Im confused, some quick help

Johnny B · Jan 21, 2010

Hey, I'm male student like yourself and I think I can help you with a few of your questions. I'm entering into my second semester at an university and I've declared my major as a BSN. I spend one year and a half doing general studies and then they'll select the top 50 or so from my class and we'll move on to nursing clinicals. Then I'll spend the next 2 and a half years doing a combination of nursing lecture and clinicals. Once I finish this I'll be awarded a BSN from the university and I'll be allowed to take the NCLEX in order to become an RN. In contrast, an associates degree in nursing only takes around two years compared to the four it takes for a BSN and you'll find a lot of debate on this website as to which path is actually better. From everything that I've heard and read you'll be better off attempting to get your BSN straight into college. Getting a BSN takes longer, but you get a more well rounded education, have more opportunities for career advancement, and hospitals (at least all of our local ones) are trying to only hire BSN graduates. Again, you'll find a lot of debate as to which path is better but my vote goes to BSN.

pilot833 · Jan 21, 2010

do you have any insight as to if it would be possible to be a part-time ER tech throughout the 4 years???

miss_pitty_pat · Jan 21, 2010

You would have to check your local hospitals, but around where I live, the county hospital will hire an ASN or BSN ER nurse right out of school. In a bigger hospital north of here, you have to have 2 years Med/Surg Experience before you can work in their ER (no matter what degree you have). If I were you, I would check job listings in your area and see what their qualifications are. I'm in an ASN progam b/c I am married and have 2 kids. If I were straight out of high school, I would probably have chosen a BSN program. That being said, there is a girl straight from high school in my ASN program. She chose it b/c she wants to get into the workforce as soon as she can.

I think it is great that you are laying your plans out ahead! I wish you the best of luck!

JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2010

I think your plan sounds fine. You have a better chance of getting hired in ER using your plan than you do going through an entire BSN program and not getting that tech experience and networking where you want to work. Although you have gotten advice to the contrary as far as what I'm about to say, I highly recommend getting your ADN and then getting a job, and going to an Accelerated BSN program. The reason I suggest that is because many, many hospitals will pay part or all of your tuition to complete your BSN, so you will save yourself a LOT of debt if you get your ADN and then let the facility you work for foot part of the bill for your continuing education. In addition to that, in my experience there is really no preference for an ADN or BSN when hiring a new grad. When I was hired directly into ICU 3 years ago, I was hired with one other ADN and a BSN, and plenty of BSN's applied for the jobs.

jorjaRN · Jan 22, 2010

What other have told you is absolutely correct. In summary, there are several different ways to become a RN (2 year associates degree, 4 year bachelors degree, or diploma program). Following any of these programs you would take the NCLEX, which would be absolutely the same no matter which route you took, in order to obtain your license.

If you know that you eventually want a BSN, I would recommend doing that following high school graduation, although I think that ADN prepared nurses are no less qualified in any way. One thing you may want to consider is the possibility that hospital may, at some point, want thier RNs to hold a BSN (this, however, has been being "discussed" for years from what I understand, and has yet to happen).

I don't think there is really any benefit to working as an assosiate prepared RN before going to get your BSN as far as making it more likely for you to get a job in the ER. In fact, in some areas, you may be more likely to be hired into the ER as a new grad with a BSN. I worked as a tech for two years of my BSN program, part time, and it was great. I learned so much from working that I was able to apply to school, and this really does have a good chance of getting you an "in" with the manager of the ER for a possible RN position later.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your education in nursing!

pilot833 · Jan 23, 2010

So as of now, this is my plan...

CNA--> BSN/ER Tech--> Graduate and use ER tech experience to get a job as nurse