My predicament (Accelerated Nursing Programs)

[jamw90]

So I am a psychology major at UTK. I just decided within the last six months that I for sure want to be a nurse, but I am so late in my major that I decided to receive my bachelor's, have the prereqs done, then apply for an accelerated program. I thought I was going to graduate on time. I just found out I will be a semester behind, (December 2013 earliest instead of May 2013). I am still in the process of getting my prerequisities done (taking human a&p II in the Summer, and microbiology in the fall). I do not want to graduate with a degree I do not care for, esp a semester behind, esp since most accelerated programs do not start until the Fall semester, meaning that I have to wait a year longer than originally thought to start. The only program that seems to solve my issue is Union's accelerated program in my hometown of Hendersonville. They will let you do it if you do already have your bachelor's degree earned. I was thinking I may transfer into that Spring of 2013. The only problem is that I still have to take my religious courses in the fall (has to be new/old testament and cannot find it offered anywhere this Summer), along with my microbiology in the fall. So my question is does anywhere else have an accelerated type of program like this where I do not have to have my bachelor's already earned? I looked into Aquinas a little and emailed the director but have not gotten a response yet.

Thanks!

[chelauren]

LMU in Knoxville has an accelerated BSN. It's located in Cedar Bluff in Knox. You could apply for next fall (2013) if you have all your prereqs out of the way. The only benefit of already having a bachelors degree is that it drops your amount of prereqs. Their program is Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall. You'd be done December of 2014 if you started August of 2013. Good luck!

[Kef89]

Have you considered this: starting a 2 yr nursing program as soon as you can, and then once you pass your nclex, go back to UTKs BSN bridge program and finish your BSN then. The advantages: passing the nclex is the priority. There's nothing that will be on that test that students in an associates program aren't learning. So go to a 2 yr school, become a nurse, then, since you have so many of the pre Reqs and divisional distributions from UTK, your bridge program for the BSN will be nothing but nursing classes. They are online and it will take you maybe a year and a half to finish. But, remember, you are working AS A NURSE that whole time. So you are making money AND likely having a hospital reimburse you or pay the way for those last classes. The BSN is extremely important, I know. But a regular BSN school is not the only way to get that degree. UTK is extremely competitive in nursing, but once you have your associates RN degree, the bridge programs aka RN to BSN are everywhere!!! I graduated from UTK in English, and went to grad school for 2 years, so I know what it's like to have a degree (or close to it) and want to change. You feel like you are starting over, but you're not. Its just a direction change. Lt me know if u have any questions!