Intrested in nursing...questions on degrees, waitlist, etc.

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Hi there! I registered on this site mainly to ask this question. I live in northern California I recently graduated high school and will be starting community college this fall (well in a couple days really). I'm still on the fence about a career. Only recently did nursing peak my interest because there are so many different opportunities, many have a decent/great schedule, and the salary is enough to support yourself. The community college I will be attending offers an RN nursing degree, but like many schools I've heard, it has a 2 year waitlist.

So some of my general questions are...Is an associates degree as an RN enough to provide some mobility in the healthcare world (such as working in pediatrics, L&D, travel nursing?) Or is it just worth it to get a BSN (although I'm not interested in management)?

What should I do during the waiting period? Obviously I would be looking at other schools in Cali during the wait to see their waitlist. However, should I continue taking courses, perhaps some that relate to a specialty (child development, nutrition...) or is it possible to maybe to be working on your BSN at the same time?

Any help is highly appreciated. Be straight up with me! I just want some more information so that I can make the right choices and not waste any valuable time.

Thank you! :)

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The first thing you should do while on the wait-list is take (1) your basic education requirements (the classes you are required to take no matter what your major) (2) your nursing prerequisites (classes you are required to take before you are accepted into the nursing program) and (3) as many nursing peripheral classes (classes that you take along with the actual nursing classes).

Once you get started with that, your next step is to make sure that you know what the heck you are getting into. Too many younglings (and adults for that matter) think that all nurses do is take temperatures, hand out pills, and scribble notes in a patient chart. I hope you do not think that I am intentionally talking down to you, but you need to be sure it is what you really want to do before you take up a seat in a nursing program just to drop out before the end of the first semester.You should go to your local hospital with a Level 1 Trauma Center and volunteer (preferably in the Emergency Department) for a full semester. You won't be doing a whole lot (fetching blankets, water, etc for patients) but if you can make it through a whole semester of the sights, sounds, and smells that you will experience then you probably have what it takes to make it through a nursing program.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

A BSN doesn't mean you have to pursue management.

ADN is a good starting point! There is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing ADN because it still leads you to eligibility to take NCLEX which is ultimately what all programs are preparing its students to take. Depending on your area will depend whether ADN or BSN is the route you should take. Some areas and hospitals only hire BSN nurses, while others will hire either. You could always work on your pre-requisites at a community college, and apply to different schools to increase your chance of getting accepted.

Best of luck! :-)

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Thanks for the info:)

Although wouldn't I have already taken the nursing pre-reqs before the waitlist? In my colelge I'll be attending you take the pre-reqs and then apply and get on the waitlist...

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Nursing schools are incredibly competetive. Not only is there a waitlist, but that's for students with great GPAs and primarily A's in the prerequisite classes like Chemisty, Anatomy, Statistics, etc.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

You're right- you take your pre-requisites first and then you apply. But if you know a college definitely has a wait list right out of the gate, you should always look into other programs. I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't want to sit on a wait list! ;-) If you look into BSN programs, make sure you stay in contact with their admissions and/or SON so that you tailor your courses specifically to their program as they tend to differ. :-)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

In my colelge I'll be attending you take the pre-reqs and then apply and get on the waitlist...

:yes: that is how it generally happens, unless you applied directly to the nursing program.

I would like to add that ADN programs and BSN programs are pretty much the same length. It takes about 2 years to completed pre-req's/ core courses, then the program courses are 2 years; for BSN programs, they separate the research/EBP (evidenced-based practice) class and the management class; sometimes they have electives (in my program, we had Perioperative I and II as an elective) that have advisor approval or preceptorships that are a semester long with you being on a floor or in the community learning "hands-on".

Both ADNs and BSNs both take the NCLEX-RN as well; they are two ways to enter the profession. It will be up to you; if you decide to get a graduate degree in nursing, then, go for the BSN...and honestly, it seems as because there is a saturation of nurses, they are going to BSN candidates first. In my area, new grad BSN nurses have about 18 months-2 year max to get a job; ADNs 2 years or more. It took me eight months total to get a job; it wasn't a good fit-the hospital has a horrible reputation for not being a great starting ground for new grads, and is pretty open about it; it took me another four moths to get a new job, which I'm starting tomorrow.

I saw a post where a poster commented that there are ADNs STILL looking in my area; and that poster stated that this person graduated almost 3 years ago. :(

You are young; you do have time; and I agree with the poster on getting a look at nursing in action; especially as a volunteer in a ER. Research which programs you can get into; If a local CC has a relationship with a university nursing program where you can get your RN, then transfer and get your BSN, then take that route if you decide to go the RN route.

Also, check out the California Nursing forums; there are some threads that will give you a eye opener on the new grad situation in California as well.

Welcome to AN!!! and best wishes in your studies.

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Once you become an RN you can begin working in such units as med-surg, pediatrics etc. BSN is recommended (you do not always have to go into management, you can branch off to other opportunities). You can begin with completing your pre-requisites and start applying to as many nursing schools as you can then continue with completing your general eds. There are some schools that prefer you finish both prereqs and general eds so you can concentrate on your nursing classes so when you are looking around for schools keep this in mind.

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Thanks everyone for your helpful information! This is what I needed. I think I will look into volunteering and go from there...

Don't stop commenting though!

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Hi! What I have done (and still doing) is take the pre reqs, take your enterance exam and then you can apply. Once you have applied, there are general classes you can take while you are waiting. (Psychology, A&P I and II, history etc.) youcanalso look into nursing programs. Make sure to look at the curriculums though because I transferred to a different school and they had different curriculums. Alsobeing from Cali I know how crowded it is and how competitive nursing is have you looked into neighboring states and there schools? Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

:yes: that is how it generally happens, unless you applied directly to the nursing program.

I would like to add that ADN programs and BSN programs are pretty much the same length. It takes about 2 years to completed pre-req's/ core courses, then the program courses are 2 years; for BSN programs, they separate the research/EBP (evidenced-based practice) class and the management class; sometimes they have electives (in my program, we had Perioperative I and II as an elective) that have advisor approval or preceptorships that are a semester long with you being on a floor or in the community learning "hands-on".

Both ADNs and BSNs both take the NCLEX-RN as well; they are two ways to enter the profession. It will be up to you; if you decide to get a graduate degree in nursing, then, go for the BSN...and honestly, it seems as because there is a saturation of nurses, they are going to BSN candidates first. In my area, new grad BSN nurses have about 18 months-2 year max to get a job; ADNs 2 years or more. It took me eight months total to get a job; it wasn't a good fit-the hospital has a horrible reputation for not being a great starting ground for new grads, and is pretty open about it; it took me another four moths to get a new job, which I'm starting tomorrow.

I saw a post where a poster commented that there are ADNs STILL looking in my area; and that poster stated that this person graduated almost 3 years ago. :(

You are young; you do have time; and I agree with the poster on getting a look at nursing in action; especially as a volunteer in a ER. Research which programs you can get into; If a local CC has a relationship with a university nursing program where you can get your RN, then transfer and get your BSN, then take that route if you decide to go the RN route.*

Also, check out the California Nursing forums; there are some threads that will give you a eye opener on the new grad situation in California as well.

Welcome to AN!!! and best wishes in your studies.

*Edit: I meant if you go the ADN route, look for a program that allows you to directly transfer into a BSN program, otherwise, go for the BSN...

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Thanks for your info...yes I've been hearing about the saturation in some states, and I wouldn't be opposed to applying to an Oregon or other school. Just wanna stay semi-close to home ya know? :shy:

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