How FAST/what route to RN if u already have other degrees?

Nurses General Nursing

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All info/advice welcome! I have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field (but of course still had to have some basic science, writing etc courses to graduate). I also have a master's degree in counseling, which required tons of writing & research classes, plus a 600-level math course (statistics--- ugh-- wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy). I have 20+ years experience in healthcare jobs , including lots of hospital work, and am primarily interested in TRAVEL nursing. Mainly psych.

I'm looking at the FASTEST, least expensive route to an RN, given that I have decades and $$$$$ invested in education already---- I'm not minimizing the value of advanced nursing degrees, just want to get going! So I'm looking at an Associates Degree, probably from a community college. Currently looking in central & eastern NC---- Vance-Granville, Piedmont, Durham Tech, Cape Fear, etc. Anyone want to share info re how FAST and cheaply you've seen this done? What were you able to skip, and how? Thanks!

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Specializes in Float.

you might ask on the NC state board. There are fast track accelerated courses at some schools. Since you already have a bach/masters I would TRY to find something accelerated for BSN. Why get an associates if you can get a BSN? There was one program you could do in like 13 months going straight. It is taking me 3 years full time to get my ADN.

I imagine you will still need your A&P and Micro classes and maybe Chem for a BSN... they usually say you should have had them in the last 5 years. I would start visiting websites of all your area universities/colleges and calling the nursing departments. Most are very open to telling you about their program.

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Specializes in Float.

How far are you from Duke? I found this:

Accelerated BSN Program (For Second Degree Students)

In a full-time, sixteen month intensive format; students will complete the requirements for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Students will earn 15 graduate credits to be applied to a master's degree program in a specialty area of interest.

also saw university of NC at Chapel Hill has an accelerated program.

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There are lots of accelerated programs out there. I had considered applying however since I had not completed a&p 1 and 2, as well as micro and chem, I would have to wait until fall 07. I chose to do a LPN program at the community college. I am taking a&p this summer. I will bridge to either an ADN or fast track program fall 07. I will then let my future employer pay for any education I may utilize. Some may or may not agree with getting an LPN first. My A&P prof thought it was a great idea because of less competition. I am an A- to B+ student and I know it. Just never could get straight A+'s and that is what you need around here to get in. Good luck. Just thought I would add my two cents :)

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I have a BS in Biology and I attended a school in Alabama in which I went straight into my BSN program. It only took me two years to complete, however; as the other readers have posted, check out some of the accelerated programs in your area. I looked at these programs, but I wanted to complete the program at a slower pace:chair: . I hope this information helps!!!!!!

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The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas has a Bacc 2 program which is a fast-track program for those already holding a Bachelor's degree in another discipline. It is a year long intensive program. http://www.utmb.edu

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Thanks for the replies. :)

Duke is waay too expensive for me to even consider, and unless I could find a fast** way to a BSN, I'm really only interested in ADN programs (I already work in a clinic, as a therapist, and I routinely interview our nurses re their advice/suggestions--- 100% of them have told me I'd be able to find the same jobs with an ADN, and don't need a BSN). Going the LPN route via a community college program appeals to me....as long as I could make the transition to RN quickly.

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I'd do a little cost analysis on this. The accelerated BSN program I'm a few weeks from finishing was done in one super-intense year. If I went to the 2 year ADN program that extra year of bringing in a salary would have been lost. Does it offset the cost differential? Don't know. Like I said, I'd run a few numbers.

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" If I went to the 2 year ADN program that extra year of bringing in a salary would have been lost. Does it offset the cost differential? Don't know. Like I said, I'd run a few numbers."

Yeah, that's probably true in a lot of situations. But as I said, for me, I only need an ADN because I already have a bachelor's and a master's degree, I'm going into psych nursing, and I already have a psych degree plus well over 20 years' experience in psych. Much of that experience was gained on hospital psych units, working side by side with nurses--- so only the med/surg info will be new to me--- if I can survive that, during school, the rest won't be a problem for me once I've graduated. I will be able to test out of a lot of classes, or get credit for having already taken them. It will not take me 2 years to get an ADN. I posted the question here to get some info re the absolute FASTEST anyone had earned an RN license. (1 year? 1.5 years?). Duke's program could be 30 days long, and I still wouldn't go----- not at their tuition rates! :0

The expensive schools are not an option for me. I'm very curious about folks' experience with community college nursing programs, particularly ADN. Thanks again, to all who posted replies, for the info.

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I have a B.A. and am in an ADN program. It took me 3 quarters to get my prerequisites (chem, A&P I & II, Micro, statistics, etc.) since a lot of the classes need to be taken consecutively and could not be taken at the same time. I just finished my first year of nursing school and could take the LPN exam now if I wanted to. I will have the summer off and then will start the last 3 quarters (RN portion) in the fall. So, it will take a total of 3 years to get my ADN and that's after 4 years of college! I don't know of any faster programs except the accelerated BSN programs, and you're right - they cost a fortune! If I want to go on for my masters I can use my BA and ADN to apply without a BSN so it works for me. The program is dirt cheap ($800 per quarter) and I get summers off to spend with my kids. Good luck...

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Specializes in Not specified.

Your fastest route would probably be an acelerated BSN over 12 months. The problem with some of these programs is that they often have so many pre-reqs that it can take you two or three years of full time study to just get the pre-reqs out of the way. If your prior coursework included most of these classes, then it is not a problem. The other problem with the acelerated BSN is that there is usually no money out there for you! Since you have a master's you have probably maxed out your undergraduate loan limits.

Another option may be the direct entry masters programs-- go for the Mental Health NP! With your counseling background, you could do individual and group therapy as well as medication management and prescribing! There are several Psych NP programs out there and average about 3 years total to complete. There is alot more money out there for second career MSN students, another factor to consider.

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Hmm, interesting-- the info here isn't matching what the nurses at work are telling me-- I posted the question here because that way I'd have the benefit of thousands of nurses' viewpoints vs. the 20 or so nurses I work with regularly. But those nurses ALL (100%) tell me to skip the whole BSN thing, because they say I don't need it. They know my situation and my skills, and they know psych nursing (we're in a psych facility), so maybe that's part of it. The average comment I get from nurses at work is "you should be able to do it in a year and a half"---- so this "it'll take you 3 years to get an ADN" info is a shocker! Again, what people seem to be missing about my post is that I said I'll be TESTING OUT of tons of courses---- I don't need any basic courses like English, languages, history, general kinds of electives you find in Bachelor's courses, etc. I TEACH psychology courses at the college level, so I'll certainly be able to skip all those. I have to take Micro and A & P. I'm told I will be able to skip Chemistry. I've taken 600-level Statistics courses already, so don't need that. The person who mentioned not being able to get loans because I already have degrees is right--- that's part of why I'm dismissing all the suggestions that don't apply---- re becoming a PA, etc. I know I can get an ADN and go right to work as a nurse in any psych unit (forgot to mention, I'm also a supervisor in a clinic--- and I supervise the RNs as well), so that will all count , in terms of experience. I was just wondering if 1.5 years is the fastest most people have heard of. I've emailed some nursing programs, but all I get are generic replies containing the same info I've already read on their websites--- lists of required courses. Like most things, I think you get a "form letter"-style reply unless you go to the admissions counselor's office and talk to them in person! Guess that's my next step.

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