Nursing as a Second Career

newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 7, 2009

I also had a bachelor's degree when I switched to nursing as a second career. I went the ADN route because it was only 7 quarters. I worked full-time during nursing school--hard but can be done--many have done it. Having a BSN doesn't make a huge difference in your nursing opportunities unless you want to go into management. Some places pay a little more for a BSN but it is usually not a huge difference and many places don't pay any more for a BSN. You can always do an RN to BSN bridge program once you're out of nursing school if that's the route you want to go. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

dreamer19 · Oct 7, 2009

I asked almost the same question a few days ago. You might want to search for it because I got a lot of good advice. I'm going to do the ADN route because it's more flexible. I also can't quit my job to go to school so the ADN will let me take classes at night and keep my job. All the BSN programs where I live require taking classes during the day. If I decide I want to go for the BSN or MSN, I can get that later without too much trouble.

J9G2008 · Oct 7, 2009

If you already have a Bachelor's, why not look into an accelerated BSN degree? It's over in a year, and then you have your Bachelor's in case you may want to complete your Master's at some point.

robinbird · Oct 7, 2009

There are many of us who are second career nurses. I was in the criminal justice field as my first career, then I was a stay-at-home mom. I know of a veterinarian, a lawer, a spanish teacher, a social worker, a sociologist, and a police officer (just to name a few) who are second career nurses, who work at my hospital.

I went to ADN route and will be pursuing my BSN within the next couple of years (I'm no hurry, at this point).

I think those of us who have had previous degree/career have an advantage when we go to nursing school and eventually become nurses. I know I was a much better student the second time around.

Good luck to you.

Robinbird

Ms. BSNRN · Oct 7, 2009

I am a second degree student. I had a BS in Legal Studies and then I pursue nursing....I went the BSN route because why peddle backwards. If you find a BSN program do it.....I use my first degree as leverage with all the liberal arts crap.....and then the BSN took me directly 2 years to complete.....most hospitals will ask for a BSN because of the current economy....its hard for nurses to find jobs....dont believe the hype of nursing shortage......if you look at the people right here(on this website) that have been searching for months to some a whole year before they pick something up ore still searching....its ridic. I am been searching for 3 months now to no avail....not even a call or an interview. You would think i was a terrible student.....far from the case.....I am about to go look for a paralegal position where I have experience because my expensive student loans will be due soon.....don't mean to scare you but think wisely each step because you are a family person.

frogdream · Oct 7, 2009

I am pursuing nursing as a second career. I also have a BA in another field (Psychology) and an MBA in Finance. I came to hate the finance/legal fields! I got an administrative job in a hospital, and I attend an Evening/Saturday Associate degree program. This new job enables me to leave at 5:00PM! I would have loved to do an Accelerated BSN program, but I could not afford to stop working (and pay tuition) for a year. Once I have finished the ADN(Dec 2010) I will first take the NCLEX, get my license, get a nursing job, and start going for the BSN which you can do much of online, then I will decide about the MSN!

I am 57 years old!

NaomieRN · Oct 7, 2009

I just graduated from an ADN program, passed the boards in July. I am currently working as a nutritionist and a Registered Nurse. I did the ADN because it was more flexible. I could not afford to not work and pay for tuition for 3 years. I did the part time nursing program. Since I already have a BS, I can go straight to the Masters Program and be done in 2 years or less. Most jobs pay for tuition reimbursement, so even if you get the ADN, you can easily take classes online and be done at a reasonable time. Good luck to you!!!

Freedom42 · Oct 7, 2009

Hello all, I'm new to the forum so please forgive me if I'm posting this question in the wrong place and I'm sure it's been asked before (I didn't find it in my brief search).
I'm considering a career change to nursing and I'm not sure which is the best route to go (ADN Vs. BSN). I already have a BA in communications, but I don't have very many of the nursing pre-reqs under my belt. I can't be out of work for too long, actually I really can't afford to be out of work at all (I'm married and have a four year old).
I wanted to get other people's opinions on which route to go. Since I already have a BA would that work in my favor towards getting the ADN and moving on to the BSN at a later time once I become a nurse, or would it be better to go straight for the BSN? (By better I mean, better job opportunities, better pay, etc).
Thanks for your help and input.
Michael J.

I have a bachelor's degree in journalism. I quit my job three years ago to go back to school full-time so that I could complete my pre-requisites and then an accelerated BSN. If I had it all to do again, I'd do the same thing. The accelerated BSN program was only four semesters, albeit four intense semesters. I was able to relieve some of the pressure by doing requisites at the same time as the pre-reqs.

I considered three routes: ADN, BSN and direct-entry master's. Since I knew I wanted to work in a hospital setting, and it was unlikely that I would be hired to work at the NP level with no experience, I eliminated the MSN option. The accelerated BSN was faster to complete than the ADN, didn't cost much more, and reduced the amount of time I would have to spend outside the workforce.

The idea that the BSN is not worth more at the entry level than the ADN is no longer true in some parts of the country. Some hospitals do pay BSNs more than ADNs (albeit the difference is not always great). Others strongly prefer to hire BSNs only -- you'll find plenty of posts on this forum regarding hospitals in Boston, for example. Ultimately, the BSN affords more job opportunities in the future no matter where you work. Hospitals that have achieved magnet accreditation, for example, have pledged not to promote nurses without bachelor's degrees. As an older student with perhaps 20 years left to work, I need to keep my options open, so the BSN made the most sense. Since you've already got a BA, you should go into the profession at the highest educational level.

iPink, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2009

Hi, I'm a career changer like so many people in this thread. I already have a B.A. in Information Technology & Informatics. I decided to go the Accelerated BSN route because financially I'm able to survive without a job during those 15 months it would take to complete the program. I'm currently taking the prerequisite courses but plan to start (if I get accepted) Fall 2010 for the program. I would advise anyone to go the ABSN route, however, if you can't afford to quit your job, then take the ADN route, as I heard it's more flexible. Unfortunately for the ABSN program, it's VERY difficult to balance the work load along with holding down a job. Good luck with your decision.

After I get the BSN, I plan to go for the MSN on a part-time basis while gaining at least 1 year experience as a Nurse in order to go for the FNP license.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 7, 2009

adn route here!!! i am a rn and i am not in debt for my nursing school expenses. i was able to work two part-time jobs in the process and lived off of savings to support me, my kids, and my husband. now i am in a rn-bsn program and paying cash for that too while working full-time as a nurse. it was not easy, but any other route would have put me in financial hardship both because of student loans and because i would have lacked a job.

the new grads who have a bsn at two hospitals i worked made no extra money as new grads. money and benefits were paid out based upon years of experience with that particular hospital or contracts signed (some people moved to be here). after 1-2 years then education will come into play for those grads as well as the ones who have an adn. in the meantime, adn new grads can gain work experience and have a bsn by the point when it will matter for promotion (note, no one hires new grads into management unless they are insane, in which case, you do not work for that employer). :twocents:

BabiCMA · Oct 8, 2009

Like many of the others that have posted, I, too, switched to nursing. Although, I was already in the medical field. I chose to obtain an Associate's Degree in Nursing because I am 32, married, and have a 2 and 4 year old. I am three weeks away from graduating and starting in my new career. I am glad I decided to go through the Assoaciate's program first because it is a much shorter length of time (4 semesters - a total of 2 years). I began in January of 2008 and am about to finish. Also, I opted for my school's evening/weekend program and never even had to quit my full-time day job! What a blessing. I had class on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and had clinicals in the hospitals on Satrudays. Don't get me wrong, it has been difficult. Working full time, going to school full time, and not to mention having the responsibilities of a home and family take their toll on you - but in the end it is well worth it. It is only for a short time.

I understand that the BSN is more research related whereas the ADN is more clinically focused. I also chose the ADN because the local state university offers an RN to Master's bridge program, in which I will be able to 'skip' the BSN course work and continue on to obtain the MSN for Nurse Practitioner (in the future). If your ultimate goal is to go into research or nurse education, BSN is likely the appropriate degree, though there are BSNs on the floors.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide. It is never too late to switch to something that has the potential to fulfill you. I know it has for me.