Published Jan 19, 2015
_bobby_leee
14 Posts
Currently, I was told, my gpa was too low to get into the nursing program.. Should I pursue another major and graduate with a BS in that. Because, I was thinking about taking the 2nd bachelor accelerated program so I can go straight in it and do 1-2 years...
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LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN
8,429 Posts
What is your GPA?
Where are you located, and what schools have you looked into?
It's 2.0 and I'm located in lafayette, louisiana at the university of lafayette...
A 2.0 IS low for a nursing program; most want 3.0 for sciences and at least a 3.0-3.5 overall minimum to be considered a candidate in a nursing program, at least in my area; some variants are GPA only, GPA and placement testing (NLN or TEAS) scoring, health experience can be part of the process as well.
The reason that they want the GPA, especially science GPA is to ensure that one has adequate understanding of concepts that will be built on during nursing theory and clinical from those classes; nursing school is very challenging and one's nursing school career can be cut short by not having a grasp on their pre-nursing education; that also not to say that one with a higher GPA won't struggle either, but just one of the rationales that nursing education is prepared with the expectation that through evidence of grades, that one has a strong concept of the subjects that are a part of nursing education.
Have you taken your science courses yet? You may have to re take them, and any other required courses and obtain higher grades.
Another way to enter nursing is to become a LPN; search for reputable PN programs in your area (approved by the board of nursing with NCLEX-scores, preferably in the 90th percentile) and go from there; you can work as a LPN and go into a BSN program; it's doable-I went this route myself.
Best wishes.
NICU Guy, BSN, RN
4,161 Posts
I doubt that a 2nd degree BSN (ABSN) would work for you. Most ABSN programs require a minimum of 3.0 GPA in your first BS degree to apply. They can be just as competitive as traditional BSN programs in which the students accepted into the program may have GPAs significantly higher than 3.0
We'll currently I'm in a community college still. I have two semester left at the community college but I probably won't make the cut so I would pursue a different degree then go back and get into a 2nd bachelor nursing program.