Non-Rn Associates to BSN

[Rodolfo Garcia]

Hello guys, goodmorning. This is my first post in the forums ever so i apologize if this is not the place for me to ask.
For some time now i been thinking i want to get a BSN and then apply to physician assistant school or nurse practioner school but i wont get in to those two right now.
i am on my last semester of my associates degree. My associates degree is in applied science not nursing, i was just wondering if there is any way to jump straight in to a BSN degree from a non nursing associates. Would i only do two years at a university? Or would i have to first complete a nursing associates? I love medicine and getting a BSN degree would definitely get me in to medicine. I was planning on getting a Biochem degree before i applied to PA or NP school but what if i never get in? I would much rather be a BSN than a Biochem major, so i can work in a field i know i would love. So can i apply for a bsn with a non nursing associates, without having to take classes to first become an rn?

[Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP]

ABSN (Accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing) - These require you already have a Bachelor degree in another field that is not nursing.

ADN or ASN - This is a 2 year degree, typically offered at the community college level. 2 years of the actual nursing part -- doesn't count the undergrad requirements everybody in the college has to have (e.g: Art, Foreign Language, etc..) You will be able to sit for the NCLEX & become licensed. Just be aware, many magnet or top hospitals in some places will only hire nurses w/ a BSN degree. Check the local hospitals in your state and see what type of degree they are looking for. If you actually do earn an ADN/ASN, you can do extra schooling to earn your BSN.

You cannot have, say an Associates Degree in Art and apply for a BSN. As I just mentioned, it would have to be the Associates in Nursing and then bridge over.

If you are looking to transfer to a 4 year university, the associates you have now may include many of the nursing prerequisites, so you can try to apply to the program there. But before you do, check w/ a counselor to see if you need to take more classes & if your GPA is competitive enough. Chances are, you would only have to do 2 years to complete the BSN at the state university level and that will give you a BSN -- that is, as long as you have all the of prerequisites they require. They also may require either a HESI or TEAS to be taken as well.

[llg, PhD, RN]

You don't need an Associate's Degree in Nursing to enter a BSN program. There are some BSN programs that take students right out of high school. Most programs, though, admit students who have taken a year or two of college courses that include some of the foundation skills that support the nursing courses -- courses in the basic sciences, introductory English, psych, etc. The high school grad takes those introductory courses to get general foundation of college-level education, then begins taking nursing courses in their sophomore or junior year.

Contact the BSN programs that interest you (or look up their websites) to find out what their entrance requirements are. See how many of those requirements you already meet -- and how many you will have to meet before you will be eligible to apply.

[theWitcher]

Whatever route you take, make sure you take your prereqs for nursing school.