Career change into Nursing: Accelerated BScN, Pre-Health, or start from scratch?

bluestar776 · Mar 28, 2018

I know the accelerated is really difficult I've heard but maybe someone who's taken it can give you more input :)

I'm a single mother of one I took pre-health awhile ago I found it gave me a good science background. You can also take the individual pre-health courses at night part time. I would say pre-health is high school level bio and chem it kind of gets you into the routine of studying and the basis for what you'll need to know in nursing.

I'm in my late 20's and just starting my BScN in September 2018 :) If you have any family members or daycare while your in school to help with the little ones while studying it's a bonus. I know they just announced free daycare for pre-school aged kids in Ontario.

goodluck!

Khow89 · Mar 28, 2018

How many pre-req courses do you need?

denielle · Mar 28, 2018

What I meant by the pre-req are that I don't have the univ equivalencies for: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, and Nutrition. Those are the required courses for Mac for example. I only have for Psychology and Statistics.

denielle · Mar 28, 2018

I know the accelerated is really difficult I've heard but maybe someone who's taken it can give you more input :)
I'm a single mother of one I took pre-health awhile ago I found it gave me a good science background. You can also take the individual pre-health courses at night part time. I would say pre-health is high school level bio and chem it kind of gets you into the routine of studying and the basis for what you'll need to know in nursing.
I'm in my late 20's and just starting my BScN in September 2018 :) If you have any family members or daycare while your in school to help with the little ones while studying it's a bonus. I know they just announced free daycare for pre-school aged kids in Ontario.
goodluck!

Congrats on your upcoming BScN! I think because of my low GPA, I'm gonna have to take the Pre Health and go 1000% on it. I'm lucky to have my husband's full support and have our extended family to look after the kids. I just hope I can balance it all and still be able to sleep lol.

Khow89 · Mar 29, 2018

Yeah, I was just wondering how many you were missing because you mentioned that your GPA is kind of low which means you need to get 90s in those courses to bring up your GPA. Or you can take additional courses where you need roughly 80s to bring up your GPA. With that being said, consider taking the pre-health program where it fulfills additional courses and the OSAP requirements of being a full time student.

Also the accelerated programs only look at uni level courses, I'm not too familiar with pre-health programs so I'm not sure if they are uni or college levels. It's best to make sure.

You should also apply to the RPN programs when you do apply to the nursing programs. Or you can apply to a few RPN programs when you apply to the pre-health program.

toronto_nurse · Mar 31, 2018

Congrats on wanting to pursue nursing! With a family and other obligations you have to be realistic on your program nursing program selection. Evaluate on your level of supports that will help you succeed in your education. Second-entry nursing will require a solid GPA in your last one to two years of post-secondary study but speaking to the school's nursing department hopefully will clarify some questions and concerns. To pursue a 4-year BScN program you would apply as a mature student via OUAC providing you have the minimum high school prerequisite courses. As great as OSAP is for financial assistance, the expense for nursing adds up when it comes to textbooks, uniforms, equipment/supplies, vulnerable sector checks, CPR, mask-fit, TB test (some doctor's clinics charge even though they're not suppose to for educational purposes).

denielle · Mar 31, 2018

Congrats on wanting to pursue nursing! With a family and other obligations you have to be realistic on your program nursing program selection. Evaluate on your level of supports that will help you succeed in your education. Second-entry nursing will require a solid GPA in your last one to two years of post-secondary study but speaking to the school's nursing department hopefully will clarify some questions and concerns. To pursue a 4-year BScN program you would apply as a mature student via OUAC providing you have the minimum high school prerequisite courses. As great as OSAP is for financial assistance, the expense for nursing adds up when it comes to textbooks, uniforms, equipment/supplies, vulnerable sector checks, CPR, mask-fit, TB test (some doctor's clinics charge even though they're not suppose to for educational purposes).

Thank you, I know this is common sense but I needed to hear it. In my perfect world, I'd get in to the Accelerated program w/ my existing degree, finish in 2 yrs and get on with being a nurse. But my life is far from perfect.

I will explore the Pre-Health and the 4 yr BscN as a mature student.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback!

denielle · Mar 31, 2018

And while I'm here, what's the difference btwn doing BScN from a college/uni collab vs applying to a uni directly? Is it easier to apply thru college first? More hands on? Etc...

bluestar776 · Mar 31, 2018

And while I'm here, what's the difference btwn doing BScN from a college/uni collab vs applying to a uni directly? Is it easier to apply thru college first? More hands on? Etc...

I think it would depend on the school itself. But I have heard from alot of students that the collaborative route with the college is better that is the route i'm taking.

Yingtsay, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2018

I did the accelerated program (After degree) here's my input.

I don't think its a lot tougher than regular stream. The biggest problem is that they tried their best to squeeze everything in two years which leads to this wild roller coaster that you just got to "hang in there". There's a lot of people I know that couldn't stand the wild ride. And truth be told, I went out of sequence as I had health problems which forced me to take the longer route. YMMV, if I was to raise two kids while doing school, I don't can do it.

toronto_nurse · Apr 10, 2018

And while I'm here, what's the difference btwn doing BScN from a college/uni collab vs applying to a uni directly? Is it easier to apply thru college first? More hands on? Etc...

The curriculum set out is the same and the joint collaboration was established to offer more opportunities for nursing education and now schools are producing too many nursing graduates. I can only speak for the BScN program at Ryerson University and the Ryerson/George Brown/Centennial collaboration in which direct high school students are given preference for the BScN 4-year program at Ryerson University campus down town. There is published somewhere that the high school average required for the BScN program for Ryerson University campus is higher than the one required for the Ryerson/George Brown and Centennial collaborations. Clinical placements may also be impacted on where your collaboration site is even though placement coordinators try to place you closer to your home address.

On another note, both second entry and 4-year programs produce great nurses. I have precepted students coming from both and I find those coming from 4-year programs may have been provided more time to grow and transition into the role. Those coming from second entry have students that may already possess degrees under their belts along with a level of maturity that are capable of handling stressful situations.