BS v.s. BA

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I was wondering if, in nursing today, you really need a BS. You see, I am a junior in highschool and my grades are not all that great. I was thinking of getting by BA in computer science and then taking a nursing course. What do you think? Will it be harder for me to get hired if I do not have a BS? Will I learn more if I get a BS? Or, will I be just as good a nurse having taken a course, as I would having majored in nursing?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Why is it, if you are considering nursing, you would not consider getting the pre-requisites for, and working toward, a BSN? (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing)

Just wondering where you are headed in all of this. It makes sense to me, if you are considering nursing as a career/program of study, especially with as expensive and time-consuming ANY Bachelor's program is, you would head STRAIGHT for the goals you set.

I suggest you seek counsel with a high school or university guidance/career counselor and discuss this further. Perhaps you can shadow some nurses and see if this is even for you or not.

It's smart of you to ask these questions now-----but you need a bit more face-to-face guidance to figure out what may best work for you. Don't waste time studying something you are not sure you want to achieve! (not to mention $$$$). Good luck!

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Nursing requires science courses. Even if you got a BA, you'd still have to go back and takes those science and math courses required by nursing schools.

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I know i would have to take the courses. you see since my grades are not all that great i was thinking that i would get a BA and that would be a fresh start. you see my guidence councoler told me that if you do well in college then your highschool record is not looked at as much when transfering/applying for other programs. also if i donot make it through nursing school, which i have heard a lot of people do not, i would have something to fall back on.

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Specializes in CICU / ICU.
I know i would have to take the courses. you see since my grades are not all that great i was thinking that i would get a BA and that would be a fresh start. you see my guidence councoler told me that if you do well in college then your highschool record is not looked at as much when transfering/applying for other programs. also if i donot make it through nursing school, which i have heard a lot of people do not, i would have something to fall back on.

Hi Megkirpas,

I'm glad you made this post. I currently have a bachelor's of science (BS) degree in Computer Science, and I will be attending a school this fall to complete my BS in Nursing.

A quick word of advice for you. Computer Science insn't necessarily an easy degree to obtain. You'll have to take the entire Calculus series at most universities (I - III), discrete math, and several math intensive programming classes. Hopefully you have a strong math background... Definitely follow your dreams, but realize both degrees are not handouts. It's true it will probably be easier to be accepted to a computer science major (depending on what school you're applying to), but don't take computer science classes for lack of something else to do. I'll suggest you begin taking classes at a local community college (just general education classes) as well as your pre-requisite courses for nursing school. Your high school grades won't matter when you apply to a nursing school. Community college will give you the chance to redeem your GPA and academic standing.

Best of luck!

Evan

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