A.A. straight into BSN - can I completely skip the RN program?

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I received some unsettling news today and it has me freaking out... After this semester, I will no longer have any Fin Aid or Student Loans because I have reached my 150% mark; the thing is, I have yet to finish my A.A. pre reqs and required classes for the RN program, so... I'm screwed!

I called the nursing department and asked them how much the 16 month nursing course would be and they said $10K so yeah, at this point, I've just wasted 3.5 year of schooling and accrued a sizeable student debit on an A.A. that is so specific to the RN program, that I can not use it for any other Bachelor's program.

Now getting to my question and the reason for the post.... I was talking with someone today and they said that I can skip the RN all together and go strait into the BSN, once I finish my A.A., but I know for a fact that my college requires you to be a RN for a year or more prior to enrolling for the BSN program.

So is this true? Do some Colleges or Universities allow you to skip the RN program and go into the BSN right after you get your A.A. If not then my only option at this time is to go into Supervision and Management (BAS) since it's the only thing I can complete that will not be effected by that stupid 150% rule.

I can't believe it has come down to this! If you guys only knew the hell that I've had to fight through to get to where I am with all this and then right at the end, I get slapped in the face! I mean really....I am at the end... this semester I am taking Stats and A&P1 then all I have left is A&P2, Micro and Chem and that's it; at that point i would have my A.A. and then it would be off to Nursing, but NOPE!

I have this week to figure out the rest of my life so that I can withdraw from these classes and get into the others for the BAS... UNREAL...!!!!

I'm so close to taking a long walk off a short pier and here in Florida we have many of those.

Thanks for listening to my rant; at this point, any and all help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

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First, whether you get an ADN (associate's degree in nursing) or a BSN (bachelor's degree in nursing) you can sit for the NCLEX-RN. It sounds like you are talking about getting an ADN then bridging to a BSN. For a traditional BSN program, you do not need an RN. I would contact the nursing dept. at the university (BSN program) and find out what your options are. Also, depending on your GPA, you could get scholarships through the school.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, SICU.

I have never heard of an Associates of Arts degree being a prerequisite for any kind of nursing degree. You seem very confused. Generally, you take prerequisite classes as outlined for the nursing program that you would like to enter. If you are seeking to become an RN, then you will need to apply to an ASN(ADN) or BSN program after completing your prereqs. Completion of whichever program you choose will allow for you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, you will then become an RN.

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You still have to finish some of the most importat prereqs before being able to apply for either an ADN or traditional BSN program, but you still seem to have enough credits to get an A.A after you take them? It sounds to me that your community college "forced" you to take a bunch of classes that you needed for the A.A but that are not even prereqs for any kind of nursing program.

Now what you have do to is just get in contact with every nursing program that you're interested in and find out their requirements to apply for the program and the deadlines to submit your application.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

To me, it sounds like you are completing an Associates in Arts at a community college and plan on transferring to a 4 year college to complete your BSN.

If this is the case, the community college can only give fin aid for 117 hours (78 credit associate degree) a 4 year college can give fin aid for 180 hours.

On a side note, you don't have to finish an Associate's before you apply for nursing school. You only have to finish the prereqs listed on the curriculum for the nursing program.

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Specializes in General Surgery.

I don't know your whole situation but did you ever see an academic counselor before you started taking classes? If you haven't, it is a great idea to do so and try seeing someone who is more familiar with nursing. For me, I received some really bad misinformation when I first started out on my nursing pre-req journey so it definitely does happen.

It seems that you left the most difficult pre-reqs for last and the ones that weigh the most heavily so I'm just a bit puzzled. It seems that you took non nursing pre-reqs first using up your financial aid leaving you with none at the very end and before you start applying for programs. From what I'm reading about your post, it seems that you aren't even able to file an appeal? If you can, I would definitely try.

As someone mentioned before, in general, you don't need an AA or AS as a pre-req for applying to most nursing programs but it certainly doesn't hurt to get it out of the way. I'm in California and I would say that most community colleges require that at the end of nursing school, you must graduate with an ADN or associate's degree in nursing. That is because, in a nutshell, you must graduate from an accredited program in order to sit for NCLEX (your school will send your transcript to the BRN).

As for your question:

Now getting to my question and the reason for the post.... I was talking with someone today and they said that I can skip the RN all together and go strait into the BSN, once I finish my A.A., but I know for a fact that my college requires you to be a RN for a year or more prior to enrolling for the BSN program.

So is this true? Do some Colleges or Universities allow you to skip the RN program and go into the BSN right after you get your A.A. If not then my only option at this time is to go into Supervision and Management (BAS) since it's the only thing I can complete that will not be effected by that stupid 150% rule.

I think you meant to ask if you can skip the ADN and go straight for your BSN? I am not sure about Florida but here in California, yes, you can. They have two types at the state college near me: traditional BSN and then RN to BSN. The former is where you do your nursing program with added upper division material like Community Health, Leadership and a capstone project. The latter is a bridge program where you are already a licensed RN and you get to "bridge" to your bachelor's by taking the aforementioned cohort of classes. Since I'm slated to graduate this December with my ADN, I plan on bridging to BSN later but I still need to complete several more classes in order to transfer to Sac State. Sac State's RN to BSN program says they give preference in admissions to RNs who are currently employed.

It also might be a good idea to cast your net wider and apply to other schools. Don't give up your dream though! If you really want this, you will find a way to make it work!

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