Is Getting a BSN Worth It?

Sour Lemon · Apr 27, 2018

Just need some insight on this. I received my B.A. in 2016 and started my prereqs for nursing in the summer of 2017. I couldn't find a job in my field for an entire year which made me so depressed and gave me time to think about my options. I didn't want to go right back to school since I'd just graduated and I didn't want to start over. Now, I'm excited for nursing school!
I was originally a pre-nursing major but decided to switch to public relations because I loved it and thought I wasn't smart enough to be a nurse. Now I feel so motivated to become a nurse and do something I really love. I also love the fact that there will be more job security in nursing than working in communications.
When I tell people that I'm going back to school they say I've wasted my time and money on my first bachelors. They also tend to say that I haven't given time to explore the options of my current degree. It just makes me think, " Am I wasting my time by going back to nursing school? Can I really do this? Should I wait?" This may be silly but when people tell me things about returning to school I just don't know how to take it. What do you think?

This is a lot of information about your feelings, but nothing about your concrete abilities ...scholastically or financially. The people giving you advice probably know you better than strangers on the internet, so why would you take our advice and doubt theirs?

If you want to do something, I'd suggest checking out some nursing programs, what they require, what your chances of acceptance are, and what they would cost.

jasj · Apr 28, 2018

I think I'm concerned about either reading too much into their comments or simply taking them to heart. Their comments sort of linger and make me doubt myself and my choice to return to school. Financially I'm paying on some student loans while paying for the remainder of my prereqs out of pocket. I've excelled in most of the prereq courses and am taking my TEAS this summer. I've looked into a few programs that I'd like to apply to and I'll most likely be using student loans and paying out of pocket for whichever program I choose. The program I really want to do is accelerated and I'm scared that I'm going to have a hard time with courses since its at a faster rate.I guess I just want to know is it worth it to go through the entire undergraduate process again? Should I get an ADN instead?

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Apr 30, 2018

ADN vs BSN is entirely dependent on what your area will hire. I have a previous BS & am now in school for my BSN. I made up my mind to do this & went right ahead & did it. The only persons input I considered was my spouse since he would be the one having to support me through the process. I took everyone else's opinions worth a grain of salt.

I have other responsibilities so did not opt for the accelerated programs. Whether you can handle that program is entirely up to you & what reponsiblities you have on your plate. For what it's worth, many of my BS credits transferred to my BSN program so that has saved me time & likely at least some of your credits may transfer as well. Ultimately only you know what you are capable of, no one else can determine that for you. Good luck.

idkmybffjill · Apr 30, 2018

My suggestion is to sit down and figure out what you really want and what is possible. Think about if you want to continue trying to get a job in marketing. Is this something you will regret not pursuing? Have you tried everything you can think of to get a job in that field (I imagine networking, going to events, joining some type of marketing or business organization, and such is very, very important in getting a marketing job)? Or, even if you decide you haven't done all you can, do you even want to? Would you prefer to go into nursing regardless? Is it financially feasible?

Take into consideration what people tell you, but you also have to determine if their points are valid for you or not. They can say all they want that you should continue searching for marketing jobs or that you wasted your time, but if that's not something that works for you or not something you feel, then it's not relevant. Ultimately, you have to live with your decision, not them, so it should be the one that you feel is going to make you the happiest long term.