Nursing Degree? Please help!

leenak · Jun 11, 2012

A BS in biology doesn't buy you anything. I'd start looking at schools around you and see what their pre-reqs are and apply to their BSN programs. You may also want to look at other locations as well.

allnurses Guide · Jun 11, 2012

I am going into my second year at a regular 4 year university but I recently discovered I want to become a nurse. The nursing degree at my school is WAY too impacted and physically impossible to declare. My plan at this moment is to graduate with a BS in Biology then get my BSN after I graduate? Is this the best plan? Or should I transfer for a school with a nursing degree the end of next year? Which would be better off? Please help!

Your BA/BS will buy you a shot at a 12-18 month ABSN admission. Look for accelerated BSN programs in your area.

leenak · Jun 11, 2012

Your BA/BS will buy you a shot at a 12-18 month ABSN admission. Look for accelerated BSN programs in your area.

That'd be true if she was closer to graduating but with only one year under her belt, to me, it doesnt make sense to spend 3 years in college pursuing a degree you don't want.

Bobmo88 · Jun 11, 2012

I would say that you need to look into the pre-requisites of your school's program and nearby programs and start working on them. They're usually English Composition, Anatomy and Physiology (either separate classes or A&P I and II), and Microbiology. Do the absolute best you can in these classes to make yourself more competitive. If you are able to apply for any programs, do so even if they are programs that have long wait lists; it is good to have options. After this then keep working on additional requirements that you may need. For the BSN program that I was accepted to, I also needed to take the TEAS V test. In addition to the 4 classes I previously mentioned, I needed to take speech, Intro to Inorganic, Organic, and Biochemistry, and critical thinking. As far as changing majors, are you not able to change to pre-nursing at your school because of how impacted it is? If so, can you choose another major that will enable you to take classes that are nursing pre-reqs? I actually have a degree in Spanish that I obtained because I was on a wait list for an ADN program at the time but I initially applied as a health education major because a lot of the pre-requisites were the same as nursing. If not then maybe try taking the pre-reqs at a community college and maybe even take a class or two over the summer. I hope you figure everything out, good luck to you!

UVA Grad Nursing · Jun 11, 2012

I would encourage you to look at the possibility of transferring to a BSN program. This would enable you to pursue a degree that you want. Also, if you have any financial aid (including student loans), this would allow you to use this aid for a first Bachelor's degree. Financial aid requirements are getting tighter, and getting any federal aid (including Stafford Loans) is getting more difficult for those at second Bachelors programs (including the Accelerated BSN programs).

tigerlogic · Jun 11, 2012

There are WAY fewer financial aide opportunities for a second bachelors and many (most?) ABSN programs have wicked competition. I'd say transfer if you can, do the second degree only if transferring doesnt work out. And start getting experience now (as an aide/emt/etc)

♑ Capricorn ♑ · Jun 11, 2012

Hmm...depends. How far in are you in Biology? If you are about to graduate, real soon, with a BS in Bio....then finish that and do the accelerated BSN. If you are just starting your major, then you could always transfer or attend another school for nursing.

elaina86 · Jun 11, 2012

I'd switch majors. I'm currently going back to school for nursing ( I have a bs in chemistry). It would have been so much faster to just switch over, even if it means taking a heavier course load, taking summer classes, and adding a year onto school.

willowita, ADN, RN · Jun 11, 2012

Agree with some of the comments here. Don't throw in the towel on a BSN program this early in your education (going into sophomore year, correct?). Find out the pre-reqs at your school and at every school near you that you can transfer to. Then start taking the pre-reqs and working towards applying to the BSN programs of those schools.

If the only thing worrying you is that a BSN at your school is too competitive, let me ease your fears by saying that nursing is impacted and competitive at pretty much every degree level (ADN, BSN, ABSN, ELMSN). That shouldn't stop you from applying. If you know you want to be a nurse, then there is no point in waiting 3 years to apply to a program that is also impacted with just a few spots.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 11, 2012

a bs in biology doesn't buy you anything. i'd start looking at schools around you and see what their pre-reqs are and apply to their bsn programs. you may also want to look at other locations as well.

it bought me a trip to the head of the line for a spot in the adn program i just finished. with two years left, i would try to transfer to a bsn program somewhere else, if you can't do that, an absn is an option. or you can do what i did. with a previous bachelors, and an rn, i can go straight into an msn program if i want. education is a never a waste.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2012

If I were you, I'd transfer to a school offering a BSN.

You're very early into your first bachelors, enough time to make your 1st and only bachelors a BSN. Don't waste your time finishing the bio degree to then start an ABSN. That would only be wise advice for someone who is on the verge of finishing their 1st bachelors.