Should I be a nurse? Should I get my RN then BSN or go straight to BSN?

Columnist · Jul 10, 2014

Hello and welcome to the site. You have come to the right place with your questions.

I moved your thread to the Pre-Nursing Student forum as this is a good place to find others with similar questions.

Good luck!!

panic36 · Jul 11, 2014

Honestly, I don't really feel the vibe that you want to be a nurse. You weigh the pros and cons, and nursing has many pros, but none of them matter if it's not really what you want to do. You say you lack motivation, and have other issues with staying dedicated to school but I feel that these wouldn't be an issue if you truly wanted to be a nurse. Think long and hard because the nursing route takes quite a bit of time, and a lot of effort.

Also, I recommend everyone to get their BSN. This is because there has been a decently large shift to hospitals and lots of jobs putting the requirement on BSN, and I feel this is only going to spread and increase as more time goes on.

Do what you want and what makes you happy, and if nursing doesn't do that, then find what does.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2014

Good day, solange1259:

No industry has job security anymore; that includes nurses. Only you can decide if you will have the dedication to go for the BSN after your AD. I'm going the AD to RN route then BSN route to save a very large amount of money; I'm going the dual enrollment route to encourage me to stay the BSN course. Your age is not an issue; I'm 51. I'm also an introvert; and, I can become shy under stress. How well one takes criticism is not a trait of introverts vs. extroverts; that's an emotional skin issue in my opinion. While I consider myself still in the gestational period of nursing, the little I know is that in order to be a good nurse, you will need a thick sin (emotionally speaking). Good motivation (in my opinion) is internal (not external). If you need someone to motivate you, that someone may not always be around. I recommend doing some soul searching as to how to motivate yourself; for me, it is my relationship with Jesus.

I'm a guy, and while due to a combination of things I've never gotten into cattiness, gossip, etc. this past Spring semester, a fellow student was sharing her husband runs a towing company. The guys who work the shift are what many might consider manly men from the perspective of muscles, strong, et al... and she shared she never ever thought men could be cattie until her husband asked her to help with payroll and all. So the cattiness issue is not limited to anyone sex.

Getting back to is nursing for you... why not see if you can shadow an RN for a day?

Thank you.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2014

It is more than likely not about school being hard it is talking yourself out of it by saying you are not smart or cannot do it. I had to work my butt off to get my BSN. I am talking hours and hours of studying. It is up to you. It is not easy and it shouldn't be. However you can do it if you are willing to take the pain. It is totally up to you. I do think when you are old and look back you will not regret going for it. You may regret not going for it. Who knows? Then again you may not even care when you are old. You have excuse after excuse of ways not to do it. You may benefit from focusing on reasons to do it. It is mindset and a will to accomplish it. Anything really. No shortcuts. Good luck!

mayninetytwo · Jul 11, 2014

I'm going to be taking English II (online) and Anatomy and Physiology I in August. I am nervous. How can I prepare for A&P?

Don’t be nervous. It can be a lot of information, but it’s mostly memorization. As long as you stay on top of the material everyday, you’ll be fine. Make flashcards, take practice quizzes, watch Youtube videos, ask your professor for extra help, join a study group...there’s so many ways that you can study, so you just have to find what works for you. Enjoy the rest of your summer and don’t worry about it too much.

RN vs. BSN

People say that you’re never too old to learn because it’s true. You’re only 23. I’ve wasted some after high school too, but the important thing is that you’re starting at least. A career takes time, especially one in nursing, and it won’t come easy. Prepare to work hard in your classes, and striving to make all A’s to be a competitive applicant. If nursing is important to you, you’ll buckle down and do what needs to be done no matter how long it takes. I know it may not be glamorous, but phlebotemy is a good option, or even CNA while getting your degree. If money isn’t an issue, I would go ahead and take the BSN route if they’re not hiring ADNs in your area.

I'm scared the schooling might be too hard for me.

You’re probably not the same person you were in high school. I made bad grades in high school too, but later, I discovered that it was only because I wasn’t as determined as I am now, and immature students made it harder for me to learn. And now that I’m older, I know how I learn best, and I’ve discovered a lot of resourses for math, and I’m not afraid to ask for help. The slate is clean now, so don’t worry. When school starts, just give it everything you got. Yeah, you may be in school for awhile but picture yourself with your degree in your hand and RN behind your name when it’s all said and done. There is a finish line, and with each semester, you get closer and closer.

Is nursing for me? Other than security, I asked myself if I would seriously be satisfied with this job.

Try doing some soul searching. Your college should also have a counselor that can help you with this decision.

Good luck in whatever you decide! You can do it.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2014

" then apply for the nursing program Fall 2015 to get my RN. But lately I have been wondering if I should go straight for my BSN because I want to work in a hospital and I've read that many of them don't hire RNs. I am just ready to start my career ASAP. If I go straight for the BSN I will be 27-28 years old. If I go for the RN I will 26 and have experience. I've read that many people go the RN route and plan on getting their BSN afterwards, but ...." ~ solange

I think you ought to do a bit of research, so you'll know what it is you're actually thinking of doing. A BSN is a bachelor's degree in nursing. An RN is a license for a registered nurse. One can sit for the licensing exam after completing either a BSN program OR an ADN (Associates degree) program. An RN can also, just to make it a tad bit more confusing, be a graduate of a diploma school (non-college program).

It seems to me that since you aren't really understanding this fairly basic difference in terms, you are just a bit premature in deciding anything on the subject just yet.

Beyond that, having taken 'a couple of college classes' does not fulfill most programs' pre-requisites. Most will require A&P 1 &2, microbiology, a pharm class, sometimes others, depending on the program. Have you discussed any of this with an admissions counselor? Wait list once pre-requisites are completed can be lengthy, too....years long. Are you interested enough to wait on a list for years to enter a program?

Beyond THAT, given your list of likes, dislikes, and personality traits, I honestly don't see you as being ready for a nursing program.....and probably not at the level of maturity needed. I'm not saying that to be mean, but to point out that your concerns, for the most part, are not mature ones, they are "junior high" thinking (shy around doctors, want to do something 'creative and artistic' yet thinking that translates into a nursing career). Making a statement like "I hear there are a lot of catty women" is immature as well.

You say you can deal with patients, but nothing in your list suggests this to be true. Can't take criticism well? You won't survive Nursing 101. Thick skins are useful if you don't want to be miserable.

Your primary interest seems to be in job security, and therefore it's worth mentioning that depending on what region of the country you're in, unemployment among new grads can be quite high. Many don't find work for months or years...and that's true of experienced nurses as well, much of the time.

Am I being negative, or pessimistic? Perhaps this will seem that way to you, and I can understand why it might. But the thing is, I'd rather tell you this now than see you posting a message in three or four years saying "why didn't anyone warn me about this??"

RunBabyRN · Jul 11, 2014

I agree that nursing may not be the path for you.

As a phlebotomist, I interacted with a lot of people throughout the hospital and in outpatient services. I enjoyed my job, but most of the people in the lab are introverted, and not "people people".

There are no guarantees that you'll work 12 hour shifts. I'd love that, too, but most hospitals are moving away from that format. Frankly, as a new grad, I'll take what I can get at this point. The market SUCKS as a new grad, even with hospital and other medical experience. I am working 3 jobs right now, including a retail job and a my first RN job working health fairs (at HALF the going rate for nurses in the area, mind you). Oh, and I'm 34 with a kid and a husband, so keep that in mind when you complain about making "this kind of money in three or four years."

You might be surprised how young you are in Nurse Land. You'd be one of the youngest people in my class.

"Cattiness" is something you'll encounter anywhere. You need to get over it, honestly. It's part of life. You HAVE to be able to stand up to doctors and other nurses. If they see that they can mow over you, they absolutely will. Again, part of life. Most doctors I've encountered over the years are cool with nurses, but a few are absolute, well, words I can't use on this site, and you need to know how to handle that. You need to be able to stand up for yourself and for your patients. If a doctor wants to blow off your patient's symptoms, and you're worried they're about to decompensate, you need to be able to say, "NO, you NEED to take care of this and get your ass in here NOW." And then there are the patients who will give you a run for your money. Yeah, you can't stand up to them (because if you can't stand up to another nurse or a doctor, you can't stand up to a patient), you're likely to get sued when they injure themselves.

Job security.... LMAO. Right now, it is a REALLY tough market for nurses, especially new grads. You want job security? Move to the oil fields in North Dakota- I hear they're hiring nurses, probably for about $18 an hour. California, for example, has a 47% unemployment rate for the first YEAR for new grad nurses, which means it's even higher in the cities. It is ROUGH. Job security is the LAST reason you should enter nursing in this market.

nandosport · Jul 11, 2014

I have the same concerns about thick skin, sensitivity, and introversion (anxiety attacks about starting nursing school), but I'm going to get over it eventually. The best way to get over these obstacles is with experience. No job or career is perfect, and strong attitudes and overbearing bullies are everywhere. Will you go home crying some days? Yes. Will you have your orifice handed to you? Probably. Especially as a new grad. You'll have to decide that the good days are worth the bad ones.

nandosport · Jul 11, 2014

On second thought, maybe we should consider medical lab science. Sigh.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2014

I did horrible in high school grade wise. I just was more interested in my social life than school at 16. Now at 38, I am very focused and have a 3.9 GPA. It depends on how much you want it.

You mentioned doing something creative. Know that there is a huge difference in science vs. creativitity . I am also a creative person. I have had to put my crafts aside for now to focus on schooling. I miss my creative outlet and hope to get back to it someday.

I agree you need thicker skin and need to learn how accept criticism. That comes with age and maturity. Only you can answer the question of whether or not you want to be a nurse. It is a very difficult and stressful job.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 12, 2014

We can't tell you if nursing is for you. You are the only person who can decide that.

If you're dreading the education already, perhaps that's telling you something. You'll need not only good grades but to thoroughly understand the material. Math included.

Shy introverts can be nurses, but surviving -- or not -- is up to you. You have to develop a thick skin and learn to take criticism with class and an open mind. Lives are at stake if you screw up.

The "catty women" comment makes me think that nursing probably isn't for you. We don't need any more misogynists in nursing.