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How should I got about my nursing career, please read, thanks in advance for any advise.?

I've been admitted to the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and i planned on going there until i did some research and found out that's better just to go to community college and become an RN and then later pursue my bsn and ms with financial help of the hospital that i'll work for, which in most cases they'd cover most of the tuition. Since Im out of state total cost woul be around 40k per year if i went to University of Pittsburgh but because of my high GPA and test scores (3.8,2150 SAT) i've received scholarships that take care of virtually all tuition ,i'd just have to pay about $10,500 per year in loans for room,board,and books. So should I go to the University and get my BSN or should i just go straight for the RN at the community college, which would be absolutely free in fact i'd get money back every semester, work for about a year and then go and get my bsn. In either case i plan on getting a masters later in Nursing,business, or education, and more than likely my PhD

Public Comments

1. Look into how the hospitals hire in your area, They may prefer one degree over another. I am going the community college route and I haven't paid for a thing yet. My only stress is trying to make it into the local program once I'm done with the pre rec's. Good luck!
2. Go to university!!! I am community college and there is a waiting list to get into the RN program of 3-4 years!!! If i had the money or assistance and not 2 children and husband I would go get my BSN rather than associates. Most community colleges do have wait lists, you can take prereq's but not nrsg. courses until formerly in program. By that time you will be done and have your BSN! Best wishes. ps I work in a hospital as an aide and they have tuition reimbursement for my classes. Maybe try to do same. Will help you with your nursing classes to have some experience in health care and observation of the RN jobs and responsibilities, also helps you learn medical terminology prior to classes!
3. Congratulations!!! on your achievement!!! It sounds like you have already made up your mind. But i would like to point out a couple of things that maybe you didn't give thought too. I've been an nurse for quite a while and nursing is a really demanding career and after working 40 hours a week, sometimes more, the last thing you want to do is study on your day off. Even though you have good intentions of completing your BSN after you start working, life happens in the meantime. Plus every nursing program is different and it is harder to start with one and try to transfer your credits to another. There are usually strings attached with accepting financial aide from your employer, such as a commitment to work for them 1 or more years in return. Then if you want to leave and go work else where, now you are stuck. I think you have a really great opportunity, not many nurses today have been blessed with what you have been given. So take the next 4 years for you and complete your education before you start working as a nurse. Besides you have the next 30+ years to work, get your education now.