Newbie Needs Advice...

Well I dont know what other course you have had. You will need your A&P 1&2, Chemistry, Microbiology, Psychology of some sort, a few gym classes (atleast I did), Algebra course, and whatever else the school requires. Your basic courses should transfew but if you took the sciences and they are over 5-6 yrs. old you will probably have to retake them, and if you never took them well you should just start there because you will need them. Hope this helps.

Welcome and congratulations on making the decision to pursue nursing!

The short answer is that, yes, some of the courses from your associates degree should transfer over... you will probably have to take additional pre-reqs, but if you've had English, intro psych, etc. those should count towards your ADN. Your best bet is to contact the schools you're interested in directly and find out what else you will have to take. Best wishes!

WannaBeMaleRN & arciedee,

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. I have been doing some research and I think I am all cleared up on all the courses that I'll need. As you described, I will need A&P I/II, Microbiology, Psychology, and Chemistry for all of my general core & Co-requisites. I already have all of the other course requirements that are needed.

Completion of these classes will give me an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) as arciedee, then I will need to take the NCLEX to receive my RN Licensure. After I achieve this goal, my plan is to go forward an receive my RN-BSN Degree. I know this will take some time, but I'm a patient individual.

Does it sound like anything is missing?

Thanks

As long as you're clear it's those courses you mentioned....plus two years of nursing cirriculum and clinicals that give you the ADN to allow to you sit for NCLEX RN and become a Registered Nurse.

I went that route too. ADN then to BSN which I'm trying to get now.

Good luck!

WannaBeMaleRN & arciedee,

Does it sound like anything is missing?

Thanks

Yes, talk to a Counselor at the schools you are interested in submitting an application. Bring your unofficial transcripts so they can tell you what may transfer over and what will not. That is the only way you will be able to map out a clear path and clear up any confusion.

Many of us have the same requirements but that is not an indication that all schools require the same. Different Nursing Programs have different requirements. Good Luck.

Well, those are the courses you will need before taking your actual Nursing 1-4 then you will obtain your degree and can sit for the state boards.

Okay, thank you to everybody who has helped me out.

You also might want to look into going into the BSN program right away if you already have a 2 yr. degree. I, too have an Associate in Science (Chemistry/pre-med) and while looking into the ADN program, I started wondering could I go directly into the BSN program instead of getting another Associates. So, I searched around for BSN programs that started the nursing core in the 3rd yr. and I found 2 programs: One at UIC and one at Rush (both in Chicago). Since most of my AS in Science classes are transferrable and part of the pre-reqs for the BSN nursing program, if I'm accepted at either one I can go right into the last 2 yrs of the nursing core program and get a BSN in the same time it would take to get the ADN. So--it's to your benefit to check around:)

You also might want to look into going into the BSN program right away if you already have a 2 yr. degree. I, too have an Associate in Science (Chemistry/pre-med) and while looking into the ADN program, I started wondering could I go directly into the BSN program instead of getting another Associates. So, I searched around for BSN programs that started the nursing core in the 3rd yr. and I found 2 programs: One at UIC and one at Rush (both in Chicago). Since most of my AS in Science classes are transferrable and part of the pre-reqs for the BSN nursing program, if I'm accepted at either one I can go right into the last 2 yrs of the nursing core program and get a BSN in the same time it would take to get the ADN. So--it's to your benefit to check around:)

I understand what you are saying, but the only thing about my associates is that I don't have the type of AA Degree that you possess. I don't have all of the sciences that you need to qualify for an RN and to start a BSN program. Although it would be nice to be able to bypass the ADN, I know that I will have to obtain it to progress to the next phase and get admitted into a RN-BSN program. Ultimately I want to achieve the final goal of becoming a CRNA. I have a long road ahead of me, but I am a patient individual and willing to work hard to achieve my ultimate goal.

I think it's very good that you have it all planned out- we both have a long road ahead of us (I see we both want to be a CRNA).

Even if you do have a non-science associates degree, because you will have liberal arts transfer credits and will have to take essentially the same science prereqs regardless of whether you go ADN/ASN or BSN directly, it may still take you the same amount of time to get either degree. The science and nursing requirements are basically the same in the courses, and for many students - including me- with liberal arts background, it only takes about 2 years for BSN after the prereqs. I think it is worth checking into, as are costs of programs. There are some state school BSN programs that are pretty reasonable, and many of the others have financial aid. I don't think one degree is better over the other, but since you wrote that you already know that you want a BSN eventually for CRNA, it may be worth checking into to limit the number of hoops that you will have to jump through.