Applying for nursing program and I'm really confused?

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My college is saying the nursing program will take about three years to complete for a full time student. But it will take me four years to complete my bachelor's, so will I just be doing general classes my freshmen year? Should I be taking prerequisite classes as soon as I start college?

Another thing is my college application is saying to go for the AA degree if I'm just doing prerequisite courses. If I'm going for an AA degree my first year, am I supposed to switch to an AS degree for the rest the three years? Is that even possible? I thought I couldn't use an arts degree in the nursing field?

Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask these questions. I'm really, really confused - I shot the guidance counselors an email with the same questions and they haven't replied yet so I guess I should try here too. Thanks. :dead:

* Edit: I realized I put this in the wrong area... this was probably supposed to go into pre-nursing student.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Skip the associates and go for your bachelors. You will complete your prerequisites in your first year as well as a good handful of any general education (Speech, Literature, Composition, etc.) and finish them concurrently with your nursing classes. Yes, start prerequisites ASAP.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Talk to an admissions counselor for your college - they can help clarify.

Based on my experience, here is my interpretation of the catalog info. The first two years of a BSN education are generally devoted to pre-requisite & 'general education' courses. Completion of those two years can mean that you have met the requirements to be awarded an "Associates in Science" degree, so receive that degree. THEN, you go ahead and enter the nursing program, which accounts for the next two(ish) years and earn your BSN. So - you end up with a BSN, but along the way, you also earned an AS. Clear as mud, right?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I agree with HouTx. Talk to a counselor. They can complete a degree plan that will help you visualize the expectations. Happy learning!

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

Talk to your advisement department in your school, and if they have a health professions one, go to that person. This is just my interpretation but I could be wrong, I think your school intends to have you enter the school as a liberal arts/undeclared major first for you to take your pre reqs (which you should take right away, you do not want to take them during nursing program it will wreck you), then after you will apply to the nursing program and declare your major as nursing, effectively switching your degree to ASN.

Of course that is just what I think your school means, go confirm/find out from your school first. Good luck

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