Associate of Arts in Pre-Nursing

[JaredCNA, CNA]

I'm currently working on my pre-requisites for the ASN program at a local community college.

There is a degree, Associate of Arts with Special Interest in Pre-Nursing, which would require me to take 2 very simple courses in addition to my pre-reqs, English II and another Humanities elective.

Now, I am cramming all of the pre-reqs into three semesters...which sounds easy, but I am working full time nights and taking classes M-Th evening and a Sat morning class. I am taking several "FASTTRACK" courses which cram a semester into half a semester and am attending Summer I and Summer II.

Anybody ever heard of this degree? Would the two extra courses be worth it? What would be the advantages?

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

I really don;t know where it would be helpful - doesn;t sound like you can do anything with it - best to just stick with nursing.....I guess..

[NC_Gal]

I would be careful with this AA degree. If you are planning to transfer to another college to pursue a Bachelor's I would check to see how this AA transfers over compared to the ASN. I was required to take a humanities course (critical thinking) and a second english (science based research not literature based research)for my RN program.

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

The OP is still going to have to get the ASN/ADN/BSN when finished. Another case of taking 3.5 to 4 years go get a "2" year degree. Look at the fine print and see if just getting a BSN might be as fast as getting the ADN. The degree itself is just like any number of associate level degrees that community colleges give out. Having the degree itself prob won't help you much. You going to get the terminal degree in nursing when this is all finished.

In takin ghte classes look at your plans for the future. Are you planning on getting a BSN or going on farther in your career. Then balance the need for the now vs in the future.

[bookwormom]

You might check to see if obtaining a degree will affect your eligibility for continued financial aid.

[caliotter3]

You are most likely wasting valuable time and money when you could be taking prerequisite courses for specific nursing programs and then applying to programs, getting accepted, and starting nursing school. Investigate the requirements for the nursing programs that you plan on applying to, and if you already have done all the required prerequisite courses then go ahead and apply for them, whether you have finished this degree or not. Alone, this degree, is not worth much.

[sleepyndopey]

I don't think the extra classes are worth it. You'll have a degree when you finish the nursing program. I don't know, maybe this kind of degree would be helpfull to someone planning on going to a diploma rn program.

[Jolie, BSN]

Some 4-year colleges and universities waive their "general education" requirements for students who have completed an Associate's Degree. If you plan to transfer to a 4 year college to obtain a BSN upon completing your nursing pre-requisites, then this degree may benefit you. Check with any college or university that you may be considering.

Good luck!

[CNA Sondra Y.]

Having and Associates degree let you get into the school of choice with no problem. the school have to let you in with that degree plus if u r applying for the nursing program at that particular school its a better chance of you getting in because that program looks at your past degree to prove you are a low risk student and you will finish what you started. the very few people i know with this degree have all got accepted into a nursing program

[northmississippi]

I would just take what helps you get a adn/rn, the prenursing is just extra general classes that lead to getting into bsn program, but if you dont have a high high grades in all that, you wont get into that program most likely. Get your assoc. Rn,, then add those. Then again, bsn is basically just a predegree for those going to masters, so if your going to stop at bsn, you may as well not go as you'll probably just make the same money and do same work as an adn/rn. Thats what ive been told anyway. Get that RN degree in your hand!!!