Should I get a bachelor's before BSN?

[awomul, BSN, CNA, RN]

Hi everyone! I am very new to this site and am loving the responses from this community... so now I need a bit of help for a big decision.

I am currently a first-year student. At my university, I am an Undeclared Pre-Nursing student. Nursing isn't technically a major here because CU Denver doesn't have a BSN program. However, it does work with students to get accepted into CU Anschutz, which is my goal.

Initially, I thought I would get my BSN in four years (just like everyone else in my high school graduation class that went to different colleges), but the pre-requisites take so long that it's just not possible. My two options are; take three years to do my pre-requisites, get accepted to the 2 year traditional BSN program OR take 4 years to finish a bachelor's in whatever field (along with my pre-requisites) and apply to the 1 year accelerate BSN program.

What should I do? Eventually, I will have to bulk up on upper division science courses which I vow not to let disrupt my GPA. Should I look into transferring and giving up my dream of CU Anschutz? The timing of it all is messing with me.

[idkmybffjill]

If your ultimate goal is nursing, I don't see much of a point in getting another degree and then going to an ABSN program. Plus, some ABSN programs are more like 13-15 months, so if you apply to multiple ABSN programs (as you should), then you possibly take more time to get your BSN than the first option. Some ABSN programs are also very costly.

Additionally, if you receive federal aid like pell grants, you will not longer be eligible for those grants once you earn a bachelor's unless you are going for a higher degree like a graduate degree. So, you would only be able to get federal loans for that ABSN. But if you go straight for a BSN, you can get pell grants for up to 12 semester, so it's very possible to get grants for the entirely of those 5 years.

Also, is it just your prereqs that will take 3 years, or is part of it when the applications open/close for the specific program? If the latter, then also start looking at other programs. You don't want to apply to just one program anyway.

[elkpark]

If you know that your goal is to become a nurse, why aren't you at a school with a nursing program in the first place? It's not like they're hard to find. It sounds like you're making this unnecessarily complicated for yourself. There are plenty of four-year BSN programs "out there."

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

Well if your goal is to become a BSN RN, what does it matter what school you go to? What is so special about CU Anschutz that you can't get at another university? When you start working, where you got your degree doesn't matter as much. If you're wanting to go to CU Anschutz simply for the "college experience," well I don't know what else to say. If CU Anschutz is one of the top nursing schools in the area, it still doesn't matter. All that matters when you start working is if you have license and you can show your manager/preceptor how to nurse.

[awomul, BSN, CNA, RN]

My institution works closely with UCHealth University Hospital to prepare students for the nursing program there. So no, there isn't a declared nursing program but the pre-requisite plan still leads directly to one. I made the decision to stay here due to an impending family concern. Moving forward, these two are my options. I wish they weren't 'unnecessarily complicated', but this is what I'm given. Unfortunately, the four year option isn't there for me anymore.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Option C- transfer to a school that offers a traditional BSN program and graduate in 4 years total with a BSN.

[Rb72390]

Heck, I'll do you one better: get thee to a community college for pre-requisites! No reason to stay at a four year college without a nursing program and pay university tuition, even if parents are paying for it. I have a previous bachelor's, but I really love community colleges. I think they're seriously undervalued.

[Ohm108, MSN, NP, CNM]

Heck, I'll do you one better: get thee to a community college for pre-requisites! No reason to stay at a four year college without a nursing program and pay university tuition, even if parents are paying for it. I have a previous bachelor's, but I really love community colleges. I think they're seriously undervalued.

Totally agree with what @Rb72390 said. Community colleges are undervalued. I did all my pre-reqs at a community college and it was great plus I saved a lot of money. I got the classes I needed and enough knowledge to feel prepared to apply to direct entry nursing programs. There is going to be much more for me to learn but at least I got a good grounding in basic chemistry, biology, anatomy, physio, and micro.