do you have a previous degree?

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 20, 2015

Communication/marketing.

Fate. Seemed like a good idea at time.

Kinda. Everything except sciences transferred to my diploma program and everything except the BSN classes transferred for my RN-BSN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2015

If so what is it in?

I had no previous degree(s). I was a nontraditional student. I worked a string of dead end jobs before making an entrance into the nursing profession.

And what made you decide to get into nursing?

I was 23 years old and working a dead end job as a factory worker at a paper products plant in 2004. I was earning $40,000 yearly, which was decent money for someone with no education beyond high school.

I had been employed at the plant for three years when a manager and supervisor embarrassed me out in the open by writing me up for safety-related issues. At that moment I decided I would never return to that workplace again. But there was a problem: I was a single female with a mortgage and no marketable skills or education, so I would likely end up in another dead-end job.

I went on stress leave. While on stress leave I signed up for a 12-month fast-track LVN program at a trade school that required no prerequisites for admission. During those 12 months I paid my bills with unemployment checks and whatever was in my savings account. After a few years of working as an LVN I returned to school to complete an LPN-to-ASN transition program. I am now three credits short of earning my BSN degree.

Was your previous degree of any help?

Again, no previous degree here. I was accepted into three state universities during my senior year of high school, and the college prep track coursework I took during high school (honors English, biology, etc) did help somewhat.

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 20, 2015

Sociology. I was premed but didn't get in. Nursing was plan B.

The previous degree was able to transfer class credit for almost all of my prereqs. It didn't help me get into nursing school, neither did my CNA experience.

College degrees are not the rare specimens they once were, so they have lost a lot of the power they once conferred.

DivaliciousMe85 · Feb 20, 2015

If so what is it in?
And what made you decide to get into nursing?
Was your previous degree of any help?

I have a paralegal degree, and English degree and an MBA.

I was working at a marketing firm with no room for growth. I knew I wanted to work with children, but I never had the desire to be a teacher. I also knew I wanted to be in the psych field. So I am beginning a BSN/MSN program this summer for pediatrics. Then on to psych.

I feel as though my paralegal degree and business degree will help in the long run. I also want to do forensic nursing - so the legal part will definitely help.

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 20, 2015

If so what is it in?
And what made you decide to get into nursing?
Was your previous degree of any help?

Spanish major, Business minor. My knowledge of Spanish did help with medical terminology in A&P. Some of my gen eds from my Spanish degree carried over for my ASN, and then all of my coreqs for my ASN to BSN degree carried over from my previous degree since it was at the same university.

I got into nursing because of mt oldest cat actually! I adopted her from the shelter, and she got a cold and since I'd never had animals before I rushed her to the vet thinking she was going to die or something! It ended up just being a run of the mill URI, and I thought, huh, maybe I should work at the vet clinic? So I applied and worked there as an on the job trained vet assistant for almost 4 years. I did meds, assisted with surgery, induced, maintained, & recovered cats from anesthesia, did blood draws, did dental cleanings, helped with appointments, xrays, basically everything possible. I LOVED it! But I was never going to make a live-able amount of money. I had heard that RNs work only three shifts a week for full time (I was working 6-7 days every week) and thought maybe I should try that.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2015

College degrees are not the rare specimens they once were, so they have lost a lot of the power they once conferred.

This is true. One out of every three adults age 25+ in the US has a baccalaureate degree or higher. Just a couple of generations ago, half of all adults had dropped out of high school, and college was viewed as an elite endeavor that could secure a person's future for life.

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 20, 2015

Sadly, with college costs going up at public universities, we pay a lot more for a degree too.

Infofreak411 · Feb 20, 2015

I was a double major and originally wanted to be a teacher. I can't help but feel my teaching degree was a wasted if I don't go into teaching and become a nurse instead. But my heart just isn't in teaching.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Feb 20, 2015

Nope, but i had worked in hospitals as operator, unit secretary. monitor tech, ekg tech, admissions clerk, blah blah blah since I was 17. Just seemed smart to build on that experience and I wanted to "help people".

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 20, 2015

HAHAHAHAHA kidding AS criminal justice (some knowledge of the law helps) BS Biology-very helpful in the physiology areas MA teaching-helps in assessing learning styles and abilities. ADN and finishing BSN this month.

I went into nursing because I should have instead of teaching. My BS was pre-vet and I was going to be a large animal vet until I found that the debt:income ratio was horrid. Nursing seemed like a natural fit with my background and the teaching and the fact I had had kids. I love nursing and almost wish I had done it sooner, but the teaching experience has really helped me. The BSN will be my 5th and probably last one. (never say never to anything)

Infofreak411 · Feb 20, 2015

HAHAHAHAHA kidding AS criminal justice (some knowledge of the law helps) BS Biology-very helpful in the physiology areas MA teaching-helps in assessing learning styles and abilities. ADN and finishing BSN this month.
I went into nursing because I should have instead of teaching. My BS was pre-vet and I was going to be a large animal vet until I found that the debt:income ratio was horrid. Nursing seemed like a natural fit with my background and the teaching and the fact I had had kids. I love nursing and almost wish I had done it sooner, but the teaching experience has really helped me. The BSN will be my 5th and probably last one. (never say never to anything)

Wow you are so well rounded! Lol, so what made you decide to get into nursing from teaching and decide to leave that profession? Which career from your experience would you say is more stress full and draining?