A Few Questions

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Hello! My name is Erin - and I want to become a nurse. I already have a B.A. in Organizational Communication from WMU and half of a Master's degree in Public Administration from GVSU. The past couple of years in my current field, I have not felt fulfilled AT ALL with my job. So, I thought back to when I was in college and what field I would go into if I had to do it all over again. Each time, it comes back to nursing.

How do I get started? I have not had science since high school. I have never worked in a hospital. But deep down I know nursing is what I am meant to do.

My first instinct told me to get myself into the hospital setting. I read about the CNA training in some literature one of my co-workers had on her desk. It sounded like the perfect thing to do to get some hands-on patient care experience, and it's something that I can earn a little $$$ doing while I try to get into a nursing program.

As far as the nursing program is concerned, do you think I should go for my ADN (being that I already have a B.A.), become an RN, then after a year go straight for my MSN?

OR

Should I get another Bachelor's degree?

Please help!!

Thanks for listening. I am so excited to start this new journey.

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Hi, Erin.

It's a different road for everyone. I'm much in the same boat as you and decided to get my CNA and work. I'll need 16-24 hrs pre-reqs, depending on where I end up in order to move into a BSN program, all of this on an income 50% from my previous job.

I was teaching and felt very unfulfilled. I worked as an NA back in 1981 and loved it!!

Good luck, and let us know what you do!!

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Hi Erin,

My experience is very similar to yours. I graduated with a BA in Economics and finished coursework towards an MPA. I too never felt that my work was fufilling and decided that I really wanted to pursue my RN. I am currently in a CNA program so that I can gain more hands-on patient care experience. I have applied to an accelerated BSN program and hope to start in January. I have also applied to an ADN program to start in January. If I end up in the ADN program I plan to work a few shifts a week as a CNA. For me, the main objective was getting in the trenches as soon as possible, so that's why I am hoping to go CNA to A-BSN.

Good Luck with whichever route you choose!

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Hi.

My first instinct, would be for you to check the requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing. Compare that to what you had completed, you may find some classes that you won't need to retake. Just thoughts off of the top of my head though.

I am similar to you in that I am changing careers, for me being a nurse is what I have always dreamed of. I started off with CNA training, I thought jump into the care world with both feet. I think it will help me to be a "well-rounded" nurse too, because I will know what it is like to be in a CNA's shoes.

Good luck with your journey!

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm kind of in the same position. I have BA in psychology, but never really found a job using my degree. After looking into getting a MPH, I decided that nursing was what I really wanted to do. I'm in a program for people who already have a BA or BS degree, so I only need to take the courses that are required for a BSN degree. Maybe you can find something similar. I am currently working as a CNA because taking the class was a requirement for the nursing program I'm in, so I decided that it would be best to get a job as a CNA since I need to work and why not get some experience at the same time. HTH. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

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