I Want to be an RN, PLEASE HELP!!

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · May 6, 2014

Since you already have a bachelors degree, you should look into an accelerated BSN (also called 2nd degree BSN). It is for students with a BS in a non-nursing field. Most programs are 12-18 months or 4-5 semesters of core nursing classes (after pre-reqs are done).

KittyinNj · May 6, 2014

Yes you can do it in ONLY 5 semesters, however, please don't take any offense to this, 5 semesters in a tough nursing program compared to psych classes is much different. you will have no life for 2 years and when I mean no life, I mean any of your time off is consumed by studying, learning, practicing, or being in nursing school :)

Why do you want to do nursing if you recently just graduated with a psych degree? nursing is quite different field. also just as an fyi many new grads are having much difficulty finding jobs.

sbfairy · May 7, 2014

Skip community college and go for a second degree BSN. Most hospitals now require a BSN in order to get your foot in the door (at least in major cities). I have a previous bachelors and got my ADN. I could NOT find a job. No one cared that I had a previous degree. I had to move to a different state and take a job in a rural town. Worst 2 years of my life. I moved to a large city and only got a job because I had 2 years in my specialty. I got hired on the condition that I start my BSN immediately. I now have no life because I am working full time and in school full time. Save yourself some time and money.

NightBloomCereus · Jun 28, 2014

I have a Master's degree in another field and still went through the same ADN program as those who did not have a previous degree. However, I did not have to take all the pre-requisites and electives because I had them fulfilled from my previous degree.

It's possible to get a job with an ADN. Five of my friends already have jobs and took NCLEX less than a month ago. Don't expect to start in a big name hospital, though. Also, they were all working in healthcare while in school. It depends on your location, healthcare experience and where you're willing to work.

A lot of people who have previous degrees attend community college for nursing, since many of them are second degree seekers and need to start working fast, or need a program they can fit into their work and family lives. See if there is someone you can contact at the school, or find out if they have an orientation. Many of your credits should transfer but you'll still have to take the full sequence of nursing courses. Accelerated BSN is definitely an option, but you usually can't work while in such a program.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 28, 2014

I have a Bachelors Degree and I just completed an ADN program. Honestly I would say that if it's open to you, you should look at a 2nd Bachelors program. You'll have to complete the nursing-specific prerequisites like any nursing applicant must, but you shouldn't have to deal with any Lower Division stuff or even much Upper Division GE coursework because you already have a Bachelors Degree, even if it's from a few years ago. Mine was from about 15 years ago and the only coursework I had to complete was a couple of classes that weren't part of my Bachelors Program back then.

If a BSN or an ABSN program had been open to me (all 2nd Bachelors were closed) I would have gone for that instead of the ADN because of the greater employment opportunities I would have gotten. I got an ADN from a very rigorous program and the BSN upgrade is on the horizon.

Don't knock the ADN->BSN path if that's all you can do. Just also understand that because you have a Bachelors you won't have quite the ability to get grants and loans.

The fact that you have a Bachelors tells me that you're reasonably good at doing school. As long as you can manage the GPA and the TEAS scores necessary for entry, you'll probably be able to adapt to the way Nursing does school.

Good luck!

Owethu123 · Jun 28, 2014

Hi guys, I think you can benefit from Nurse Corps website.