Is my nursing school plan smart?

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I've done quite a bit of research this week on my options for becoming a nurse (second degree) and this is what I'm planning on doing. But I'd like second (and third, and fourth, etc) opinions on whether or not this is the best option:

- My original degree is a BA

- Take all the science pre-reqs part-time at a community college starting this fall. I have between 3 and 4 semesters of classes (depending on which nursing school I decided to apply to, since some require more classes than others)

- Apply to an accelerated BSN nursing school and get in (which I realize could take a couple of years to get into something... if I don't get into something one year, I plan to keep taking pre-reqs for other programs)

- Do a 12-24 month program (again, depends on which one I'm accepted to, they're all a little different)

- Graduate with a BSN

- Take the NCLEX and PASS! (hehe)

- Be an RN

The reason I want to do it this way is because I need to work full-time until I start nursing school. My husband and I can't have our finances suffer with a 4 year loan, so that's why I decided against doing a 4 year BSN or from taking my pre-reqs at a nursing school.

So does that sound like it should work? Am I missing or overlooking anything?

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Looks good to me!

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

An accelerated BSN sounds like a prefect plan for you. There may be some programs you can apply to before or during prereqs, so get those apps started. One piece of advice: once you start your aBSN, stop

working and spend a year focused on school and clinic.

Best of luck.

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I feel like I could have written this post 2 yrs ago! I also have a BA and decided to change careers to nursing in the fall of 2010. I did a lot of research on aBSN and aMSN programs before deciding that the aBSN from a nearby school.

I started out taking a non-science elective that I knew was required for every program I was considering, PSYCH 100. This was to see if I could handle going to class at night while working 60hr weeks. I wanted to test the waters so to speak.

About a month into my second class, Physiology, I decided on the aBSN and decided to really buckle down and commit. I made a plan to quit my job 4 months later and to add to my savings until I had saved up what I thought would last me 2 years in the meantime.

This was simply to speed things up, I knew I could finish my last 9 pre-reqs in a year if I quit my job, otherwise I was having to take one at a time which would have taken 9 semesters (3 more years!). Anyway, it has all worked out so far and I'm so glad that I made the decisions that I did. I have been accepted to the aBSN program and will start this fall, finish August 2013!!

I know that wasn't exactly your question but basically I think you have a great plan as it was mine as well! Having a plan helps so much especially when I was struggling to stay with my job that I didn't like. I would suggest you try to save up and quit a bit early so that you can take the pre-reqs faster but I know that isn't an option for everyone so just make the decisions that make the most sense for you. Not quitting = longer doing pre-reqs but more stability.

Good luck!!

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Since I practically have the exact same plan as you- YES IT IS A GOOD ONE! lol.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

This was the EXACT same plan I had last year, and now I'm about to start my ABSN program in September. So I think this is an excellent plan! :-)

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