I just got a BS in Public Health. Next step for RN?

[Mandyperki]

I decided towards the end of my senior year of the public health program I wanted to pursue an RN rather than go to grad school. I am spending this summer taking A&P I and might take II right after since I sprained my ankle pretty badly and can't really work much this summer. Once those are out of the way I would only have one more pre req for most of the Accelerated Bachelors I have been looking at. However, while these programs are completed quickly, they are pretty costly in NY where I live. The cheapest option I have found is a hybrid online classes/in person clinical for ~45,000 that I no longer qualify for aid for because it is a second bachelors. I could live at home, but I would have to drive ~5 hours every week and gas is expensive. Not to mention this amount is more than I racked up in 4 years of college, so I find this number (lowest!) pretty daunting. But there is a voice in my head that keeps telling me getting an Associates is going backwards.

I saw a snippet on here that said the main difference between the programs is the public health aspect of the BSN. Does anyone know if this would perhaps compensate for employers specifically looking for BSN's? My PH degree focused a lot on the managerial aspects of health as well. The main reason I would want the BSN is to get the NP eventually, but can I do that with the ASN plus BSN anyway? If this were possible I would have a very light course load and probably take a CNA course and try to work while taking the rest of my classes since this option would take 2 years. I guess another reason to do the BSN is that I can finish in 12-16 months. There are so many pro's and con's on each side, it makes my head spin. Hoping some of you have some insights for me.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

A public health degree will not compensate for having a BSN unfortunately, nor will it give you more compensation.

You definitely can still get to NP with an ASN then BSN route. It is understandable to feel that getting your ASN first is "going backward", but given that you are as new as the next person when it comes to studying nursing, it really isn't. Many of us have other degrees and chose to get our ASN initially.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

I decided towards the end of my senior year of the public health program I wanted to pursue an RN rather than go to grad school. I am spending this summer taking A&P I and might take II right after since I sprained my ankle pretty badly and can't really work much this summer. Once those are out of the way I would only have one more pre req for most of the Accelerated Bachelors I have been looking at. However, while these programs are completed quickly, they are pretty costly in NY where I live. The cheapest option I have found is a hybrid online classes/in person clinical for ~45,000 that I no longer qualify for aid for because it is a second bachelors. I could live at home, but I would have to drive ~5 hours every week and gas is expensive. Not to mention this amount is more than I racked up in 4 years of college, so I find this number (lowest!) pretty daunting. But there is a voice in my head that keeps telling me getting an Associates is going backwards.

I saw a snippet on here that said the main difference between the programs is the public health aspect of the BSN. Does anyone know if this would perhaps compensate for employers specifically looking for BSN's? My PH degree focused a lot on the managerial aspects of health as well. The main reason I would want the BSN is to get the NP eventually, but can I do that with the ASN plus BSN anyway? If this were possible I would have a very light course load and probably take a CNA course and try to work while taking the rest of my classes since this option would take 2 years. I guess another reason to do the BSN is that I can finish in 12-16 months. There are so many pro's and con's on each side, it makes my head spin. Hoping some of you have some insights for me.[/quote

Once you finish your pre-reqa, it will take the same amount of time to get BSN as ASN. Don't waste your time with ASN. You can combinethat PH degree very nicely with BSN if you want to work in public health which usually require a BSN. Do you want to go for ANOTHER degree on your way to NP? Get BSN, get a couple of years of experience under your belt and save up financially for future NP program.