Need some guidance about nursing in NJ

[ruesq]

I already got my undergraduate degree in a pretty useless field (psychology). I am currently in my second year of law school and considering dropping out. I hold a scholarship that gives me the first 2 years of law school free. So I have not lost much money by being in law school. I am in the top 50% of my class, did not get into journal (something seen as really positive in law school). Therefore, I am seriously considering dropping out. I already owe 30k from undergrad, so I want to have an actual plan before dropping out.

Is there really a nursing shortage? Or is this another education scam? I know it depends on the state, so I am specifically talking about NJ. I have done research in the state of nurses in NJ and it seems like there is a true shortage. But I have been burned before with useless degrees (law).

My undergrad is pretty useless for nursing (psychology major), meaning I did not take any science classes. I read that getting a LPN is doable in a year and their starting salary is around 40k. The program would cost me 20k, so not too shabby. The LPN would be just a step before getting the RN. The money from being a LPN would help pay down my undergrad debt. Or I could go for an associate degree in nursing (ADN) to be an RN in 2 years. But I know I will be competing against RNs who have a BSN and years of experience. So would being a RN having only an ADN be that big of a disadvantage?

I am mainly just scared of once again investing in a degree (LPN) that will not get me a job.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to NJ Nursing Programs Discussion forum.

[Clovery]

I'm in south jersey (philly burbs). Most people I've encountered are having a hard time finding nursing positions in NJ. At the hospital where we're doing our clinical rotation, there are several RNs who are still working as PCTs because there are no RN positions.

They're telling us in school that there will be another shortage in a couple of years, and not to worry about it. Not sure if I believe it. There are jobs out there if you're not too picky.

All of the big hospitals in Philly require a BSN. With a psych degree, you will probably need about 2 full time semesters to complete the pre-reqs required for an ADN program.

LPNs are being phased out in NJ. They don't really get hospital jobs and they work mostly in home care or long term care. $20k seems like a lot to me for that... After the pre-reqs are completed, it's about $7k (for 4 semesters) including materials to get your ADN from a community college. Then you could hopefully start working and get the BSN online.