Help - Going back to school for BSN after graduating with a BA

[Jessasaurus27]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I was hoping maybe someone with experience in this could help me out. I graduated in 2014 with a BA in psychology and am now trying to figure out how to go back to school for my BSN. I really want to go back to the school I graduated from (California State University - Channel Islands) because they have a great program. My question is how do I begin doing this? The Admissions Dept told me they don't take second bachelors unless it's strictly going into the nursing program, so I'm assuming getting my pre-nursing done there is out. But if I have to go back to a CC, does my old GPA from when I graduated count? Do I need to take all the transfer units (GE requirements) to "transfer" back to the school, or do I just take my nursing pre-reqs? I've called the school but since it is also admissions season, they're busy and I haven't heard back. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

[Raven1994]

I'm in the same position as you! I graduated with a BA this year (or rather, I will in June). I will be applying to BSN nursing programs late this year to, hopefully, start in September 2018! I am very excited but also very nervous. My long-term plan is to become an NP. I will be applyingto accelerated nursing programs and I suggest you also check out these programs. They are 2 years (usually consecutive with no break or only a short break during the 2 years). You need to either already have a bachelor's degree or almost be done one to be accepted. You get the EXACT same degree as someone who does a 4 year BSN. But since you already have a degree, you don't get any general elective courses so it is quite an intensive program... it JUST focuses on nursing specific courses. In order to be admitted, the programs look at either your GPA for your final 2 years of undergrad study or the GPA for your final year of undergrad (depending on the school).

EDIT: For the accelerated program you will have to take one or two pre-requisite courses. You will have to take Anatomy & Physiology for sure. Some schools also require courses like microbiology and biochemistry. But all schools require an A&P course (usually a full-year course). You can usually take it online (you still have to pay for it though lol). Do research and see if there's an online course that is accepted by all accelerated nursing programs in the U.S... there should be.