why are you considering nursing school?

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 17, 2008

Be careful about getting another degree "while you wait." There are some sources of financial aid that are ONLY available to people seeking their first Bachelor's Degree. Once you get a Bachelor's Degree, you become ineligible for that financial aid -- because the tax payers don't want to keep supporting people who seem to be getting degrees they aren't going to use to support themselves.

Be sure to look into that sort of thing before you make yourself ineligible for financial aid you may need in the future. You may be better off using the time to earn and save as much money as you can. You also might be able to take a couple of courses that will apply to your nursing degree without being enrolled in the nursing program.

PreRN Katie · Nov 17, 2008

I say go straight for nursing. Even if you don't get in right away, you can finish up your prereqs or just take a class here & there. I got my first degree in Criminal Justice because it interested me...however, I don't want to be a police officer, so it's not so useful. It has made getting financial aid a bit difficult so listen to the above poster when she cautions you about getting a degree "while you wait". Best of luck to you! It sounds like you would make a good nurse.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2008

Have you thought about going to a school where you'd be able to take elective classes in the subjects you are interested in?

And while those subjects might seem frivolous, there's something to be said for a liberal arts curriculum in terms of developing really strong critical thinking and communication skills. I was an English major, and even though my undergraduate grades are not that hot, I know those classes have given me an edge in my science courses, believe it or not.

But as llg said, the only federal financial aid I'm eligible for are stafford loans. And lots of private scholarships are for students without a BA already as well.

Some schools will allow you to earn a double degree, where you get a B.S. in 1 subject and a B.A. in another. There's some overlap in courses so you're not completing 2 full degrees, just the major requirements for both and then the school's general education requirements. I'm not sure if any schools do that for nursing, but it would be worth looking in to. Try the University of Rochester in New York State- I know they offer a double degree program with Eastman, so they might with nursing.

justme1972 · Nov 17, 2008

I have a sister that we couldn't talk out of majoring in Sociology. She "loved learning about people and cultures". She was dead and determined, so my father paid for every penny of tuition, and she wanted to go to a high-priced private school...he told her to pick one and footed that bill.

Well, she was 2-years post graduation, and could barely make minimum wage. Everyone in the family including friends, business associates, everyone....was rallying around getting my sister a job...and they did...but they were always low paying. She was a very hard worker...but just didn't make enough to live in anything but a cheap apartment and could only afford cheap things.

One day at a family gathering and she was crying, she couldn't understand why she finished college and couldn't get a good paying job...my parents just told her, "You just majored in the wrong thing."

I personally, don't care anything about personal enlightenment. If I can't pay my bills after paying the tuition...then it's not a class or a program I want to participate in.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2008

I personally, don't care anything about personal enlightenment.

Everyone should care about personal enlightenment. Whether you have to major in it or not is another matter.

As an administrative assistant with my English degree I was making $17 an hour. It's a tough economy right now but has your sister tried finding admin jobs? They didn't find out what my major was until my first annual review- all that mattered was that I had a BA.

benegesserit · Nov 17, 2008

Find a way to do both if you want, especially if you have time off before getting into a nursing program. As others have mentioned, be aware of the financial aid constraints, but beyond that it probably won't hurt. Art History may not be the most practical, but a double major or a minor in something like linguistics or women's studies could end up giving you an edge for a job or advanced degree program.

kew82 · Nov 18, 2008

I have a B.S. degree, and I'm going back to school to get an RN. I love school! There are so many interesting subjects, and you get to learn so much about so many cool things. Remember though, at the end of the day school is about finding a career. If you can make it work, follow your interests. More importantly, be practical! If you can't sell your knowledge to someone, all you have is an expensive hobby. :twocents:

sandlewood_nurse · Nov 18, 2008

Hi :).

Thank you for your post!

I started out working on an English/History degree. I went to a very good school, one of the top in Canada. I LOVED school, but unfortunately I was persuaded/coerced into persuing something that would help me get a GOOD PAYING JOB. I am smart, ambitious, but in my early twenties I had no focus, and wanted to reach the moon, but I had no idea of how to do it!! The compitition, especially in this university was SERIOUSLY FIERCE. So I caved and went to a community college to get my ADN. Nursing was one of the options I presented to my family but it wasn't my top choice (top choices were business admin or Media/Design studies". Nursing was my fourth choice atually (another was IT which I'm very glad I did not pursue).

Here I am four years later after graduation. Even when I graduated, until this year I maintained I would go back for my BSN. Yet everytime I'd go to the university sites I would start looking at non nursing programs. I am interested in different things from Social work, to teaching to BUSINESS (commerce). I want to be in a helping field but I want to make money, now I'm trying to decide. Recently in the past month I've made the decision to go for a non nursing degree. I don't want to be an NP, or a Nursing Instructor. I might be interested in management, but I don't think that a nursing degree will help me anymore necessarily as I can make up in my experience.

I think having a degree is a very valuable asset, and I believe that life should be balanced. You only live this life ONCE. So you have to find a balance between needs ($$) and your personal desires, goals and dreams. I LOVE my job, but I am very stressed out, and feeling burnt out! I was in a car accident that kept me out of work for months. If I had a degree I could have possibly have gotten an office job someplace that payed, not as much as nurses, but certainly better than minimum wage, or close to it. In fact I think of how hard we nurses work, for the extra ten dollars when my mom's secretary just answers phones, files and kisses ass once in a while. It sometimes doesn't make sense to me, but I'm here, I'm doing it. I love it but there as aspects I don't like. I don't believe I have a whole lot of options outside of healthcare with just a nursing degree. I think a libral arts degree can help you more in nursing, than a nursing degree can help you in other areas to be very honest with you.

My advice: If you want to go for the nursing degree and you are sure, then GO FOR IT!! That doesn't mean you should give up on everything else, and think of other programs as flakey or trivial. You think differently in these types of courses, they stretch your mind in a very different way, and its refreshing as well as stimulating. Research, Analyzing Information, Reading and Writing, are all very important skills, as is having general knowledge. Linguistics can lead to a very fruitful career as well if you ever want to switch from nursing. I think taking these extra courses while waiting for school won't hurt you. Nor will it hurt you to pursue these courses after nursing school and get a second degree.

That's just my two cents :).

GOOD LUCK FUZZY WUZZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :yeah:

GaMBA · Nov 18, 2008

I always tell myself to start with the first step and don't get ahead of myself (as I sometimes tend to do :rolleyes: ). Sign up for one of the nursing school science prereqs (like A&P) and see how you like it. If you like that, then sign up for another, then another. Do a ton of research on the profession and interrogate every nurse you meet :-) Eventually you'll get a better feel for if this is something you want to devote the time, energy and $$ to pursue.

Something else to consider is that you could always pursue your other interests on the side. Read books on them, attend weekend or evening lectures every now and then, etc. You never know when an opportunity could arise with one of them. Good luck with whatever you decide!

sunray12 · Nov 19, 2008

I've always gone to community college with the intent of transferring to a 4-year school and getting a degree in linguistics, art history, or women's studies (all of which seem wildly impractical since I don't know what I'd do with any of it, but those happen to be my interests). I have one semester left before I can transfer.
I currently work as a CNA in LTC and I like it a lot. I could see myself doing it long term, but the money isn't enough, so I've been thinking of nursing school. The only thing that's holding me back is wondering if I'll later regret not majoring in, say, art history. I wish I could be a nurse with a degree in art history (lol) but that's not very do-able either. I never saw myself becoming a nurse, but I never saw myself doing CNA work either, and I ended up liking it a lot.
I just picked up a packet for a community college transfer program (2 years long) at the end of which you're eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. If you were in my position, would you go for it? I'm a very good student, but I know that nursing programs are really competitive and I might not even get for next year. If I don't, should I transfer to some other school and pursue my "frivolous" non-nursing degree while I wait? What do most pre-nursing students do if they don't get accepted right away?
Sorry this was so long and convoluted. I am rushing to type this out before work.

I have a "wildly impractical" undergrad degree. :) Since then I've earned a graduate degree and had a respectable career. Now I'm moving into health care and thanks to credit earned while obtaining my undergrad degree I have a nice head start on nursing school prereqs - so don't let anyone tell you that a degree is impractical.

So all that to say if you truly want to major in art history or women's studies, etc., then go for it. If you can fit in some nursing school prereqs while you're earning your first Bachelor's then even better.

After you get your bachelor's you can either apply to accelerated BSN or to direct entry MSN programs. Someone above me mentioned financial aid limitations for second Bachelor's ... but if you go through a university with a teaching hospital you may get a tuition reduction or waiver deal in return for a promise to work for them for a few years. You'd be eligible for such aid even with a prior Bachelors. And if you go for a Master's degree program - there is plenty of financial aid both need and merit based at the graduate level.

FLmomof5 · Nov 19, 2008

My first degree was Electrical Engineering and I minored in Physics. (I loved Physics!) Anyway, spent years as a rocket scientist for the USAF and NASA. Impressive on a resume, well paying and BORING AS HADES!!! I just couldn't do it anymore.

I fell into programming and loved it! It pays well, but layoffs are part and parcel of the deal. It sucks and I have lost my desire to stay in the field. In fact, 2 of my coworkers are being laid off friday and I would be next if the economy keeps tanking. :crying2:

I decided I had enough. (before the aforementioned layoffs were announced) I started my pre-nursing program about a year ago.

For the post who said you don't get FA if you have a degree....no, you don't get Pell grants, et. al., but you still qualify for many scholarships and for Stafford loans, so you can still do this.

I will be submitting my packet at the end of the semester for the nursing program at FCCJ - for a start this summer. I should qualify. :yeah: Four semesters later and I will never have to worry about layoffs again!

I wanted to study art the first time I attended college. (1979 @ 17 yo). My father told me that "no child of mine is going to college for a liberal arts degree!!!!) When I suggested math, he then said, "what are you going to do with that? Teach? Teachers don't earn anything!"

I learned, in the end, that I had to do something *I* liked. But I also learned that doing what you like isn't worth diddly if you can't pay the bills!!!!

I wish you the best in your decision.