Can anyone give me some advice?

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Hey everyone, I've been a long time lurker and was wondering if anyone could give me some advice regarding my situation. I will be graduating this quarter(Winter 09) from the University of California Riverside with a BS in Anthropology. I originally started as a Biology major, but at my parents wishes(they were paying) I switched into political science and then to Anthropology in order to pursue law. Nursing has always been in my head though. I didn't do to well during my first years in college, due to slacking off, fraternity, and all that other stuff. Around my sophomore year, I believe I had a 2.1 gpa. It was a wake up call for me when I realized how far I had fallen since high school.

I managed to get my cumulative gpa up to 3.157, and will be graduating with a 3.2 barring any major surprises. Also, 2 quarters ago I concurrently enrolled in an EMT program, in which I placed #2 out of 102 students at the end of the class, and have a guaranteed recommendation from the program director(Not sure how much that will help) Anyway, enough of my life story. I live in California, and after researching my options, I have to admit that I am very confused. I have majority of my gen-ed prereqs finished(Stats, humanities, etc) since they were required for my major. However I still have a&p and micro left. This upcoming quarter I am taking a math course at UCR that fulfills a prereq, and 2 Anthropology courses. I am also taking Nutrition and Public Speaking at my local community college(RCC).

The problem for me is the multitude of school that offer nursing, either in ADN form or BSN form. I know ADN programs don't require as many pre-reqs, and is much cheaper, and that was the original route I wanted to take(Since I already have a degree + loans, and wish to start working as soon as possible) but from what I gather, it is often a long time before one is able to enter into these adn programs(Lottery system, waitlists and such) With BSN it is more science pre-reqs(Most of which I have to do still) and it is much more expensive(I could probably get more loans, but I really don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life)

Also, with regards to requirements, I'm taking Nutrition this winter intersession at RCC and as such, it is accelerated. The thing is, most ADN programs don't require it, but BSN programs do, as well as out of state. Should I still take it? It is a 4 hour class 2 times a week...so it really limits me in terms of time during the day. As far as academics go, I am nervous, but at the same time I am very driven to get into nursing. I work well under pressure, and am all about academics. Can anyone recommend any schools(Preferably in CA), or give me some advice regarding my situation? I really want to make this work.

Thanks everyone, and I am SO sorry about the long post. I have attached my course history below.(I know it's not that impressive, sorry :(

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- - - - - - - - - - Summary of Credit towards Graduation - - - - - - - - - - -

REF INSTITUTION PASSED IN/PROG N/A GPA VARIANCE

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1 Uc Riverside 174.00 9.00 3.157 +195

2 Uc Riverside

3 Educational Testing Service:AP 16.00

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190.00 9.00 3.157 +195

GPA DESCRIPTION REQUIRED APPLIED N/A GPA VARIANCES

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HS BA ANTH Upper-division GPA 4.00 4.00 4.000 +8

SECTION 1 - Academic Requirements Completed or in Progress

**********************************************************

- - - - - - - - - - - - General University - Units - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ANTH 001 CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 05W 4.00 B-

ANTH 002 BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLO 08W 5.00 A

ANTH 003 WORLD PREHISTORY 08W 4.00 A

ANTH 005 INTRODUCTION TO ARCHA 09W 5.00 Registered

ANTH 110 PREHISTORIC AGRICULTU 08F 4.00 B-

ANTH 113 ANCIENT HOUSEHLDS & C 08F 4.00 A

ANTH 115T ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERP 08S 4.00 A

ANTH 120 LANGUAGE & CULTURE 08W 4.00 B+

ANTH 127 POLITICAL ANTHROPOLOG 07F 4.00 B

ANTH 140P ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERPRE 07S 4.00 B

ANTH 141 DATABASE DESIGN FOR A 09W 4.00 Registered

ANTH 158 BIOLOGICAL APPRCHS TO 08S 4.00 A Substituted for ANTH --93

ANTH 163 TRANSNATL & GLOBAL CO 07F 4.00 A+

ANTH 178 GENDER AND ARCHAEOLOG 08S 4.00 B+

BIOL 030 HUMAN REPRO&SEXUAL BE 08S 4.00 B+

BSWT SUBA ADMISSIONS CLEARANCE 04F 0.00 S ADMBSWT Uc Riverside

CHN 001 FIRST-YEAR CHINESE 06F 4.00 B-

CHN 002 FIRST-YEAR CHINESE 07W 4.00 C-

CHN 003 FIRST-YEAR CHINESE 07S (4.00) NC

CLA 040 CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY 08U 4.00 A

CPLT 017A MASTERWORKS OF WORLD 05F 4.00 A

CPLT 028 JUSTICE, LAW, VIOLENC 06F 4.00 A-

ECON 002 INTRO TO MACROECONOMI 06W 4.00 C

ENGL 001A ENGLISH LANG/COMP 04F 4.00 S AP36 03 Educational Testi

ENGL 001B INTERMEDIATE COMPOSIT 06W 4.00 A-

ENGL 001C APPLIED INTRMTD COMPO 06S 4.00 B+

ENTM 010 NATURAL HISTORY OF IN 06W 4.00 B+

ETST 001 RACE & ETHNICITY:INTR 05W 4.00 B-

GEO 005 THE COSMOS FACTORY 04F 4.00 C-

GEO 006 THE VIOLENT UNIVERSE 05F 4.00 B+

HIST 015 WORLD HISTORY: 1500 T 08U 4.00 A

HIST 017A US HISTORY 04F 4.00 S AP07 03 Educational Testi

HIST 017B US HISTORY 04F 4.00 S AP07 03 Educational Testi

HIST 020 WORLD HISTORY: TWENTI 06S 4.00 A

HIST 182 MODERN CHINA 07W 4.00 B+

LING 020 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTIC 08U 4.00 B

MATH 003 MATH PLACEMENT EXAM 04F 0.00 MATH3--- Uc Riverside

MATH 005 PRECALCULUS 09W 5.00

Registered

MUS 008 POPULR MUSIC CULTURS 06W 4.00 S

NASC 092 PARASITES,PATHOGENS,& 04F 1.00 S

POSC --AH ADMISSIONS CLEARANCE 04F 0.00 S ADMHIST Uc Riverside

POSC 015 COMPARATIVE POLITICS 06F 4.00 A-

POSC 020 WORLD POLITICS 06F 4.00 B+

POSC 164S THE NATION STATE AND 07W (5.00) NC

PSYC 001 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLO 05W 4.00 B-

RLST 044 GODS, GHOSTS, AND GRA 08F 4.00 A

SOC 001 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIO 05F 4.00 A-

SOC 161 IMMIGRATION AND SOCIE 07W 4.00 C

STAT 100A INTRO TO STATISTICS 06S 5.00 B-

TAG 010A ACCELERATED BEGINNING 07F 6.00 B

TAG 010B ACCELERATED BEGINNING 08W 6.00 B-

TAG 010C ACCELERATED INTERMEDI 08S 6.00 B

UCRV ELEC ENGLISH LANG/COMP 04F 4.00 S AP36 03 Educational Testi

Total 199.00 GPA 3.157, Variance +195

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Thanks again!

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Specializes in ICU.

Many of the BSN programs only look at your pre-req GPA or your last 30 or so units. At least that was the case with my school. Got in on the first try...no waiting!

This past go-around with the CSU system indicate that Sacramento was extremely competitive with a huge jump in the points cut-off this year, but California State University, Chico and Humboldt appeared to be holding steady. Not sure about So Cal...

I applied to the CC programs but then during this past semester I took the classes I'd need for the BSN programs. If you do the same, then you can apply to the CCs, but be working toward your BSN in case the CC waitlists/lottery system don't work out to your advantage.

Good luck!

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Seems like you've got a lot on your mind, friend!

Not to be a stickler but as I've been told in the past... try searching around for BSN vs ADN and you will find lots of information.

Here are some things I would consider..

1. talk to some nurses in your area.. which ones felt prepared after school? Some nurses will even say they prefer to work with nurses from x school over y school... a lot of health care people in New Orleans (my town) frown upon certain schools. (we also have a crap load of nursing schools to choose from!!)

2. depends on your job market.. do they require BSNs?

3. how much time do you have?

4. what do you really plan to do with nursing? **IMHO** BSN's are a bit much. Some schools have accelerated programs if you already have a bachelors (in any field) for example.. LSU's CARE Alternative BSN.

Do you plan on pursuing a masters or NP? DNP?

I'm doing an ADN because the school I chose is very decorated in the medical field down here, great preparation, 2 years and I love the program and feel I will be best prepared for the work force. I have thought about doing a BSN down the line because I may want to get into health care management and it's a personal goal of mine to complete a bachelor's degree and I am in the position to eventually do so.

***I would suggest taking anatomy & physiology part one to get your feet wet and see if this is something you can swing... or at the very least buy a textbook and try to learn some of it... its only the beginning.*** I recommend principles of a&p by tortora & dickerson.. we used it for my part 1 & 2

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No matter how you look at it and analyze the situation, you are going to have to find a program where you will be accepted. I recommend applying to all programs that are within your geographical area. If you are accepted at more than one program, then you can use your criteria to choose which program is best for you. Good luck.

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Stanislaus State has an RN to BSN program, perhaps there is one close to you that you could try the RN start working, then get BSN afterwards?

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I'm currently in an ASN program. I chose it instead of the BSN for the same reasons you are debating about. There were too many pre-reqs and I didn't have the money to keep going to school forever. (Because I have a 2 year old and I'm sick of living in a crappy apartment on the bad side of town) So, I found that the RN with a BSN only gets paid 50 cents more an hour in Missouri. Not to mention the fact that you can always go back and bridge to a BSN. Some hospitals will even pay partially for you to go back. I hope this helps!

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