BA NFS W/ Minor, Two Associate Degrees, Still Not an RN

U.S.A. Michigan

Published

Obviously, I am desiring to become an RN. I attempted to become so at the undergraduate level and was not accepted at WSU (Wayne State University). My undergraduate loans started to run out so I went toward a degree that I could obtain with monies remaining. I will be a holder of a BA in Nutrition and Food Science with a minor in health psychology from WSU this May. I also have two associate degrees from OCC (Oakland Community College) from accumulating so many credits. Nothing to special, a General Studies degree and a Liberal Arts degree.

I was anticipating to applying to a direct entry MSN program. Michigan does not any such programs. These programs with out-of-state tuition can cost upwards of 80K, not counting the cost of living. Many require the GRE, some don't and some graduate you as a generalist, advance practical nurse, or even an NP. From my research, it's seem getting in is highly highly competitive and expensive. I have learned my mistakes from my undergraduate studies, I am not wanting to blow 80K plus of my graduate loans.

I am not able to afford a second bachelor degree out of pocket, I can afford an associate degree out of pocket. With having the degrees I have, I only need 39 nursing credits from OCC for a nursing degree. The tuition would be around 3K.

My questions:

Is it worth for me going backwards? That is obtaining a ASN degree than applying to a ASN/diploma to MSN degree program? I am wanting to become an NP. From my research, it seems less competitive and less expensive obtaining an MSN degree once you have a ASN degree.

OCC now requires the HESI exam, they say it has to be done at OCC. I do have a score when I took the exam at the University of Detroit Mercy. Will I be required to retake it? Also, considering that I have three degrees, a minor, a CNA, and a CPhT.

To better answer my questions:

I will have ~3.2 GPA for my BA degree

Prerequisites grades (main courses typically need for an ASN or MSN degree):

AP I & II: "A" respectively, I also have the 5-credit A&P chemistry combined: "A+"

Microbiology: "B+"

Chemistry courses: General Chemistry: "B-," Survey of Organic and Biochemistry: "B-," General Chemistry I: "C-," Organic I: "C-," and projecting a "B" in Organic Chemistry II

Developmental Psychology: "A"

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Have you looked into second degree programs? Mostly everyone has them. It's 1 year and you would finish with a Bachelors in Nursing. Because even if you get your Associate from OCC your still going to need a bachelors to apply to a Masters program anyway.

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Yes I know about the "second degree programs" in nursing, but sense I'd paying out of pocket, that is not too feasible. There are programs that will allow with a ASN/diploma in nursing to progress toward a MSN degree. Besides If I wanted to and was willing to pay upwards of 80K I could do a direct entry MSN program and no nursing degree is required at all, just a BA or BS degree. Also, I have been looking at PA programs, that's another story and a different website all together. Thanks.

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I had this problem. I had a BA from WSU and did not want to pay another 20-30k for a nursing degree. I also found that it would take me longer to get into a BSN program (second degree). I went to Macomb, paid mostly out of pocket, got a job in a hospital during my nursing program and got hired as an RN immediately after I finished. Now my work is paying for some of my RN-BSN/MSN at Oakland.

Its worth doing if you have financial reasons. A lot of people asked me why I went backwards (several people in my nursing class had previous bachelors) but at least I didn't add debt to my already existing debt from my BA.

I am now at OU and only need 11 classes for my BSN (all online).

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Thank you CorazonDeOro! Your message has found me with the greatest of relinquish to the unknown. I am glad to know that someone other than myself has sought upon such an endeavor, in the most of concerted manners.

What I am worried about is the new imposed HESI and TEAS exams that are being evermore standard for ASN programs. I have a good HESI and okay TEAS exam result, but unable to use them because ASN programs want the exams taken at their institution. OCC now requires the HESI, only to be able to apply. They do not use the score as an evaluation tool for entry into the program, only a scoring of your prerequisites is used.

From a brief conversation via the phone with an individual from OCC Nursing program, I was informed that no consideration is given for having advanced education or being a holder of relevant licenses or certifications. In my opinion that's absurd, I'm going to be compared to someone that is potentially a recent high graduate without any advance degree and probably no advance training. What can you do, that's how the system works.

So, how is Oakland University? I was looking into their nursing program after I got denied from WSU College of Nursing in 2010, but they had inconsistency with requirements. They use a numerical system for grading, so my transfer credits just missed the cut off grade. Also during that time they were making changes to the BSN program. I will be very much interested in a online ASN to BSN/MSN program when the time arises.

Out of curiosity what's your BA in from WSU?

Thanks again!

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Specializes in AGNP.

I too went "backwards" and did an ADN program after having my BS in human biology. Lansing Community college has an accelerated second degree ADN program. I was in the first group of that program which graduated in 2008. Then I did an RN-BSN program that my employer paid for & finished that in 2011. Now I will be graduating next month from a NP program.

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