BSN after BS degree

U.S.A. Massachusetts

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Hello, can anyone tell me how long it takes to get a BSN when I already have an undergraduate degree (non-science). Thank you!

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I'm starting the traditional BSN program at UMass in the fall and it's going to take me 3 years. My courseload will be slightly lighter than if I didn't already have a degree but it will still be pretty full. I've been working on my pre-reqs for a year too. The accelerated programs are much quicker (14 -16 months) but from what I've heard they are extremely fast-paced. Good luck:)

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About the same length of time as starting from scratch. My nursing program had 8 semesters. The first two were entirely prerequisite or corequisite courses to the nursing portion. My previous BS degree only covered me for the first two semesters as well as other general ed courses I needed to graduate with a BSN. I still had to take three years worth of nursing courses.

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Did mine in 16 months in an accelerated BSN program, plus the pre-requisites. Pre-reqs can be done in one year if you really stay on top of them. Pre-reqs were actually more stressful (and truth be told, difficult) than most nursing courses because there was always the pressure to get an "A" so you could make it into nursing school. In nursing school, I finally let myself relax and told myself that B's weren't all that bad. Good luck.

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You mentioned the pressure to get As on your pre-reqs. Is this true? How difficult is it to get into an accelerated programs? I only know of Simmons, Curry and MGH. Are there others?

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When I was researching schools as well at acceptance rates, the Boston area schools were generally accepting 1 out of every 10 applications. UMass Boston this year was crazy--something like 1/40 (check out the thread). Anyone I talked to at Curry got pretty close to straight A's in their pre-reqs.

Besides the schools you mention, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, UMass Boston and Lowell offer accelerated programs. UMass and Curry are the best deals--high $30K for the entire program. As I recall, MCPHS and MGH were close to $60K. Good luck!

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By the way, unless I got bad 411, very few people seem to know about the UMass Lowell program. It's still not advertised on their website. It might be a good choice for those who are able to do a little bit of homework and want to beat the daunting 1/10 odds for accelerated programs in Boston.

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Just an FYI as I just got an email from the director of the Lowell program after emailing her about the accelerated program I heard about but wasn't seeing on the site, she said:

"...I am sorry for the lengthy delay in responding to your inquiry. The second degree option has been postponed for further review of the course of study and budget. This webpage can assist with other programs: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/nurse_ed/nep_index.htm Best, Dr. ******"

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Thanks. Sorry for giving out bad information.

The second degree option has been postponed for further review of the course of study and budget. ...Best, Dr. ****"
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...Anyone I talked to at Curry got pretty close to straight A's in their pre-reqs....UMass and Curry are the best deals--high $30K for the entire program. As I recall, MCPHS and MGH were close to. $60K. Good luck!

Thanks Pexx84 for the info. I didn't realize it was so competitive - "$60K and straight A's"...Oooch. I may have to re-think this. I;m a single mom with two kids - just trying to get into the profession. I may have to get an associate's degree and work my way up, which will take a long time. I know there will be salary differences, but is it a lot harder to get a job if you only have an associate's degree?

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This may have been addressed before, but, because of time constraints I will ask my question in hopes someone can either answer or direct me to the answer. I have been teaching Gross Anatomy at a Medical School for a bit, have a B.S. in Medical Biology, have been a Massage Therapist (working with physicians and athletes) for 20 years and have been an LNA for a few years (in the past 10 years). I would like to get my LPN but am of the understanding that I have to become an RN first. Is there any place and way to accelerate through a program knowing that I have all the medical school prereq's out of the way. I have Gen Chem 1&2, Org Chem 1 & 2, Biochem. 1 & 2, Cellular Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Biology 1 & 2, Statistics, Precalc., etc. I have experience in many other areas also. I am also a CME director for the Gross Lab at the medical school, a Medical Illustrator, etc. All relevant information would greatly be appreciated. I live in New Hampshire/Maine area.

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Unless you Can find an accelerated program, it's practically starting from scratch although your degree might have more transferable classes than mine did. I'm doing AN first- similar amount of time, I can work as a nurse while working on BSN, and way cheaper.

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