usually required but you do not need this to become an RN. Schools like Watts in
Durham offers a Diploma and area Community Colleges offer an associates.
What is most important is the ping of the NCLEX-RN or state licensing exam.

Even though Watts offers only a diploma, in 2001 100% ped the NCLEX compared to a national average of 85%. Students coming out of Watts are
probably the most prepared for nursing due to their great attention to detail.

I probably sound like I work at Watts but I don't. My mother went to Watts in the late 50s and my wife and her sister went there as well. It's a great place to go if you want to be an RN.

Any of you out there considering a Nursing degree should factor in your physical abilities. Can you push around heavy equipment? Can you hold a 350+ lb individual's leg up for two hours or more? Talk to someone who has been a nurse for 7 years or more. Find out about their back problems. Ask why they've had knee surgery.