Contengency Plans

stpauligirl · Mar 30, 2006

I would like to ask for advice. I have an AA degree from a local community college the University I am transfering to has taken most of my credits in transfer. They have taken 15 credits of Psychology classes I had. I am shy of a BS in Psychology by 28 credits. If I become a Psychology major and then try for Nursing in the accelerated program I can be done in less time than pursing a BSN.
My question is this, what can I do with a BSN as well as a BS in Psychology?
I should add that I am also considering Anthropology as my 2nd choice if I don't get in to Nursing school and if I do get into nursing school I am considering Anthropology as a minor. (I will run out of pre-req's and I need to keep a full time status)

28 credits is alot of credits .....you are probably better off starting your nursing pre-requisites and head straight forward towards the nursing BSN.

that's just my opinion...good luck

shock-me-sane · Mar 30, 2006

i am in nursing school and getting my psych degree as well. entering the nursing program i had 7 psych classes i had to take over the next 3 years.

i want to be a psych nurse and then pursue a MFT or PhD in psych following. so it works for me. besides, you can't do much with a BA in psych but it will facilitate nursing nicely. psych is in every aspect of your interactions with people.

laurawho7 · Mar 30, 2006

28 credits is alot of credits .....you are probably better off starting your nursing pre-requisites and head straight forward towards the nursing BSN.
that's just my opinion...good luck

Actually 28 credits works out to be 2 semesters or 1 year vs the nursing program which is 90 credits and ends up being 6 semesters or 3 years. Where as the accelerated BSN is only 18 months long. See my dilemma?

Megsd, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2006

So assuming you have all of your nursing school prerequisites done, if you go the psych/ABSN route, it'll take you a year to finish your psych degree and graduate, and another year and a half to get the BSN, assuming you are admitted the semester after you graduate, for a total of 2.5 years. If you go the BSN route now, it'll take you 3 years. So basically an extra semester.

I'd say it's up to you. In my case, I decided on nursing halfway through my junior year and only needed 12 credits in my major (Spanish) plus general credits, so I took A&P, statistics and other classes my senior year along with my Spanish classes. I graduated in May and spent this Fall-Spring finishing my prereqs and am starting accelerated BSN this fall. I felt like at that point in my education I was so close to finishing my degree that I may as well just do it, rather than switching majors 3/4 of the way through college.

Since nursing programs (ALL nursing programs) seem to be very competitive, I would almost advise you to actively pursue both options. Keep taking your psych classes and keep taking prereqs. Try for the regular BSN and inquire about your chances for the accelerated program. Since the regular BSN will really only take you an extra semester in the long run, I think both could work out well for you, and if you keep your options open, rather than setting your heart on one or the other.