two paths to choose from...which would you pursue?

[alotusforyou]

I'm enrolled at Western Govenor's University in a teaching program, however, life has made it possible for me to pursue nursing which I feel would be a better fit for me. However, I have two options:

1) drop out of WGU and stretch out my prerequisites for an associate degree RN program over the spring and fall 2013 semesters (this could be easily done in one semester for me, however). Then apply to the program and go through 24 months to get an ADN. Become an RN in early 2016 with no bachelor's degrees yet.

2) change my major to business administration at wgu (if they will let me...this will take me less time to finish than the major I currently have b/c there is no demonstration teaching to do), work my butt off and graduate with my BS by fall 2013. then take my prerequisite courses in the fall 2013 and apply to an accelerated BSN program that will take 14 months to finish.

With option two, I'll have to work harder, but I'll end up with two bachelor's degrees by Fall 2015 and will enter the nursing field with a BSN (as opposed to graduating with a single ADN that will take me several months longer overall). However, I don't know if I can get into the accelerated BSN program with a WGU degree since they choose students based on GPA. My GPA will simply be 3.0 since we only have a pass/fail system here.

Should I risk this path and hope that my 3.0 will be enough? Or should I just settle for the less stressful (although less challenging) path of just an ADN to start with?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

If I am accurately understanding your post, it would be difficult for you to complete the student teaching component of a teaching degree, right? If so, wouldn't it be even worse to complete the clinical components of a nursing degree?

I understand the lure of getting a bachelor's degree - you don't want to spend so much time in school without crossing the finish line at least once! But if a degree in nursing is your actual goal, you may be wasting money and time taking business courses & taking extra (not needed for business degree) courses to satisfy the nursing pre-req. My concern is that you may also max out on your undergrad hours - thereby eliminating many sources of financial aid - long before you reach your goal. And, as you have already pointed out, there is also the very real risk of not being accepted into an ABSN program.

I honestly believe that the ADN pathway may be better in the long run because it has less risk for you.... The major risk with this route would be availability of jobs for an ADN in your area. Have you researched this? I don't agree that it would be "less stressful" because nursing school is pretty intense, no matter which program you choose.

Best of luck to you,

[alotusforyou]

Thank you for your feedback. The student teaching could be accomplished, but it would be a waste of time if I'm not going to be a teacher. The business courses are all accelerated and done online, so I could get through them quickly, but I would be learning a lot that I'm not really interested in or will apply to nursing.

I'm trying to figure out what the job market is really like for ADN graduates around here, but not having much luck. The accelerated BSN program has a 100% employment rate for graduates though, so that is appealing.

But I think I have decided just to go with the ADN. Taking 24 months of nursing classes instead of 14 months is probably better since I will be able to absorb and retain more information. And I will have more options for financial aid. And if all else fails, I guess I can take an online RN-BSN in a year if that's absolutely necessary to find a job...