Need your advice...BSN vs. BS????

sunnyjohn · Jul 5, 2006

So your MSN is a direct-entry program and they don't care what your Bachelor's degre is in? You have less than a year? Two semesters?

Can you afford to finish your BS in Managment and then go right on to your MSN? What do you wish to do?

That BS would make you an awfully attractive candidate with a few years of bedside nursing experience. You can use it to start your own NP clinic! :lol2:

If it were me I'd finish the BS in Management WHILE taking those two extra nursing classes and put my application in for the MSN progam for the first available class.

Still, you have to weigh your options and DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU! Isn't it great having so many options? :lol:

Good fortune/ good luck!

Melcia060 · Jul 6, 2006

So your MSN is a direct-entry program and they don't care what your Bachelor's degre is in? You have less than a year? Two semesters?
Can you afford to finish your BS in Managment and then go right on to your MSN? What do you wish to do?
That BS would make you an awfully attractive candidate with a few years of bedside nursing experience. You can use it to start your own NP clinic!
If it were me I'd finish the BS in Management WHILE taking those two extra nursing classes and put my application in for the MSN progam for the first available class.
Still, you have to weigh your options and DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU! Isn't it great having so many options? :lol:
Good fortune/ good luck!

Thanks for the post!! The MSN program I want doesn't care what your undergrad degree is in as long as you are an RN. I'm attending a diploma RN program starting in the fall and I'm hoping to work on my BS while in school, that is of course if I have time... :lol2: ...I know, time in nursing school?? LOL!! My undergrad school is split up into 6 terms a year, I would have to go for about 5 terms (4 if I wanted to take more classes per term) to finish my BS degree. I'm not really sure what is best for me because I don't want to miss out on info that I should've learned during the BSN. Right now I'm thinking of going to be a neonatal NP (but I've been known to change my mind:uhoh3:). I would need a year of acute experience to go into the neonatal program...which is fine w/ me because then I would have extra time/money to finish my BS. So I guess I just mainly want to be reassured that I won't miss out on critical info by getting a non-nursing undergrad. I also want to feel that I've worked/spent a lot of time and $$ on a useful degree. Thanks again for the post!! -Mel

sunnyjohn · Jul 6, 2006

Just rehashing to be sure I understand_

1. You will start a diploma RN program this fall.

2. You wish to take your BS management classes WHILE you are taking your diploma nursing classes.

3. Your BS management classes will take 4 more terms.

Wow this is a tough one! Are you agood student? Some people find that nursing school classes are not hard, but the workload and prep work leave little time for much else.

Here are your options-

1. Take your BS management classes in the summer during breaks from the diploma nursing school

2. Go part-time in the BS management program while taking your diploma nursing classes. It would take you longer than 4 terms to finish, but it might be less stressful. You MIGHT be able to manage one class in the managment program if you stay on top of everything.

3. Go whole hog and take as close to full time in both the managment and diploma nursing as you can. You can always drop the management classes if the stress becomes to much.

4. Finish the RN diploma program, go to work as an RN, THEN go back and finish your BS in Managment while working as a nurse. You will have to delay your entry into your MSN program, but you will get the experience you need for those programs you are interested in. Once you start working as a nurse your persepective might change. You may find that you don't want to be a neonatal NP or even want that MSN. You may find another aspect of nursing that appeals to you.

5. Switch to the BSN. provided you can still get in for this Fall or Jan '07, it would take an additional year or two. This way you kill two birds with one stone.

Boy I sure don't envy you. You have a big decision ahead!

Melcia060 · Jul 6, 2006

sunnyjohn,

I think I will try to take the BS Mangement courses while in the diploma program. I have a 3.8 GPA and I don't feel that I've had to work all that hard to get good grades. I'm completing A&PII right now and after that I only have 1 more course (child psych) left for my diploma program besides the actual nursing courses. I know that nursing school will be hard and that it is a different way of learning/thinking. However, my prereqs for nursing school weren't that hard and I have all A's in my Management courses so far. Other people have told me that nursing school entails a lot of prep work that leaves little time. I'm not really in a rush, I'm only 19. Even though I sort of like school, I want to get on w/ my life and start a "real" job. You're right about getting in there and finding that I may like a different part of nursing. Maybe I won't even need an MSN, but I'm the 1st in my family to go to college and getting a Master's degree has been a personal goal since I can remember. Thanks again for the input!!! Mel