From Zero to Associate RN or from Preregs to BSN?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello Everyone! I have been following on good advices/comments on all nurses forum. I have been doing so much research about nursing; such as private schools and prereg requirements, and I have to say that all of the members on all nurses forum have been a great help to me during my search. I am so confused as of what I Should do...if anyone have any good suggestions/advice...I will take all into considerations. Please Help.! so...here is what's going on with my career life. I am from Raleigh, NC. I have my Medical Office Admin Degree at Wake Tech Community College. I am currently 28 years old. I want a career that would give me the security/financial stability and doing what I love (to help people and to work in the health care.) So I decided I want to go for Nursing. My Ultimate Goal is to be an RN. Hoping to have my BSN too. But right now, I do not have any preregs, or even any experience in the medical field (hands-0n). Raleigh NC does not have Associated RN in private school. The first private school that have ADN is in Charlotte, NC. Which is about 3 hours away from Raleigh. Adding to my goal, I am also looking forward to move to California and pursue my future career. But If I take my RN here in NC, I would have to retake the state exam in nursing for California. Then I would have to go to private school (Touro University) to get my BSN, and they require to have all the preregs done before I can take the TEAS. I am so confused of what I should do. Prereg will takes me about a 1.5 yr; passing the TEAs and get into the ADN program will also be 1.5 yr. I am just kind of nervous about getting my preregs here and go straight into BSN in California will be kinda tough because I do not have any experience in the field. The Private University that I have heard about is Touro University Neveda. I heard they have BSN program and does not require for any degrees. The only thing they require is getting the prereg done. Should I go for the Associate RN first? Or should I take my preregs first, then go to school in Neveda to get my BSN?

I have talked to so many nurses. They all said to go straight ahead, meaning for BSN. because hospitals are pushing all the ADN to get their BSN.

Option 1. Attend ADN school in CHarlotte = 46K (does not include my rent to be on my own). After 18 months, get my ADN and work in NC for a year to get atleast a year experience, and during this year I can pay for my loans also, then move to California, then REtake the state exam for nursing...then get a job in California...and maybe another year bridge over to BSN (This will prob be about 15-20K)?

Option 2. Take my preregs here in Raleigh at a community College, about 1.5 year. Then move over Neveda for Private School (Touro University Neveda) and go straight into BSN (16 months, 44K), then go to California and retake state exam and work in California...

One Advantage to Option 2 is that if I take all of my preregs..I can go anywhere and start any program in any state.

Any advice on which option I should take? Thanks all, hope to hear from u guys soon.

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You should move to California before taking your prereqs... Not even out of state tuition will cost you $44k at a community college but maybe around that for a state university...

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I was gonna say same thing as pp. Move to cali and take your prereqs. Or take prereqs and apply to ca schools. Im in cali, where in ca are you trying to move to?

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But most schools in California have humongous waiting lists or lottery application systems. I'd get the pre-reqs done at your local CC or a cheap option (not California). Then get your RN or BSN. You can take the NCLEX for any state no matter where you live.

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Thank you for all of your response. Id love to move back to Cali where i used to live. I dont have to pay out of state tuition at Public University or Private University. The prices will be the same. But taking prereg in Cali at cc, I will have to pay my tuition as a out of state student. And I heard people says that taking prereg in cali will be harder bc it is much more competitive. I never knew that I can take NCLEX exam for whichever state... Doesnt matter what state im in? I have search for this private University for fast track 16 months, 44K for BSN. I hoping to get it all finish by when im 30 and actually start working as a nurse... And that school is in Nevada. So once i take my NCLEX, i can take the exam for California instead?

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Im planning to live in San Jose later on :)

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California CCs are the cheapest in the nation and the education is for the most part pretty good. I'm paying $44/quarter unit right now and I think that was like $24 less than 2 years ago. The problem is there are 32 million people in the state and a lot of them want to be nurses. Getting into pre-req classes in a heavily populated area like the Bay or LA is not easy and then getting into a program is even harder, especially for ADN programs. I live in a rural area and have been full time for awhile now and have never had an issue getting into any classes.

Personally, I think you can do a BSN in Nevada a lot easier. UNLV has 3 starts a year after you get their pre-reqs done. Where you do them matters a lot less than simply getting them done. Out of state tuition will nail you though even at UNLV so that is something to take into account.

Most of the nurses here say it doesn't matter AA or BS, but they are all pretty much AAs but are secure because they have many years of practice.

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I believe the NCLEX doesn't matter, it's a national level exam for earning your RN. It's the individual state licensing that is the issue.

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Yes! Having ADN is a golden stone. But Living in NC, but im really scare that if I take Option 2, going straight to BSN after my prereg... Will be difficult. :(

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Well, after finishing my prereqs in December and applying to 6 ADN schools this spring, I got into 3 on the first try. I will transfer to a BSN after and avoid paying university tuition for the two extra years...

You can be a CA resident after one year.

I still vote for moving to CA and starting out at a CC!

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Also taking prereqs here, you will avoid the hassle of proving that your NC classes are equivalent to what you need here.

Good luck!

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Is a private college your only option here in NC? Maybe I missed something but you could do your pre-reqs and complete a 2 yr RN program (through a comm. college) here and then after you pass your NCLEX you could move to CA. If you are a licensed RN you can apply for a CA license via endorsement. Then you could look at a RN to BSN bridge program in CA.

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