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Hello Everyone!

I graduated with a B.S. in Human Biology and was recently hired as a once a week pharmacy technician at Kaiser Permanente. My ultimate goal is to be a nurse practitioner working at a hospital. So, before being hired, I was planning to apply to an ABSN or Entry-Level MSN program. However, now that I'm working at Kaiser, I was thinking of doing a RN program first so that I can keep my current position and have a better chance of being hired as a nurse once I get my license. Then, after getting some experience as a nurse, I can then go back to do my MSN. What do you think? I appreciate the feedback!

Thanks,

Optimism

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anyone??

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First of all, can you tell me how old you are, do you have a family?

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Hello! Thanks for answering! I'm 23 years old and I do not have a family. But, my new job at Kaiser makes me want to stay with them for as long as possible and that's why I am thinking about the ADN-MSN route. Plus, I already have a bachelor's degree in human bio. What are your thoughts?

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I am much older than you and have more life experience than you. Here is my two cents. I think you should go for the BSN program (strongly suggested!) , if possible. Now, the economy is tough and most hospitals would want BSN. Since you plan to stay at Kaiser, then you will surely have a job when you graduate. However, a BSN will still be your best bet . And besides, you will go get your masters anyways so the BSN will give you more choices of schools.

You are way way to young to really know what you want to do. And especially you havent even been in nursing school, how do you know what area of expertise you want? I attended nursing school thinking I want to work in the OR or being an adminstrator but now I refused to work there. You should work as an RN for a year or two, then you can decide what area you want to get into. Trust me, this is an advice from someone who has many many degrees. I got accepted into an accelerated RN (one year) Master's program (2 years) in administration. I thought that was the best thing that had happened but after talking to many friends in the field, I backed out and boy, I am so glad I did not take that route. After having exposure during my last semester in Leadership -Administration, I realized that I dont want to be an adminstrator. Thanked God I listened to the advices from my friends.

Most of my friends became nurses at around your age, and then went straight back to school trying to get their masters in NP, but after working in the field and talking to people, my friends quit.

To sum up, you should definitely stay with Kaiser, try to get into a BSN program, work in the field for at least a year or two, then decide what kind of master program you want to get into.

Good luck with your decision and wish you the best.

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Thanks for the advice! I was actually wondering if I should do a rn program at a community college first and then do a bridge program to do a bsn? Most schools in the Bay Area are not taking second Bachelors. What do you think??

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Optimism - you've made a good point. I was going to ask you if you were in Sac, but you're not too far away, since you're in the Bay.

Luckily, you have lots more schools to choose from in the Bay area.

If you were in Sac, you'd have to consider the facts that:

1.Our single state school (CSUS) was closed to 2nd Bachelor's candidates as of last filing. Period. SO, a person in your shoes simply couldn't apply. Luckily, in the Bay, you have many more state schools and some have been granted exemptions.

2. While a job at Kaiser is a good thing, I've attended many info sessions for Sac State and talked to people who are in school and many told me that the programs were too intense for you to be able to work and go to school. If your job will be flexible with your hours, then it'll be ok. But, if not, it's a moot point- you can't do both.

Many people on the boards are from all over the US and different schools have different expectations. So, if someone tells you that you can work while in Nursing school, I'd try to ascertain whether they went to your school or a school like yours. Some schools are more student friendly than others - even within the same system.

In my area, the ONLY public nursing program is CSUS and they won't even give you your clinical assignments or class list until about 1 week before school starts. You need to be committed to them (and not work/family/etc), from what I understand. It may different where you are, tho.

In my area, there is only 1 other BSN program (Sam Merrit) and it does cost about 4 times what CSUS charges, but you are done in 1 year. Since it's accelerated, you cannot work and attend- unless you work nights.

Point 3: The 3 community colleges here are lottery based. This has good and bad points. Your GPA doesn't matter, but some people wait for a few years to get in.

Congrats on scoring a job and I hope you find a way to work it all out!

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