Pursuing RN with a Non-Nursing Bachelor's Degree

[MiiSzAshley]

Hi everybody, I have a little situation that I need help with in terms of opinions and suggestions.

Currently, I have my bachelor's degree (Bachelors of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences) and I decided that I want to change and pursue nursing to become an RN but, I am having a hard time figuring out which plan would be the best for me to do to ultimately become an RN!

The first plan I thought of was to go straight to the local community college and do the RN program there to get my ADN. I choose this instead of doing the accelerated B.S. in Nursing because financially, it would cost more and based on the programs in my area, I haven't fulfilled the prerequisites for the BSN so that would also require me to do more schooling and spend a little more money; I also don't like the fact that I would have two Bachelor degrees... After getting my ADN I then would most likely purse an RN to MSN program online later or a related nursing MS program such as Public Health, Palliative Care, Patient Safety or Healthcare Coordination.

The second plan I thought of is to do a Master's degree first in a health related program for Nursing such as the ones I mentioned above and then pursue the ADN at my local community college. I know that I definitely want my Master's degree to be health related and help me in terms of gaining more experience in the healthcare field but knowing that these degrees do not necessarily lead to any general and stable careers like Nursing so it would be only used to really gain better employment, experience and have higher knowledge in terms of working as a nurse.

It also doesn't help that my mother is pressuring me in getting a Masters degree right away... since I already have a bachelor's many people believe I would be wasting my time going back for an Associate's but other than the accelerated BSN program, it is the only way to get an RN license and be eligible to do an MSN or put a health related master's degree to good use...

Please anyone let me know what your opinions are and which plan would sound best for a person in my situation.

Thank you!

[MiiSzAshley]

Thank you everyone for responding, as for the direct MSN programs, I have done some more research on the direct entry master programs... besides needing to do the pre-reqs first, the schools in my area (I reside in NY) are very expensive like Pace and Columbia University (which unfortunately are the only two schools in my area that offer the direct entry Masters for Nursing).

Having to go to another state or even upstate is also not in my plan in terms of money as well. Since I'm afraid I may not get financial aid or enough financial aid for another undergraduate degree (due to the amount of subsidized and unsubsidized loans taken from my previous bachelors) to do the BSN program, I'm really in a tough situation where perhaps having to do the ADN is my only hope for now... I just don't know how I will deal with the negativity from my mom to do an associates degree after having done a bachelor's degree. She just doesn't seem to understand and thinks I have wasted my time bothering to have done a bachelors in the first place.

Do any of you think I made a mistake in doing my bachelors? Should I pursue other careers in healthcare? I also heard that ADN Nurses don't get jobs very well either without experience or a BSN (although I have found some jobs from researching I don't know if it will be like that from another 2-3 years from now).... I'm really lost and losing hope in Nursing... In the end, I really just want to help people within the healthcare field, It's what I always wanted to do and Nursing seemed to have fit that dream role for me... but now, maybe I need to consider other careers

[MiiSzAshley]

@araew2129 What other programs are you looking into if you don't make it into the MEPN program? I wish I had more options over here in NY... I only have two VERY expensive Ivy League colleges close to me that offer the MEPN program... not sure if you heard of Pace University or Columbia University, but my GPA along with the amount of tuition at those two universities will not allow me to bother to apply at all... This has been a hard decision making for me as well, all these programs just are too expensive for me to pursue... I just wish I knew I wanted to do Nursing before I graduated

[Livelaughlove72]

Hi! Wow, I just realize about the whole not getting financial aid if you get another undergrad degree. That really makes things harder for me now, because without the financial aid, I can't even consider doing an accelerated BSN program anymore... and I really would need that help to pay for school....

I obviously don't know your financial aid situation but having a bachelors degree doesn't automatically prevent all financial aid. While you are automatically disqualified from the Pell Grant, usually you can continue to use student loans until you are at your maximum allowed aggregate ($31,000 if you are dependent or $57,500 if you are independent)

Also, if you haven't already looked into it, you may want to consider using your current bachelors to get a job somewhere for a few years that will assist you with tuition reimbursement.

[araew2129, ADN]

@araew2129 What other programs are you looking into if you don't make it into the MEPN program? I wish I had more options over here in NY... I only have two VERY expensive Ivy League colleges close to me that offer the MEPN program... not sure if you heard of Pace University or Columbia University, but my GPA along with the amount of tuition at those two universities will not allow me to bother to apply at all... This has been a hard decision making for me as well, all these programs just are too expensive for me to pursue... I just wish I knew I wanted to do Nursing before I graduated

First, it is true that you can continue to borrow up to the maximum for another bachelor's! My first set of loans are close enough to the maximum that it wouldn't help much as CEP for an ADN/BSN runs about 20k and an accelerated BSN is about 30-40K. Not sure what it looks like for you...

Second, the other programs I am looking at are accelerated BSNs (ABSN) in my state. Since I won't qualify for financial aid/loans to cover it all, I asked a friend who did complete an ABSN (also in the same financial situation) what she did. She said she applied for all the scholarships she could find and then got private student loans for the rest, so that would be my next choice. Lastly, I think I would do the ADN/BSN CEP locally. I would also look into scholarships/private loans to fund this option. The only reason I would do the ABSN over this one is because it would take longer for me to complete. It requires me to re-do my math prerequisite (the MEPN and ABSN do not, I assume because they are accepting the math you completed through your first degree whereas the ADN/BSN CEP is open to all students degree or not), and it is also a longer program in general (2.5 yrs vs. 15 months for the MEPN and a year for the ABSN).

I am lucky that the MEPN in my area is "only" 40K through our pubic university... I can't imagine trying to pay for an ivy league education. I really like the suggestion of finding an employer with tuition reimbursement! For me that is difficult because I have a bachelor's in social work and hospitals generally require a master's degree for their social workers. Not sure what other employers in my area would offer such tuition reimbursement...

[jalexislopez13]

Hi all

I have the same BA as you in communication disorders.

I also live in NYC.

You should look into CUNY colleges. Either way for any nursing program IVY league or city college you need to have the pre-reqs in order to continue with that,degree.

You have to follow your heart and what u want to do. No one is going to live your life for you.

If your not sure about nursing but want to be in health care. How about health service administration or even PA school.

[lala4005]

Thank you everyone for responding, as for the direct MSN programs, I have done some more research on the direct entry master programs... besides needing to do the pre-reqs first, the schools in my area (I reside in NY) are very expensive like Pace and Columbia University (which unfortunately are the only two schools in my area that offer the direct entry Masters for Nursing).

Having to go to another state or even upstate is also not in my plan in terms of money as well. Since I'm afraid I may not get financial aid or enough financial aid for another undergraduate degree (due to the amount of subsidized and unsubsidized loans taken from my previous bachelors) to do the BSN program, I'm really in a tough situation where perhaps having to do the ADN is my only hope for now... I just don't know how I will deal with the negativity from my mom to do an associates degree after having done a bachelor's degree. She just doesn't seem to understand and thinks I have wasted my time bothering to have done a bachelors in the first place.

Do any of you think I made a mistake in doing my bachelors? Should I pursue other careers in healthcare? I also heard that ADN Nurses don't get jobs very well either without experience or a BSN (although I have found some jobs from researching I don't know if it will be like that from another 2-3 years from now).... I'm really lost and losing hope in Nursing... In the end, I really just want to help people within the healthcare field, It's what I always wanted to do and Nursing seemed to have fit that dream role for me... but now, maybe I need to consider other careers

I am located in CT, and have a BA in English. I am in an ABSN program at a state school, which will cost around 20k, and it only takes one year. From my research, a BSN is almost certainly required for any acute care job for new grads in CT. My previous degree was not a waste because it's greatly helping me towards that BSN which I will have in only one year! Others have recommended private loans if you have used up all of your undergrad financial aid. Would you also be able to borrow money from family? In terms of prerequisites I did them one at a time while working fulltime and paid out of pocket. You can do them at community colleges and they're pretty cheap.

Best wishes to you, whatever you decide!!!

[tnoelle]

I am in this same predicament. I have a BA in psychology and have most of the nursing prereqs completed YET after further research now that it is almost time to apply to a nursing program, I am concerned about cost. Originally, I was going to apply for an accelerated program but now that I know I wont get any grants for a second degree and my sub loans are at 19750 (max is 23k) with total loan usage being 31943 (max 57500). So I only have 25k left in loans which isn't too bad BUT that will have to pay for school AND my living expenses because working while in the program is not advised.

So, I am unsure what to do. I thought maybe I could go back and go the ADN route but I'm not sure I can survive without working. I've even thought about completed a few more prereqs and going for my master's in occupational therapy since they have some of the same requirements.

So frustrating! I wish I would've had a better idea of what I wanted to do while finishing my undergrad.

[lexybrazil, BSN, RN]

Hey everyone! I'm in somewhat of a similar predicament. I graduated from a high school that had a practical nursing program and upon graduateion I took the NCLEX and became an LPN. Directly after that I entered university for a bachelors in psychology due to my interest in mental health counseling. Now 4 years later I decided I don't want to be a counselor and am getting back in nursing.

For me the best choice would be a accelerated BSN program since in my area it's only 1 year long, I completed most pre-reqs, and tuition is only $14k. I had the option to do ADN or an LPN-RN bridge program but neither of those options would award me the BSN that I want.

A lot of employers are now wanting their nurses to have BSNs. Even where I work a lot of RNs are going back to school to get their BSNs so they would have more job options.

As far as working while in school; even though working is not advised in the ABSN program I will still have to work since I have to pay living expenses so I plan on working at night. It'll be tiring but that would be the only way to work full time.

My advice is even if you do an associates nursing program to be an RN. Get work experience and then look for an online BSN program (there are a lot of them). It'll only help you when you apply to a masters program. And why let being an RN be your peak. If you're going to do your masters anyway then why not do an MSN nurse practitioner program?

Also, your degree won't be a waste as long as you don't waste it. For example, I used my BS in psych to get a job as a behavioral health technician before I transitioned to working as an LPN. I work in a mental health unit and my end goal is to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Nursing is very versatile, I'm sure you can find a way to combine your background education with nursing.