Associates to BSN

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I have a question that I just can't seem to get straight answer on. Hopefully, you guys can help. I have a bachelors degree in accounting and I'm going to school for my associates in Nursing. I want to get my BSN once I'm done with my associates. I have heard from some people that I won't have to take any classes afterwards and I'll just have my BSN. I have heard from others that not many of my accounting classes will transfer and I will have an additional 2 years of school before getting my BSN. Finally, I have also heard that most of my credits will transfer and I'll only have to take a couple classes to get my bsn. No one can give me a straight answer. Please, any info would be helpful. Thanks.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I think it really depends what classes you took when you got your Bachelor's and what kind of classes the BSN program you are looking into requires. I know, cause I'm in the same position as you- almost finished with my associate's (woo!) and planning on getting my BSN, and I have a Bachelor's already. If I were you, I would get a copy of your official transcript from your bachelor's and arrange an appointment with a nursing counselor at the school you are looking into for your BSN. They can give you a definite idea of what credits they will accept and what you will still need to take for your Bachelor's. Good luck!!

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Specializes in SRNA.

You won't get a straight answer because many schools will vary. I can tell you one thing however, the notion that just because you have a previous BA/BS in another field does not translate into a BSN once you have completed your Associates. This is simply untrue, you will have to take more courses, the question being: how many more courses? Likely many of these courses will be theory based.

The short answer is you will need to check on RN to BSN programs that you may be interested in. I have a previous BA. The BSN program that I will be attending consists of 56 units/credits over four terms. At that same school an Associates prepared RN who wishes to return for their BSN will have to complete the same 56 units, however there are some courses they can choose to test out of by Excelsior or professor-prepared examinations.

So please do not count on the word of others as being absolute by far. You will get the most accurate information by investigating the RN to BSN curriculum of future potential programs.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
So please do not count on the word of others as being absolute by far. You will get the most accurate information by investigating the RN to BSN curriculum of future potential programs.

:bow: :yeahthat: :bow:

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You will not have a BSN, though having a BA/BS makes future study simpler. Most RN-to-BSN programs have something around a 30 credit residency requirement (meaning you need to take at least 30 credits there to get a degree). I will probably go the BA, RN route (RN from a diploma school) and I dont think I'll go for the BSN, but instead for an MSN. 30 credits for BSN, 40-45 for the MSN, so for me, a little extra work is worth it for a Master's.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

to get a bachelor's degree in the science of nursing you have to get one from a college or university that bestows one upon you. take a look at your diploma for your accounting degree. i'm talking about the one with the fancy seals and signature of the dean of the college. it says that it is a bachelor's degree in accounting. if you recall, you had to fulfill specific requirements to earn that. it is the same for a bachelor's degree in the science of nursing. there will be specific requirements that you will have to fulfill to earn that degree. the first difference is going to be that right now you are taking associate level nursing classes. no 4-year college is going to give you a bachelor's degree by accepting lower division associate degree nursing credit as the only basis for the degree.

i had an associate's degree in nursing and went back for my bsn. i had to take a full battery of upper division nursing classes that were specifically designed for rns returning for a bsn. it was no cakewalk. there was a lot of writing of research-based papers. after all, bachelor-degree work was expected. in the end after all my credits were transferred there was a total amount of something like 120 credit hours of work (i can't get to my transcript at the moment to give you the exact number).

you probably won't have to take as many of the general education classes as probably some of your classes you took for your bachelor's in accounting may be transferable and will be used toward the requirements for the bsn, but the aa in nursing doesn't automatically get you a bsn. sorry.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
You will not have a BSN, though having a BA/BS makes future study simpler. Most RN-to-BSN programs have something around a 30 credit residency requirement (meaning you need to take at least 30 credits there to get a degree). I will probably go the BA, RN route (RN from a diploma school) and I dont think I'll go for the BSN, but instead for an MSN. 30 credits for BSN, 40-45 for the MSN, so for me, a little extra work is worth it for a Master's.

Do have names of schools that are doing this RN - MSN route? I have a bachelor's in Business and would be much more interested it working directly on my MSN rather than doing the BSN then for the MSN.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

A second bachelor RN program might be a good option for you. Good luck!

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Specializes in Acute Care.

ok, this may not be an entirely appropriate place, but there's a stupid joke i feel the crazy urge to pass it on....

q: what do you do with a bachelor's in accounting?

a: go to nursing school!

sorry. :stone

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MUSC in Charleston SC has an RN to MSN program. They also have an accelerated BSN program specifically for people who already have a Bachelors in another field. They also have an online RN to BSN program for those who have an Associates RN. I dont what which would be the easiest way for you, but the accelerated BSN for those w/ a prior degree is definitely quite fast paced and skips a lot of the gen ed stuff.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
Do have names of schools that are doing this RN - MSN route? I have a bachelor's in Business and would be much more interested it working directly on my MSN rather than doing the BSN then for the MSN.

The University of Texas at Tyler (and others, I'm sure) offer an online RN to MSN degree plan.

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