Should I Take a Different Path to Become a Nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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I would love some advice from people of all educational & professional backgrounds!

I got my first job in the medical field at 19 and instantly fell in love. I knew I wanted to become a nurse. Well, life happened, so it has taken a while, but I finally was able to return to school just before turning 30 to pursue this dream.

I have been working on my pre-requisites so I can apply to a local CC ADN program. I just met with my Nursing advisor to have a formal transcript evaluation and learned I have over 90 credits (I previously attended college but no degree). By the time I finish my ADN program I will have over 120 credits.

This got me to thinking...should I try to complete my Bachelor's degree in something such as Sociology and then apply to Accelerated BSN or Entry Level Master's programs? I do not want to get my ADN and lose all those credits since you can only transfer 60 CC credits. I could have a second Bachelor's, or even a Master's in the same amount of time as it will take me to get my ADN. What do you think???

Thank you!

:)

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Specializes in Critical care.

If I were you I would get a degree first and then do the accelerated BSN. Then you would have 2 degrees under your belt:coollook:

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

That is your decision to figure out. I was on the wait list for the ADN program a few years back so I attended a 4yr accelerated program in Health Care Admin. I just about finished when my number came up for the nursing program. I finished my nursing degree and will be going back for the 3 classes to finish HCA in the fall. Nursing is a difficult program and if it's what you love then go for it all! Education in never a waste. Good luck to you :nurse:

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What do you plan to do with the other degree? If you decide to get a degree in say Sociology, do you plan on working in that field? If your reason for getting another degree is because you do not want to waste your credit, I'll say you go straight to your nursing program. Some people have three degrees, yet no use for them. No need to waste more time. Just finish your prereqs and continue your journey to becoming a nurse, except there is another field that interests you.

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Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.

You won't "lose" your credits... they will be there... I don't understand if that is a "school" thing or not. I've never hear of only being able to transfer so many credits.

Plus some of your nursing credits won't transfer period (like my RN med-surg is a 10 CH class, but those credits aren't good for transferring to any other school. It is a school/degree required class.

If you absolutely WANT to be a nurse and work NOW... get your ADN asap, then you can do RN to BSN and get another degree. If you have time to wait, why not go straight for your BSN now??? Or you can do another BSN program... and do an transitional program (one that allows you to apply your Bachelors to your BSN...

There are MANY options. You know what you want. I think you should meet with your advisor and tell her what you want, since she knows WHAT credits you have and what they can apply to. She can tell you the length of time and help you choose your educational ladder. Good luck!

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Specializes in Telemetry.
What do you plan to do with the other degree? If you decide to get a degree in say Sociology, do you plan on working in that field? If your reason for getting another degree is because you do not want to waste your credit, I'll say you go straight to your nursing program. Some people have three degrees, yet no use for them. No need to waste more time. Just finish your prereqs and continue your journey to becoming a nurse, except there is another field that interests you.

and MONEY.

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You won't "lose" your credits... they will be there... I don't understand if that is a "school" thing or not. I've never hear of only being able to transfer so many credits.

All the BSN programs I have looked at state they only take a certain number of CC credits. Another concern I have is that most hospitals have cut new grad programs and/or they are only looking at BSN or above.

I work in a hospital right now (non clinical, support staff) and have been able to cover my pre-reqs myself and with tuition reimbursement from work, no debt!

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Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.
All the BSN programs I have looked at state they only take a certain number of CC credits. Another concern I have is that most hospitals have cut new grad programs and/or they are only looking at BSN or above.

I work in a hospital right now (non clinical, support staff) and have been able to cover my pre-reqs myself and with tuition reimbursement from work, no debt!

Wow, the colleges here say you have to have certain classes with them and that you have to have a certain number of credits to graduate with a degree from them... but I've never heard that limitation... ISU (the LPN to BSN program that is pretty popular right now) is accepting, I think up to 100 hours... Most of the universities here allow you to take all electives at a CC for $$ issues. Guess I'm lucky, and better get it done before we transfer :idea:

I'm surprised the cut off is 60, considering some AA degrees are 64-72 credits... so if you went to CC to transfer to 4-year, your general degree may be a 72 hour required degree... Odd...

Well, good luck. IMO, if you KNOW you want to be a nurse, I'd go for nursing... I wouldn't want to rack up anything else before I get what I want (I am in the midst of 4 degrees, but 3 are NOW on hold because nursing has ALWAYS come first).

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Wow, the colleges here say you have to have certain classes with them and that you have to have a certain number of credits to graduate with a degree from them... but I've never heard that limitation... ISU (the LPN to BSN program that is pretty popular right now) is accepting, I think up to 100 hours... Most of the universities here allow you to take all electives at a CC for $$ issues. Guess I'm lucky, and better get it done before we transfer :idea:

I'm surprised the cut off is 60, considering some AA degrees are 64-72 credits... so if you went to CC to transfer to 4-year, your general degree may be a 72 hour required degree... Odd...

Well, good luck. IMO, if you KNOW you want to be a nurse, I'd go for nursing... I wouldn't want to rack up anything else before I get what I want (I am in the midst of 4 degrees, but 3 are NOW on hold because nursing has ALWAYS come first).

The cut off might be 64, not 60, I'm not 100% sure since I do not have the info right in front of me at the moment. I would love to be able to transfer 100 credits! I am certain I want to be a nurse, I have worked in the medical field for many years. I think I know what I am getting myself into.

:lol2:

Good luck to you too...I can not imagine working on 4 degrees!

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Do you have kids? Do you need money sooner than later? Do you need balance in your life and not just eating, drinking, and breathing nursing school? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, I'd go for the less expensive ADN degree. That way you can still have time for your children--don't get me wrong, you will have a full load, but it won't be as intense as the accelerated program, and you can get to work sooner and start earning money sooner. Then do the bridge RN to BSN after you get a job. You will have more flexability in that kind of program so you can go at your own pace. You can also get tuition assistance from many hospitals.

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Hi,

I think you should persue the ADN. Most likely your science prerequisites will expire prior to the BSN (while humanities last forever). Most BSNs have a 3-5 yr recency requirement for sciences. You may also discover a specialty while completing your ADN that you love such as hospital admin, PR, Cultural Anthro etc.

Good luck!

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Yeah, I agree with the ADN and then bridge to BSN. There's no reason to get a degree in something else if you know for sure that your heart is in nursing!

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