I am 48 and in community college doing all my prereqs for entrance to the nursing program. I had planned to do the AS for RN but when I registered last week for more of my classes, the advisor suggested I take classes to transfer to get the BS in nursing. I went ahead and followed her lead but I am second guessing myself.
Should I go back to planning to do the AS for RN because I will be too old to worry about moving to management later or go for the BS.
I live in Florida if that makes any difference. Thanks!
I'd go straight through for the BSN. Why not? It gives you the option of advanced practice and a lot more autonomy, not to mention desk jobs. And I never thought I'd say it, but I missed having my own desk.
Had Dirkje had a BSN she could have done the MSN for NP rather than start in another program for the PA.
Sorry, let me make myself clearer. For MOST positions in case management and utilization review, a BSN is preferred. For advanced practice, obviously the MSN or DNP is required.
Wow, lots of info and opinions. I appreciate everyones thoughts.
I am almost afraid to ask, but what is an OP?
It appears, despite my age, the BS may be the better route.
If I understand my CC advisor correctly, I can actually do my BSN through a program that University of Central Florida has with my current school. It will cost a bit more than the AS RN and I have to take 2 semesters of language, advanced math and a couple other classes. As I mentioned before, it adds about 2 semesters.
i'd go straight through for the bsn. why not? it gives you the option of advanced practice and a lot more autonomy, not to mention desk jobs. and i never thought i'd say it, but i missed having my own desk.
had dirkje had a bsn she could have done the msn for np rather than start in another program for the pa.
yes, that is technically true however i did not want to be a np, i choose to be a pa once i realized i wanted more than nursing.
not that there's anything wrong with being a np it's just not what i wanted.
in my state too, but that's not why i chose to be a pa.
again, interesting.
were i younger i would have gone to medical school (became a nurse quite late in life). but at this point, i like the paradigm of the holistic nursing approach to healing the person more than the medical model.
I am also a 48 year old with BS in another field, attending a community college, albeit, in northern Minnesota--having just completed my prequisites. The only accelerated BS to Rn Program locally is a high-buck private college with $40K in annual tuition. I had hoped to make this ADN career transition into semi-retirement, so that I'd be able to work part time with better than part-time typical wages, and possibly with subsidized health care premiums. I'll likely work until my health fails, until I can afford medicare supplemental insurance, and/or can otherwise afford to fully retire.
Another factor for me is my desire move further south. I have weighed options, and thought the ADn was clearly the best option. However, given this new information, that options are nice as we age, I'll likely still proceed with my ADN, but more likely seek a BSN once employed (so I can work part time while I attend school, and possibly have some of my schooling subsidized). It'll also help me figure out if nursing and "me" work well together.
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
I'd go straight through for the BSN. Why not? It gives you the option of advanced practice and a lot more autonomy, not to mention desk jobs. And I never thought I'd say it, but I missed having my own desk.
Had Dirkje had a BSN she could have done the MSN for NP rather than start in another program for the PA.