Associate Degree better to start with for a Non-Nurse?

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:nurse: Hey Nurses,

My community college is doing an LVN program here in CA, certificate and Associate Degree. Having an Associate Degree and a Bachelor in Non-Nursing majors, would it be better for me to do a Master in Nursing or start at the bottom to get my foot in the door? To get into the LVN program at the community college, I need to take a CNA class first. I figured that since it is in my town, it would be easier to go to school here rather than at a state university, which is about 2 hours each way. I will be 40 in Dec and wonder exactly what I need to do and which way is better. Many people say to me, "Why not go for a Master Degree since I have already have a Bachelor", but Nursing may be something totally different because I do not have any medical experience or courses. I knew people who went for their Master in different majors than their Bachelor Degree, but never in Nursing. What stepping stones would be suggested for a person who does not have medical courses or experience?? If getting an another Associate Degree would be a waste of time for Nursing, please let me know.

Thanks,

GrnArchr

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Most positions that require a MSN are leadership roles that require nursing experience. You should aim to be a staff nurse first, so ADN or BSN. The decision for that will depend where you want to work and the job market in your area.

Also, being a CNA or LPN will probably only benefit you if you can work while in nursing school and the job pays similarly to your current line of work. It's definitely not required, although potentially helpful for networking purposes.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Since you're in Ca and the job market is so tight, I would check out your options for the LVN to BSN and look at job openings for your area.

Word we'd is on the street (AN) that if you want a job in Cali you must have a BSN or an associates with experience so I would be timid about doing the ASN/ADN path. Besides, with no healthcare experience doing the LVN may help you to decide if you really want to go down the path of nursing or not.

I am in favor of following the cheapest path available to the education you want and did my ASN, then RN to BSN, and am know doing my BSN to MSN. If you look at all your options and the MSN is reasonable and less time consuming then go for it, just expect to put your time in and work at the bedside.

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Thanks cleback for getting back to me. I live in a small desert town, so the job market is not very great. We have a hospital, but any major surgery is done out of town unless it is something like taking out an appendix. I have many bad stories about my town's "hospital of death". That is actually what the town calls it. They choose who they want to help and what to do. Just there for a paycheck. Most of the nurses and doctors are full of beans here. Are the RNs only for hospitals or can they work in clinics? I have heard that will LPNs be phased out eventually. What about the accelerated BSN? Would that be an option for me? If cities are about 2 hrs away from me, I would have to move. I will spend most of my time on the highway and cannot move yet.

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Gooddddd Day LPNs,

My community college has an Associate LVN program I was thinking about doing. ARE LPNs being phased out? Should I go for an ADN OR BSN? I live in a small desert town and the job prospects are not very good here. Many cities or college/university are at least 2 hours away unless I am going to the coast, it is about 3. My community college is 15 minutes away and easy to get to. For the bigger colleges, I know labs are done in school if needed. I am wondering what is the best path for me. I am nowhere near a college that does ADN OR BSN, cannot move into an area that does, and do not want to feel like I am spending all my time on a highway. Someone on this site suggested ADN OR BSN, but What thoughts do you have about it?

Thanks,

GrnArchr

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Thanks AJJ for getting back to me. I am at a total disadvantage because the closest cities/colleges and universities are 2 hours away from me. The job market for me in this small town is not good either. If I want a job, I would have to move or spend most of the time traveling. I am wondering BSN would be a downfall because I do not have experience or anything medical. The info about CA is something I did not know.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Duplicate threads have been merged into one single thread and moved to the Pre-Nursing Student forum.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
I am wondering BSN would be a downfall because I do not have experience or anything medical.

Having no healthcare background has no bearing on whether or not you should go for the BSN. There are thousands of student nurses who enter college in pursuit of the BSN degree. Since you already hold a bachelors in another area, some of your credits will more than likely transfer. So, it shouldn't take nearly as long to complete the degree as it would someone starting from scratch. Mind you, though, entrance into nursing programs are very competitive; and your entrance into one will depend on how your grades/GPA compare to those of other students.

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I wanted to ask the same question: I have bachelor in business, so is it better to begin nursing from the beginning, or to go for masters- MSN? But how to go for masters if majors are totally different?

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
I wanted to ask the same question: I have bachelor in business, so is it better to begin nursing from the beginning, or to go for masters- MSN? But how to go for masters if majors are totally different?

They have what are called ELMs, the entry-level Master's degree for people looking to go RN + MSN who have no prior nursing experience. Depending on how you are with initiative and keeping up with the intensely fast pace most of the programs have, an ELM may be a good way if you don't have time or don't want to mess with another Bachelor's. I briefly considered an ELM but it was way too expensive compared to the time and money I would spend working on another Bachelor's. You usually become an RN and start working while completing your MSN within the duration of the program. So, they basically bust out a BSN within 12-18 months, send you on your merry way and have you do your Master's while your head is still spinning trying to find a job. It's not for everyone but for some people it works.

Another reason I also chose not to go the ELM route was because a Masters degree is intended to advance leadership within the nursing profession. It's hard to lead in something you have no experience in and I felt that just wouldn't be right for me. But, to each their own.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

To address the OP, the LVN is not being phased out and, where you are in Kern County, I'm sure you would be able to find an ADN new grad job as rural areas of critical need continue to garner more attention. It's a hustle to make sure you network and do what you can to ensure you get a job (and usually this occurs well in advance of graduation), but that may also include needing to relocate. However, I think where you are it shouldn't be as hard as it is for us down here in southern California.

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Hi:

Since you have your Bachelor's already, have you looked into 2nd Degree for Non-Nurses programs?

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