The Education is Confusing me

[trace.schreiber]

I am a 27 year old Man interested in a BSN. I currently have an Associate of Arts degree from 1999, and right now I am taking night classes to get common science prerequisites out of the way. I work full time as well. My problem is that I don't have time to do an ASN because I work full time during the day. My employer the Air Force will give me a scholarship if I can get accepted into a BSN program, they will let me leave work to get it accomplished, however all I see are RN to BSN programs and I am not a RN. Is there any way to get into a BSN program without first being an RN?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Yes. The BSN can be the entry level to get your RN. (The other two entry level degrees to an RN are the ADN and Diploma RN). Do a search like "BSN program Florida" (or whatever state you live in)which might lead you to a link like this http://www.flcenterfornursing.org/links/individual_cat.cfm?cat_id=14 or "nursing schools North Carolina" or something like that.

The RN to BSN programs are for us who went the ADN or Diploma Route to get our RN and now are wanting to upgrade to a BSN.

[llg, PhD, RN]

4-year colleges offer BSN programs for students with no previous backgrounds in nursing. That's what you are looking for.

Many colleges also offer RN-to-BSN programs for people who have gone to a Community College and earned an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN). Those ADN grads are also eligible to take the state licensing exam (the NCLEX) and become and registered nurse (RN). The graduates of hospital diplomoa schools (usually 3 years in length) are also eligible to take the NCLEX and become RN's. RN's who have started their careers with ADN's and Diplomas often want to go back to school to get a BSN to open up addional career opportunities that are only available to nurses with the higher degree. But a person doesn't have to start out with an ADN or Diploma -- a person can start right away getting a BSN. Some programs even start people in their nursing careers with a Master's Degree. (Those programs are designed for people who already have a Bachelor's Degree in another field.)

Making matters even more complicated is the fact that with the current high demand for nurses, a lot of streamlined, accelarated programs have been established to help people with various backgrounds become RN's. It's understandable why you are confused. It's confusing!

A lot of the confusion stems from the fact that "RN" is not an academic degree provided by a school. It is a license granted by the State Board of Nursing that a person can receive by passing the test (NCLEX). A variety of different educational programs allow a person to be eligible to take that test. Graduating from an educational program and actually becoming an RN are 2 different things.

Check out the websites, etc. of 4-year colleges and look for BSN programs there. The State Board websites for each state often have lists of the programs in that state and that might be a good place to start your search.

Good luck!