Newbie Needs Advice...

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Hello,

I am ready to make the decision to start my journey to becoming a registered nurse. I am a little confused as to what I will need to do to get started on the road to my goal.

I currently have my Associates degree in General Studies from a 2-Year college, I am confused about because I am wondering if I would have to obtain an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN), or if my current Associates Degree is acceptable. I am not sure if I will basically need to start over completely at square 1, or if I can use courses from my Associates Degree to cover some of the required courses that I need to become a RN. Once I become a RN, eventually I will start taking courses to obtain my BSN.

I have been searching around the internet, but I haven't found anything that explains it in a way that is understandable.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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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.

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Specializes in Maternity, quality.

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!

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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

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

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!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
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. ;)

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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.

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

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

hi, thepremier. . .if you know, or have an idea of, the rn school you would like to go to, the place to start is to go to the school's website, bookstore or write and purchase a copy of their college catalog. the college catalog details admission, transfer credit and degree requirements. a school's college catalog is their bible. you should also have a copy of the one from the school where you got your aa degree. a college catalog will also have details about what a nursing major will entail. in general, most colleges take basic education classes as transfer credits and you don't have to repeat them. there are always exceptions to certain quirky things. you usually don't find those things out until you apply to a college and have your transcripts sent to them. once the college you are applying to gets a chance to look at your official transcripts they will make a determination as to which classes they will grant you transfer credit for. many local community colleges and universities have agreements already in place as to what classes will be granted transfer credit without questions.

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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:)

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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.

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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).

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