Associates first or BSN?

[Bryannanichole_]

I'm currently a sophomore in college and just decided I want to be a nurse practitioner. Because I decided this career so late, I still have about a year of prerequisite classes I need to take. I was wondering if I should get my associates at a community college and then apply to nursing school (so I could be working and gaining experience while I wait to be accepted) and then do a ADN to BSN. Or should I go straight into my BSN and then get licensed and work for a hospital for a year and then get my MSN (because I have to have at least a year nursing experience to get my MSN). My end goal no matter what is to get my MSN, I'm just not sure what the easiest/quickest route would be.

[jamisaurus]

The associates degree in non-nursing is a waste of time. Cut your losses now and start a BSN program, you need a BSN for a MSN.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Depending on your location, an associate degree in nursing might limit your employment options, especially in the acute care hospital setting. My advice is to pursue the BSN degree. As the previous respondent mentioned, a non-nursing associate degree will not do much good.

By the way, an oversaturation of nurse practitioners is coming. Everyone and their momma has seemingly enrolled in an NP program due to the low barriers to entering the profession. I am seeing anecdotal evidence of plummeting salaries and lowball offers due to the NP glut in some areas.

Buyer beware. Forewarned is forearmed.

[guest769224]

I am seeing anecdotal evidence of plummeting salaries and lowball offers due to the NP glut in some areas.

Where could I read of this more?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Where could I read of this more?

Google the title "Sharp Increases in the Clinician Pipeline: Opportunity and Danger." It is an informative article written by Edward Salsberg.

I would paste the link for you, but I am on my new tablet right now and still figuring out all of its shortcuts and functions.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

I have read right here on AN that NPs are getting their credentials out of cereal boxes. OK, that may have been one poster's opinion but it certainly made a visual for how low the barrier has become.

It's economics. Supply and demand.

As commuter suggested:

Sharp Increases In The Clinician Pipeline: Opportunity And Danger

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have read right here on AN that NPs are getting their credentials out of cereal boxes. OK, that may have been one poster's opinion but it certainly made a visual for how low the barrier has become.

It's economics. Supply and demand.

As commuter suggested:

Sharp Increases In The Clinician Pipeline: Opportunity And Danger

Thank you for posting the link, Mavrick. :)

[amoLucia]

It seems that almost everyday I read an advertisement for a new online school that I never heard of before. Maybe if a bunch of us all get together and pool our resources, we can open our own school. And we can all be department heads and deans and make money ...