Going for a Bachelor's in something besides nursing

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

Hello! Just a disclaimer, I am not looking to start a BSN vs ASN argument.

Ok I have an ASN in nursing. I have been a practicing RN for 3 years and was an LPN for 6 years before that. I decided to go for my BSN due to having such a tough time finding a job after graduating despite my experience. I am taking online classes and this is my first semester.

Ok, the trouble I am having is that I find the classes...well, lame. They would have been helpful when I was still in school, but this is all stuff I have already learned on the job. I already have some attitude against going back to school since it will not result in a promotion, raise, or even a change on my name tag (just your job title, not education, is listed). The classes are ridiculously easy and I find I am getting angrier and angrier because I feel like I am wasting my time and money. I barely do any work and have all A's. This may sound great, but it ticks me off. If I am going to get a bachelor's degree in something that will not result in a promotion or raise, I wish I could go for something more interesting like Art or a foreign language or something that people say you "shouldn't" go for since the job outlook isn't great. (I already have a job so it wouldn't matter. ) I also toy with the idea of leaving nursing for something else (I've been in the nursing field since I was 19 and now I'm in my 30's), so it would be good to have some other education so I'd have more choices.

My only problem is I'm worried that if I ever want to go back to school for my NP (an idea I've toyed with as well) I'm afraid a school will look at my transcripts and decide I'm not serious since I don't have a BSN. I know you can get a bachelor's in something else, then an ASN, and they will admit you. I've read the acceptance criteria for MSN/NP programs and they only say a Bachelor's degree, plus stats. I'm just not sure about doing things reverse. Anyone have any experience with that? Or any words of advice? I really don't know what to do with myself and I'm wary of spendings $1000's and being stuck. Thank you!!!

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I'm not aware of any reputable ARNP programs that accept students without BSNs, unless they incorporate the BSN material (i.e. ADN to MSN programs), in which case you are going to end up paying for it/doing the work anyway. If you want to leave nursing, then yes, I see the value of pursuing a different kind of education. If you want to stay in nursing, I think you have to bite the bullet and complete the BSN. If you are dissatisfied with the rigor of your program, consider transferring.

[elkpark]

There are some advanced practice programs, but certainly not all, that accept people with other BA/BS degrees. Taking that approach would limit your options for nursing graduate programs. If you want to use a baccalaureate degree to get out of nursing, by all means study whatever interests you. If you intend to stay in nursing, there is no other baccalaureate degree that will benefit you as much as a BSN. Just like every other kind of educational program, there are good and bad, strong and weak (and completely ordinary :)) BSN completion programs "out there." I agree with BlueDevil that, if you are terribly unhappy with your current program (and you want to stay in nursing), maybe you should be looking for another BSN program. I went back to school after almost a decade of clinical practice and, while my BSN completion program wasn't the most fascinating and exciting thing I had ever done, there was certainly much more to it than "stuff I have already learned on the job."

Best wishes for your journey!