New Pre-Nursing Student with Questions! :)

[SimplyDee]

Hello and thank you for stopping by! Hopefully, you can help answer some of the questions I have... but first, some background information.

I am new to the nursing world. I have a BA in Sociology from UC Berkeley (graduated in 2010). Since then, I have been managing a jewelry store. I've been meaning to go back to school for a while, but I just kind of got stuck there for a while. Fortunately, I am beginning my prerequisite courses at National University and will be applying for the ABSN program at the same school by the end of next year.

My questions are as follows:

1. Since I already have a BA, is it better to go back and get a MSN right off the bat, or is it better to get my 2nd bachelors (ABSN) degree, work as a nurse for some time, then go back to become a NP? Becoming an NP is my ultimate goal, but I am unsure of the best route to get there.

2. National University is WASC and CCNE accredited, but it does not have the best reputation. What are your thoughts and experiences about nurses that graduate from their program?

3. I am 26 now... by the time I start the nursing program, I will be 27 (almost 28), and by the time I finish, I will probably be around 30. How do employers feel about hiring older, less inexperienced nurses? I always see a minimum of 2+ years of experience on job listings, and I am a little nervous about job outlook.

4. What are some of your favorite, and least favorite things about being a nurse? Do the pros outweigh the cons?

Thanks again, for your help! I am so excited to be finally be doing this! :)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

If you are in SoCal, this is probably the most challenging area for a new grad, job-wise. New grads are having a very difficult time in most metro areas, but not nearly as bad.

I can understand that you feel the need to "rush" your nursing education, but this may not be the wisest course of action. The transition from student to practicing nurse can be very difficult, particularly for new grads that have not had sufficient exposure/experience in the clinical environment. In a time when new grad jobs are scarce, having more clinical preparation in your nursing program will definitely pay off in terms of employment opportunities.

If you do a search here on AN, you will discover many tales of woe from ABSN or Entry-level Masters (ELM) grads.... focusing on their lack of preparation for the real world. It may be different in your area, but in my (large healthcare system) organization, hiring managers are avoiding ABSN grads (unless their first career was in another clinical area) and simply ignoring ELMs because of bad experiences with these hires. All new grads are competing for the same scarce positions. New grad jobs are focused on direct patient care. An entry-level Masters does not add value because it is not associated with any increase in clinical competency.

Since you will only be in your early 30's, your age will not be a limiting factor as a new grad... the quality of your clinical preparation and ability to cope with your transition to practice will be the most important factor.

Best of luck on your nursing education.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

If you do a search here on AN, you will discover many tales of woe from ABSN or Entry-level Masters (ELM) grads.... focusing on their lack of preparation for the real world. It may be different in your area, but in my (large healthcare system) organization, hiring managers are avoiding ABSN grads (unless their first career was in another clinical area) and simply ignoring ELMs because of bad experiences with these hires. All new grads are competing for the same scarce positions. New grad jobs are focused on direct patient care. An entry-level Masters does not add value because it is not associated with any increase in clinical competency.

Since you will only be in your early 30's, your age will not be a limiting factor as a new grad... the quality of your clinical preparation and ability to cope with your transition to practice will be the most important factor.

Best of luck on your nursing education.

I can only speak for my particular ABSN program, but quality of clinical education is the key factor for any nursing program (traditional or accelerated). The higher standards expected out our program by our instructors has made us sought after in the area. We are not 18 yr olds fresh out of high school so we can use our past career and life experience to be pushed to critically think at a faster rate. As a result, the hospitals in my area are very pleased of our ABSN graduates. We are required to have the same clinical hours as the traditional program. But, I believe that our graduates have better clinical skills than the traditional program when we graduate.

I agree with HouTex that an ELM doesn't gain you an advantage because the lack of clinical preparation, plus you need the real world experience before entering master's level courses to better understand the concepts.

[SimplyDee]

Thank you so much for your responses! Unfortunately, I am in Southern California... San Diego, to be exact. I've taken some time to look more closely through the forum, and I have to say, I've become rather anxious. Nonetheless, nursing is something that I've been wanting to pursue for some time now, and I have decided not to get discouraged!

I will have to take out a huge loan to pay for school once I begin, but I am just grateful that I currently have the financial means to focus and complete all of my pre-requisites without having to juggle work in between. Like many women on the forum, my goal is to become a RN before I start having children, as it will get exponentially more difficult then. The extra time gives me the opportunity to look for volunteer positions at local hospitals to obtain some much needed exposure to the field. So far, I haven't had much luck, but I will keep trying!

Again, I appreciate your time and tips! Happy Holidays! :)