How did you get started in Nursing?

[Go_Hawks_girl]

Hello!

I have been having some trouble deciding what route I want to take for my future in nursing. I just recently graduated with my BS in Psychology, but have been thinking about Nursing for a while. I have 4+ years in the medical field and am most passionate about ER/Trauma. My problem is that I am a little lost on where to start...

I keep playing with different ideas, like getting my RN first, then BSN, then NP...or just obtaining a BSN (but the school that offers it where I am, is not considered as good as the school that just offers an RN degree). I have lots of different choices, which is exciting but also incredibly nerve-wracking!

Could you tell me how you got started in nursing and how it is working for you?

Thanks for your help!

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

When I started, I considered private schools, then decided against them because they were soooo expensive. I also considered ADN through community college and decided against that because we only have lottery systems and some people wait 4 yrs to get in---after completing prereqs!

My goal was to get into the local state university BSN program. As long as your grades and test scores are high enough, you get in the first time. And it's very affordable.

Great plan? Right?!

So I took my prereqs and earned all As the first few semesters.

Then my marriage ended and I had no income so I decided to become a CNA so I could work around my classes.

Except I found that CNAs only earned $1/$2 over minimum wage. But that experience showed me a new career path I hadn't considered, LVN/LPN.

I incorporated the one additional prereq to apply to LVN school into my schedule.

I considered private Lvn school also, but at $40k, I couldn't afford the cost-federal student loans won't cover that amount. But I did the math and realized I could afford the loan payments on the LVN/LPN new grad wage in my area.

I continued taking BSN prereqs and then found out I had become eligible for a grant which covered about half the cost of LVN school.

I became an LVN and finished my BSN prereqs.

I ended up not applying to the BSN program because my TEAS wasn't high enough and I'd probably have to retake 1 class. I also received a promotion and raise at my LVN job at the same time.

I knew my grades and test scores were much higher than the minimum to get into the community college bridge program. I'd been told that there was no waiting list for this program. I got in on my first try! [emoji3]

I'm set to graduate with my ADN in a few months.

So, I took the long, windy path. But I think it all worked out so that I gained good experience along the way.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Can you quantify "not as good" as the other school? If the school for the BSN is accredited then I don't understand how it is "not as good". If you are basing "not as good" off what someone told you I would drop that and get actual numerical data. If you have a bachelors you could apply for an Accelerated BSN program. As long as you have prereqs done and GPA over 3.0. Doesn't mean you will get in, but you can apply. I cannot see how getting an ADN would make sense over a BSN if you plan to go to grad school.