When can I work?

[andiescandies]

I just applied for nursing school to start Fall, 2015. Assuming I am accepted...how does this work? It is a BSN program, but you don't have to finish all your general classes before nursing, which I haven't. I will still need a handful more to graduate with my BSN (world history, Economics, etc.)

Once I finish nursing, I can apply to take the NCLEX then, right? Will I have to wait until I finish everything to start working?

[andiescandies]

I often wonder where the Classmate Experts get their info. What I mean is, you have classmates "informing" you that you will be able to sit for the NCLEX after completing the nursing program, but NOT understanding that you will not yet have GRADUATED from that program (and therefore are ineligible to apply)! Yet there they are, telling you what you can and cannot do.

I swear, a small card needs to be included in every single ASN and BSN nursing program's orientation packet that tells people the URL for AllNurses' website. Would save people A LOT of grief! :)

YES!! I have learned SO MUCH from this site. It is like a pot of gold!! I kept googling for study guides for the TEAS, and always ended up here. I finally just joined realizing it was a great resource for everything I will need for years to come :)

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

I agree. The question makes no sense. Are you asking if you can work as a registered nurse when you are not a registered nurse? If that is the question then no you cannot work as an RN until you are an RN. I don't understand the question.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I agree. The question makes no sense. Are you asking if you can work as a registered nurse when you are not a registered nurse? If that is the question then no you cannot work as an RN until you are an RN. I don't understand the question.

As I understood it, OP will finish the nursing courses of her BSN degree before she finishes the gen ed requirements. Some of the girls in my program were in that boat because we had 2 tracks- 1st track, traditional, get all gen ed requirements out of the way in your first 2 years then take nursing courses/remaining electives Junior/Senior year. 2nd track was designed for those who wanted to go abroad- start clinicals a semester early/2nd semester sophomore year, go abroad junior year and fill in gen eds/electives while abroad then join up with the 1st track students when you come back. Those who did the 2nd track but didn't go abroad finished all nursing courses (except for the final leadership course) by 1st semester senior year but they still had some electives/gen eds that they had to take 2nd semester senior year to complete all requirements for the bachelors degree. Basically, OP was told that she could take NCLEX and begin working as an RN before having a degree because she'd be done with the nursing courses. That was, of course, wrong since you cannot take NCLEX without completing an accredited program and a bachelor's program is not complete until you have a degree in your hand.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

OP see what you could take online. Some of your gen ed courses can be online like Sociology and English and take them over the summers.

But until you have "graduated" from the program altogether with your BSN in hand you may not sit for the NCLEX...your friends are misinformed.

[andiescandies]

Thanks. Yes, KelRN is correct. I will have completed the nursing program, but need a couple more classes for my BSN. I think I have worked out how I can complete the program by August, 2017, then I will take the last classes and study for NCLEX. I will be done by December, 2017.

Thankfully I have completed all my prerequisites. These are just general classes for all bachelor degrees at this school.

If I get into another program at a different school, I don't need all these classes.

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

I agree with other posters, if you can't finish your pre-reqs prior to nursing school, take them in the summer so once your nursing courses are done you will get your degree. Most schools want the science pre-reqs done before nursing school, but allow other classes to start after you begin the nursing courses. Some classes are really easy A's, no exams so not a lot of studying, just some papers due. Those can easily be done during your regular nursing courses. NCLEX cannot be taken until you get your degree. Some states allow you to work on an interim license while waiting to sit NCLEX, but most won't allow you to work as a nurse until you are licensed, however you can get a tech or cna job while in school if you have time to work.