Question to get started in the field after already have bachelors in science

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this is to anyone who is a nurse and can help with education:

I have a chemistry degree ( 42 hr) and bio minor, was pre-med in undergrad. I worked in the pharma industry for last 5 years and am looking to take classes to become an RN. Originally before my kids, I wanted to be a dermatologist, but after started having kids realized money was needed first and foremost so started working. I am a hands on person who lives to aide and has extreme care for the health of others and making an impact in patients' health. I originally thought womens health area would be great, but am also interested in nurse anesthetist pos. as well. Any ideas on where to start? What classes to start taking, is it best to get a Masters and go accelerated through rather than just get an RN first and begin in the field?

Help!! I am totally green here.:scrying:

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Specializes in Government.

I'm sure you'll get a lot of opinions. This is just mine. There are about 9000 ways to become a nurse!

I had a BS/MA/ABD (unrelated field) and got my BSN through an accelerated program, 12 months. Accelerated programs are great if you absolutely need to get back to full time work as soon as possible. They are tremendously time consuming and "no stumbles" programs...not a lot of room for sick kid days or anything else.

If you are absolutely sure you want to pursue an MSN there are a lot of direct entry programs that could save you some time (but maybe not money...expensive).

Your first step should be to gather what you can about programs that might meet your needs. You can start on your pre-reqs...even though you have a science background there will be pre-reqs, I can just about guarantee that.

I often recommend that people start their pre-reqs and continue to look at programs that meet their needs. Also, do something that would expose you to real world nursing. Your journey will require a lot of time and effort so you'll want to be as sure as you can that at the end you'll like the work.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

If you had an interest in dermatology you might consider the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse certification. You have to be an RN first, but this is an area where skin care knowledge is paramount and be of interest to you.

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

I have a B.S., and I am starting an accelerated BSN program this June at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. I would recommend it, it saves you lots of time and you will get your BSN, which is usually a requirement for grad school.

Good Luck!! :up:

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Specializes in progressive care telemetry.

I have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field and am starting a direct entry MSN program in August. My eventual goal is NP so it seemed to me the most efficient way to get there is to go ahead and do the MSN program.

Locally there is also a 14 month accelerated BSN program that I considered but it didn't make sense for me since I want to be an NP eventually.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.
I originally thought womens health area would be great, but am also interested in nurse anesthetist pos. as well. Any ideas on where to start? What classes to start taking, is it best to get a Masters and go accelerated through rather than just get an RN first and begin in the field?

Your in the right place!

I will finish my BS in Cell Biology next month. In June I start in direct entry MSN program with a Critical Care Nursing Focus.

My .02 - if you are interested in advanced practice nursing check out the direct entry MS programs. A few will take people into the CRNA program (Georgetown, if my memory serves). Many offer FNP or ANP with a focus in Women's Health. If you think you might want to do work that does not need an MSN then you may want to look at ADN or BSN programs.

I suggest the following plan:

1. Read, read, read, about nursing. Allnurses is a good place to start. Look at the specialty forums.

2. Talk to nurses.

3.Get clinical experience

4. Figure out what you want to do in nursing.

5. Write a draft of your personal statement. DO NO OMIT THIS STEP. This will help you clarify what it is you want to do. Ask yourself -why nursing? why the specialty you are interested in? what have you done up to this point in your life that is congruent with your goals in nursing?

6 Apply to programs that meet your goals.

As an earlier poster noted most programs have prereqs. They all pretty

much require anatomy and physiology. I would get started on those.

Good Luck!

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