Best Path To Become A Nurse For Someone With A Bachelors

[youngwildfree]

I know there isn't really a "best path". But suggestions would be helpful. I'll have a bachelors degree in Health Care Administration and my choices after I graduate are:

1) Entry Level MSN program

2) ADN --> work (while working on my BSN)

ONE MORE THING!

I'm taking physiology and I received an A in one exam, a D in another, and another D in my lab exam. Should I just drop the class and retake it next semester or work extra hard to ace the next exams (there's a lot of risk there since I cannot guarantee I'll get an A in every exam).

Any and all suggestions would be extremely helpful.

[youngwildfree]

Also, I've considered a ABSN program but I'm not too sure if I want I can handle the fast paced learning. I like to take my time with my material to let it sink and set in my brain.

[taylorxteddy]

I'm not completely sure if this applies to you, but some schools have the BACC2 accelerated programs for people that already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree. It is a fast track to a BSN. An MSN program also sounds fantastic. Since you already have a bachelor's degree, I wouldn't go the ADN route if you plan on getting a bachelor's/master's as it will set you back a lot.

A's are extremely important for getting entry to nursing schools at any level regardless of a prior degree, so if you don't think you could pull out of that class with a B at best, then I would drop it. There are several second degree students that just got accepted to a BSN program on another AN forum and their GPAs are all very high.

Hope this was helpful!

[elkpark]

I would be cautious about direct entry MSN programs if you are concerned about an accelerated BSN program being too fast-paced for you -- a direct entry MSN program is, basically, an accelerated BSN program going directly into an MSN program. I attended grad school (as an experienced RN) at a school that also had a direct entry program, and many of my classmates were the direct entry students (who had finished the initial year of basic nursing education and were now starting the MSN coursework with the rest of us). They all said that the first year had been horrendous, basically 12-16 hour days, six days a week (including study time), and they were amazed they had survived (and still visibly "shell-shocked" from the experience). Granted, this was a particularly rigorous and demanding program, but something to look into if you're concerned about a program being "fast-paced."

Best wishes for your journey!