CNA to BSN

dorkypanda · Oct 9, 2014

I agree with everyone else, there's no shortcut.

Have you looked at nursing programs in your area that you're interested in ? Please do, it may save you time.

Lets say you take some ap classes and pass the ap tests with a 3 or better.. You must check with the nursing program policy on ap score credit for college courses like if it translates into what letter grade in lieu of taking the course. If it's a C or so, it would be better to take the said course instead of the ap testing. Just a heads up. yes, getting a 3 or higher does get you a bonus by not taking a specific college course but what matters is the equivalent course grade you would get from the ap score if they allow ap scores or not.

prepreqs should take 1-2 years, take them at cc if you want to pay less.

good luck

GlitterFaerie · Oct 9, 2014

Did I not explain this? I have two years of regular health occupations and my third year will be the year long CNA course. I just call it all a CNA course for short.

GlitterFaerie · Oct 9, 2014

I recently checked the prerequisites for the school I have been wanting to go for my ASN. The only things I need are proof of graduation and acceptable SAT scores, if not acceptable I would pass a test to enter the class. This school also has an RN to BSN transfer program, I think I will definitely take advantage of that. This is actually pretty great considering I won't be able to take specific courses due to my time being at tech. Thanks everyone! I'm really excited now. :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

Did I not explain this? I have two years of regular health occupations and my third year will be the year long CNA course. I just call it all a CNA course for short.

In summary, completion of your yearlong CNA course will not shorten the length of any BSN program that you attend by any appreciable amount of time.

This is because most CNA programs outside the high school setting take a few weeks to a couple of months from start to finish. So even though your yearlong high school CNA course will result in certification, it is the same certification earned by adults who completed the two-month CNA programs.

What people are trying to say is that a yearlong CNA program might be a waste of your time. If you want a BSN degree, you might want to spend that year completing challenging science courses at high school such as biology and/or chemistry. If you have not completed Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II, you might want to complete these in high school so you'll be ready to move into College Algebra.

Look at your long term goal: the BSN degree and RN license. If you want a BSN degree, you can achieve it without a CNA certificate in many cases. However, you will need to complete science coursework with labs such as anatomy, physiology and microbiology if you want to be granted a BSN degree. You will need to complete college algebra and college-level elementary statistics as part of your degree program. Your time would be best spent preparing for this coursework NOW instead of attempting to remediate as an adult.

Believe me, it's hell trying to learn or relearn something that you didn't learn properly in high school. The number of people who cannot become nurses because they cannot pass a medication math exam or received a poor grade in microbiology is astounding.

These are just my opinions, so use them or discard them as you wish. However, I still stand by my assertion that a two-year health occupations sequence and a one-year CNA course is a waste. Take your higher level math and sciences in high school so you'll receive 'A' grades in these courses in college. Learn this stuff now so you'll avoid being placed into developmental / remedial coursework in college.

sts188 · Oct 9, 2014

Some schools don't require CNA it can be helpful as far as the patient care goes and you may be more comfortable with it once you get into nursing school and it most definitely won't count toward any RN or LPN program curriculum

GlitterFaerie · Oct 9, 2014

I understand, I'm still taking the 3 year course in high school regardless. I will have a better foundation for nursing knowledge before I enter tech/college, most likely ASN for years and BSN when I decide its time. I have successfully completed Algebra I, currently on 2, I will possibly take Algebra 2 my Senior year if I even can. There's not exactly much I can do when choosing my core classes at my actual school because of this program, mandatory classes such as health is replacing my science class, then later finance will take over either a math or science. There are prerequisites to science classes. Bio 1 > Chemistry > Physics> Bio 2, and as you can see, due to this schedule, I get the bare minimum classes to graduate, and I won't be able to take Bio 2. For Math, Algebra I > Algebra II > Geometry > College Algebra. When you look at this, what stands out? There's too many classes for me to take before I can get to the one I want. *sigh*However, this class is giving me an amazing advantage point, we learn more than nursing in the two years prior to the CNA course.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

I understand, I'm still taking the 3 year course in high school regardless. I will have a better foundation for nursing knowledge before I enter tech/college, most likely ASN for years and BSN when I decide its time.

Perhaps you do not fully understand. ASN programs at community colleges and state universities do not simply admit anyone who wants to enroll in the nursing program.

You need to have first completed the usual sequence of prerequisite coursework: English composition, human growth and development, intro to psychology, sociology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and college algebra, to name a few. Once you complete the prerequisite sequence, you submit your application to the school's ASN program.

In all likelihood, the typical ASN program will have anywhere from 50 to 100 nursing school spots available, but 200+ people apply. Since far more people apply than can be admitted, they reject about half the applicant pool even though you qualify. To ensure you get accepted into the nursing program, you will need to earn mostly 'A' grades in the prerequisite courses and attain competitive test scores on an entrance exam such as the TEAS, HESI , NET or NLN/PAX.

For those who intend on being nurses, the first couple of years of college are spent completing these prerequisite requirements without any guarantee whatsoever that they'll be accepted into the school's nursing program.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

I understand, I'm still taking the 3 year course in high school regardless. I will have a better foundation for nursing knowledge before I enter tech/college, most likely ASN for years and BSN when I decide its time. I have successfully completed Algebra I, currently on 2, I will possibly take Algebra 2 my Senior year if I even can. There's not exactly much I can do when choosing my core classes at my actual school because of this program, mandatory classes such as health is replacing my science class, then later finance will take over either a math or science. There are prerequisites to science classes. Bio 1 > Chemistry > Physics> Bio 2, and as you can see, due to this schedule, I get the bare minimum classes to graduate, and I won't be able to take Bio 2. For Math, Algebra I > Algebra II > Geometry > College Algebra. When you look at this, what stands out? There's too many classes for me to take before I can get to the one I want. *sigh*However, this class is giving me an amazing advantage point, we learn more than nursing in the two years prior to the CNA course.

These classes are what you need as a foundation to higher education.

As Commuter pointed out, it would be in your best interest to take those classes, in order to have better placement in college; if you already think that it's too many classes, imagine placing an additional two years of pre req's because you do not meet the minimum and have to take remedial classes.

If you want to be a nurse, and you know BSN is a requirement for your area, is best that you look to coursework that will prepare you for college; including a dual enrollment program in order to complete your pre req's; if you get into a nursing program, your pre req's will be complete and once complete your first semester of nursing courses, you can challenge the CNA exam and work as a CNA while in college, or apply to a nurse-extern program. That will take less time and give you what you need to be successful nursing student.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

If you want to be a nurse, and you know BSN is a requirement for your area, is best that you look to coursework that will prepare you for college; including a dual enrollment program in order to complete your pre req's; if you get into a nursing program, your pre req's will be complete and once complete your first semester of nursing courses, you can challenge the CNA exam and work as a CNA while in college, or apply to a nurse-extern program. That will take less time and give you what you need to be successful nursing student.

Precisely. If you intend on going to college immediately after high school graduation, you need to be placed into a college prep track while in high school.

The three-year health professions/CNA course is not a college prep track. It is a vocational track for those who want to enter the entry-level healthcare workforce after high school graduation. It is not for a high school student who wants to make a smooth transition into an impacted college major such as nursing.

Those of us who are advising you have been there, done that and know what to do. If you disregard this advice, it will be at your own peril.

sgarcia14 · Oct 10, 2014

For me it is a requirement to be accepted in to the Nursing Program. I would check out any scholarships, FAFSA, low income grants

MSofia · Oct 11, 2014

When I was 15 I wasn't even thinking about my future or a job..let alone have an account for a nursing website..your still young don't get too ahead of yourself ..good luck :yeah:

MereSanity · Oct 11, 2014

I think it's great you have a vision and a plan. Good luck!