Considering 2nd degree BSN - Seeking advice

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 22, 2013

"I've read way too many bad things about going into law to still consider that route"

Same for nursing since second half of '07 pretty much - sorry to say.

Also, many changers seem to be trying for CRNA. Too many - it's like a hot stock - when you decide to buy, you are gonna be too late as of many years too late.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Apr 22, 2013

Probably best to seek advice in the CRNA section. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

missnurse01, MSN, RN · Apr 22, 2013

I would advise you to take prereqs at community college and save a ton of money. If you can bang them out fast and get into the accelerated program, then in maybe 3-4 years you would be a new grad. Then you have to get around getting an ICU job, which in that amount of time I have no idea how hard it would be, or in your area. At my hosp we hire only 4 a year in my icu. After a few years experience, assuming you have taken your ccrn, gre, and biochem/ochem, then you can apply to school. then about 3 years later graduate from crna school. So about 9-10 years minimum from where you are right now. Of course it is doable, just need to do your due diligence.

good luck

calivianya, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2013

I'm going to warn you, if you're going into nursing just because the job outlook is better you might be really disappointed. Just saying. I did the same thing as you - went back for my BSN after a previous degree (mine was in Psych). I also plan to go to CRNA school. Nursing is a lot more difficult and thankless that I expected. It is a lot of hard work. I really hope I land an ICU job right away. You couldn't pay me enough to work med-surg - too many patients, too little time, too much stress. I will do it if I can't get hired any other way because I want to work in LTC/nursing homes even less than I want to work in med-surg. The average starting salary where I am is also around $19-$23 an hour, depending on the facility, which seems way too little for the amount of work I've put into my education. Some classes in my psych major were difficult but none had anything on the level of difficulty of my nursing classes. Just check your motivation and remember that to get to CRNA school, you have to have a minimum of 1-2 years of ICU nursing under your belt, and it might even take you years to get to an ICU if you aren't hired in one straight away. Most people aren't that lucky. A lot of hospitals have new grad critical care residencies now, but also remember that new grad residencies don't take very many people and there are a lot of people graduating from nursing school every year, so finding a job as a new grad in a desirable place is actually very difficult. I've even seen some hospitals that offer UNPAID residencies/internships because the location is so desirable they don't have to pay new graduate nurses to get them there. I've also heard of some new grads not being able to find nursing jobs and having to fall back on customer service experience to work. There is no shortage of new graduate nurses right now, so openings for new graduates can have several hundred applicants for less than 20 spots. Just a few things to keep in mind. If this is really your dream don't let me ruin it for you, but if it's something you're not sure about you might want to think about it really seriously before committing.

Annaiya, NP · Apr 22, 2013

I completely agree with what other people have posted. Nursing is extremely difficult and a huge commitment. CRNA is even more so. If you don't really want to be a nurse you probably won't make it through or if you do, you'll be miserable. You have to want to take care of people and you have to be comfortable being in a situation where what you do or don't do could affect whether or patient lives or dies. It is much more than just looking at years of education and eventual salary. This forum is very helpful so if you want more information on what it's like to be a nurse, this is a great place to start.

AccelCNL, MSN, RN · Apr 23, 2013

I say take a really good stock of what you want to do. Nursing school is not for everyone and the job outlook is not as sunny as it is perceived. However, if you are serious about going back to nursing school and earn your BSN I would say take your classes at a community college so you can save money. I am going back for my BSN. MY ABSN program starts in August and I graduate in December 2014. I plan to eventually become a NNP/PNP or a CRNA. I know that I have another 3-10 years ahead of me before I am finally completely done with school depending on which program I want to go to. In my area a new grad nurse can make up to $79,000 depending on the hospital. However, getting those hospital jobs are hard to get. However, this is not deterring me.

If you are sure about this route sign up for some science classes. Register for Anatomy. Feel out the classes. Honestly, in my prerequisites I just memorized information. I have a photographic memory and can remember things by rote so that made the prerequisites easy. However, I know that type of thinking is far different than the critical thinking skills required for nursing school. Your liberal arts background will not be a problem I think. I graduated in 2012 with my BA in history. I also played around with the idea of going to law school however I wanted to be a nurse for too long.

Another good idea is to become a certified nursing assistant. It just gives you a taste of what being a nurse will be ( even though CNAs and RNs have different roles). I plan on working while in school.

Just start taking prereqs and go from there.

Annaiya, NP · Apr 24, 2013

Another good idea is to become a certified nursing assistant. It just gives you a taste of what being a nurse will be ( even though CNAs and RNs have different roles). I plan on working while in school.

This is great for some people, but if I had been a CNA on an adult med/surg floor I would have never gone to nursing school. It's basically everything I don't like in nursing wrapped up into one job. If it had been in the unit I work in now, I probably would have liked it, but CNA jobs in my unit are almost impossible to get. While I think working as a CNA is great, I like to caution people that there are lots of areas of nursing and just seeing one part of it, is just that, one part. Nursing school is good because you get exposed to more areas. So if you get a CNA job and hate it, it doesn't mean you'd hate being a nurse.

Fireman767 · Apr 24, 2013

I have to agree with what everyone said. I came from one of the best schools in the country (stony Brook University) with about a 3.5, and now in a decent nursing school im struggling with a 3.2. Its not easy, especially if your coming from a non-medical field, its a huge change.

Many people are going for CRNA, and it's sad to say that most of the people that start out with that idea of going for CRNA don't make it or drop the idea when they struggle through pharmacology and other acute classes. Especially with the number of applicants they get for CRNA schools, they require years of experience (they say 1-2 years, but i wouldnt be surprised if most applicants had 5-6 years of experience). Realistically, step one is getting your RN, and most people think thats the easy part, but its not. People overlook it, and you can't ignore step one, it lays the groundwork of your entire nursing future.

The job market varies on where you are. Im in pennsylvania and the two huge hospitals near me hire ADN nurses by the handfuls. Some never go back for their BSN (when i was on pediatric floor, none of the nurses had higher than an AND). Theres also plenty of positions for FNPs, NPs, CRNAs, but the pay is less than other areas of the country. However, you go to Connecticut, New York, California, and you can graduate with your BSN from Yale and not get hired because sadly there are just too many nurses there. I have friends who graduated from UCONN top of their class and now almost 2 years later they can't find a full time job, just part times and PRN jobs.

Someone said take some pre-reqs (anatomy, physiology, chemistry (you will need about 3 or four classes of this for CRNA including Chemistry 1+2, organic chemistry, and possibly nonorganic chemistry) so you need to love chemistry and do well in those classes!, microbiology, etc). If you do well in those classes you have options of what to do and where to go. But you need to start there, and spend your time to earn the ability to start nursing school.

This is all dependent on the thought that you don't have all your pre-reqs done.

Swellz · Apr 24, 2013

Most people I am graduating with want to be CRNAs. I find it highly unlikely that there will be enough jobs for all the would-be-CRNAs out there. Then again, I live in a highly competitive area. Just something to consider, since you considered those same challenges with respect to a law career.

lauraline · Apr 24, 2013

I am also changing careers. Like you I graduated with an unrelated degree (Criminology and Law), and realized after the fact that law school was not for me.

I am choosing to go into nursing because I realized I wanted a more fulfilling career that would also enrich my life in a more positive way. But not for really financial or employment prospects.

I think you should evaluate if nursing would really be the path for you. So far, I have found it requires a great deal of patience and flexibility. You very well may not find a job right away upon graduation. Not only that, you may not even find the types of jobs you want. You may end up with part time work or temporary work, who knows. The market is saturated with new grads, and employers have the 'pick of the litter' if you will.

I started on my path to nursing after giving it much thought, for at least a couple years I seriously debated it. I decided to go for it despite the odds. I am pretty much done with my prerequisites now, but that was the easy part. Gaining acceptance will be another story, if I'm lucky (And I have straight As with the exception of 1 B). Then finding a job will be yet another uphill battle.

But I think if it is your dream, then go for it! I know it sounds cliche, but you can do anything you put your mind to. Just don't expect it to be easy, or that you will be 'rolling in dough' right away. Be prepared!

I will be wishing you the best of luck! :)

Annaiya, NP · Apr 24, 2013

Most people I am graduating with want to be CRNAs. I find it highly unlikely that there will be enough jobs for all the would-be-CRNAs out there.

I think that is common with most BSN programs. Everyone says they want to be CRNAs and it seems like very few end up actually pursuing that degree in the end. I think a lot of people get out working and either they find something else they love, or they realize they're happy having a life outside of work and school and don't want to go through the stress and work that is involved with CRNA school. And maybe some of them apply and never get in, but that's not usually something people like to broadcast:) CRNA school is hard to get into, but everyone I know who was serious about becoming one, got in. And there will be plenty of jobs for CRNAs. It is the area with the biggest shortage, and partly why it has the highest pay.