I am changing careers to nursing. I have a bachelors degree and will have a masters degree shortly in unrelated fields. I am now planning how to most quickly become a nurse while leaving options open for the ability to eventually get a good masters degree in nursing.
So my goals are as follows:
1) get a nursing degree ASAP
2) have a good enough degree to eventually get into a Masters in anesthesiology or nursing informatics, as I am still undecided.
3) Keep costs low as possible
So I am looking into 1 year Accelerated BSN programs, but the cost and the wait lists are a huge turn off. I am therefore considering getting an RN, which will allow me to eventually get a BSN or maybe do an accelerated RN-MSN degree.
So I'm looking for advice. Will the RN get me a job that can give me the time to get an online BSN? Will online BSNs allow me the option to go to a good graduate school? What do you suggest for someone in my position?
Which would be the cheapest option towards a BSN. Again my goal is to become a nurse ASAP, however, the speed at which I move from an RN to a BSN is not quite as important as I can work while i pursue those degrees.
Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Even if it seems irrelevant feel free to comment. Thanks in advance!
Fortunately for you, there are several options from which to choose in order to fulfill your goal. You have the option of participating in a second-degree option or to go to a community college to get your Associate's degree. I would determine which of your priorities is most important (The time to complete, the costs, ect...). If time is of the essence, then a second-degree option may be your best bet. If saving money is more important, than a community college program would be the way to go.
Don't pay any attention to the two posters who are "experts' in deciding who should or should not go into nursing. I am doing a 14-month second bachelor program. I put in the same number of clinical hours and class time as traditional students. There is a distinct difference between my cohort and the traditional students; maturity. I will say it takes a special person who wants to become a nurse. However, I don't think there is a single mold that has been created to determine who should or should not become one.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think I am getting a better feel for the steps I need to take
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Fortunately for you, there are several options from which to choose in order to fulfill your goal. You have the option of participating in a second-degree option or to go to a community college to get your Associate's degree. I would determine which of your priorities is most important (The time to complete, the costs, ect...). If time is of the essence, then a second-degree option may be your best bet. If saving money is more important, than a community college program would be the way to go.
Don't pay any attention to the two posters who are "experts' in deciding who should or should not go into nursing. I am doing a 14-month second bachelor program. I put in the same number of clinical hours and class time as traditional students. There is a distinct difference between my cohort and the traditional students; maturity. I will say it takes a special person who wants to become a nurse. However, I don't think there is a single mold that has been created to determine who should or should not become one.
I didn't say he shouldn't be a nurse. But from his OP alone, he should stay in the business area away from patients.
I am changing careers to nursing. I have a bachelors degree and will have a masters degree shortly in unrelated fields. I am now planning how to most quickly become a nurse while leaving options open for the ability to eventually get a good masters degree in nursing.
Just curious. Why don't you pursue a career in your unrelated field? You'll already have a masters degree in that field. The job market isn't that great in nursing right now.
Just curious. Why don't you pursue a career in your unrelated field? You'll already have a masters degree in that field. The job market isn't that great in nursing right now.
Several reasons. I think I will like nursing, the job market in nursing is better than in most fields, it has long term career potential if I do end up enjoying it, the skills I will learn will be valuable.. these reasons among other things.
May I ask what do you do currently and you haven't really said why you want to get into nursing ASAP....not judging, just curious...
I'm not going to say what I do for privacy reasons, but I want to get a degree in nursing because I'd rather working and not living off of loans than studying and depending on loans.
Please don't go into anything where you will have to touch patients.
Your "type" is not the kind that likes patients (obvious in your RUSH to get things done) and I would hate for someone's mother to suffer.
Stay in computers--nurse informatics.
The OP has asked us a fairly specific question. There was no need for them to disclose all their reasons for getting into nursing, they just wanted some advice on a specific pathway. Making a fairly dramatic jugement and jumping down their throat because you have some personal issues with certain 'types' of nurses is unfair. Hopefully you adopt a more rational approach when making clinical judgements at work.
To the OP I can't help you because in Australia there really is only one way to become a nurse-three years of university training or if your an EN about 2 years. I personally am quite wary of hearing about fast tracked programs in nursing because I feel that nursing is something you can't learn in a short period of time, your time as a student is vitally important in learning and once your an RN you soon have a lot of responsibility heaped onto you and often resources are limited so your really on your own....
The OP has asked us a fairly specific question. There was no need for them to disclose all their reasons for getting into nursing, they just wanted some advice on a specific pathway. Making a fairly dramatic jugement and jumping down their throat because you have some personal issues with certain 'types' of nurses is unfair. Hopefully you use sounder techniques in clinical judgement at work.
To the OP I can't help you because in Australia there really is only one way to become a nurse. I personally am quite wary of hearing about fast tracked programs in nursing because I feel that nursing is something you can't learn in a short period of time, your time as a student is vitally important in learning and once your an RN you soon have a lot of responsibility heaped onto you and often resources are limited so your really on your own...
Thanks, I tried to ask a specific question to avoid getting off topic. That worked wonderfully... lol
Well I do have a friend who had a Bachelor degree and Masters in totally unrelated field..she went ahead became a nurse practictioner and she is good at her job too!! So it dedinitely can be done..good luck~
amoslieber
12 Posts
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think I am getting a better feel for the steps I need to take