SentryRN2b

Thanks for your input, PMFB-RN! See, I did not know too much about nursing school prior to applying for the BSN program. I thought that all nursing schools either awarded ADN or BSN degrees. Sure there are master degree of nursing for those who already achieved their BSN at an accredited nursing school. But I was NOT aware that there were master entry level to nursing for students who have a bachelor's degree in anything, but nursing. Now I know that UCSF, Yale and many other institutes in the US, have this kind of program. I just want to bonk my head against a wall for not knowing about these master entry programs. I feel a bit weird getting a second bachelor's degree. Don't get me wrong. My BSN program is very rigorous, and compared to my B.S. in Political Science, my BSN homework, quizes, tests/exams, projects are way more demanding than what I have studied for my Poly Sci courses. The factors that are holding me back from applying to the master entry to nursing program at my institute are the following: 1) Money, money, money. Tuition for the master entry program is around $45,000 per year. Whoa! (I will need to take out loans for that, and I am already in debt for mortgages!). My BSN tuition is only around $5,480 per semester, which I pay by installments per semester. BIG difference in price!! 2) By the time I start the graduate program, given that I have been admitted to the master's program, I will be halfway done with my BSN program.

Hey fellow future graduate nursing students. I made a big mistake by not knowing much about my nursing school's master entry to nursing program. Basically, it's a two-year program that's open to people who already have a Bachelor's degree in any field, except for nursing (BSN). So a guy with a bachelor's degree in history, or art, could apply to this program. Well, I applied to the BSN program, got admitted, and am currently in my 2nd semester. I only found out about this program halfway through my 1st semester. However, the application process does not start until the beginning of September. I would like to apply to the master entry program, which starts in July of next year. By that time, I have completed the third semester of my BSN program. The reason for me wanting to go the master's route is #1) I already have a bachelor's degree in business #2) I have been enrolled (but withdrew) in a graduate-level health profession (not nursing) school in the past,...so I think I can handle the stress and rigor. #3) I like the work environment of being a nurse practitioner, versus that of a general RN. #4) I hate to talk bad about some of the students in my class, but the majority of them are the typical young, cliquish, immature students one would encounter in a high school setting. I have met a lot of the graduate nursing students at my school, the master entry to nursing program, and a lot of them have worked in various fields, have life experiences under their belt, and aren't the typical immature students you encounter in BSN or ADN programs. I also look to the future. If I continue on my BSN route, I will graduate about five months earlier than the graduation date of the grad nursing program. Once I start working as an RN, and have a family, it will be very hard for me to go back to school, to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Yes, I have heard that there are hospitals that will pay your tuition if they feel that they want you to get a master's degree. But to be honest, if I am BOTH working and attending school, it will take me a minimum of four years to get a master's degree. Plus traditional master's degree in nursing program takes two years. The accelerated master's entry to nursing program takes one year, the second year of the program, to specialize in the field. What do you guys think is the best option? Should I stick with my BSN program, graduate, and then go straight to graduate school? Or should I hurry up and start the application process for the master's entry to nursing program? What are the pro's and con's of being a nurse practitioner, versus being a general RN?

Hey guys. I am new to this forum, and am also entering the field of nursing. I will admit to you guys that I was originally going for dentistry. I didn't find dentistry to be all that good, and in fact, working in small spaces in people's mouths, is not something I want to for life. I quit dental school after my 2nd year, just before I hit the clinics. I decided that I also didn't want to be a dental hygienist, as that's also a more crummy (edited by moderator TOS) job, plus the fact that I'm a male, will make getting that job more difficult, as a lot of dentists still have the old-school mentality of hiring female hygienists. Anyhow, fast forward to now, I will be starting nursing school, RN program, in four weeks. I have aced my nursing school entrace exam with 99% in all sections. It's an accelerated 2-year BSN program, full-time student. After I graduate from the BSN program, I am automatically eligible to do a master's program to become a nurse practitioner. I did not want to go the medical school route, as that's another four more years, plus the fact that I will have to take out more 'loans' to finance a medical school career. I will also have to go for a residency program for two to three more years. What kind of tips do you fellow nursing students have for me to do well in nursing school? Some of you guys are thinking, "why the heck does this guy need advice, when he's already faced the high-level stress in dental school?" Well, I ask because nursing school exam format is similar to the NCLEX where there are two "good answers" but one of the two answer choice is the best answer. I have asked my cousin and several college friends, who have been through nursing school (although somewhere else), and they said that the introductory to nursing and Pathophysiology course have exams with a lot of tricky questions. In Nursing school, you guys have to do pass several clinical exams, do a lot of group presentations, write papers (for professionalism class, I believe), and wake up super-duper early for clinicals. I looked at my program's clinical start time, and during second-semester, some of them start at 6AM and ends at 1PM. Nuts. I have also taken a CNA course at a small health institute back in January of this year. I graduated with a diploma (that program was cake-walk), and then took the CNA certification exam in February. Passed the basic skills and written part (although I have to admit, that I was nervous and shaking during the basic skill portion of the exam!). So basically, I have some background in learning what CNA's do. I am currently working as part-time floor clerk at a local hospital. I also work at a department store, since it's summer break, and my clerk job at the hospital is on an on-call basis. Anyhow, sound away with some advice for my upcoming nursing school life!!