Should I get a BA?

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I'm just finishing up my first year of nursing school and making plans to get that first job when I graduate. I have a bachelors in another field, so I'm thinking I can save 7K$ by not going for the bachelors (the course starts this summer) and just go straight to a masters degree.

Sounds awesome except...

1) Will it be a lot harder to get that first nursing job with only an AA? I live in northern California where it isn't a huge town. People really seem to like the JC here. On the other hand, the school does pump out 120 new grads a year.

2) How will I know what to get my masters in without experience?

3) Will I be able to get as much out of the education without a couple of years experience as a nurse prior to starting?

Thank you in advance for any input/experience you might have.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

1. Associates = statistically much longer to find a first job. Even if it takes you one to two more month to find a job, that's your $7K right there in lost salary. If you have to go to a RN-BSN program in the future and your employer won't pay, there's your $7K and then some.

2. Exactly

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I would go into the RN to BSN program if you can (even it its only part time) with an AA, telling an employer you are working on your BSN may help with getting you hired. Also, go ahead a get a job if you can and let that employer pay for your BSN. I don't know if I would go straight for an an NP or Nurse Educator MSN because its better to have some bedside nursing experience.

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Thanks for your feedback. I think it might be best to get the BA, but that means the next 2 summers and the year after nursing school I'll be in school for the BA when I could be focusing on work experience. Plus I'm so tired of school right now! Well I'm going to the info session this week to see if I can get a better idea of what its all about.

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Just curious as to why your in a nursing program for your associates when Most schools have programs for individuals who already have a bachelors degree in another field to get a bachelors in nursing 2 yrs. or less often time its less. Research the schools and programs in your area to see what their policies are for second-degree seeking students.

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This school is more affordable and closer to where I live. Also... I didn't get accepted into the UC program. I just went to the info session today and I am going to go for the BA first for sure! It looks like a great program. I take some online classes during the summer and 2 semesters online part-time after I graduate. After that, I get priority admission if I choose to do the FNP program at the same school and the masters is 1 year shorter. After learning more about the program, it turns out to be a pretty easy decision :)

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