Associates to become Registered Nurse.....considering different Bachelors

[caffeineRx]

Hello,

I am currently finishing an ADN program. Afterward, I will be a Registered Nurse.

Nursing is something that I have always been passionate about. School and clinical stress me out..but I still feel like I am doing what I love...what I was "meant" to do. However, I am pretty positive that I do not want to go on for my BSN.

My reasoning lies within the structure of the system. I'm looking around and see so much abuse, corruption, anxiety, depression, anger, exhaustion, stress, illness, etc. I do realize that you can also make some really wonderful things happen, within nursing. But these things are enough for me to come to my conclusion of majoring in a different Bachelors area.

I don't see the health care system changing anytime soon. There are so many incredible flaws, even if it did, it wouldn't happen over night. Don't get me wrong..I realize that the real world is full of stress...but after weighing these things at face value in the palm of my hand...I just don't think the benefits outweigh the stress AT ALL.

I know many people working @ their boring office jobs making MORE than RNs...and while they are not THRILLED about their positions...they are not miserable either.

I know I will catch a LOT of slack for saying this...but I have just seen/read/heard WAY too much for me to end up being this bittersweet nurse in 20 years. I don't want to look back and feel like I made a monumental mistake by limiting myself to only one career. So I have flirted with the idea of going for my Bachelors in Mathematics or Accounting....another semi-passion of mine.

My question is....for those that have an ADN...do you normally just continue for another 2-3 years and earn your Bachelors in that "new" degree? Is it even possible for me to earn my ADN and then go on to complete the standard 2-3 years (considering I go full-time) and have my Bachelors?...or is this sort of thing something like starting all over again?

I'm asking because it seems that many nurses chose to stay on the same path, albeit their misery, because the possible thought of hitting the rewind button. Not sure if that makes sense. Suggestions?

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

If you want to continue your education with a bachelors degree in another field you could get your MSN. I found graduate school while intense you didn't have to worry about learning trivial issues. ASN in nursing is very intense.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

DO what's best for you. I went from a BA to an ADN because that was what I wanted to do, had always dreamed to be a Nurse. And I never could stand to be "chained" to a desk all day.

[EDRN-2010]

If you have a school in mind you could easily check their website and get a good idea of what will transfer from your ADN program toward your desired Bachelor degree program.

After you finish your ADN and take the NCLEX to obtain your license/become a nurse, there is no reason why you need to go on for a BSN. There are plenty of happy nurses out there that never get there BSN :)

If you are saying you do not want to be a nurse, when will you be graduating from your ADN program? I thought I remember from another posting that you recently started the nursing program.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I did just what you're considering. I got my Associates Degree in Nursing and then went back later for a BS in Elementary Ed. I have never regretted it. I am paid the same as BSNs. The BS in elem ed opened the door for me when I wanted to switch my specialty to peds and it helped me get on as a school nurse later. I have taught 3rd grade in a private school(I would never teach in public school! too many regs, IEPs, and red tape)

I think it depends on what you plan to do after you graduate nursing school. Are you going to work as a nurse? or do you really want to do something else. If you don't want to work as a nurse, then I think you should quit now and change your major. Nothing wrong with that. I've known plenty of nurses who went all the way through their BSN only to graduate and find out that they couldn't stand being around sick people (don't ask me how this happens:uhoh3:) I don't get the concept of majoring in something you don't really want to do. Although my DH majored in Sociology and loved it--until he realized that he would have to be a social worker. He ended up taking another year of classes so he could get a business degree too.

[want2banurse35]

I know a few people that worked as nurses only to realize that nursing was not for them and they returned back to school to major in somthing else. I would think that you would just continue on to get your Bachelors in whatever field you want because you would have the requirements to transfer. Lately at my University I have been meeting alot of former nursing majors.