[aroma]

hello everyone. i have a few questions to ask and please do reply,i'm lost! Currently i'm an ethnic studies major at a University and i'll be finishing fall 08. I want to eventually become a nurse practitioner but they say it's best to first gain experience as a nurse. My question is, do i have to go back to school again for another four years to get my BSN? or is an ADN good enough? I know you can become an RN with an ADN but will i be able to further my education to a Master's degree with an ADN? please i'm really confused and i have no clue as to what the next move should be. please, respond. Thank you

[athena55]

Hello Aroma:
First off, welcome to All Nurses! The support you will find here is just OUT-FREAKIN'-STANDING (sorry, my "New Yawk" slipped through, smile)
Check out this web page from NP Central: www.npcentral.net/consumer/npfaq.shtml
It will show you the requirements needed to become an NP
Long story, short: No there are some NP programs out there that will accept an undergraduate degree other than nursing. Check out the above web page for more information.
Hey, congratulations on your major. The light at the end of the tunnel (graduation) will be here before you know it.
Let us know how things go for you and which program you are applying to!
athena

[Elvish]

A couple things to add -

1) If you are already going to have a bachelor's degree in something else, you might want to investigate the accelerated BSN option if there is one offered in your area. It's an intense program (nursing school crammed into 12 to 18 months) but you graduate with a BSN in about the same amount of time as it would take to have an ADN. And it's for people who have an undergrad degree in something else. The tuition will likely be a little higher but you might just luck out and find a good deal, too.

2) If you choose to go the ADN route, you'll still be able to go back and get your MSN, depending on where you go. Many schools offer an RN-MSN program that allows you go to straight from ADN to MSN.

3) 'They' are right. Most MSN programs actually require you to have at least a year's worth of RN experience before applying and/or being accepted to their program.

Whatever you choose, the best of luck to you.