Which route to take?

RunBabyRN · Mar 27, 2014

I would do everything you can that will transfer to the US. Don't waste your time and money on a separate bachelor's. It'll limit the financial aid you can get when you get back stateside, and it can limit your options, as far as nursing programs. Some schools aren't taking students with degrees, especially here in CA (since you listed CA in your key words). That said, there are aBSN programs for second bacc students, but they're generally expensive.

In order to get into a CNM program, you'll need your BSN. I haven't seen any CNM programs that will accept ADN-prepared nurses.

Make sure any courses you take while overseas will be accepted by nursing schools here. Few online science courses are accepted, because of lab requirements.

One thing I would HIGHLY recommend doing, however, if you plan to come back to CA, is take as much Spanish as you can ASAP. If you plan to move to another state, whatever foreign language is commonly spoken there would be good. Mandarin or Cantonese might be good, too, if you're in SF or LA. I plan to take Spanish again (as I lost my Spanish skills while I was stationed in places where NO ONE spoke Spanish) when I finish my BSN, because especially as a CNM, I will use it.

Also, any possibility of getting a CNA certification and working at the base clinic/hospital? That would be good experience for you, and it'll help you when you DO get into nursing school.

Good luck!

NewNurs2020 · Mar 28, 2014

Thank you. I am from folsom california and probably be back there eventually. Not sure where we will get stationed next since we still have another 5 years in the army but wherever we are stateside there should be a nursing school nearby hopefully. Ive been looking at different programs. UCSF has a direct entry masters program for non nursing students with a bachelors degree but its about 100 grand for all 3 years. Their regular one is two years and 50 grand and you just need to be an RN with a bachelors in any subject. The 4 year cost for csus BSN would be roughly 20 grand and most ADN programs are around 5 or 6 grand. Frontier looks like a good option since I may not be in Ca for a while and they have an adn to msn program that is 43000 or a bs to msn program that is 32000..... So many different paths! Im trying to figure out what is smartest financially and how hard is a bsn program compared to an adn to get accepted? Im thinking I will finish my pre reqs and then maybe get my doula and cbe certification since I can do them overseas and probably get a lot of use here as well so I can get some experience at births. How long is a typical ADN program if you already have your GE done since ill already have an AA in psych? I know there are a lot of rn-bsn programs online so that may be an option if I get my adn in the states wherever we are and maybe easier with the kids instead of a direct entry bsn? SORRY! I just have so many questions. I love it in Germany but my career and education have to put on the back burner and Im super antsy.

RunBabyRN · Mar 28, 2014

Thank you. I am from folsom california and probably be back there eventually. Not sure where we will get stationed next since we still have another 5 years in the army but wherever we are stateside there should be a nursing school nearby hopefully. Ive been looking at different programs. UCSF has a direct entry masters program for non nursing students with a bachelors degree but its about 100 grand for all 3 years. Would you be able to afford that, or would you be taking out $100K in loans? Be careful about taking out too much in loans. It's not recommended that you take out more than you can reasonably expect to make in your first year of work. Their regular one is two years and 50 grand and you just need to be an RN with a bachelors in any subject. The 4 year cost for csus BSN would be roughly 20 grand and most ADN programs are around 5 or 6 grand. Frontier looks like a good option since I may not be in Ca for a while and they have an adn to msn program that is 43000 or a bs to msn program that is 32000..... Be careful about Frontier- I have heard that they may not be accepted in CA if you were to apply for a CA RN license. So many different paths! Im trying to figure out what is smartest financially and how hard is a bsn program compared to an adn to get accepted? BSN programs are more competitive, at least in CA. ADN programs through community colleges generally run on a lottery system. They're equally impacted, but everyone who qualifies is in the same pot, so it doesn't matter as much if your GPA is a 3.1 or a 3.9, for example. Im thinking I will finish my pre reqs and then maybe get my doula and cbe certification since I can do them overseas and probably get a lot of use here as well so I can get some experience at births. How long is a typical ADN program if you already have your GE done since ill already have an AA in psych? The programs themselves are 2 years, generally. There's no advantage or disadvantage to having another AA, aside from already having your general ed complete. How long prereqs can take will vary. Those classes are impacted, so it can take awhile to get them all done. I know there are a lot of rn-bsn programs online so that may be an option if I get my adn in the states wherever we are and maybe easier with the kids instead of a direct entry bsn? Just make sure that your degree would be accepted in the US. Some international degrees transfer, but some don't, so it's important to do your research before putting your resources into something like that. SORRY! I just have so many questions. No worries! :) I love it in Germany but my career and education have to put on the back burner and Im super antsy. Been there- life has a way of changing our path sometimes. It's just a matter of finding a way to direct that path back on course.

NewNurs2020 · Mar 28, 2014

Thank you. I have decided to get my pre reqs done and then see what programs are offered near our next duty station before deciding to go for another AA or straight for the bsn. It will probably also depend on what I get accepted into. I am going to look into frontier more about their program and acceptance in california. No way I could justify 100 grand for a direct entry program. Im learning german but I dont know what good that will do me back in california lol. I have 1 year of american sign language. Do you think taking another year or two of that would be beneficial?