Is nursing your second career?

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I graduated a few years back with a BS in biology and have finally figured out that nursing is my calling:) If you already had a degree prior to entering nursing school, did you enter the accelerated program, or the upper level admission program? I've heard the accelerated program is really intense...let me know your thoughts or opinions. Thanks!!

Specializes in Med-Surg/ ICU.

I earned my BA in Theology five years ago this spring. I am currently in an accelerated ASN program. I can't wait to graduate in May!!!!!! I am also now looking into RN-MSN since I have a bachelors already. There is a FNP program here through Loyola that does the RN-MSN for those who hold bachelor degrees in other fields.

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Specializes in Global Health Informatics, MNCH.

I have a BA in Computer Science & Neuroscience and an MS in information systems. I worked for 7 years in clinical informatics before deciding to go to nursing school. I just finished the BSN portion of my BSN/MSN program. I work for my school as a researcher during the day and tomorrow I start my night job as a peds HIV nurse.

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

No...I don't have the money for multiple degrees...this BSN is my first and more than likely only degree unless I decide to go back in a few years for my MSN.

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cool babyRN 06, nursing is my second degree! God Speed! :)

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This is my 2nd career and 2nd degree and I know it's my calling. I started out in the hotel business verrrrry young as a waitress and left verrrrry burned out as a highly paid and bonused General Manager. For twenty years I said when I leave this business I am going to be a nurse. Finally, I was on vacation (or trying to be anyway) my cell phone kept ringing and I said enough is enough. On the way home I called my boss and quit. The following Monday I was enrolled in classes to complete my remaining prerequisites. It took two tries to get in but I have just finished my first semester with an A and look forward to the trials and tribulations of the next three. This is probably the hardest thing I have ever done but also the most rewarding. See, you can teach an old dog new tricks!

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Specializes in ICU.

Interesting thread.

I was three years into a degree in technical theatre (focus on scene painting, costuming, etc.) and abruptly switched to a psychology degree. Ended with a B.S. in psych. Thought hard about law school, got rejected from a PhD program, and when I realized I wasn't really that disappointed, I started thinking. I've been in corporate america and while I like the money, that's about all that's good and most days that's not even worth it. Now I'm headed to nursing school this coming June for my 2nd and final B.S.

It's interesting to see where everyone "comes from."

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In December '07 I will graduate with a BA in biology (5.5 year plan), will apply in January '08 for an ADN program and hopefully will be accepted for the fall '08 program. I regret having spent so much money, time, and effort on the BA but since I have invested so much in the program I will stick it out. In the end, I will feel so much more accomplished with an associate in nursing degree than the bachelor in biology degree. That's life, I guess...

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Specializes in ICU.
I regret having spent so much money, time, and effort on the BA but since I have invested so much in the program I will stick it out.

I don't think any education, no matter how expensive, is ever a complete waste. I learned so many things in college, and a good portion of them weren't textbook related. I know how to prioritize my time, how to study efficiently, and when to take a break. These are things I won't have to re-learn in nursing school, which will allow me time for the real stuff! Plus, I have a job that requires a college degree, no matter what type. I wouldn't give back my B.S. in psychology or my time at the U. of Evansville (gotta plug the alma mater!) for anything.

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I don't think any education, no matter how expensive, is ever a complete waste. I learned so many things in college, and a good portion of them weren't textbook related. I know how to prioritize my time, how to study efficiently, and when to take a break. These are things I won't have to re-learn in nursing school, which will allow me time for the real stuff! Plus, I have a job that requires a college degree, no matter what type. I wouldn't give back my B.S. in psychology or my time at the U. of Evansville (gotta plug the alma mater!) for anything.

I sort of agree with that, but I have a BA that I've never used and that will not really satisfy many pre-requisites for another degree. It's kind of pathetic really. Part of the reason is because Texas has changed its general education requirements for liberal arts degrees to include some subjects I didn't take and to exclude others that I did; also non-major science never counts for nursing, which sucks if you took non-major science like I did. :uhoh3:

I'm currently working in a field where a BA is not necessary (I.T.), and here in the UK my BA means nothing since it didn't come from a UK university or a US university that the British have heard of (Harvard or Yale, take your pick). A degree in biology is much more useful if you want to move to healthcare than a degree in French, though. :clown: OTOH if you're into learning for the sake of it, then any degree is better than no degree.

I'm glad I went to college, but it hasn't really helped me aside from getting me my first job in I.T. The thing is, if I hadn't gotten that one I could have gotten another one pretty easily, since they'd hire anyone with a pulse in the late 1990s. I mean, they hired ME! :imbar

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Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
Interesting thread.

I was three years into a degree in technical theatre (focus on scene painting, costuming, etc.) and abruptly switched to a psychology degree. Ended with a B.S. in psych. Thought hard about law school, got rejected from a PhD program, and when I realized I wasn't really that disappointed, I started thinking. I've been in corporate america and while I like the money, that's about all that's good and most days that's not even worth it. Now I'm headed to nursing school this coming June for my 2nd and final B.S.

It's interesting to see where everyone "comes from."

Check your PM.

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Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Post-op, Same-Day Surgery.
In December '07 I will graduate with a BA in biology (5.5 year plan), will apply in January '08 for an ADN program and hopefully will be accepted for the fall '08 program. I regret having spent so much money, time, and effort on the BA but since I have invested so much in the program I will stick it out. In the end, I will feel so much more accomplished with an associate in nursing degree than the bachelor in biology degree. That's life, I guess...

Why don't you use the credits you have already taken and put them towards a BSN?!? An ADN and BSN are the same amount of work and time. One is not easier than the other! You may as well get the BSN, because then you won't have to go back later and get the degree if you want to get higher education (MSN). There are TONS of second-degree programs, and many of them are even accelerated! The pre-requisites for an ADN or BSN are typically very similar, so it just makes sense to give yourself the best opportunity for further advancement.

I have TWO degrees in music and have spent a lot of money on education, but every penny is worth it! I will hopefully be starting a second-degree BSN program in FAll 07. Education is priceless!!

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Nice thread. I'm longwinded so be prepared, lol.

I see there's a lot of psych majors here, so count me in as well :) I originally planned to be pre-med but decided against it when I got pregnant with my daughter ended up going through a nasty custody battle/divorce with the ex :angryfire

I originally planned to attend an accelerated BSN program but decided against that because at the time my current hubby and I weren't in the financial position for me to quit my full-time job in order to go to school during the day. So I put that on hold for two years. Now that we decided it was a good time for us, the school I was going to attend UW-Milwaukee (my alma mater) no longer offered the accelerated BSN. Instead they offer a direct entry Masters which I couldn't apply to because my grades had plummeted my last year due to stress from my divorce.

So now I'm starting at Alverno which is a small Catholic women's college here through their traditional BSN program. Thankfully they don't have a waitlist and I got in right away for the Spring semester after just applying in October of this year.

Naima

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