nursing school question

JennInColumbus · Sep 15, 2003

Because you are not pursuing a BSN it probably won't shorten your program at all, but it could lighten your load significantly.

In my case, having an unrelated bachelor's (economics) took almost 40 credit hours off of the total hours in the program, yet I still need to attend 7 quarters like everyone else, the difference is I will have no electives and only core nursing classes. (8 credit hours per quarter vs as many as 19 hours some quarters)

If you were attending a BSN program it could shorten it by as much as two of the four years because you would get credit for your bachelors, but in the case of diploma and Associates degrees, they are a set length of time with the nursing classes being sequential.

Hope this helps!

Jenn

francine79 · Sep 15, 2003

Well, I don't know what the requirements are of a diploma program as there are very few left of those in the U.S. Depending on where you get your diploma, I would say that some of your liberal arts might count such as sociology, psychology, english, etc.

However, most nursing programs require that you get your CNA before you are allowed into the program so you aren't probably going to get out of any nursing classes.

Without knowing what a diploma program requires, you might be able to eliminate 1 semester's worth of classes with your liberal arts done already, but that doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to eliminate a semester. Hope that isn't confusing. So, you probably aren't going to get through the program any faster. However, you might get through it easier by having some liberal arts classes out of the way.

But, like I said, I don't know much about diploma programs, you would need to talk to someone where you plan to go to find out the curriculum.

Although you didn't ask, I would suggest going through an associate degree program. It's probably the same amount of time, if not less than the diploma program and you get a degree.

CarVsTree · Sep 15, 2003

I agree that time won't be shaved off, but your load per semester will be lighter with your bachelor's.

Do you have your required sciences done? (A&P, Microbiology, Chemistry, etc.). I would get some of those out of the way before September if you can (especially if you'll be working full time).

I'm starting an AAS program in January and will be working (hopefully before January) as a Unit Secretary (done it before) while in school. Because I was a Biology major (junior standing) I have all of my sciences done except for A&P I&II (doing I this semester and will do II next). This will lighten my load significantly, but won't shorten my program.

God bless,

klf607 · Sep 15, 2003

thanks for the info!! if anyone knows of a good program in CT i'm very interested. thanks again!