Can I be a nurse without majoring in BSN?

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Hi, I'm feeling really stressed out and scared for my future. I am currently entering my sophomore year in a 4 year university. I thought I wanted to medical school but with my low GPA I don't think that's happening. My friend is studying to become a nurse and I looked into it and I am interested. I always knew I wanted to go somewhere in the medical field but I didn't know what. I didn't do well in a class recently and I'm predicting a cumulative gpa of 2.0 for my freshman year and I'm feeling very hopeless about my future right now. The nursing major (BSN) at my university is known to be very competitive and I feel like I have no chance of getting in. Right now, my intended major is Anthropology (Medical anthropology/global health anthropology) and now I'm not sure what to do. Any advice on what I should do? Should I drop out of the university and transfer to a community college and get an AA for nursing and then go back to a university or is there another solution? Please any advice would really be helpful. I feel so lost, directionless and hopeless.

On 9/1/2019 at 7:10 PM, Nurse Magnolia said:

My nursing school did this as well. I took A&P I concurrently with fundamentals, and A&P II concurrently with med/surg. It was by no means easy but I got A’s in all. It can be done. I had no life and I was stressed as hell....but it was the fastest way to graduate and since I already had two BS degrees I figured I knew how to study and so didn’t want to waste any time.

That's absolutely absurd. You can't learn pathophysiology and nursing intervention before having a very good grip on A&P. Id be running from that school.

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Specializes in Pediatric Specialty RN.
39 minutes ago, Orion81RN said:

That's absolutely absurd. You can't learn pathophysiology and nursing intervention before having a very good grip on A&P. Id be running from that school.

Well, yes you can because I did. My school has an amazing reputation and has a 98% NCLEX pass rate. I passed the NCLEX 6 days after graduating in 75 questions. My school prepared me very very well. You don’t need a ton on pathophysiology to learn fundamentals. By the time I got to my critical care class I was done with A&P and we could really focus on the major pathophysiology. There is more than one way to do things and this program worked well enough to have a 98% pass rate.

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On 9/1/2019 at 6:54 PM, DeniseO-1125 said:

Everywhere? If you’re taking more than 2 years to get an associate degree then you may as well go for the bachelors. Personally I already have a BS, so I’m getting my ADN then going for my MSN.

Everyone has their own personal reasons for getting an ADN before/instead of BSN that has nothing to do with length of time.

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Specializes in BSPS.
On 9/4/2019 at 10:33 AM, Orion81RN said:

Everyone has their own personal reasons for getting an ADN before/instead of BSN that has nothing to do with length of time.

I didn’t say they didn’t. You questioned how anyone could possibly get an ADN in 2 years, and I was simply responding that it’s possible.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

ADNs are a hell of a lot cheaper, and in many areas just as good for getting a job as a BSN. Hospitals may require RNs to complete their BSN in X number of years, but they'll also help pay for it. In an area like that, as is the case where I live, it makes complete financial sense to get your ADN first. Even if you intend on pursuing a master's degree, it makes sense to get a couple of years experience first so the timeframe works out pretty well.

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Specializes in oncology.
On 9/1/2019 at 5:11 PM, DeniseO-1125 said:

That all depends on where you go. I’ve checked into 3 accredited programs and all 3 are 2 years including prerequisites. So it may depend on your location and the programs around you.

I have taught in CC nursing programs and sometimes a 2 year program is outlined on paper. Our College board believes students should be able to start the nursing program right out of high school. But not many do (may be at most10%) and those students are living at home and not working an outside job.

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