BSB & A-BSN Comment/Question

AJJKRN · Jun 27, 2018

As others may wonder...have you looked into the physicians assistant route yet if NP is your goal?

sleepyinscience · Jun 27, 2018

Hello,

Yes I have. Actually, many of my peers at my university who are also majoring in Biology are going for the PA route!

I can use it as an alternative, although from research, I am not too fond of the restrictions they have as a PA vs NP. But, still an amazing field!!! PA's play a huge role in patient care as do NP's do, from what I have read.

So far, I am looking into the NP position. I want to be able to lead and have full knowledge to be able to help, guide, and teach others.

elkpark · Jun 27, 2018

Why would anyone do an "accelerated" program that provides a baccalaureate degree in something else plus an ABSN when you could just do a BSN in the first place, quicker? I can understand people who already have another degree deciding they want to go into nursing and doing an accelerated nursing program (that's the population for which the ABSN was developed in the first place), but, if you know you want to go into nursing, why would you not just go into nursing in the first place?

A biology degree in addition to a nursing degree may enhance your personal understanding of some aspects of nursing and provide some personal satisfaction, but it will not benefit you professionally in nursing. You won't get paid more, be more competitive for jobs, etc.

If your goal is NP, another possibility would be completing an undergraduate degree (in anything; biology would do just fine), a regular, four-year baccalaureate degree, and then going into a direct entry NP program (for those with a BA/BS in something but no nursing background.

I don't really see the benefit or point of the program you're describing.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 28, 2018

Hi!
I am a sophomore at a university in Florida. When I first started, I found out about a new program at my school known as the SNAP program (suncoast nursing accelerated pathway). This is a 5 year program, where the student graduates in 3-4 years with their bachelors in biology, and then the next year after that they graduate with a BSN, in just one year.
They created a schedule with ALL of the classes that must be taken to complete this program. Literally, it is so cool. At first, I knew I wanted to go into medicine and become a physician. But after research, hours a talking to myself and just mentally thinking, I knew that I should follow through with this program and go for the Nursing route. I LOVE the health field and helping, treating, and caring for others. I DO NOT care for the money. I find that many people I have spoke with in college that want to go for medicine or any job in the field FIRST mention the money instead of the career.
Anyways, I am wondering if having a biology degree will affect my last year getting a BSN (in a good way)?
Anyone else think this is a great program?:) Not only will I be able to obtain a degree that takes 3-4 years in one year, but I will also be able to go right into the nursing field and hopefully learn and gain experience to become a Nurse Practitioner, which is one of my MAIN goals.
In the BSN route, do we get experience right away or is it more in class, lecture/lab learning, what will that year look like?

No, you will be obtaining a BSN in five and an additional more generic degree that you will never use but spend decades paying student loans on for no good reason. If you want to be a nurse, go directly to nursing school. That program makes zero sense. I suspect that that fifth year is the "Well, I didn't make the cut for med school- so I'll settle for nursing" year. And that kind of disgusts me to think about.