Second bachelors degree in nursing advice!!

[cnicole]

hi,

i graduated (walked) from a four year university this past may and currently i am finishing up summer classes. i want to go back to school for nursing as a second bachelors. i have taken some of the prereqs that were required for my bach. of science in heath studies, but i still need to take anatomy&physiology and nutrition. is it ok to take these courses at a community college or another university? does it look bad on your transcripts if you take classes at multiple schools? my plan was to take the courses at another university closer to home (that's cheaper), and then transfer to another nursing school (maybe out of state, depending on where i got in)... i really want to go into nursing, but i'm really confused about the application process and the next steps i should take, also currently i do not have a high gpa, will this hinder my chances. any advice will be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

It doesn't look bad to have transcripts from multiple schools - lots of people decide at some point to change careers and go to a school of convenience to knock-off their prereqs. As long as the school's accredited you'll be fine. I'd suggest taking classes you need at a community college - they're cheap and as someone with a recent bachelor's degree your study skills will go far in helping you wreck the curve on exams, to the chagrin of everyone else in the class. However, if the local university is also cheap and convenient, by all means go there instead.

When considering second-degree programs for nursing entry, keep in mind the various graduate-entry programs out there. They vary in what they offer - some kick you out as APNs, others as generalist nurses with some of your APN coursework already completed, and all make you eligible for Federal GradPLUS loans that'll actually cover cost of attendance, as opposed to the Federal loan package you'll be eligible for going back to get a second bachelors.

[StayingCalm, BSN, RN]

As far as California goes, you can take prerequisite classes anywhere as long as they're transferable. If you're from CA, you can use assist.org to find out whether a particular class is transferable or not. Traditional BSN programs in general might not accept applications from post baccalaureate students like yourself. But you have other options such as accelerated BSN programs & entry level MSN programs, that are more catered towards students seeking another degree in nursing. If I were you, I would find a few schools nearby & read up on their application info to start. In regards to GPA, I think it differs a bit amongst schools. For example, some might only look at your nursing prerequisite GPA while others will consider your overall college GPA. But just to give you an idea, at the CSU traditional BSN program where I'm accepted, the average GE GPA & science GPA are both around 3.80.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

I say the cheaper the better. However, if you transfer out of state to complete your BSN, you'll want to make sure the pre-req classes are equivalent. Different schools look at GPAs differently. Some look at overall, some at your science pre-reqs.