What Should I Do? BSN or MSN - need advice!

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Hello!

I hope you are doing well! I've lurked on this website forever and I finally just made an account! I would love some advice.

I graduated college this past June with a degree in Communication. I recently moved to Chicago and really want to pursue nursing. My end goal would be to become an NP.

I just finished taking CNA training (taking the state exam tomorrow) and hope to start working ASAP while taking pre-requisites for nursing school all next year.

I have basically 0 prerequisites done, and to to take Anat & Phys and Gen Chem at City Colleges of Chicago, I need to first take a basic intro bio/chem prereq for the prereq (putting me one semester even more behind).

I'm wondering, if my end goal is to be an NP, what the fastest option would be for me.

I'm thinking about direct entry MSN programs at Rush, DePaul, UIC, or Elmhurst. Also, I could move back home to Los Angeles and complete a direct entry MSN program there, but they seem to have a lot more prereqs.

I know if I get my MSN from Rush or the other schools, I still could not become an APRN without a DNP or further education. Now I'm wondering if it will be faster to apply to accelerated BSN programs right now - or will that take me just as long because I have no pre-reqs done?

Sorry for the novel but I hope somebody can help! Even if you're not from Chicago or LA, any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

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Hello!

I hope you are doing well! I've lurked on this website forever and I finally just made an account! I would love some advice.

I graduated college this past June with a degree in Communication. I recently moved to Chicago and really want to pursue nursing. My end goal would be to become an NP.

I just finished taking CNA training (taking the state exam tomorrow) and hope to start working ASAP while taking pre-requisites for nursing school all next year.

I have basically 0 prerequisites done, and to to take Anat & Phys and Gen Chem at City Colleges of Chicago, I need to first take a basic intro bio/chem prereq for the prereq (putting me one semester even more behind).

I'm wondering, if my end goal is to be an NP, what the fastest option would be for me.

I'm thinking about direct entry MSN programs at Rush, DePaul, UIC, or Elmhurst. Also, I could move back home to Los Angeles and complete a direct entry MSN program there, but they seem to have a lot more prereqs.

I know if I get my MSN from Rush or the other schools, I still could not become an APRN without a DNP or further education. Now I'm wondering if it will be faster to apply to accelerated BSN programs right now - or will that take me just as long because I have no pre-reqs done?

Sorry for the novel but I hope somebody can help! Even if you're not from Chicago or LA, any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

I don't have a Master's or a Bachelor's, so consider that along with my advice.

You've already sunk time and money into a degree that you apparently don't plan to use. You now want to become an advanced practice nurse without ever having been a "regular" nurse.

As you seem like someone prone to changing their mind, smaller and slower steps might be better. Your prerequisite grades will need to be very high to make you competitive for any nursing program, so be careful not to rush so much that you don't do well in those classes.

I vote for BSN as an entry point and continuing on from there. You should be aware that LA is saturated with new graduates and it can be very difficult to find a job here without experience. I'm not familiar with the Chicago market or NP market in either area.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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