I have to switch majors from nursing to a non nursing undergrad degree=(

Nursing Students General Students

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I was a senior nursing major but I was dismissed from my program, only had two more semesters to go! There is no way I can apply back in the program at all...

It stinks because I would have had my BSN in Spring of 2012 I hate the feeling knowing that all

So my new plan is to finish up a bachelors degree at my school in a different major and then apply to a few 2nd degree accelerate nursing program as soon as a I graduate.

Also, I will apply at a few for associate nursing programs as a plan B just in case I don't get into the Accelerated BSN program.

I need advice about what Major to pick up in the meantime.

I was thinking about sociology with minor in psychology and public health OR psychology with a minor in public health.

Those are the the only majors that would really count my nursing classes. Granted, it would still take another two years to complete the soc or psy degree leading to a total of 6 years undergrad, but I rather finish in 6 years than 8 years.... At this point, I just want to graduate so that I can start nursing school again ( I know, I know ,finish school in order to start up again..)

Although I plan on going right back to nursing school post graduation, I want a degree that I will be able to get a decent job in just in case my plan doesn't work out the way I planned. I've heard that unless a person plans on getting your masters degree in sociology and psychology, which def don't, I will not be able to get a good paying job. I've read info about becoming about a social worker at a hospital or a tech a mental health facility but I don't know what else I could do with those degrees...... Does anyone know what I can do with either degree????? Also long as I am working with people in a health care setting. PLEASE HELP!

Also, when I eventually do become a nurse, I want to work on a Med Surg floor, but I eventually ( maybe after 10 or 15 years or maybe part time will working Med Surg) would like to get into mental health nursing or some kind of community health nursing

On top of that, by the time I apply for a different nursing school, I will have to retake my nursing pre reqs ( A+P, Micro and Chem )because they need to be taken within 5 years.

Specializes in Telemetry.

When I started out in college, I was more interested in partying and friends than my GPA. By the time I was eligible to apply for nursing school, I didn't because I knew I wouldn't be accepted (my GPA was 2.9 which was above the minimum requirement [2.5] but the program was very competitive and most people applying had over a 3.0, according to the advisors). Anyway, I didn't apply and changed my major to Sociology. I absolutely LOVED my sociology classes but I knew that I never planned on using it as a career. I graduated with a BA in Sociology and then immediately began finishing my prereqs in another city/school. Then, I was accepted, started and finished nursing school. While I knew I was no where near mentally prepared to be in nursing school at the time of my change of major, now I'm left with the debt of a sociology degree and a nursing degree.

I'm sorry this is happening to you but I don't know if there's any point in getting another degree if nursing is what you want. Good luck! :redbeathe

The answer sort of depends on why you were "dismissed" from your program. If you flunked out, then that would be why you say you can finish up a bachelor's in another major at the same school. If it was for cheating or drug/alcohol use or some sort of moral turpitude, you may not be able to get into any nursing program right away. If it was for missing a lot of school time for reasons the program found unacceptable, you may be able to explain that satisfactorily to a new program (assuming the problem is resolved).

If you get a BS in anything else, you can apply to a bachelor's-in-anything-to-master's-in-nursing program, which would prepare you for NCLEX and give you a leg up in your career by giving you a master's degree in nursing. There are several of them around the country. If you really know you want to do psych or public health, then start right there, don't fool around with med/surg if you don't want to do that. You wouldn't have to redo all your nursing prereqs in that case, and with a MN you would have an advantage getting work in that field.

I dunno about getting work in social work without a master's in social work, but if you want to be a nurse, be a nurse.

Can you share why you were dismissed? I'm assuming that you are now no longer in good standing??? Depending on the situation, will you be eligible for another nursing program? I would call the state board of nursing and see if you can get some info as to what direction to go in. I would call the accellerated and ADN programs and find out if you will be a candidate, also check out of state schools. I would get busy on that and if you do qualify and get excepted, just transfer into one of those programs (like an ADN program) so you dont have to retake pre-requisites. You can always do the RN to BSN bridge program.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

BA/BS in psychology or sociology doesn't typically lead to a career. I know some bachelor's level psych/sociology/BS in social work that are able to work as case managers or get certified as psychiatric emergency screeners. To work in social work, generally you need a MSW (Master's in Social Work) to get a licensed social worker (LSW) or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). LCSW can do counseling. To work as a psychology counselor needs a minimum of a master's degree in psychology/counseling to be eligible for a LPN (Licensed Professional Counselor). Even being a CADC (certified alcohol and drug counselor) requires usually a master's level degree.

I know outpatient psych offices can often use BS prepared individuals as care coordinators/case managers. But to do the psychiatric/psychological counseling a "masters plus" degree is needed (masters degree plus clinical work).

If you have an interest in working with autistic/developmentally disabled children you may consider looking into applied behavioral analysis. One level of certification is a bachelor's level, the higher level is a master's lever.

The reason you were dismissed from the nursing program may have an impact on eligibility for an ABSN or a BA/BS to MSN/RN program.

Someone I know did not get into nursing school, so she went for counseling. She eventually got a masters degree and the necessary credentials but couldn't get a job. The best job she finally mustered got rid of her soon, as the economy tanked. So now she has all this education, nice credentials, but still can't make a living. I would not waste time with a degree in sociology or psychology unless you truly want the satisfaction of finishing or unless you can afford the time and money spent.

Blessing in disguise.

If you get a BS in anything else, you can apply to a bachelor's-in-anything-to-master's-in-nursing program, which would prepare you for NCLEX and give you a leg up in your career by giving you a master's degree in nursing.

I haven't seen anything that suggests that having a Masters' in nursing as a new grad gives anyone a leg up over the BSNs and ADNs and diplomas.

To the OP: I would consider what the end-cost of all routes would be. Once you have a BA, you're ineligible for a lot of federal aid as a second degree student (although some schools offer grants and scholarships, mine didn't so it was loans and savings). Is it worth paying for two more years for a degree you don't want and then have to pay for nursing school on top of that? I opted to finish my original BA for the same reasons you cite (might as well finish what I started, will be shorter in the long run, etc) but then it ended up taking me about a year longer than I anticipated to graduate, for a grand total of 7 years for my BA. Plus I had to do a year and a half of nursing prerequisites after I graduated to bring up my GPA and be eligible to apply to nursing programs. It might actually have been shorter in the end for me to have quit the first BA, taken the prerequisites, and gone to a regular paced nursing program instead. Just some food for thought.

Specializes in family practice.

Why not try to see if you can apply to community colleges right now and can continue you degree there since you havent completed your BSN yet.

Also if you are very good you could do both concurrently (one parttime)

hiddencatRN said:
I haven't seen anything that suggests that having a Masters' in nursing as a new grad gives anyone a leg up over the BSNs and ADNs and diplomas.

To the OP: I would consider what the end-cost of all routes would be. Once you have a BA, you're ineligible for a lot of federal aid as a second degree student (although some schools offer grants and scholarships, mine didn't so it was loans and savings). Is it worth paying for two more years for a degree you don't want and then have to pay for nursing school on top of that? I opted to finish my original BA for the same reasons you cite (might as well finish what I started, will be shorter in the long run, etc) but then it ended up taking me about a year longer than I anticipated to graduate, for a grand total of 7 years for my BA. Plus I had to do a year and a half of nursing prerequisites after I graduated to bring up my GPA and be eligible to apply to nursing programs. It might actually have been shorter in the end for me to have quit the first BA, taken the prerequisites, and gone to a regular paced nursing program instead. Just some food for thought.

I was thinking about that, but the waiting list are so long to get into associate programs like two years. And In order to get into other four year nursing programs in NJ, I have to be first admitted into the school, and then apply to the nursing programs as an internal transfer... Plus my GPA sucks now that I had to receive a D+ in my Med Surg and I don't think schools will like that. I just found out about that I would only be eligible for loans after my first bachelors and that really stinks for me because I know I won't be able to pay for the second BA. I really don't know what do anymore. I just want to be a nurse in the quickest and cheapest way possible. It's like all my hard work went down the drain.. while all the other people in my nursing classes who are always partying, hardly studied, and aren't even passionate about nursing will be graduating next year.

Can you share why you were dismissed? I'm assuming that you are now no longer in good standing??? Depending on the situation, will you be eligible for another nursing program? I would call the state board of nursing and see if you can get some info as to what direction to go in. I would call the accellerated and ADN programs and find out if you will be a candidate, also check out of state schools. I would get busy on that and if you do qualify and get excepted, just transfer into one of those programs (like an ADN program) so you dont have to retake pre-requisites. You can always do the RN to BSN bridge program.

I was dismised because failed my last med surg exam which I had to retake. Unfortunately, I didn't

pass the retake ( 10 OPEN ENED QUESTIONS) and so that meant I could not take the final that was scheduled that same day which mean I failed the class. I had failed Pharm two years before that and that means I am out. No exceptions. I willl call and see what state nursing board has to say.

why don't you try lpn program in new jersey since you can find a lot of those programs in nj. so you can bridge towards your rn. so your messed transcripts won't matter. i m in your same situation and i failed a class and repeated but unsuccessful with clinical. So rightnow , I m going for the lpn program. good luck. I know it is sad. You almost made it through end. This happened in my 1st semster. So you are not alone. There are lot of lpn schools in nj. Holyname, bayonne, center for allied health, hohokus .Acheive your dreams.

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