Different possible nursing directions.

[Clueless_O.O]

Hi everyone! I made an account to ask a few questions that have been bugging me.

To start, I'm a senior in high school and want to work to earn my BSN. However there are two different ways that I've been considering and am not able to choose between.

1: I can go to a nearby community college (BCC) and earn my ASN. I would then take the NCLEX-RN and become an RN. I can try to get a job as an RN to earn money. From there I can transfer to a university and enroll in an RN-BSN program. HOWEVER-- most Rn-Bsn programs are online....but after spending all of middle school and high school doing online courses, I'd rather attend regular classes. But I don't even know where to find some near me because most colleges do the course online. I don't even know if non-online Rn-Bsn programs exist!

So I don't know if instead, I should...

2. Become a CNA (I really wanna do that!) and earn money while going to a university and earning my BSN. After I get the degree, I can take the NCLEX-RN to become an RN. But I've been looking through the nursing programs at places like UMass Dartmouth and UMass Boston and the prerequisites confuse me! Am I supposed to take nursing classes before being accepted into their program? Or are those classes I need to take while I'm in the program? And where do core classes come in? Do I take both core classes and nursing classes? Do core classes need to be taken one year, then nursing in another? I have so many questions and advice would be GREATLY appreciated here as deadlines are soon!!! :)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

In order to guide your decision as to which path to take, have you looked at job postings in your area? Many areas are stating that a BSN is required or preferred when it comes to hiring nurses in acute care positions. If you go the ADN route in an area where that's the case, you may find that you can only find a position somewhere other than a hospital. It could be that option is your preference; however, many new grads seem to want only hospital jobs.

There may be other benefits to working as a CNA as well- you may find a facility willing to provide tuition reimbursement once you've worked for them for a period of time in exchange for continuing to work for them after completing school.

[Shonqueen1]

Hi I would take pre nursing classes pre reqs at a community college first and make sure that they transfer to a University. Community colleges are cheaper than Unviersities. You have to get accepted in a nursing program before you take nursing classes. I would advise you to talk with your college advisor they can guide you better since every schoolis different. Before I apply to a nursing program I have to take the teas v test and ACT test to apply fir nursing school.