Go to nursing school or.....

Moogie · May 8, 2011

Why not do a traditional BSN? It might take less time than going to either an ADN program or finishing the kinesiology degree and going for an ELMSN.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 8, 2011

Another option you might consider is getting the ADN, then transfer to Fullerton and go for the Kines Bachelor's. You may end up not having to do any LD Gen Ed because you've got an Associate's Degree. You'll end up being an RN with a good background not just in physiology, but also exercise phys, motor control/learning, more focused education in statistics, and a good understanding of biomechanics. You may find yourself with an understanding of injury physiology.

You should be pretty well prepared at that point to be able to take a couple more classes in Nursing and then go for an MSN.

I caution you though in that if you enter the ATEP, you will likely learn skills that you'll be unable to use as a Nurse due to scope of practice issues, unless you end up working as a NP in Orthopedics, if such opportunities exist for NPs.

As mentioned above, if you're able to go BSN, that may be yet another option. You may also decide to double major in Kines (if that's a passion for you too), but that'll take longer. There aren't likely many courses outside the typical prereqs that you'll be able to use for both majors.

newRNstudent02 · May 8, 2011

Cal state fullerton has a nursing school. why not do the traditional program there? if you decide to do the el-msn, you're given extra points for being a former student.

travelgurl18 · May 8, 2011

Well the reason I am not going to my BSN is because my pre-req grades were all B's , I'm not competitive enough

to get into a program. :crying2: With the five year recency requirement, I would have to take my pre-reqs over again and

have the opportunity to get all A's giving me another chance to get into nursing school.

The degree in Kinesiology, though I find the subject interesting, would simply be a piece of paper to get, 1. another chance at nursing school (by retaking the pre-reqs) and 2. allow me time to work as a nurse assistant in a hospital so that I can be better prepared for nursing school. Drop out rates are around 60% and I'm sooo scared that's going to end up being me.

I work really hard to get B's and I don't know if I'm ready to handle nursing school. Or maybe I just need some more confidence?

Moogie · May 8, 2011

I'd be nervous about any program with a 60% drop out rate. They may not be that competitive in their student admissions and end up flunking out students who should not have been admitted in the first place. If that isn't the case, I would still feel nervous enough to look for a different school.

Because so many hospitals are hiring BSN grads over ADNs, I think it's usually best for someone to go for a BSN first. But in your case, I think you might be better off going the ADN route. If the kinesiology degree is just a piece of paper, you're wasting your time and money. You can work as a CNA during an ADN program or before you're admitted if you end up getting on a wait list.

ADN programs are tough but you might feel more confident in a community college setting. Additionally, most are very reasonable in cost.

Also if confidence is an issue, you would probably be overwhelmed in a EL-MSN program. The pace is rigorous, the learning is at a higher level, and it would take far longer for you to actually get into nursing. If you do the kinesiology degree then an EL-MSN, what happens if you decide you don't like nursing? You say you're not that interested in kinesiology so you'd be stuck with a bachelor's that might not suit your needs.

I would do the ADN program at the community college.

travelgurl18 · May 11, 2011

Moogie,

I think you have a lot of really good points!!! Thank you soo much for your advice!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 11, 2011

Just to expand on what Moogie stated, a Kines degree does mean that you have been trained to think critically and do lots of measurement/eval. In effect, you learn to do some research and apply what you've learned to your own practice. Unfortunately, the ATEP and Exercise Physiology programs are highly specialized in their focus and while you do obtain some very, very high level knowledge, you will be attempting to find a job in a very small pool of openings. If you think Nursing is bad for new grads, try either of those!

A Kines degree with an emphasis in teaching basically means you're good to go for teaching JR/SR High School Phys Ed and you'd better also be able to coach a sport or two. In this economy though, school districts are having to cut their budgets heavily and it's tough for them to even hire new teachers when they're having to let some go... and your student:teacher ratio can be 45 or 50:1. I'm a sub. I have first-hand knowledge. I have had PE classes with ratios that high.

One benefit of getting a 4-year degree (in basically anything) is that once you earn that, if you pass the CBEST, you can be a substitute teacher. That can be a fairly flexible job. At my current School District, I only have to take one full-day job every 6 months to remain a current employee. I set my own availability and if there's something available, I can choose to work or not.