Is it worth it

PDXPonySN913 · Jun 26, 2011

You could ask the NY state board of nursing, and the NLN (National League of Nursing) about job prospectives and credentialing. It would take a lot longer, but ... have you looked at accelerated masters programs for Non-nursing BS or BA's? It depends on what your plans are.

If you don't know what nursing schools are like, you might interview nursing students at NY. It could make a great article. Go in with your eyes wide open, before you jump.... A lot of people are dumping many years and thousands of dolars into getting a little ol' two year degree in a gloomy job market, only to find out some very important details got left out of the information sessions - three to four years into their little two year degree, and before they even get into a nursing program. It's tragic.

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 26, 2011

I am considering attending St. Paul’s School of Nursing. But I am worried by the fact that it is NY State Certified and not NLN. What does this mean about my employment opportunities if one day I should decide to move out of New York? Also, St. Paul’s only offers an associates in Nursing. Since I have a BS in Journalism already, my plan is to get my associates in nursing then obtain my M.P.A. How possible will this be for me to advance up the career ladder? Would it be better for me to get a BA in nursing instead?

I'm not aware of any nursing program that awards the BA and the trend in most parts of the country is to require the BSN as the minimum educational credential for nursing employment. While the job market for new RN's is generally very poor the situation is considerably worse for RN's with "only" an associate's degree. You are likely to find getting emplyment as an ADN quite challenging and your previous baccalaureate will not really be of much help. I speak from experience in this as an ADN with a BA and MBA. Your prior BS will however give you a leg up on getting your BSN. Also keep in mind that not having a BSN will be very limiting in terms of upward mobility within nursing - a BSN is almost required to advance. So in my view the anser is yes, it is more advantageous to have a BSN than an ADN.

I'm not sure that I understand why you want to pursue a nursing degree and then go on to the MPA. You can get the MPA without detouring through nursing school. Though you may need additional coursework in the social sciences since your previous degree is in journalism, I wouldn't think that the ADN would be of any help. I also can't see how the MPA will be of any real benefit to move up the nursing career ladder. What's the relationship you see between nursing and the MPA?

Moogie · Jun 26, 2011

Is your school new and eligible for NLN accrediting? If it is, you'll be okay. If the school either never has had NLN accrediting or has lost its accrediting, run. Find another program. Going to a school that is not accredited can keep you out of ADN to BSN or MSN programs and it could cost you a job.Some facilities will not even interview a graduate of an unaccredited school. This could cause you problems not only in other states but also in your own state. Don't go to a school that is not accredited.

BTW, if you aren't really sure about nursing, try to job shadow someone for a while, volunteer at a hospital, or go through CNA training and get a job. Any of these will help you understand better what nursing is all about and help you to decide if this is really the career route you want to take.

Good luck to you!

If you want a career in nursing, look into either a traditional BSN or an accelerated BSN for students who have previous bachelor's degrees. I agree with Chuckster; nursing won't be of much good to you if you want an MPA. The converse is also true: if you want a career in nursing, an MPA won't be of much help, either.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Jun 28, 2011

Is your school new and eligible for NLN accrediting? If it is, you'll be okay. If the school either never has had NLN accrediting or has lost its accrediting, run. Find another program. Going to a school that is not accredited can keep you out of ADN to BSN or MSN programs and it could cost you a job.Some facilities will not even interview a graduate of an unaccredited school. This could cause you problems not only in other states but also in your own state. Don't go to a school that is not accredited.
BTW, if you aren't really sure about nursing, try to job shadow someone for a while, volunteer at a hospital, or go through CNA training and get a job. Any of these will help you understand better what nursing is all about and help you to decide if this is really the career route you want to take.
Good luck to you!
If you want a career in nursing, look into either a traditional BSN or an accelerated BSN for students who have previous bachelor's degrees. I agree with Chuckster; nursing won't be of much good to you if you want an MPA. The converse is also true: if you want a career in nursing, an MPA won't be of much help, either.

I second everything that Moogie said, though I would add that if your school was credentialed by CCNE rather than NLN, you're perfectly fine on that front - CCNE accredits schools that offer a minimum of a BSN, while NLN accredits schools that offer at most a BSN.

NatashaSB · Jun 29, 2011

I work in a hospital and though you would think this would help me find out this information faster, it doesn't as most of the nurses I work with were educated in India and know nothing of obtaining your nursing degree in America. However, from what I've gathered, my hospital looks highly upon nurses with a M.P.A., which is the reason why I want that degree after obtaining my Associates.

CeceStar5, ADN, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 29, 2013

Can you please update us. Did you get into a nursing school?

I work in a hospital and though you would think this would help me find out this information faster, it doesn't as most of the nurses I work with were educated in India and know nothing of obtaining your nursing degree in America. However, from what I've gathered, my hospital looks highly upon nurses with a M.P.A., which is the reason why I want that degree after obtaining my Associates.