Which path is better to become a nurse?

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2007

There are a ton of different pathways, now more than at any time in the past. You do need to know there is no right or wrong answer. There are many threads here on this topic and they can become contentious. People often feel very protective of the educational pathway they've chosen.

As a career changer to nursing , I took a 12 month accelerated BSN program that worked perfectly for me. Now 20 years later I'm completely satisfied with what I did. I never got an MSN but the BSN enabled me to get a community health RN job after my hospital years were done. Please know that a BS in any other field will not equal a BSN in terms of the nursing world. I have many friends who spent a fortune to get a BS in health arts only to find out it would not substitute.

Accelerated programs are pretty stressful and time pressured. Having 3 young children might make that difficult. The people who dropped out of my accelerated program all had kid or pregnancy issues. A lot of posters here advocate the ADN degree first. For bedside care, it pays the same in most places. It's the same license. Good luck to you. Look at each program carefully.

gdelrosa · Jun 13, 2007

Hi,

I was in the same boat as you, having a BS in engineering and wanting to become a nurse. I did a 12 month accelerated BSN program at MSU and am now working as a tele nurse. I don't know if it matters in terms of getting hired for your first hospital job whether you have an AS or BSN degree but I heard that having a BS will help you advance if you no longer want to do bedside nursing. Also if you plan on getting your masters it will put you one step closer. As for me, I probably would have done the ASN if I could have gotten in. There is a wait list of 2-3 years at the community colleges in my area. If I had waited to do that, I would still not be in school. I would go wherever I could if I were you.

Gail

futurecnm · Jun 14, 2007

I also have a Bach of engineering and am now a nursing student doing an associates 2 yr program. My reasons for going this route were money (like $19K cheaper than the accel. program) and my family. The accelerated program is just too intense and I didn't want to put that much time into school with 2 kids. The AD program is intense enough but doing it in 2 yr rather than 12-18 months makes it more do-able in my opinion. I eventually want a masters and I will do it through a community college program as well (another college goes thru the cc to do the program for a much cheaper cost). i also will use my employer educational assistance program (once I get a job) to help with costs. For me it is an issue of practicality. It was what worked for me. i will be a RN and be able to get a job and slowly work on my BSN and MSN when it is right for me and the family. I am in no rush and I want to do it at my own pace when it is right. I think everyone has their own way of looking at it and there isn't a right way, just do what works for your situation. Oh and get used to people asking you why you would be crazy enough to get out of engineering and go into nursing. I sometimes wish people didn't know about my past degree, as it comes up a lot and people look at me like I've lost it. But I wouldn't change a thing. I have 1 year left and am currently a nursing intern at a small hospital. This time next year I will hopefully, god willing, be a RN!

Hi Everyone - this is my first post...so be gentle!
I have a BS in engineering, and for the past 2 years I have been taking the prereqs to apply to a nursing program.
All along I've been assuming I would apply for the three year direct entry masters program and also the 1 year accelerated bachelors at SMC.
But now I'm kind of considering just doing the two year program for an AA RN degree at the local community college. Obviously I would still have my BS from 10 years ago. And later I could still apply to masters programs after working as an RN for a while. It would be much, much cheaper, and the courseload would be easier on my family (I have three young kids....but I also have a lot of help).
But is there a difference in hiring/working if you have just an AA RN plus a BS in a different field than if you have the BSRN? Does that make any sense?
I feel like there are so many different paths...I can't figure out which one would be right for me.
Any opinions are appreciated.