Doing a BS and then a BSN?

[EMT-newbie]

I'm orchestrating a career change from writing software to nursing. In my software career I am mostly self taught and have worked for many years without a degree. Because local classes in the traditional science prerequisites are wait-listed I'm thinking outside the box.

I can get a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Informatics while completing the nursing school prerequisites. Will having a BS degree in a healthcare field speed the process of getting a BSN, and separately will a background in medical informatics be a good resume builder and help my career along once I get hired as an RN?

Thanks for any opinions or experiences :bowingpur

[maggiex3]

If you have your BS/BA in any other field, and complete certain requirements you can apply to programs such as a 2nd BSN program which is usually an accelerated program lasting around 15 months. In this case if you were to get a BS and complete the proper prerequisites for programs in your area you may be able to start your nursing career sooner rather than later.

I can't speak for how it would work in respect to your resume, or other issues like that, but if time is an issue for you I would consider it as an option.

[LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN]

Having a bachelors in anything will not speed your becoming an RN. You still need the prerequisites and will have to take your turn on the wait list. Now, once you get your bachelors, you have options. If you decide to go for your ADN, you do not need to take the extra non-nursing gen ed courses to graduate--just the nursig courses. That goes for the BSN program, since you already have your bachelors you would just take the nursing courses.

You could go into the non-nursing bachelors to masters in nursing program. You enter into the BSN program, do an accelerated program and take the RN NCLEX. Once you pass, you continue on with your master's degree without having to resubmit your application.

I have numerous AA degrees as well as a bachelors. I cannot do the full time non-nursing bachelors to masters program. I am doing the LPN to BSN online program with Indiana State University. Fortunately, I do not have to take the non nursing gen ed classes but take all the other nursing classes.

[EMT-newbie]

Thanks for the input and shared experiences, maggiex3 and LadyinScrubs! I'm on the cusp of deciding to get my bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, which I can complete in good time due to existing lower division work at city college. After that I hope to find a hospital / nursing home situation and use that time to find my niche in nursing while waiting on acceptance to an BSN program.