Hi everyone. I'm 35 years old and hold a BS in education. For the past 11 years, I've been a stay at home mom. Although it would be relatively easy to get back into the teaching world, it's not where my heart is. I have been thinking of becoming a nurse since college. When I discovered my university was phasing out their nursing program, instead of telling my parents I needed to transfer, my 18 yr old brain decided, "well, guess I can't major in nursing now," and I went into education instead. I can't shake the feeling that this is where I am meant to be - specifically, working with women and/or children - but who knows, there might be some kind of care out there that I don't even know I will love more.
So, as to my post title - there are options here in my city to work toward a RN certification only, or an RN with a BSN. I definitely want the BSN, but I'm inclined to work on the RN only for now, because it will take less time, - and then I can bridge to the BSN. I still work part time and have my family to care for, and although since I have my Bachelors, I could go after an accelerated RN BSN, I think it would simply be too much to put on my plate at this point in my life.
I would love to hear your opinions. Do nurses with the RN but no BSN have a good chance at finding a job? It seems here in my city, there are tons of job postings (we have at least 15 major hospitals here). Are they respected at the same level? Will employers think I'm too old to be a baby nurse? I know I will do well in school and I get on well with people, but I know it can also be very competitive. Have any of you done one and wished you did the other?
Oh, absolutely. I'm sure it would be very gratifying to teach, but I don't presume to be able to do that for a long time. I only mention my existing BS because having one allows me to pursue an accelerated BSN. Thanks!
See I disagree. I am in your EXACT same situation (previous degree...SAHM for years, 35 years old!) and I am currently in second semester of getting my BSN. I see NO reason not to just go for your BSN. You already have the liberal arts credits, you should just have to get the science prereqs before you apply. My BA was in History and I had to take chemistry, o-chem, microbiology, lifespan psych, and A&P1 and 2. That took about a year and a half of 1-3 classes a semester. By the time I started nursing school my older two kids were in school full time and just the youngest had to go to daycare. She will be 5 when I graduate.
Anyway that was my long winded way to say I think it's better to just go for the BSN right out of the gate. You will get "real world" experience in clinical and then have the rest of your career to apply your knowledge.
I too am mid thirties with a prior bachelor's! I am going for the ADN then the bsn afterwards. In my area, it will take me 1.5 years for the ADN (pre reqs are already done). It is also a fraction of the cost of a bsn. Accelerated BSN programs here are in the 50-60k range and demand your full time attention (not that the other programs don't, but the accelarated ones are especially demanding). I can do an online ADN to bsn when I finish and overall it will be the cheapest and most flexible way to go.
andrea3434
117 Posts
See I disagree. I am in your EXACT same situation (previous degree...SAHM for years, 35 years old!) and I am currently in second semester of getting my BSN. I see NO reason not to just go for your BSN. You already have the liberal arts credits, you should just have to get the science prereqs before you apply. My BA was in History and I had to take chemistry, o-chem, microbiology, lifespan psych, and A&P1 and 2. That took about a year and a half of 1-3 classes a semester. By the time I started nursing school my older two kids were in school full time and just the youngest had to go to daycare. She will be 5 when I graduate.
Anyway that was my long winded way to say I think it's better to just go for the BSN right out of the gate. You will get "real world" experience in clinical and then have the rest of your career to apply your knowledge.