I have a BS in IT+Electrical Eng. Working for a few years. But want to go in the medical field and become a nurse so like I wanted when I was 16 y.o. but listened to my parents and went to study languages and technical things. It was interesting though but the mostly jobs in my field don't fill up my life and don't give me the feeling I do something really meaningful in my life.
I'm 28 and want to start nursing school next year summer.
I'm looking for any information from people who went through accelerated programs in a nursing school. Where did you get the prerequisites: I heard it's possible to do it even online with virtual labs, but I couldn't find anything in the Internet. I want to use this year to work and save some money and do my prerequisites: Microbiology, A&P I+II, Biochemistry. Has anyone heard about that anything?
Besides I wanted to ask those who got the prerequisites: what kind off books would you recommend for the mentioned above classes?
Did you hear anything about how easy is this to get enrolled to the Rutgers school or William Paterson school in NJ?
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
Hello koolau,
look, but if you don't receive a degree then you can't work and can't apply knowledge you gathered. Or was it for you just to get prepared for the next degree???
I want to go for a BSN or RN. I'm still lost in this system of degrees:banghead:
If I want to do an accelerated program then the schools say it's equal to BSN. Once you have BSN you can sit for RN exam... So I don't get what is the difference to go for a BSN and be eligible to take RN-exam or to do RN-study right away... What is the difference between RN and LPN? As far as I was able to understand an LPN has less challenging tasks and gets less money; some other people say that both LPN and RN do the same but there is a difference in the paychecks. So what's the point in all this?? Very confusing...
Krolik, the LPN or LVN is from a technical/vocational school. No college required. The RN is what you get after 2 years of nursing school. If you go to a community college here in the U.S and get an associate degree you are an RN. RN=Registered Nurse. So you are also an RN if you get a bachelor's degree, the BSN. The BSN is at the University level. It is a 4 year degree. After attending nursing school for about 2 years you can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and pass it while still in the University Nursing program. The school would let you know when you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam.
As I am discovering, there are far more job opportunites for the RN than the LPN/LVN.
No matter what route you take you will be an RN. All that matters is that you get started :) Good luck:heartbeat
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
Ooops I should clarify that last sentence. If you go to a vocational school to become an LVN you will not be an RN LOL . RN is where the money is so be sure to go for that.
The RN is what you get after 2 years of nursing school.
Not really. The RN is what you get if you meet all of the requirements of the state nursing board which include a minimum number of contact hours in various nursing subjects in a recognized program (college or hospital-based), a minimum number of clinical hours in various units, passing the NCLEX-RN, and passing a background check.
RN is a license granted by the state not a degree granted by a college or university.
If you go to a community college here in the U.S and get an associate degree you are an RN.
Nope. You are simply a person with an AA or AS in nursing. If you haven't passed the NCLEX and met the requirements of the nursing board, you're not an RN.
So you are also an RN if you get a bachelor's degree, the BSN.
Nope... same reasoning as with the associates degrees. RN is a license, BSN is a degree.
The BSN is at the University level. It is a 4 year degree. After attending nursing school for about 2 years you can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and pass it while still in the University Nursing program.
Perhaps at some but not at the public programs that I've looked at here in Northern California. In the programs that I've looked at, you won't have met the requirements of the nursing board until you've completed the program. From what I've seen, the first couple of years are primarily focused on GE; most of the nursing content is presented later in the program.
The only two basic nursing licenses available are RN and LVN/LPN. The differences in their responsibilities and authority differ state-by-state.
There are four or five ways of which I'm aware to garner the requisite experience to become an RN:
A hospital-based from which you will earn a diploma
A community-college-based program from which you will earn an associates degree.
A university-based program from which you will earn a bachelors degree
A university-based program from which you will earn a masters degree
A bridge program that qualifies LVNs to become RNs -- I don't really know much about these in terms of where they're offered or what kinds of degrees or certificates they offer.
In each case, you must still pass the NCLEX before you become an RN.
Do you know maybe also what I need to become a nurse practitioner? Is it possible to become one after getting BSN and RN?
Thanks again
Lu
Presently, all the NP programs of which I'm aware are masters level or doctorate programs. After earning a BSN -- and usually gaining some experience -- you'd go into an NP program.
My understanding is that there are some direct-entry NP programs out there if you have a degree in another subject but there's some considerable debate about the wisdom of pursuing such a course.
I understand exactly what you are going through and that is why this forum is so helpful. Well back to the main topic, I hope am not too late but I was doing a search on Fairleigh Dickinson's accelerated nursing program and I managed to click your post. I too had a hard time selecting schools to complete my pre-reqs and I am still in the process but so far, Colarado Community colleges online learning system (CCConline.org) offers all classes included AP 1 & 2, Microbiology, Pathophysiology, Chemistry, Psychology, Ethics e.t.c just to name a few but I think you should try it because it is fully accredited and it should be accepted anywhere. Whenever you take or plan to register for online classes, make sure the school is regionally accredited, otherwise you will have a hard time with the nursing admissions office. Inaddition, the regional accreditation for example is the same as Fairleigh Dickinson or Seton Hall but just by different state and you can check the board of education. Also you can take your classes at different schools within the system but your classes will be reported on one transcript from one primary college, so you wouldn't have to worry about having too many transcript. I hope this helps and Good luck :nuke:
Thank you so much. No you are not too late. I've just finished with WES (world education services) getting evaluated my transcripts from other colleges. Still have to do the pre-reqs... Still a long way... but I'll be there where I want / meant to be. Thanks a lot again and I wish you luck as well.
Hi Krolik,
I understand exactly what you are going through and that is why this forum is so helpful. Well back to the main topic, I hope am not too late but I was doing a search on Fairleigh Dickinson's accelerated nursing program and I managed to click your post. I too had a hard time selecting schools to complete my pre-reqs and I am still in the process but so far, Colarado Community colleges online learning system (CCConline.org) offers all classes included AP 1 & 2, Microbiology, Pathophysiology, Chemistry, Psychology, Ethics e.t.c just to name a few but I think you should try it because it is fully accredited and it should be accepted anywhere. Whenever you take or plan to register for online classes, make sure the school is regionally accredited, otherwise you will have a hard time with the nursing admissions office. Inaddition, the regional accreditation for example is the same as Fairleigh Dickinson or Seton Hall but just by different state and you can check the board of education. Also you can take your classes at different schools within the system but your classes will be reported on one transcript from one primary college, so you wouldn't have to worry about having too many transcript. I hope this helps and Good luck :nuke:
Faeriewand, ASN, RN
1,800 Posts
Krolik, the LPN or LVN is from a technical/vocational school. No college required. The RN is what you get after 2 years of nursing school. If you go to a community college here in the U.S and get an associate degree you are an RN. RN=Registered Nurse. So you are also an RN if you get a bachelor's degree, the BSN. The BSN is at the University level. It is a 4 year degree. After attending nursing school for about 2 years you can sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and pass it while still in the University Nursing program. The school would let you know when you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam.
As I am discovering, there are far more job opportunites for the RN than the LPN/LVN.
No matter what route you take you will be an RN. All that matters is that you get started :) Good luck:heartbeat