Finish bio degree or switch to BSN?? HELP!!

[michellesb]

I'm going to try to make this as short as possible..sorry if it's too long :). I'm currently finishing my 3rd year as a bio major at CC. I've already taken animal bio, cell bio, molecular bio, plant bio, 1 yr gen chem, 1 yr physics (calculus based), 1 yr calculus, stats, anatomy, physiology, plus many more classes that are required for bio majors and right now I have a 3.9 GPA. I'm 21 and I support myself and I have almost reached the max. amount I can take out in undergrad student loans and I already have a lot of debt, so I'm reconsidering even finishing my bio degree and just switching over to nursing. Since I'm applying to transfer next semester, I need to decide now what classes I'm taking next semester to fulfill my pre-reqs to transfer. If I want to go the bio route i need 1 yr ochem + 1 yr ochem lab and I would transfer as a physiology major to UCLA or UCSD. If i want to transfer to a bsn i need microbio, comm and I think psych or sociology and I would also have time to get CNA and EMT certified before I transfer.

I've always known that I want to work in the medical field but I still don't know exactly where. I do know I don't want to go to medical school. I started pursuing my bio degree because i figured that when I finished my bio degree I would have the option to go the BSN route or the PA route. If I go the BSN route I would definitely go on to get an MSN as an NP or CRNA. I love both options (MSN or PA) a lot, both have pros and cons for me, but I know I am completely capable of doing both. I just can't decide which one I would be happier doing in the long run because I have no experience yet and right now my schedule is to crazy for me to shadow anyone. So, right now I really need to hear as much as I can from your personal experience working as a nurse or working with PAs. I've been doing a lot of research and reading a lot of the threads related to PA vs RN, etc and I think the best option for me would be going the BSN route (it's shorter, more time with patients, I can work while going to school, independent, work less hrs, more time for family, etc) but I'm scared that I'm risking too much with not finishing my bio degree after 3 yrs of hard work.

My main concerns of going the BSN route are that: I know I'm good at science classes but I don't know how well I'll do in the sociology, nursing theory, psychology classes. Also, I heard that right now there is a saturation of nurses in southern california, i don't want to throw away my bio degree and then graduate from nursing and not have a job. My main concerns going the bio route: finish 3 more intense years and then realize that I still want to be a nurse and I'll have too much debt and a degree so I won't qualify for financial aid for the BSN anymore. Any advice would be helpful right now in comparing nursing and PA. I really want to make the right decision. Also, if you could answer some of these questions from a nurses point of view i would really appreciate it.

1) In southern CA, is there a shortage or saturation of RN, NP, CRNA and PA? do you think it will be like this in 2-3 more yrs?

2) For nurses (RN, NP, CRNA): normally how many hours do you work a week? how many vacation weeks? normally how long are your shifts? If you know how this compares to a PA's schedule please feel free to answer as well.

3) What do you like and dislike about your job?

4) what do you like and dislike about PAs?

5) what are your daily tasks?

**I have no intention to offend anyone, so if anything I said is incorrect PLEASE correct me I know i'm not an expert at all.**

Thank you guys for any feedback!!

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

First - for the Cali-specific questions, go to the Cali-specific forums. That's what they're there for.

For the nursing statistics - search this site and take a visit to your school's career center. The latter should have loads of information for you.

You mention being concerned that you might end up "wasting three years pursuing a bio degree" - you've already spent a third year at CC when, to my knowledge, you should be out of there in two. Do what you need to do to do what you want - you still have at least two-and-a-half years ahead of you if you decide to finish your biology degree, since you have yet to take Orgo and Biochem.

As for the social science courses that many nursing schools require - they're called 'soft sciences' for a reason. You'll do fine.

[starmickey03, MSN, RN]

Well, this is what I think it makes sense to do.

You're transferring right? So when you transfer declare your major pre-nursing. During your first year at UCLA (or where ever youre transferring to) take all of your pre req classes. It shouldnt be much since you have all of the sciences out of the way. The only classes left to take are probably going to be sociology, psychology, nutrition, and maybe a few others (each program is different). When you're finishing up your pre-reqs apply to the nursing program. If you're accepted then start the program and get your BSN. If you're not accepted then just finish up your Bio degree. And once you finish your Bio degree and graduate then you can apply to accelerated BSN programs.

Oh, and dont worry about the social science courses theyre a piece of cake; nothing but memorization.

And if you keep that GPA up, I doubt you'll have trouble getting into the program!