Continue with business, nursing or both?

[Aurora333]

Sorry for the long post!

So I'm 25, have an Associate's degree in General Business which is basically useless, and am finishing up my nursing prereq's this semester. A year ago, I was trying to decide whether I wanted to continue with business and get a Bachelor's, or go with nursing. I am very interested in health and am a compassionate person who wants a fulfilling job which is what got me interested in nursing in the first place. I ended up taking business classes for the summer, and then changing my mind and deciding on nursing in the fall which has led me to where I am now.

But now, I am confused. I didn't get into the local nursing program (I have a 3.8 GPA--so thank you lottery system). I know nursing schools are hard to get into anyway. So then I realized I'm only one class away from achieving an Associate's degree for transfer in Business Administration, which would guarantee my admission to a university in the Spring. So my idea, which may be risky, is that I would have enough time to finish my business degree and then with a Bachelor's I could do an accelerated nursing program. Most schools require that prereq's be taken within the last 5 years, which I think would give me enough time, but would be risky, as I said.

I have a few reasons for considering this: 1. I don't want to waste my business degree. 2. This may seem kind of random but, study abroad--there aren't really any study abroad programs for nursing, but for business there are and I REALLY want to do study abroad (for a year) and this may be my only opportunity...which leads me to 3. I don't have a lot of self-confidence, and I feel like finishing my business degree and spending a year in another country could possibly help me gain the confidence I need 4. I think that a business administration/nursing degree could look really good to employers, and also allow me to use the time I spent on business in the first place...while also opening up more opportunities to me such as working in nursing administration positions, etc.

Right now I am trying to decide whether I should do business, nursing, or both. I realize that it would be expensive to do both, but maybe it would be worth it.

I'm extremely stressed out about having to make this choice at the moment...I've got images of being homeless or working at McDonald's flashing through my mind :s Obviously I'm afraid to make a mistake.

Does anyone have any insight into the benefits/risks of any of these decisions and/or experience or ideas of what sounds like a good idea?

Thank you! :/

[andreams]

I also have a useless business administration degree, but I'm going straight for nursing. I believe you could do a direct nursing msn program with your bachelors degree (you might want to double check my accuracy). I would say you would benefit from the bachelors since you can't get into your nursing program.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Why not combine your love of health and business and get a degree in Healthcare Administration? Seems like the best of both worlds for you :)

[jennyy]

I'm a healthcare risk management major at my university who is also in the process of taking pre-reqs for nursing. I hope to enroll in an ABSN program after receiving my bachelors next year. When I talked to the vice president of my university's insurance sector about this, she said I was the first person she ever came across who's into risk and nursing lol. She said that if I eventually get my BSN in nursing, hospitals are going to LOVE me since many of the risk managers in hospitals and medical centers also have clinical background in nursing (although thats not necessary of course). So after discussing this with her, it definitely made me feel a little better about my situation. Because before, I felt like I was wasting my four years in college studying risk since I was kinda betting all my hopes on nursing. So now, the way I see it, perhaps I can pursue a career one day where I can utilize both my risk management and clinical skills!

[lauraline]

Yes, I think you already have the right idea. Finish your business degree. You already have come so far. You have worked hard for years already, so get that degree you deserve, you are so close. With a B.A. you could go directly for your MSN for non-nurses, as well as ABSN, or second bachelor's degree. Studying abroad is a wonderful idea too, I can't emphasize enough how life changing it is to travel out of the country, even for short periods of time. Maybe even just for a semester.

You don't sound like you are in a big hurry. No husband yet, or kids, or any other factors? Do what your heart desires while you are young and have this window of opportunity. Good luck!

[Aurora333]

Thanks for the encouraging answers! I too was thinking of the Healthcare Administration option. I'm just worried about limiting myself as the job market is already not so good. If I get a generic degree in Business Administration, I think I would have more job options, not just in Healthcare, just in case. Business has pretty much been my backup. Unless you think that Healthcare Administration jobs are not so limited?

There's a university sort of near me that has a Health Sciences major with an option in Administration and Management. That sounds pretty interesting, but it looks like I need more prereq's for that (Biology and possibly Sociology--although I have Physiology and Microbiology and Cultural Anthropology...?), and I'm not sure I have enough time to take more classes as there's that five-year recency requirement for most Nursing schools. And I was planning on taking a CNA course this Fall so I don't think I'll have time to take classes with that either. SO much planning to do aaahh!

So, I'm doing some major brainstorming to figure this all out, but your answers definitely help!! My friends and family don't really have any advice to give. They think I'm just being indecisive and that I'm not really committed to Nursing :/ So thank you!!!

Lauraline: no I'm not married and don't have any kids so I think this is the best time! Like you said, my window of opportunity, which I want to use before it closes!!! Thanks!!! :)