Question: Previous Degrees

Hi all! I just posted a very similar question in the "General Discussion" forum, but wanted to post the same thing plus more specific questions for this community.

I am halfway done with a BA (Psychology major, Biological Sciences minor) and plan to enter an accelerated/2nd degree BSN program as soon as I graduate with my BA.

My question is for nurses who also have degrees that they completed before going into nursing. How does (if at all and how much) your previous degree play a role in your nursing career? Do future employers look more favorably upon you, or try to place you in a role that could benefit from both degrees you have? Do you personally find your previous degree helpful in your nursing career?

Now my more specific questions for this forum...How would a previous Bachelor's Degree be looked upon when commissioning into the military as a nurse? For example, would you have an advanced rate, or would the military put you in an area where you could put both degrees to use? (like mental health nursing for me with my Psychology/Biology BA)?

How does your previous degree play a role in the military, no matter how closely or distantly related it is to nursing? Thanks all!

~amanda sue

What nursing specialty do you plan on doing once you have passed your NCLEX? I ask because, to the best of my knowledge, that is what the Army Medical Dept. will look at regards to your specific Area of Concentration [AOC]. In otherwords, if your working as a Psych RN at a civilian psych facility at the time of your application for admittance in the Army Nurse Corps [along w/BA degree Psych major] you'd most likely enter the ANC with 66C, Psych/Mental Health Nurse.

So, the only benefit to having dual degrees [bSN & BA w/psych major] is entering the ANC as a Psych RN rather than a 66H, Med/Surg RN. Again, I'm not an Army Health Care Recruiter. Therefore, you might want to contact a Nurse Corps Recruiter. BTW, click on the left side of the that page link for more ANC info.

What nursing specialty do you plan on doing once you have passed your NCLEX?

I am definately interested in Psych/Mental Health nursing at some time during my nursing career, yet at this early point and time (I haven't even gone to nursing school yet) I really don't know what area I want to be in. I'm assuming that once I go through my clinicals I'll get a feel for what I'm best at and what I truly enjoy, and go from there. But, yes, I can say that Psych/Mental Health Nursing is an interest of mine.

BUT....If I do become a military nurse, I would comission right after graduating with BSN/passing NCLEX...so I would have no nursing professional experience and be a brand-new nurse. And I've heard that employers (both military nurse employers and regular civilian hospitals) prefer to put new grads in med-surg, b/c that is where they can hone their new medical skills within the first few years of practice.

I am definately interested in Psych/Mental Health nursing at some time during my nursing career, yet at this early point and time (I haven't even gone to nursing school yet) I really don't know what area I want to be in. I'm assuming that once I go through my clinicals I'll get a feel for what I'm best at and what I truly enjoy, and go from there. But, yes, I can say that Psych/Mental Health Nursing is an interest of mine.

BUT....If I do become a military nurse, I would comission right after graduating with BSN/passing NCLEX...so I would have no nursing professional experience and be a brand-new nurse. And I've heard that employers (both military nurse employers and regular civilian hospitals) prefer to put new grads in med-surg, b/c that is where they can hone their new medical skills within the first few years of practice.

I guess we are having a failure to communicate? I was merely trying to reply to your original inquiry;

"Now my more specific questions for this forum...How would a previous Bachelor's Degree be looked upon when commissioning into the military as a nurse? For example, would you have an advanced rate, or would the military put you in an area where you could put both degrees to use? (like mental health nursing for me with my Pyschology/Biology BA)?"

You mentioned you were half way done with your BA degree [Psych Major], therefore I assumed you were interested in Psych Nursing. Otherwise, why are you pursuing a BA, then BSN?

Yes, I realize a GN has no nursing experience... duh! Again, with a BA focused in Psych the AMEDD [not military nurse employer, LOL] might consider you for entrance into the Army Nurse Corps [not military nurse employer, LOL... again!] as a Psych RN.

BTW, did you visit that Web site I suggested?

I guess we are having a failure to communicate? I was merely trying to reply to your original inquiry;

"Now my more specific questions for this forum...How would a previous Bachelor's Degree be looked upon when commissioning into the military as a nurse? For example, would you have an advanced rate, or would the military put you in an area where you could put both degrees to use? (like mental health nursing for me with my Pyschology/Biology BA)?"

You mentioned you were half way done with your BA degree [Psych Major], therefore I assumed you were interested in Psych Nursing. Otherwise, why are you pursuing a BA, then BSN?

Yes, I realize a GN has no nursing experience... duh! Again, with a BA focused in Psych the AMEDD [not military nurse employer, LOL] might consider you for entrance into the Army Nurse Corps [not military nurse employer, LOL... again!] as a Psych RN.

BTW, did you visit that Web site I suggested?

I'm pursing a BA in Psychology/Biology b/c right out of high school, like most other 17/18 yr olds, I didn't know what career I wanted to pursue. Within the past year or so I've decided to go into nursing. Time-wise, it would be quicker for me to finish this degree, then do a 2nd degree BSN program, instead of changing my major right now.

Yes, I have seen the website link you've posted before. I'm still very new to the nursing idea (not even accepted into nursing school yet! haha), so at this preliminary stage I'm just exploring my options--military nursing (most likely Navy, possibly Army) being one of those options I would consider at some point in my future. I feel as if I'm young, and the next few years of school, especially nursing school, will help me solidify what nursing area and specialty I want to enter. So basically I have no solid idea what area of nursing I want to go into, and I'm just doing some exploration.

Thank you for the time you put into your reply. I really do appreciate it.