Need advice on becoming a nurse w/BA in liberal arts - living in Seattle

OlyNP2b · Aug 2, 2008

Hi there,

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a BA in Education and will begin an ADN program next month, so here's some info I've obtained over the past 1.5 years. First, here is a link to a document that contains all of the approved nursing programs (LPN, ADN, BSN, Master's) in Washington. It's a great jumping off point.

Next, I think the first question you have to ask yourself is where you see yourself on the nursing spectrum. I know that I will become an advanced practice nurse at some point in my nursing career but was reluctant to choose a specialty area now, so I declined offers for the direct-entry master's programs at both PLU and UW. If advanced practice nursing appeals to you and you feel confident in choosing a specialty, then it wouldn't hurt to look into these programs. The prerequisites are virtually the same as an ADN or BSN program, with the addition of statistics, maybe Nutrition & and organic chem (these last 2 were required from UW), and you'll have to take the GRE.

I chose (after much, much mental debate) to go for the ADN. There just weren't any BSN programs in my local area that I could finish short of 3 years (even with my previous BA degree) because the courses are sequenced for folks who don't hold degrees and are concurrently completing other coursework for that degree, if my writing makes any sense. After looking into the ADN programs, I decided this would work for my situation because it is not only the most affordable option (

On whether or not you'd be able to begin a program by fall 2009, that totally depends on your completion of prerequisites. For the ADN programs, they tend to rate applicants strictly on GPA in prerequisites, therefore you are most competitive if you have all of your classes completed by their stated deadline, not to mention if you have stellar grades. The ADN application due dates in my area are February 15th and prereqs will be evaluated through March 31st. The bachelor's and direct-entry master's programs offer more leniency in this respect because they have the opportunity to evaluate you as a whole, through prior experiences, essays and letters of recommendation. The essay is so important because you can tell them who you are, why you would are a great candidate and how you can continue the academic legacy of the college/university. The BSN programs are due early in the year I believe (Jan/Feb). The direct-entry Master's applications are due very soon (UW in October, PLU in November, Seattle U in December) for a Summer start.

Hope this helps! :trout:

lindarn · Aug 2, 2008

Unfortunately, there is no second degree nursing program in Washington State. I think that Oregon, and most definately, California does. It is really a shame. I have run into alot of inidviduals who hold Bachelors degrees in other fields, and want to become nurses, but don't want to have to repeat core classes, etc. I don't know that the solution is.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

elkpark · Aug 2, 2008

If advanced practice nursing appeals to you and you feel confident in choosing a specialty, then it wouldn't hurt to look into these programs.

I would just add that, even if you think you are confident about an advanced practice specialty, things don't always work out the way we expect. I've known a number of people who graduated from direct entry MSN programs and then found out, after they had spent the significant time, money, and effort to complete the program, that they didn't at all enjoy being a NP/CNM/whatever after all. They are now stuck with an expensive degree and highly specialized career track that they don't want, and are trying to figure out what to do "next." (I have yet to encounter an experienced RN who went on to grad school who wound up in that situation.)

You can go in whatever direction you like with a generalist RN degree and licensure -- you can change specialties as often as you can talk someone into hiring you into a new area :); but that's not how it works in advanced practice nursing -- you are locked into a specific specialty and have to return to school to move into another area. I can't imagine (personally) how people can make a decision about what nursing specialty they want to lock themselves into when they have no experience in the nursing world in general to get a feel for how it all works ... That's one of the reasons I'm v. skeptical about direct entry programs.

Best wishes on whatever you decide.

stellasaurus · Aug 4, 2008

UW no longer requires the GRE for the direct-entry program. But PLU does. Not sure about Seattle U.

Also, the national nursing associations are pushing for a bachelor's degree (BSN) to be required to be an RN in the next few years. The existing ADNs will be "grandfathered" in. But be careful that you either get into a bachelor's program OR you get the ADN before it is obsolete.

mattsgirl · Aug 8, 2008

I would also like to add that if you enter into a Masters program with a liberal arts degree, pre-reqs will take at least a year, if you go to school full time. I am starting the BSN program at PLU here in washington, and those pre-reqs took me almost 2 years. If you want to start in 2009 Fall, I would write out a meticulous plan. Good luck!:wink2:

i_wanna_be_a_nurse! · Aug 9, 2008

Hi there just wanted to share, I'm in the same boat too and here's what I ended up doing:

I graduated from UW with an Art History degree but decided to go into nursing a few years after that. Washington nursing schools are all together VERY hard to get into from my understanding, yet washington nurses don't get paid very well with respect to cost of living. So I moved back home to Las Vegas and I'm hoping to start this year. I would recomend staying away from UW - it's crazy hard to get into, unless u like competition for the sake of competition(which...if i were into that i'd be looking into med school :chuckle). Stick with CCs and just make sure u get good grades and to be honest, if u already have a BA - the nursing pre reqs are NOT THAT HARD, so u will probably have no problem finishing them. As a returning student, I found it much easier to go to a CC than a university because at CC not everyone is like 17 and die hard about everything. which isn't to say that people don't work hard, it's much more of an adult/low key atmosphere. But it's a pain in the butt waiting all that time to get into nursing school when u already have a degree. that's been the hardest part for me. my friends are in law school and here i am not even in nursing school yet. BAH!!! (I personally was very burnt out by the UW system and am not looking to do the U thing again) If u do decide to go out of state, just know that even the add on "12 months to an RN" programs have at least a year worth of pre reqs and they tend to have lower NCLEX pass rates and, in my experience, are very poorly organized - so don't be fooled. However, I looked into TMCC - it looks pretty solid if u can weather the wait time. Also, I think it matters more where u go to grad school when it comes to nursing. ok best of luck :)

j450n, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

Hi there,
I'm in the same boat as you. I have a BA in Education and will begin an ADN program next month, so here's some info I've obtained over the past 1.5 years. First, here is a link to a document that contains all of the approved nursing programs (LPN, ADN, BSN, Master's) in Washington. It's a great jumping off point.
Next, I think the first question you have to ask yourself is where you see yourself on the nursing spectrum. I know that I will become an advanced practice nurse at some point in my nursing career but was reluctant to choose a specialty area now, so I declined offers for the direct-entry master's programs at both PLU and UW. If advanced practice nursing appeals to you and you feel confident in choosing a specialty, then it wouldn't hurt to look into these programs. The prerequisites are virtually the same as an ADN or BSN program, with the addition of statistics, maybe Nutrition & and organic chem (these last 2 were required from UW), and you'll have to take the GRE.
I chose (after much, much mental debate) to go for the ADN. There just weren't any BSN programs in my local area that I could finish short of 3 years (even with my previous BA degree) because the courses are sequenced for folks who don't hold degrees and are concurrently completing other coursework for that degree, if my writing makes any sense. After looking into the ADN programs, I decided this would work for my situation because it is not only the most affordable option (
On whether or not you'd be able to begin a program by fall 2009, that totally depends on your completion of prerequisites. For the ADN programs, they tend to rate applicants strictly on GPA in prerequisites, therefore you are most competitive if you have all of your classes completed by their stated deadline, not to mention if you have stellar grades. The ADN application due dates in my area are February 15th and prereqs will be evaluated through March 31st. The bachelor's and direct-entry master's programs offer more leniency in this respect because they have the opportunity to evaluate you as a whole, through prior experiences, essays and letters of recommendation. The essay is so important because you can tell them who you are, why you would are a great candidate and how you can continue the academic legacy of the college/university. The BSN programs are due early in the year I believe (Jan/Feb). The direct-entry Master's applications are due very soon (UW in October, PLU in November, Seattle U in December) for a Summer start.
Hope this helps! :trout:

Hi OlyNP2b,

I have to say that I'm in the exact same position as you. I have a bachelor's degree from the UW. I want to do an accelerated second-degree BSN, but I know it will be so much cheaper to do an ADN and then maybe do the one year RN-BSN option at UW Bothell. On the other hand, I'm quite eager to be done with school as I feel like I am getting burned out from it.

You mentioned in your posts that you could utilize your current B.A. and ADN degree to gain acceptance into a master's program. I know UW Bothell has a program like that, but do you know of any other programs in-state or otherwise?

Thanks!

babyNP., APRN · Oct 15, 2008

Unfortunately, there is no second degree nursing program in Washington State. I think that Oregon, and most definately, California does. It is really a shame. I have run into alot of inidviduals who hold Bachelors degrees in other fields, and want to become nurses, but don't want to have to repeat core classes, etc. I don't know that the solution is.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

I have to beg to differ. Several of my peers in my cohort were 2nd degree students who only went to school for 2.5 years to get their second bachelor's. I graduated from Seattle U.

OlyNP2b · Oct 16, 2008

Hey J450n,

Both UW and WSU allow for this option, I haven't really looked into any other programs. I know of a person who received their ADN and is now working on their Master's through UW. She did not have to take any additional classes, she just had to work with the School of Nursing to demonstrate certain skills such as leadership. If you have any questions regarding a particular program, I'd recommend contacting the school because they'd be able to answer your questions. Good luck!

just_cause, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2008

J4,

I think OlyNPtoobee had a great point... the ADN route is economical and allows you to gain experience. The admission rate to specialties at UW and WSU is greatly in favor of those with experience. I was looking at doing that same path as it was far cheaper then the MEPN and then enabled me to be more competitive for the Masters specialty of my preference, good luck~

j450n, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 20, 2008

Thanks just_cause.

I know an ADN program is not out of the question, especially since I excel at liberal arts and kind of struggle in sciences.

Thanks for your input!