Health Science to ABSN? Or Health science to MSN?

[Nurse_iane]

Hello all,

I'm trying to figure out what to do with my situation right now. Bay Area Nursing programs are really impacted and super competitive. I'm currently taking my pre-reqs for Nursing in one of our local community college so that I can apply for any ADN or BSN programs but I have health science as my back up major just incase I don't get into nursing program after applying. I don't want to wait and waste time waiting to get accepted into nursing school. I'm 29 years old now and I want to get my hands on nursing skills to help me get in to NP program. My GPA is average which I think is not as competitive and I don't have any health care experience. I work full time as a supervisor but I'm planning to quit as soon as I transfer.

My question is, should I just get my health science degree and then apply for ABSN? Or should I apply directly to MSN? Any inputs are much appreciated.

And also, do you think lvn to rn is worth it?

Thanks!

[verene, MSN]

If you want to be a nurse then work towards that goal, and do everything you can to get into a ASN or BSN program, including looking at moving out of state (assuming you don't have significant obligations where you are) if that takes you to a less competitive region. It's okay to have a back-up plan but going the health administration BS route is likely only going to cost you time and money, and not offer much benefit in terms of alternate careers or major boost to a nursing career afterwards.

[RainbowSprinkles]

I would not waste time getting a health science degree just because, ABSN programs are just as competitive as a generic bsn program. I have a few friends who went the lpn route and they have no complaints. They tend to start with higher pay and lpn bridge programs are not as competitive. I originally wanted to go the absn route but I could not afford it being that I'm a second degree student and my gpa from previous degree was not up to par. I just got accepted into an 14 month Associate program thats about 5,000 in total and I'm so excited about all the money I'm saving!! Get those grades up and will be fine. It doesn't matter how you get to the destination, as long as you get there.

[Nurse_iane]

Thanks for the input and congratulations on getting into the ADN program. As for me, I have decided to go for LPN route, LPN-RN, RN-BSN. It's a lot but I just want to get my hands on heath care while working on my degree.