Does this make sense and I should I take this route to become an RN

[sonjafaf]

I have a BA in psychology and I need to take the prerequisite courses. I was told by the school that the loan approved by FAFSA would not be regognized by the school if I take classes without being enrolled in a program/ degree. So I was considering applying for a surgical technician program at this community college, which is 67 credits. 4 of these classes (around 14 credits) I already have completed in my BA. A few more like P&A, and nutrition, microbiology. I would need for my BSN prerequisites as well.

with all that in mind, does it make sense for me to go this route? I figured if I don't get accepted in the BSN program( I hope that won't happen) I will still be able to get a job with this degree.

What are your thoughts or recommendations? I would love to hear from anyone who has done this or knows of people who did things this way.

Thanks!

[neurodude, MSN, NP]

Slightly confused here. So in other words, you are "pursing" a surgical tech program while chipping away at the BSN prerequisites, but instead are going the BSN route and not the surgical tech program for the financial aid?

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Why would you take a seat in a surgical tech program to get your pre-reqs out of the way? Why not just do a generic plan of study to get the courses in. There are people who really want to be in the surgical tech program and you will be taking one of those spots.

[Jenngirl34RN]

Does the community college not have a general associates transfer degree, or better yet, some sort of pre-nursing transfer degree? There probably isn't much point in taking all of the surgical tech classes if you are going for nursing.

[AJJKRN]

Can you not "declare" your path as nursing to get your FASFA and chip away at your prereq's til getting into the nursing program. At my school the students had to pay something like 20$ (Each time) to choose the path/degree they were wanting. I think it also helps schools keep up with what students are actually going to their school for, kinda like a tracking device to know what services to offer for how many or a expected influx into specific programs. Plus all the extra help I got from grants and community stuff (like from the unemployment office that housed other services for college students) required students to be under nursing before helping to chip in for classes or clinical supplies, gas money, etc.

[PaulBaxter]

This seems like more of a matter to take up with an academic advisor at your school. I'm sure they deal with this issue all the time.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Most schools have a "pre-nursing" program code for FAFSA purposes. Speak with an advisor.

[verene, MSN]

It doesn't make that much sense to me. You'd be taking a lot of credits that you don't actually need to take, taking a space in the program that could go to a student who wants to be a surgery tech not a nurse, and using up money from your FAFSA loans - which as there is a lifetime limit on how much you can take out-- it seems to make more sense to use that money on the nursing degree if that is where you are headed.

Also factor into cost that while the FAFSA may give you a loan for the surgical tech program up front you still have to pay that loan back. Is it going to be more cost effective to pay for the pre-reqs out of pocket now, or pay back the loans later? Would your pay be any better as a surgical tech then what you are likely able to make now with your current B.A.?

Alternatively can you register as undecided/general AA track, pre-nursing, or pre-healthcare track student at the CC for the purposes of financial aid? This would be sometime to speak to your academic adviser about.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Declaring nursing/pre-nursing as a major works at every other school while taking prereqs.

[Alisonisayoshi, LVN]

Actually my school didn't accept pre-nursing for financial aid either. I just declared Health Sciences and easily got my Pell.