BS in Psych, can't get into BSN program. What to do?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I graduated in 2011 with a BS in psychology and haven't had much luck in the job department. I decided I wanted to go back to school and get a nursing degree. I applied to my local school for their BS to BSN program, but there is a wait list. My state's (RI) community college has a nursing program to become an RN. After doing a bit of research it seems like both programs take around 2-3 years, but I can start the program at the community college now. I'm feeling antsy and ready to start. If I already have a bachelors and get the RN will it be worth it. Would there be pay caps and no chance of promoting (management etc.), or would the BS in psych help out? Thanks so much

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to pre nursing for more answers.

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I, too, have a non-nursing BS/BA degree and have been consistently told that, without a BSN, the BS/BA would not be helpful. In other words, an ADN plus a non-nursing undergrad degree would not substitute for a BSN in hospital employment.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Have you considered a GEMS program?

Enter with a BA/BS graduated a year later with a generalist nursing masters.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Your previous degree will not help you out with pay, as it is not nursing experience/education.

My good friend and I both got liberal arts degrees and went back for nursing. I chose a BSN program because I didn't want to relocate and hospitals here just don't hire ADNs. She chose an ADN program because she wanted to save money and where she lives in now and where she is moving to are both areas that hire ADNs in hospitals.

Keep in mind, there is little financial aid for a 2nd bachelor's degree, and it is a costly road to take. I won't say I made the wrong choice; I got a hard-to-get hospital job as a new grad, but I doubled my debt. I also got to take a few MSN courses, so if/when I take that road, I have a couple courses out of the way.

Only you can say if it is worth it professionally and financially, just make sure you consider all the factors.

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I have a friend who graduated with a BA in oysch, did an accelrated nursin program and is now a nurse so pysch to nurse is possible. At this point I would complete as many prereqs as I can, that is the anatomies , the stats, the micro bio etc...the only way your degree in pysch would help nursing is if the pysch degree required you to take many of the nursing prereqs otherwise you are basically starting from the beginning

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