Recent college grad: BA to BSN

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2008

Many of those RN programs have those very same courses as prereqs. Some allow you to take them alongside your nursing courses. So definitely get started on those courses.

Accellerated programs condense the two years of nursing school into one, so basically it's the same as any other program out there, just faster and more intense. It's also expensive because you're paying university prices and double the cost. You wouldn't be able to work while doing this.

On the other hand, if you work as a CNA, the place you work might have some sort of tuition assistance, but requiring you to work a certain number of hours.

Either way you're looking at two to three years more of school. One year to do the pre-reqs and one to two depending on whether you go accelerated or not to get the RN degree.

Good luck in finding something that fits. If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

SonicNurse · Jun 26, 2008

Hey. I'm in the exact same boat as you, though I graduated with a BS in film almost 6 yrs ago and am now looking for a positive change in what I do for a living. I want to take an accelerated BSN/Masters combo.

I need to take all these prereqs first though and it's kind of taking the wind out of my sails because it seems like it will take me an entire year and I don't know if I can really work with all of those class schedules and studying.

Does anyone on this board that has gone through this experience have any advice?

Hello all, and thanks in advance for the advice.
I graduated this past spring with a B.A. in Philosophy. While in undergrad, I didn't really have a career path in mind, but in the past 6 months or so, I have felt strongly pulled towards nursing. This summer, I'm taking a 6-week CNA class so that I can get a job in a hospital to see if I like it. I would like to complete one of the accelerated BA-to-BSN programs that I have seen online, but I'm not sure it wouldn't be a better idea to just apply to a RN program. Here is the scenario:
In college, I didn't take any biology or chemistry or anatomy classes - I took Calculus (through 2nd semester) and Physics for my math/science. Each BA-BSN program is unique in its requirements, but I think all of them require:
2 semesters Anatomy/Physiology
1 semester Chemistry
1 semester Microbiology
1 sem. Stastistics
1 sem. Psychology
I think that I could take all these classes at a local community college and finish them over the next year, but I'm not sure if I should just apply directly to a RN program instead of waiting a year to enter a BA-BSN program. Any thoughts? Has anyone else gone into a BA-BSN program without having taken any of the pre-requisites in undergrad? How did you get those credits, and how long did it take you?
Thanks again!

jspacegirl · Jun 27, 2008

Hey. I'm in the exact same boat as you, though I graduated with a BS in film almost 6 yrs ago and am now looking for a positive change in what I do for a living. I want to take an accelerated BSN/Masters combo.
I need to take all these prereqs first though and it's kind of taking the wind out of my sails because it seems like it will take me an entire year and I don't know if I can really work with all of those class schedules and studying.
Does anyone on this board that has gone through this experience have any advice?

I also had a degree in film (totally worthless, if you ask me!). It did seem discouraging at first to have to take a year of pre-reqs before nursing school, but I got over it. I'm about to graduate in a few weeks from an accelerated BSN program, and it seems like it was only yesterday that I decided to make that decision to quit my job and go back to school.

Depending on the amount of pre-reqs you need for nursing school, it might be a good idea to quit your job and just work part time while taking your classes. I had a full load of classes to take, so I just worked a part-time job while I did the prereqs. Once nursing school started, I quit that job to focus solely on school. Some people were able to work during my program, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it during the first semester!

Speaking to the other poster, if you already have a BA, I think you should go for the BSN. It will actually take you less time, because an ABSN program is usually 15 months long, while you would be in an ADN program for 2 full years. That means you can start working 9 months earlier. You also need to take into account that it will probably be more difficult to get into an ADN program, since there are so many more applicants. It's even easier to get into an ABSN as compared to a traditional BSN for the same reason.

And with the accelerated BSN, you can be in the workforce 9 months earlier than you would with either a traditional BSN or an ADN program. It might be enough to offset the additional cost. ALSO, if you want to move up the career ladder eventually, you'll need to have the BSN, and you'll spend money down the road to do the bridge program.

Obviously, I'm very pro-accelerated BSN, but I hope I helped somewhat!

arciedee · Jun 29, 2008

As Tweety stated, those pre-reqs are pretty standard across the board regardless of what kind of program you are applying to. I certainly understand the frustration of wanting to jump in with both feet NOW, but those pre-reqs really are necessary to understanding the nursing curriculum.

For me, it was exciting to take the pre-reqs to know that I was making very real steps towards my goal of becoming a nurse. I took one or two classes at a time while I worked full time in a completely different field. If you are able to dedicate more time to class you can probably knock them out even faster. By the time I quit my job to enter the nursing program I had paid off my debt, had confidence in my ability to succeed in a challenging program (having done well in my pre-reqs while balancing full-time employment), and knew I was making the right choice.

Don't lose hope, it is all worth it in the end.

tirral · Jun 30, 2008

I really appreciate all the helpful responses. It is nice to know that so many people have gone before me in this process :)

I believe I will stay the course, and work on the pre-reqs this year, while working part-time as a CNA. Hopefully the hospital experience will help on my resume for an ABSN program.

Would you guys recommend applying a year early for the ABSN programs? My college GPA wasn't that great but I am confident I can ace the pre-reqs as my low grades were a function of immaturity which I think I have overcome... Not sure if it would be better to wait and have better grades to show, or go ahead and apply with a 2.5 GPA (3.75 senior year).

metalgirl70 · Jul 2, 2008

I know in my area in Northern California, you can't apply to nuring school until all the pre-requisites have been complete, that applies to a ASN or BSN.

When in doubt, talk to a counselor for the program that you are interested in.

I too have a bachelor's degree in marketing and I decided I needed a career change. I am working on taking the pre-reqs right now and I work part time in my marketing job. Fortunately I was able to go part time at work while I complete this goal.

Good luck to you!

kcalohagirl · Jul 2, 2008

I had a B.A. in Music. Which was for all intents and purposes, useless. *grin*

I bartended, waitressed, managed eateries, etc for about 10 years, until I bowed to the inevitable, followed my heart and my gut, and went to nursing school.

Even though I had a B.A. Classes needed for NS were different, and they were unique. All the programs I was looking at required SOME of the same courses. Each of them requred a little something different.

What I did was, in the first semester I was fulfilling the rest of my prereqs, scope out the 2 or 3 programs I thought I wanted to get in the most. One of them would accept anatomy and physiology together in the same class, another wanted them separately. The first was more than thrilled if you took the two separately, even though they had the lesser requirement.

I ended up applying to both schools, and I was accepted to both.

My advice is. . . .take a look at the programs where you are? Which programs are most desirable? Which ones do you think you have the best chance of graduating from? Which ones are most financially feasible? Which ones offer the best financial aid?

Tailor your prerequisites to two or three of those programs. That way you won't have a program disqualify you because you don't have the necessary coursework, and if you have a class or two extra, it's just extra material you have to draw upon.

Best of luck!

If it is something you truly want to do, you will make it work!