Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Registered Nurses: Diploma, ADN or BSN? /

Options when you already have a B.A.?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,795 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Mar 12, 2009 01:37 PM

Options when you already have a B.A.?


Hello all!

I am a 40+ year old computer programmer considering a job in nursing. I have a B.A. in Computer Science with a 3.5 GPA. What are my options for getting into nursing? Are there any career paths that could leverage my computer skills? Any advice appreciated!


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
6 Comments
No. 1
from NC Girl RN
Old Mar 13, 2009, 11:38 AM

Default Re: Options when you already have a B.A.?
There are a couple of options"

1. ADN through community college if your lucky enough to get in. (Cheaper)

2. Accelerated BSN or regular BSN program at your local university (More expensive and more time)

3. Get your LPN through community college and Bridge to LPN-ADN or go through Excelsior College program online
(Do as a last resort)


Before you do any of the above do some research. Nursing programs are very competative and hard to get into in some areas. If I were you, I would research all the schools in your area. Print out all the classes required and start taking those classes and making A & B's. I'm sure your gonna need science classes and some humanites considering your past degree was in Computer science.

I warn you though. It may take you at least 3-5 years of aggressive full-time study to obtain this degree. I started in June 2004 with pursuing a career in Nursing with a BS in another health related degree. It took me 1.5 years to take most of my prerequisites over to be competative. I am in a saturated area in NC where you have 900-1500 people trying to get into 60-100 slots. I got so frustrated so I drove 1 hr and 15 min to a community college in the country to get in to their ADN program and missed the cutoff score by 5 pt on their Nursing Entrance test. They offered me a spot into their LPN program and I took it. It was the best thing that happened to me because I finished in one year. Got a job and enrolled in the Excelsior online program and got my ADN in less than 1 yr. I passed my boards and now have 3 hospital job offers.

So in total it took me almost 5 years. Good luck to you but I warn you, its not going to be easy. Do research and see how competative it is in your area. You have to be patient and it will happen eventually but don't be discourage if your plugging away at it for 3-5 or 6 years.
Top
 
No. 2
from bigcanoe
Old Mar 13, 2009, 12:29 PM

Default Re: Options when you already have a B.A.?
Wow, thanks for the informative post! I am in central NC, around Sanford. I am guessing by your name, you are from the same state
Top
 
No. 3
from NC Girl RN
Old Mar 13, 2009, 12:52 PM

Default Re: Options when you already have a B.A.?
Small world! I went to CCCC in Sanford to get my LPN. Good luck to you!
Top
 
No. 4
from bigcanoe
Old Mar 13, 2009, 02:17 PM

Default Re: Options when you already have a B.A.?
Wow, that is lucky for me, having a school that close!
Top
 
No. 5
from bigcanoe
Old Mar 13, 2009, 04:26 PM

Default Re: Options when you already have a B.A.?
NC Girl RN, can you send me a message with your email, I want to ask you some questions please!
Top
 
No. 6
from NC Girl RN
Old Mar 13, 2009, 11:24 PM

Default Re: Options when you already have a B.A.?
Check your private messages. I sent it.
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
248 members
2,186 guests
2,434

0

James Woods, Actor Sues Hospital, Warwick, RI

0

16 fired for HIPAA Violations

6

Four Lehigh Valley Health Network nurses accused of...

48

lawsuit - But don't most RN's work through breaks/lunch...

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care

7

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...

12

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...

27

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

14

Possible breakthrough regarding MS



46

Dear preceptor

1

Society Needs Care Too

13

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

10

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

16

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

42

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

21

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

20

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude





Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: