Can You get a ASN if you have a B.A. in another field

Published

Is it possible to get a ASN if you already have a Bachelors? A friend of minewas asking me this because she really wants to be a Nurse Practitioner, but getting a BSN right now is way too expensive especially the accelerated ones for those with a B.A Already, she was considering looking into community colleges and then get a Nursing job and have them help her pay. I told her I was not sure if she could do this considering she has a degree already. Although I was thinking they may but she would still need to take the sciences required? I was told by someone else that she couldbecause it's a Associate of Science not a Associate of ARTS it's career training not the same as the one your really planning to transfer to a University. Im not sure were confused she and I will be looking at the responses so if ANYONE could please educate us on this Thank You!

Yeah, get the ADN. Same pay. Get the BSN if you think you will go on to become a manager.....although you can always do a RN to MSN program....(those require a BS/BA in another field).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I did it.Paid cash out of what was left of my H GI Bill. We ate a lot of oatmeal and pasta. Hamburger was reserve for special meals. Now my alphabet spells BA+RN+ADN_1/2 Bsn maybe someday. oh i am certified as an ONC (thats's ortho not oncology) and the AS paid andy money I spent on both degrees in a little over 4 month counting hamburger helper. Of course credit house started at $13 in'66.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had a BA prior to going to nursing school. I graduated from an ADN program 5 years ago ( I spent maybe 8000 the most including books, supplies, uniforms on the whole program). I then completed my bsn online while the hospital I work for gave me tuition reinbersment for the whole thing (only payed for the books and only had to take nursing courses due to my other BA degree.) Now I am pursuing my masters. So, it is a cheaper way to become a BSN nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

so if you have a bachelors and get an ADN, what would you do to get a BSN? I mean, what would the classes be and how is it different?

It seems that if you already have a four year degree, and then get the ADN, you wouldn't have much left to do for a BSN.

Am I wrong?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

My friend has a B.S. degree in public health that she earned from a private university in 2001. She returned to school to study nursing in 2004, and attained an LPN diploma from a community college in 2005. She will graduate with an A.S. degree in nursing from a trade school next month.

My friend started out with the baccalaureate (B.S.) degree, but it still didn't prevent her from earning a diploma and an A.S. degree later on in her college career.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering. I am now in term 3 of my ADN program.

No - you cannot get Pell Grants, et. al., but you can qualify for scholarships and student loans.

I did get the BCBS Nursing scholarship for $1K. I also qualified for a program in FL called Worksource. I was laid off between pre-reqs and NS. Worksource is now paying my tuition, books and gives me $5/day in gasoline $. :D

After my ADN, I plan on doing the RN-MSN program and skipping the BSN altogether.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I earned a BA in psychology about 12 years before I started nursing school. It had no effect on my studies, other than that I had already completed the general education requirements for my degree at the community college. I still had several prerequisites to take (A&P, microbiology, etc.). I didn't do a BSN because the programs in my area required students to be available during the day, and I wasn't in a position to quit my job to go to school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

just FYI i was told i could not qualify for federal student loans for any degree less than a degree i already held. Since I had a BA at the time, that's the main thing that prevented me from going for an RN back in 1992. i don't know if i was misinformed or things have changed, but i would double-check that before counting on it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Yeah, get the ADN. Same pay. Get the BSN if you think you will go on to become a manager.....although you can always do a RN to MSN program....(those require a BS/BA in another field).

*** Some do and some don't. There is no requirement to hold a bachelors degree in order to earn a masters degree. Plenty of people go from ADN to MSN with no bachelors degree of any sort.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I now change my original comment from 2010. Get the BSN. Very few ADNs (even with another BA/BS degree) even get interviews these days. Its a shame. ADNs are great nurses. I'm not sure why the change has happened. UNC requires new hires with ADN to obtain their BSN within a short time frame from hiring date.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just like everyone else said, Yes, it's possible. I had a BA before nursing school and chose to go the CC route for an ADN. Now I'm getting my BSN through a state school. It's taking longer than an accelerated program, but the price works for me! :0)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
FYI once she becomes a nurse her other degree will not be recognized for anything in the field.

Not exactly true in non-magnet hospitals. I'm ADN with BS in another field and MBA. I'm up for nursing supervisor position right now because of my management background.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion