B.A. student looking to go into nursing and then specalize. Help please!

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hi everyone, I have a question I will be graduating from a traditional 4 year college with a B.A. in history at the end of Fall 2010. I currently have a 3.85 gpa and will most likely graduate with the highest latin honors. The only science classes that I have taken were Principles of Bio I & II, Gen. Chem I & II and AP Psych Credit (5). for Intro to Psych.

I want to become an RN and eventually specialize. I have a family friend who is CRNA and it seems like a job that appeals to me but I will find out for sure after I work as an RN for several years.

Can you tell me what is the best option for me if I certainly plan to specialize.

Should I apply to an accelerated BSN program for 2nd degree students. There are 2 programs that will let me take all pre-nursing classes at the school. For every other 2nd degree BSN/ABSN program I will need about 2-3 semester to finish all prerequisites and can do it before matriculation in Sept 2011.

Or another option is to get a Assoc. Degree in nursing/ADN it should take 1.5-2yrs, I think I can complete it in 1.5 since I have a B.A. degree and some credits should count.

Which option would be better if I want to specalize after working for a few years?> WIll it be hard to find a job as a RN, wont applicants with a BSN get a job over me. From my experience, I interview well and will be able to explain that I went the ADN because I already have a B.A. money is a factor, etc. After I get a job as an RN with an assoc. degree I can complete a bridge program/RN-BSN online or maybe a traditional program and then I can have my pick of any CRNA programs.

Please help me out by providing some personal experience, anecdotes, insight, etc.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You seem overwhelmed with all your options. At some point, you need to stop looking at all the "what if" scenarios and step away ... identify your core values and needs and then just pick one. You will always 2nd guess yourself afterward, but that's just the way life is. At some point you have to "just pick one" and then live with the consequences.

I suggesting walking away from it for a few days and thinking about something else. Then, sit down and see what bubbles to the surface of your consciousness. Does one path appeal to you more than the others? Does any path make you really uneasy? Is any path significantly more or less expensive than the others? etc.

If it were me:'

1. I would be skipping the ADN route unless you are confident you will have no trouble getting a job soon after graduation. I'd go for either a BSN or MSN to start with.

2. I'd also be thinking a lot about finances. Do not choose a path that puts you in debt more than 1 year's salary. That's not financially responsible. You would be better off using your BA to get a job and saving up some money before returning to school.

3. Investigate your financial aid options should you actually get that BA. Once you have a Bachelor's Degree in any field, it can make you ineligible for certain types of financial aid in another undergraduate program. That's one reason entry-level MSN programs were created -- to give students who were ineligible for some financial aid an option to go into nursing at the graduate level (where they were still eligible for aid). Finishing that BA may cost you a lot more money than you imagine: so, check that out first. Apparently that's a problem at some schools but not others.

4. As far as attending a school with a low percentage of 1st time passers on the NCLEX. While that does indicate a poor quality school ... it is a problem than can be overcome with hard work on your part. You just have to work hard enough to be sure you are one of the 70% that passes. Talk with the school and find out what they are doing to improve that pass rate.

5. Finally ... What does your gut say after you have let it alone for a few days? Which option attracts you the most when you are not over-thinking it?

I'm doing the ADN route, however, right after the ADN I am going into the RN-BSN program, so there will be no gap in my education. BSN's are preferred in my area. I'm only doing this route because I do not have a degree and it's cheaper for me to go this route.

All of the people I know who hold Bachelor's degrees are going into the accelerated BSN programs, especially when they want to get an MSN.

It depends on the area, but you may have better luck getting into the critical care department with a BSN. But again, it just depends on your area.

Go for the BSN. There are accelerated BSN programs that can be completed in 11-18 months. This presumes that you have the prerequisites completed though (which will likely take you a year to complete).

An ADN program will take you 1 year for the prerequisites, and 1.5-2 years for the nursing classes. The BSN could well take less time (and you will be with other students like yourself with undergraduate degrees in other areas).

Most ABSN programs will allow you to take the prerequisite classes at community colleges. This will save you thousands of dollars in tuition. For example, several of the ABSN or Direct Entry MSN programs here in my state of Virginia all have the identical 4 prerequisites: A&P 1 and 2, Lifespan Development, and a class in stats. Tuition at the Virginia community colleges for these classes is about $110/credit for these prerequisites --- much, much less than taking these classes at a place like Penn or NYU.

I'm going the ADN route because it's the only option I have right now that benefits me finanically. I will have to wait until I'm working to do the BSN route. I own a home and have huge responsibilities. I'm going to pray that I will be able to secure a job once I pass the NCLEX. I hold a bachelors degree and it's not paying off very well for me. I agree with llg to take a break and reevaluate your situation. What I know now I would have went directly to the BSN program after I graduated but life happens. Also, it depends on where you live because there are MSN programs for RNs that holds a bachelors degree that's not in nursing but want to pursue a master's. Let the internet be your guide and go for it!

I am in the exact same posistion you are. I will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology next May. I was planning on entering the second-degree BSN program or accelerated track, but the program is close to $50,000. And I already have close to $80,000 worth of student loans. I am trying to ask everyone I can think of what I should do. The ADN program close to me has a very good reputation without a wait-list, 96% NCLEX pass rate and will save me $40,000. But with the economy being so cruel to new grads, I am afraid that I may put myself at a disadvantage for being hired. It's hard to believe that that hopsitals won't even consider the fact that we have previous bachelor's degrees. I would think this might give us a little bit of an edge, but maybe it doesn't. Which program are you leaning towards?

Honestly, I would be very happy to go to either UPenn or NYU and its something I wanted to do out of high school but I only had a 90 average (didn't do my hw and talked a lot in class). But in college I really matured and performed to the utmost of my abilities and it showed in my grades.

The programs at those schools take 2.5 years including the prereqs. Assuming it takes 2 semesters to do the prereqs and 11-18 months for the ADSN program, time wise it still the same amount of time if not longer to do prereqs at CC and then jump into an ADSN. Only difference is the cost, which I will find out if I am accepted or not. I see UPenn has a scholarship for those who agree to work in certain hospitals (I would definitely take advantage of this if eligible).

I will also apply to Duke, Georegetown, and UNC Chapel Hill. I need 7 prereqs before I enroll but programs start in September so I will 7 months to complete them if I am accepted which is enough time (spring session, 2 summer sessions). It just depends on where I get in and how much it costs.

One thing I am worried about though is I have a non-academic record with my school...one night a firealarm was pulled and the school police asked everyone who it was. I just got back from a bar not too long ago and was visibly drunk so they grilled me and when they kept on pushing I called them a disrespectful name (I was mad because I had an outstanding academic record and had won awards at the school and they accused me of this. Plus I was 21+ so I was allowed to drink). So for that they put the false firealarm on me and failure to cooperate with campus safety. I am allowed to return to my school and everything but if a question ever comes up if I was disciplined for something I would have to disclose it (had to do 20h community service). Do you think a thing like this would keep me out of the good schools. My grades are very good and I will graduate summa cum laude. Any ideas?

Honestly, I would be very happy to go to either UPenn or NYU and its something I wanted to do out of high school but I only had a 90 average (didn't do my hw and talked a lot in class). But in college I really matured and performed to the utmost of my abilities and it showed in my grades.

The programs at those schools take 2.5 years including the prereqs. Assuming it takes 2 semesters to do the prereqs and 11-18 months for the ADSN program, time wise it still the same amount of time if not longer to do prereqs at CC and then jump into an ADSN. Only difference is the cost, which I will find out if I am accepted or not. I see UPenn has a scholarship for those who agree to work in certain hospitals (I would definitely take advantage of this if eligible).

I will also apply to Duke, Georegetown, and UNC Chapel Hill. I need 7 prereqs before I enroll but programs start in September so I will 7 months to complete them if I am accepted which is enough time (spring session, 2 summer sessions). It just depends on where I get in and how much it costs.

One thing I am worried about though is I have a non-academic record with my school...one night a firealarm was pulled and the school police asked everyone who it was. I just got back from a bar not too long ago and was visibly drunk so they grilled me and when they kept on pushing I called them a disrespectful name (I was mad because I had an outstanding academic record and had won awards at the school and they accused me of this. Plus I was 21+ so I was allowed to drink). So for that they put the false firealarm on me and failure to cooperate with campus safety. I am allowed to return to my school and everything but if a question ever comes up if I was disciplined for something I would have to disclose it (had to do 20h community service). Do you think a thing like this would keep me out of the good schools. My grades are very good and I will graduate summa cum laude. Any ideas?

The only thing I can tell you is that I've attended 5 different colleges and was never asked about discipline.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I was never asked about discipline, either. But will it appear on your transcript? That's a question worth investigating. If it does appear on your transcript, be aggressive about addressing it upfront.

Consider things like:

1. Writing a letter of apology to the safety officers involved. Apologize for being uncoorpertive and apologize for calling them an offensive name. Admit you were in the wrong for those things.

2. If the discipline is included on your transcript, you might want to include that letter of your apology in your application. Be prepared to admit your behavior was wrong that night and be prepared to discuss what you have learned from those mistakes. Nursing is a profession that requires it's members to cooperate with investigations, etc. and be respectful of authority. It could hurt you if you don't address it and make amends.

You don't sound too remorsement about your behavior that night ... though I might be wrong about that. You seem more concerned about perhaps paying a price for it rather than truly remorseful about what you did. But I understand that you may truly regret your behavior and just not be focusing on that right now. But then again, you might need to do a little soul-searching on that.

I thought about the posibility of it showing up on a transcript. Although I doubt it would, the only way to know for sure is to ask the college. I would definitely do that so you know what you are dealing with. You should also request that a copy of your tanscript be sent to you so you can see for yourself what's on it. If you question whether it would be on an official copy and not an unofficial one, have an "official" copy sent to yourself or a family member.

Thank you for your replies llg and GM2RN, I asked about this a while ago just forgot to mention that it does not show up on the transcript. My transcript looks just like everyone elses. The only difference is I won't be graduating in "good standing" with my school since I have discipline points for what I did. I am eligible to stay at this school for as long as I want though. Sometimes on applications there are questions such as "Have you ever received disciplinary action against you, etc" Then I'd have to answer yes. Those usually have 2 questions, academic discipline and social/behavioral, I have the latter. So the only way schools do find out if there is a question like that (I will be honest and disclose it) or if there is no question but they call your previous institution and ask if I have any disciplinary records.

llg I do regret it a lot right now I am just more concerned with the consequences. While feeling sorry about it does show maturity, personal growth, etc and I do regret it a lot it doesn't really help me if doors will be closed because of this. Talking to the dean of students, she said from her experience with students at my college and other institutions, as long as the applicant is qualified for what s/he is applying for and doesn't lie, this type of stuff (plus its a first time offense, I have very good history) doesn't prevent them from gaining admissions. Nonetheless I am still worried about it.

I really wish I knew if I would get into either NYU or UPenn, once I get that decision I will know where I stand. If I do not get in, I will have 2 semesters worth of prereqs to do. Otherwise I have nothing to worry about...except money..then the answer will be prereqs and state schools rather than priv. schools.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this, I hope I can return the favor one day!

So then the only thing to do is apply and see what happens. There's nothing preventing you from applying sooner than you need to in order to give you time to go to plan B if you don't get into the school of your choice. The only thing you will be out is your application fee, if any.

Good luck!

All routes are an option, it just depends on which is best for you based on costs and time to complete the program.

As for ADN vs BSN for employers, it's really difficult to say. Right now, in some areas, the BSNs are being hired over ADNs. Who knows if this will still be the case a couple of years from now when you are applying for your first job. You are the only one who can decide which route to pursue.

Keep in mind that even if the "BSN preferred" goes away in two years, it might not, and if you had a BSN it wouldn't be an issue anyway.

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