RN or RN to BSN? And night classes? Day jobs?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi! I just found this forum and it looks like it will be really helpful figuring out all the school stuff ...Right now I'm looking into prereq courses (all the community colleges nearby were waitlisted this semester for the evening courses I needed) and trying to figure out which direction to go.... I have a Bachelors in General Studies/Human Services and I'm not sure if I should get an Associates in Nursing then bump the RN up to a MSN once I start working.... or do an entry level master's program (they aren't as easy to find it seems). Also, I currently live in Campbell but may move to Marin county...I work full time and need night courses...but most Associates programs seem to have day classes and a lot of master's programs look like they are full time. So, I was wondering if anyone had any info/advice on how to swing the work/school thing without having to be in school forever.... and any school programs or day jobs you have found that are accommodating to work/school. I'd rather not do the online courses.....Wow, I hope that made sense. :D

Thanks!

Sarah

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I would just search around the forums. There are literally hundreds of threads dealing with working and school adn vs bsn, etc. I doubt there is really anything to add that hasnt already been said.

The search button is your friend.

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Hey Sarah!

I am currently facing the same situation you are! I work full-time and want to go to school at the same time, and I have yet to complete the pre-reqs. I have heard good and bad things about getting a ASN RN and master level RN.. and I had a hard time deciding which option was better for me. I think I am going to get a second bachelor's degree at a private nursing school. I don't think I will be able to recieve a lot of financial aid (I don't think) because I already have a degree, but I really want to have a BSN. Would you be able to take time off to go to school full-time? I think it would be worth it to take out loans in order to pursue your dream. I plan on going to school full-time and not working... which will probably result in bills the rest of my life. :) A nurse also recommended me being a CNA in a nursing home, because you are usually able to do homework most of the time.??? Someone may need to clarify this for me. :p

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Specializes in Interested in ER, L&D, Surg/Med.

i would say bsn for both of you. and here is why

now there is no problem with getting a ADN then becoming an RN then maybe getting your BSN, because frankly, that is what i planned on doing. but since alot of CC's are waitlisted and using lotteries or only accepting really high academic people (3.7+ GPA) i would go for a BSN.

I am now going to a private university and getting my BSN and there is no waitlist there, probably because it takes alot of money to go there in the first place, but take money out of consideration, money doesnt matter when it comes to education. if its your dream, and its going to cost you, then do it...because it will definintly pay off in the end.

now back to getting a ADN vs BSN

well if you think about it alot of hospitals or nursing homes or clinics mostly take anyone with the minimum requirement of a BSN (maybe its just the state i live in [CA]) so that right there that should help

and if you have a higher degree, 99.9% of the time (experience is not a factor, i am just talking degrees) BSN pays way more than a ADN does.

and there are a lot of RN to BSN programs everywhere. so i would just go to your state's [and this is what i did] board of nursing site and look at the colleges they favor and pick one of those, my states board of nursing site highly recommended the school i am going to and accredites it fully. so that is one way to see

another way is look at nursing jobs and see what the majority of them require as far as degrees, again experience is a nonfactor for the sake of this situation.

sorry for the length but i hope this helps

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Look into an accelerated BSN. And do it before you start taking prerequisites that you might not need.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Pretty much every RN program I have seen is a full-time day program, and I live in the Bay Area too. No matter which route you go, you will most likely have to give up your day job for the program.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

And also, since you already have a bachelor's, I don't think you need a BSN (like someone above me said) because you'll be able to get into most master's programs if you have an RN and a BA in another subject. Or you could do ELMSN.

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I am doing the work during the day (EMS) and county college at night route. County/Community offers the best price per credit value. I already have a BS degree so I was able to transfer a lot of credits (23). The key is to register early...on-line if available. By me, the on-line registration opens before on-campus registration. I always register online. I've decided to get the associates and then let someone else pay for me to get a BSN. Since I already have the BS, several more classes will transfer in a BSN program, it makes it easier to stay working full time. Besides, once you get your RN, you can get to work at a better salary, which helps all the way around.

Just My 2 Cents.....

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Thanks everyone! I would rather have a masters and not have to go back again to upgrade.... but I do want to start working ASAP and the only entry level masters program I've found nearby that I can afford (if I move, other than SF) is Sonoma State but I think it's mostly online. I will do some more searches tho. I guess I may just have to suck it up and take out a big loan. :p

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Hi! I am trying to pursue a 2nd degree BSN-RN at a private college here in GA and since it's been a few years since I graduated with my BS and MPH from the University of Tennessee, I have to re-take the Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology classes (all including lab). Does anyone know of an ACCREDITED online program with these classes including labs? THANK YOU!!!!

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Specializes in Interested in ER, L&D, Surg/Med.
Hi! I am trying to pursue a 2nd degree BSN-RN at a private college here in GA and since it's been a few years since I graduated with my BS and MPH from the University of Tennessee, I have to re-take the Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology classes (all including lab). Does anyone know of an ACCREDITED online program with these classes including labs? THANK YOU!!!!

try this. its off the GA board of nursing site!

http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/rn/school%20Directory042007.pdf

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On thing I forgot, associates, bachelors or masters...you take the same licensing exam. Getting out of school with a masters and no experience will probably land you the same job as someone with an associates. Possibly at the same pay. Again, that will probably depend on where you choose to work. Check the job postings for local hospitals and they will usually look for education plus experience for jobs in ICU's, PACU's, ER and SCTU.

Another thing you may want to look into is hospitals that will pay for a portion of your education in turn for agreeing to work for the facility for some period of time...as in a contract between you and them.

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