I am a high school student currently trying to plan out my future, post-secondary. I want to become a registered nurse, but since the courses I am taking in high school are college level, I am not qualified to apply for the BSN/BScN... I was thinking of applying for a practical nursing program (Humber, centennial, George brown, Seneca), then after the 2 year program, I move forward and apply for a bridging program (Centennial, George brown,ryerson)... Is this the right choice? Any other options I can take? If I do take this route, any school recommendations that provide the best in these courses?? Please I need all the help I can get...
Yes I do understand that... Although isn't BSN a university level program, I am taking all applied/college level courses in high school
You still have yet to explain why you think this renders you ineligible to apply for a BSN program. Traditional pre-licensure 4 year BSN programs are meant for students entering out of high school. The requirements for high school courses for my BSN program were the same as the requirements for any applicant to any major in the university- a certain number of courses in English, Math, Science, History and Foreign Language as well as either SAT or ACT and SAT 2.
If you go the LPN route, you'll be back here in 2 years saying you can't find a job as an LPN and therefore can't afford the bridge program you want to complete for your RN. In your situation, it makes the most sense to go the 4 year BSN route.
Yes I do understand that... Although isn't BSN a university level program, I am taking all applied/college level courses in high school
Being university level doesn't mean you need any special classes to get in. All your general education classes and science classes will be a part of the four year program to get a BSN. You should meet with your high school counselor, they will be able to help you with finding colleges and make sure you have accurate information.
I am a high school student currently trying to plan out my future, post-secondary. I want to become a registered nurse, but since the courses I am taking in high school are college level, I am not qualified to apply for the BSN/BScN... I was thinking of applying for a practical nursing program (Humber, centennial, George brown, Seneca), then after the 2 year program, I move forward and apply for a bridging program (Centennial, George brown,ryerson)... Is this the right choice? Any other options I can take? If I do take this route, any school recommendations that provide the best in these courses?? Please I need all the help I can get...
OK, let's clear up some of this confusion...
A "practical nursing program" is usually a one year program. You earn a career CERTIFICATE (not a degree) and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN, after which you will become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Many hospitals have phased out this category of nurses and are hiring mostly Bachelor-prepared nurses (which I will get to shortly). Job prospects for LPNs are primarily in long-term care facilities (skilled nursing facilities/SNFs or AKA nursing homes and rehab centers), primary care doctor's offices, and home health care services.
The MINIMUM educational requirement for an RN (Registered Nurse) is an Associate Degree, which is a 2 year program (2.5 to 3 years when you include the non-nursing pre-reqs like English, Bio, Anatomy and Physiology, etc). At the end of this program you will be awarded either an Associate of Applied Science - Nursing (AAS-Nursing) or an Associate of Science - Nursing (ASN) and will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. If you pass, you will be licensed as a Registered Nurse, which is the minimum for working in most hospitals and urgent/acute care facilities.
The next "tier" is a Bachelor of Science - Nursing degree. This is offered at 4-year universities. You will do 2 years of liberal arts and pre-req classes followed by 2 years of Nursing and Nursing Leadership courses. This is the preferred level of education for most hospitals, and some prefer a BSN PLUS experience in the field.
If your end goal is to work in a hospital, the LPN is a waste of time and money.
There is one more option, and it is the path I am currently taking.
I am dual-enrolled with a 2 year community college to earn my AAS-Nursing so that I can sit for the NCLEX-RN, AND I am also enrolled with a 4-year university for my BSN. So I did my pre-reqs at the community college and then applied to (and was accepted to) the Nursing Program. After my 1st semester of the Nursing Program, I applied to (and was accepted to) a 4-yr school that has a dual-enrollment agreement with my community college. So I am also taking my BSN classes online at the same time as my AAS-N classes. When I finish my AAS-N, I will only have 2 semesters (and a summer semester) left to get my BSN. So it essentially takes the same amount of time to earn the BSN this way as it would going to a 4-year school from the start. So why did I go this route?
Two reasons: Money and Money. I am a single mom of 2, so I need to be as smart as I can be in terms of financing this journey! First, the AAS-N program is WAY less expensive than a 4-year school. So I can do 3 of my 4 years of my BSN at community college prices. Second, I can start working as an RN after my AAS-N is completed, since the BSN classes are all online. This gives me a full YEAR of nursing experience before I finish the BSN program. This is an advantage for when I am applying for jobs after earning my BSN, because I will be a BSN graduate WITH experience. So not only am I earning good money for the last year of my program (and earning it in the field in which I am getting my degree), I am positioning myself more strategically for when I have the BSN and am looking for a job in whatever specialty I choose.
If dual-enrollment is not an option, you can do the AAS-N or AS-N program at your local community college, work as an RN for a couple of years and then do an RN to BSN bridge program for your bachelor's. If you do well enough in your Associate program, you MAY be able to land a hospital job and score some tuition reimbursement for your BSN or even paid tuition outright for your BSN.
There are a LOT of options, and you need to explore them with your academic advisor. They usually know what programs are available locally.
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
Taking college courses in high school in no way disqualifies you from applying to BSN programs. If anything it should strengthen your application because it shows you capable of completing college/university level coursework. It may also allow you to move into the actual nursing core curriculum a bit faster as you will likely have some general ed courses already done via your college course work during high school.
Your best option coming from high school and wanting to be a nurse is to apply directly to programs that prepare you as a RN.
Apply directly to BSN programs (or universities that offer them, some require you to apply to the university, be accepted, then separately apply to the nursing program) and apply to ADN programs (particularly those that offer joint acceptance into a BSN-bridge program).
Maybe I understand what you are saying??? You are one of those kids that is taking high school courses and is supposed to end up with an associates degree when you graduate high school? If so - then your time spent taking college courses during high school will only partially help you. You have to take the general english, math, science and social science stuff for any program, but nursing pre-reqs are very specific and there is no way around that. It doesn't really matter what program you choose there are still specific nursing pre-reqs you will have to take and wouldn't have had any reason to take them in your current program. Thats not to say that your courses don't count for anything (because if you transfer to a 4 year program then you will have most of the stuff out of the way) BUT you still have to deal with nursing program specifics and there is no way around those. Your best bet is to contact a 4 year school and ask them to do a transcript evaluation. This will tell you exactly what you need in order to apply.
Yes I do understand that... Although isn't BSN a university level program, I am taking all applied/college level courses in high school
Colleges are 4-year institutions granting undergraduate degrees, while Universities also offer graduate degrees. Your college-level courses will be converted into credits whether you attend a college or university.
My recommendation will be to go through the BSN road.
KelRN215, BSN, RN
1 Article; 7,349 Posts
You still have yet to explain why you think this renders you ineligible to apply for a BSN program. Traditional pre-licensure 4 year BSN programs are meant for students entering out of high school. The requirements for high school courses for my BSN program were the same as the requirements for any applicant to any major in the university- a certain number of courses in English, Math, Science, History and Foreign Language as well as either SAT or ACT and SAT 2.
If you go the LPN route, you'll be back here in 2 years saying you can't find a job as an LPN and therefore can't afford the bridge program you want to complete for your RN. In your situation, it makes the most sense to go the 4 year BSN route.