How can I get into a university for nursing?

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

I am in a traditional BSN program right now. I took some pre-req's at a local community college and then spent one years finishing pre-req's at the university. At my school you get accepted as a pre-nursing student and then apply to the nursing school to do your traditional nursing courses and clinicals, which is two years long. So to answer your question I would go to the web-site of the university you want to attend and find their nursing school section/page. They should have a link for transfer students or some kind of table that lists their pre-req's and transfer equivalancies for the community college. One bit of advice though would be to read their aadmission policies carefully because some schools give priority to students which complete a certain number of pre-req's at their school. Mine did, which is why I took my last years of pre-req's there and I know onther university by me gives priority to students that have at least taken 5 courses there. So just make sure you know tehir policies. Hope this helps adn good luck!

elkpark · Mar 19, 2011

Some BSN programs accept students into the program right from the beginning and the nursing curriculum is spread out over the entire four years. At other schools, you enter the school and complete your first couple years as a "pre-nursing" major or general studies major, and then apply for the nursing program separately for your junior and senior years.

Your best bet is to check out the website (or speak directly to) any schools you're interested in.

Skylarslaughter · Mar 20, 2011

So I can pretty much complete all the prerquisites and some general education courses and make sure I get as high gpa and then just apply transfer to whatever university and finish up there? I don't have to worry about getting an A.A. right?

Saysfaa · Mar 20, 2011

Sort of. It isn't quite that simple because different BSN programs have different prereq lists and different admission criteria for their nursing programs - which are always??? different than the admission criteria for getting into the school in general. Some prereqs are universal, some are either/or (for example: philosophy or ethics - some schools take either, some want one or the other specifically), some are very specific. It is a good idea to dig deeper than the title of the class... "Principals of Chemistry" is different than "General Chemistry" - that sort of thing although that wasn't a good example because those titles are both standard. You will start to see patterns after a while.

Grades are always important but they vary in how important. Sometimes grades are the only thing looked at, sometimes two or three or four other things are equally important. The other things can also take some time to get (experience sometimes, or certain kinds of observing or volunteering or good references that are not professors or scores on specific tests like the ACT or HESI).

Right. You don't have to worry about getting an AA. You could get one in nursing and it would give you a different path to a BSN (through the RN-BSN bridge programs) but it is different path not universally better or worse.

Skylarslaughter · Mar 20, 2011

Sort of. It isn't quite that simple because different BSN programs have different prereq lists and different admission criteria for their nursing programs - which are always??? different than the admission criteria for getting into the school in general. Some prereqs are universal, some are either/or (for example: philosophy or ethics - some schools take either, some want one or the other specifically), some are very specific. It is a good idea to dig deeper than the title of the class... "Principals of Chemistry" is different than "General Chemistry" - that sort of thing although that wasn't a good example because those titles are both standard. You will start to see patterns after a while.
Grades are always important but they vary in how important. Sometimes grades are the only thing looked at, sometimes two or three or four other things are equally important. The other things can also take some time to get (experience sometimes, or certain kinds of observing or volunteering or good references that are not professors or scores on specific tests like the ACT or HESI).
Right. You don't have to worry about getting an AA. You could get one in nursing and it would give you a different path to a BSN (through the RN-BSN bridge programs) but it is different path not universally better or worse.

Yeah I'm looking at all these universities and what they require and there's the basic prerequisites found anywhere and then there's the ones I'm like...how will I ever fit that in?

What I'm not quite sharp on is the difference between ADN-BSN and just straight to BSN? What are the common differences between the routes? Are there less of non nursing classes or what?

elkpark · Mar 20, 2011

What I'm not quite sharp on is the difference between ADN-BSN and just straight to BSN? What are the common differences between the routes? Are there less of non nursing classes or what?

The ADN-BSN programs (also called "BSN completion" or "RN-BSN" programs -- different schools have different names for their programs, but they're all the same idea) are entirely different from "pre-licensure" BSN programs. BSN completion programs require you to already be a licensed RN (having already completed either a diploma or ADN program) to apply, and consist of just the additional education necessary to meet the requirements for a BSN degree (additional nursing courses, plus whatever additional general education credits one may need to meet the college/university's general requirements for any BS degree), without duplicating the academic work one has already done. They usually take significantly less time than a regular, "pre-licensure" BSN program (the one I completed long ago required only two semesters of nursing courses -- some people took longer to finish, depending on how many general education courses they needed).

Saysfaa · Mar 20, 2011

I keep asking that same question of everyone from college advisors to current nurses and anyone else I think might know. Best I can tell, there is as many nursing classes in one as in the other (well, technically, there might be a different number of class titles because the material is divided differently but the same stuff gets covered.) What happens is the ADN-BSN bridge provides the additional nursing theory, leadership training, personel management, history of nursing that wasn't covered by the ADN. The straight BSN covers the same things but does it at the same time as what is covered by the ADN.

Some say an ADN gives more practical/hands-on skills It is due to a difference in focus of the nursing classes with the BSN focusing more on nursing theory. Others say there is less difference between ADN and BSN than between various ADN schools or between various BSN schools.

A few people have said an additional difference is that the ADN-BSN bridge programs assume the students have actual experience as nurses. So, if going that route, it would be a good idea to work for a couple of years as an ADN before doing the bridge. It isn't what the cover so much as how they cover it. Knowing something from learning it in books or class is just different from experience. It made sense to me but I don't know how true it is, it probably varies from region to region and/or school to school.

Other differences are that I can get a ADN at the community college price per credit, then do only the minimum number of classes at the 4x per credit the BSN schools in my area charge. It is also half as far away and the parking situation is much, much, much better. I could also have more option by getting the ADN first, I could stop with that and see how it goes, then go on or not. Finally, I could work as a nurse a year sooner, and there is a bridge program in my area that is designed to be done while people are working and there is no ADN or straight BSN program that doesn't highly recommend working part time if at all.

On the other hand, I am a astrongly global learner so getting the information as an integrated whole with background and theory built in would almost certainly be easier for me. Also, BSN is more widely accepted so there is more security in case we move to another region of the country.

Skylarslaughter · Mar 20, 2011

I think I want to go straight for my BSN if possible...I know it would take a bit longer but I really want to get my Bachelors in fear that I will become too distracted after getting my ADN. I'm going to try to buck up this year and get most of my sciences out of the way and general education requirements, and get my Chemistry and Math out of the way during the summer. I'm going to apply to the ADN program anyway and if I don't get in I'll still be able to transfer to UCF.

Skylarslaughter · Mar 21, 2011

I keep asking that same question of everyone from college advisors to current nurses and anyone else I think might know. Best I can tell, there is as many nursing classes in one as in the other (well, technically, there might be a different number of class titles because the material is divided differently but the same stuff gets covered.) What happens is the ADN-BSN bridge provides the additional nursing theory, leadership training, personel management, history of nursing that wasn't covered by the ADN. The straight BSN covers the same things but does it at the same time as what is covered by the ADN.
Some say an ADN gives more practical/hands-on skills It is due to a difference in focus of the nursing classes with the BSN focusing more on nursing theory. Others say there is less difference between ADN and BSN than between various ADN schools or between various BSN schools.
A few people have said an additional difference is that the ADN-BSN bridge programs assume the students have actual experience as nurses. So, if going that route, it would be a good idea to work for a couple of years as an ADN before doing the bridge. It isn't what the cover so much as how they cover it. Knowing something from learning it in books or class is just different from experience. It made sense to me but I don't know how true it is, it probably varies from region to region and/or school to school.
Other differences are that I can get a ADN at the community college price per credit, then do only the minimum number of classes at the 4x per credit the BSN schools in my area charge. It is also half as far away and the parking situation is much, much, much better. I could also have more option by getting the ADN first, I could stop with that and see how it goes, then go on or not. Finally, I could work as a nurse a year sooner, and there is a bridge program in my area that is designed to be done while people are working and there is no ADN or straight BSN program that doesn't highly recommend working part time if at all.
On the other hand, I am a astrongly global learner so getting the information as an integrated whole with background and theory built in would almost certainly be easier for me. Also, BSN is more widely accepted so there is more security in case we move to another region of the country.

I am, very confused as to which route would be better for me. I live with my family near PHCC and they have the ASN program, I would love to complete my bachelors at UCF but it's very confusing to me as to whether I should do all the prerequisites and general education at PHCC and then transfer for the upper division nursing program. OR if I should get my ASN at PHCC and then transfer to UCF to get my RN-BSN...appearantly ASN doesn't satisfy normal Associates in Arts degree requirements so I'd need to do the AS-BSN http://www.nursing.ucf.edu/academics/AS-BSN.asp....not sure but there's a possibility I could complete my Associates in Arts at the same time I am completing my prereqs and general education for the ASN program at my community college....

Saysfaa · Mar 21, 2011

Both paths start out the same way, so you don't have to decide now.

If I were you, I would take whatever math you place into and the PHCC equivelent of Biology I over the summer. You will need them for either route, they will open up more choices for you and it is better to take the biology before the A&P.

Then you can take time to research, map out the various options, and think.

MrSpock · Mar 27, 2011

I don't know what the admission policy for your university is but here's my story. I had always planned on getting my BSN, but i started out at a local Community College and work on all my liberal art class and Pre-reqs for nursing. And one day i was called into to be informed that i had enough credits for an AA. So i took it (but didnt walk :)) and just got my diploma. It worked out for the best becuz my university has a second degree Fast track BSN program ( in which you finish the actual nursing school in 1 year vs 2. I applied for the pre-nursing courses (patho, and Pharm) and got in, and a few weeks ago i got my conditional admission letter for the fast track BSN program. So if your school has an ABSN and allows students to apply with an AA, i say go for it. Im gonna finish my nursing degree 1 year earlier. :)