Ever gone back for your BSN? Questions!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in NICU.

Hello, all! I am considering returning to school to get my BSN, but I'm less than eager now that I've been looking at programs! I realized that I would have to take some classes in addition to the upper level nursing classes, but I didn't realize I would have to take SO MANY!! OMG! Going part time, it will take me TWO YEARS to finish all of those pre-requisites, not to mention the additional year or two to finish the BSN. I was in college for five freaking years to get my ADN (began as a different major) and I'm not going to lie and say that I am not completely intimidated by this. Advice, anyone? Have you done this? Did you CLEP out of anything? How much credit did you get for your degree that you already possessed? I'm already frightened- I have been working in NICU for almost a year and I've already forgotten much of my adult nursing stuff! My husband keeps trying to be encouraging, but all I want to do is shake and slap him!!! God bless him, but every time he says, 'So, have you thought about school any more?' I feel like retching. Okay, I'm exaggerating. A bit.

Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

Keep looking at other programs. The nursing school I graduated from had a MINE (mobility in nursing education) program for RN-to-BSN and LPN-to-BSN. The RNs that I know who did MINE were able to finish in about a year.

Have you thought about online programs?

Mine was also a RN-BSN program. It is really different than getting your ADN, there is much more theory involved and not much memorizing terms and values. It is a lot of term papers and presentations. I throughly enjoyed getting my BSN and I think that you would too, especially since you have already been a nurse. The RN-BSN seems so much easier than going straight 4 year because you have experience under your belt. Just remember that and let me know what you decide. Much success!!!

I'm also in an RN-BSN program through work. Thanks to the tuition reimbursment, they pay for everything. I only take one class a semester because I personally just can't bear the thought of going to school full time again, but I have to admit, the classes are a lot of fun. Not like the ADN program.....Preciousnurse is right about that. I'm not in a hurry to get the degree, and meanwhile I'm having a lot of fun with it! Good luck!!

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Hi Kristi :)

I have made up my mind to return for my RN to BSN as soon as I am settled in my next job and home (no later than January 2003).

I have boo-koo psych knowledge and courses......major science courses, etc........and want to return to my original college major which was psychology. I very much would love to work with psych patients and group therapy situations, so a heavy dose of counseling courses will be part of my college courses. I feel so excited about doing this for myself......FINALLY......:D

I wish you all the luck in pursuing your own BSN. I know it will be worth the effort for you to do this for yourself and your future as a nurse. :kiss

Nighty night!

Good for you! You have taken the first step in getting your BSN by looking at different programs.

I just graduated from a RN-Mobility program in December 2001, after starting the program in August 2000. I had already taken several prereqs over the years, so I had 4 to complete after I officially started.

Look at all of your options, including internet options, as pre-req requirements vary greatly from school to school.

My program gave 32 semester hours credit for my original nursing school program.

I cleped out of English 101, but you probably took that in your ADN program. Check with the admissions advisor at the school you are looking at -s/he should be able to tell what what CLEP exams would be appropriate for you.

As far as forgetting your adult nursing stuff--that should not be a problem. All of my previous experience is maternal-child - L&D, neonatal ICU and OR, and not being familiar with adult medical care was not a disadvantage at all. Upper level classes at my school were - research, statistics, community health, management, health assessment and promotion, pharmacology and cultural-spiritual nursing. Like precious nurse said, my program was mostly papers and presentations, not lecture and tests.

Going back to school was a struggle, but it was well worth it - you will meet new friends, make useful contacts, and gain better writing and presentation skills, as well as gaining self-confidence.

So go for it and good luck! teach.gif

I'm in my third week of doing my BSCN right now...

I was accepted into a 19 month fast track program but it seems so overwhleming right now, hopefully thats just back to school jitters etc but the content is heavy....and I'm working full time

they key is not to get bogged down with it. I'm going to see how it goes this semeseter and then if I find I am still overwhelmed I'm gonna slow my pace down a bit. My first semester courses are whoppers too :

8am-11am - research management and design

12pm-3pm - current issues and future perspectives in nursing

4:30pm-7pm - nursing theories and theoretical frameworks

I agree that the classes can be quite interesting and we have a good group discussion going especially for the middle class

but the frazzled look on my face gives me away - I am overwhlemed with it all right now!!!!!!!!!!!!

possibly I will have more wisdom to share when I get into it a little more......

til then , hugs all around and the first textbook burning party is at my place, and it will MOST deifnitely be that damn APA format book to burn first!

explain how I'm going to do a scholarly paper when in nursing I have learned the fine art of massacreing the heck out of the english language!

abbreviate everything under the sun, make up terms, latinize everything

yikes!!!

Wendy

Are you in the Ryerson fast track? I thought of it, looked into it, but I too work full time, and I think the closest campus to me that offered it would have been in Peterbourgh- I am down near Kingston.

So you work full time and then the courses are one VERY FULL day per week, with homework, of course.

I am doing the Ottawa U thing right now, the courses are teleconferenced into the hospital, but it TAKES FOREVER.

Can you keep me posted on how it is going? I would love to know more.

J.

Kristi, I too earned my BSN after 6 years doing part time. I'm in my 40's & thought long & hard, I hope to retire at least semi-in my late 50's. Was it worth it? Oh yeah, personal satisfaction ect. Am working on my masters right now. Some institutions offer RN-MSN if you're interested. There is 1 program I did try which is UOP (University of Phoenix). Their program consists of 1 class @ a time lasting 5-6 weeks, netting a degree in 2-3 years. These are all internet based. Most colleges offer some type of online degree, just depends on what you are looking for. You might try an internet search of online universities to see what you can come up with. Good luck. Let me know if I can help!

I just finished a ADN program in May but I intend to start the BSN in January. I can get into a fast track, one class every 5 1/2 weeks for 21 months, on site where I work. Only thing is I am REALLY enjoying being out of school and doing things I never had time for, like cleaning, cooking dinner for my family, going to band shows as a chaparone for my older son, taknig my kids to see CATS, spending time watching NASCAR with my husband and the boys. I am really thinking about going on right now or waiting until the kids are all older, they're 20,18,16,and 11 right now.

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

Kristi--It sounds to me as though you have not made a commitment to getting your BSN and I am not suggesting that you ought to.

But you might ask yourself just WHY you would want to do this? How would it benefit YOU? What would YOU get out of it? Are you expecting higher pay or more prestige or what?

Are you willing to pay the price in terms of money, time, and effort to obtain this degree, now that you have a clearer picture of what this price would be?

If you decide that it is NOT worth it, then don't do it, regardless of what others (who won't be paying these prices) think.

If you decide that it IS worth it and you are willing to commit yourself to gaining a BSN, then go for it.

But without a real commitment, you will find yourself relucantly dragging yourself to classes, clinicals, your books; frequently second-guessing your decision; doubting your abilities; etc. which is NOT worth it.

Some people have found it a good decision for them to go ahead with it, others have not, and still others have started such a program and then dropped out after a while (2 from my class). Only you can really decide which of these groups to join, so I'd give it some careful thought--with YOURSELF at the center of your focus.

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I understand you. I kept looking till I found a school that gave me credit for most of what I took already. I found some schools wanted me to retake what I already took. I had 15 to take for my BS got it in one year. Only have five left for my masters. I am doing distance as it is the only thing that would fit into my life as I have quite a few kids.

renerian

+ Add a Comment