In limbo between Pre-nursing and Nursing..where to go from here?

[sixela21]

I just recently finished my pre-reqs for the Nursing program at the Technical College I am attending with a GPA of 4.0. I am thrilled to be finished and recently spoke to my advisor who sent me the materials to begin studying for the Kaplan exam at the top of next year. I also just recently got my CNA certification (but cannot find a job with no experience..will save that one for another post!) However, I am not at all thrilled about this 7-8 month limbo I will be in before actually starting classes. From the looks of things, I wlil not be finished with my ASN until about 2015 or close to it. I am 22 years old and cannot fathom a two year degree taking that long. I have long-term plans to become a Nurse Practitioner but am having a hard time deciding whether or not to transfer to a 4-year university to finish my degree. It just makes sense that if I am going to spend two more years in school, I might as well be receiving a BSN at the end of that education. I do not have Chemistry/Physics, so that is hindering me from being accepted into many 4-year programs. What is the most practical way to go about getting my BSN in my situation before going on to obtain an MSN? I do not want to finish my ASN only to take almost two more years to finish the BSN in 2015 after receiving the ASN--I have been patient thus far, but that is beyond reason for me. I wish I had went the traditional route, but I transferred to a local technical college after completing the first two years at a University (Sadly, most of the classes were not transferrable to my current school, and I felt the route I am taking now would be quicker). Should I take the other random "Gen-ed" classes I would need to finish the Bachelors and then transfer to a University while in the nursing program? Any insight would be helpful and much appreciated!!

[sixela21]

While waiting to start my nursing classes I took some classes that would be applied to my RN to BSN program.

Have you taken ALL the classes needed for the RN program or just the pre-reqs(electives, sociology, psych etc)? If you haven't taken all your classes needed to graduate the RN program I'd suggest getting some of those out before you start your nursing classes. If you have I'd go with my other suggestion of doing some of the BSN classes in your time lag of between now and when you start the nursing program. Not only will doing that chip away at the classes needed for the BSN, it will also keep you in the swing of things in regards to school. I know for myself, I have always taken classes in every semester (including our winter break and summer) because if I stop the school momentum I'll start losing motiviation haha.

First off, I would like to thank everyone for the supportive and insightful responses!! I really appreciate you guys! Like I said previously, I attended a major university right out of high school and knocked a few things out of the way. I took Advanced placement courses in high school, so I started off in college taking 1102 classes instead of 1101. I knocked all of the basics (Sociology, English, maths, Humanities, and Psychology) out of the way and only took science (and a random computer tech class) at my current institution. However, once transferring to other institutions, many require advanced Chemistry, Physics, and Religion classes, etc. I have contemplated taking these classes online or such and possibly transferring. I would love to have that BSN behind my name! LPN and ASN is sort of phasing out...I have been doing some job searching, and many of my friends who are LPNs or LVNs are all going back to school for more advanced degrees. By the time we graduate, I feel it will just be the standard!

I too have also taken classes all year round because I have no time to waste...this past year, I took classes every single semester. During the summer, I took four classes and worked full time and also took a CNA class on Saturdays. I got so little sleep, I was like a walking zombie...I wanted to cry when I was finished because I've never worked so hard in my life. I am ready for some of this work to pay off! Thank you guys...the support is very motivating for me! ♥

[sixela21]

Yes! I agree completely..University of Massachusetts has what looks like an amazing RN to BSN program where you would only have to travel to Boston for the clinical hours, etc. I am really considering that. I would love to work as an RN and have the institution help fund my education. That would be a big help. I am interested in becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and ultimately want a DNP. A major university in my city has that very program, and the university is quite prestigious...I would love to be accepted.