[hopefulnurse]

Hi everyone!

Here is my situation. I have a B.A but I want to get into nursing. I have no healthcare experience. I'm not sure which program I should try to get into. I live in Atlanta, so there are plenty of programs but if I go for my BSN it will take 3 years because I don't have any of the pre-reqs. I was wondering should I just go to school for the LPN (shorter time) and start working within a year?

Also, will I be eligible for management positions without a BSN even though I have BA in another field? It just seems silly to go to school for another 3 years for a second bachelor. There has to be an quicker way where I can get the nursing experience and not be penalized for having a different type of degree..it should count for something!!

Thanks, for your help and responses!!

Hopeful Nurse

[Clinical12]

Go for the BSN. If you have any desire to move up into management, you will need it. I am a recruiter and I can't tell you how many great people we have to pass on because of the degree issue.

[nursinghumor]

If you're looking for a career in nursing, I'd get the BSN out of the way. Immediately it may not open many doors. You might not even get paid more for it your first year.

After that, you'll find there are many more doors opened to you because you have the degree. It is "preferred" for many higher level nursing, management and specialized areas.

When the time comes that you no longer want or are able to do bedside nursing, the BSN will open many career options not available without it.

Best wishes,

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by hopefulnurse

Hi everyone!

Here is my situation. I have a B.A but I want to get into nursing. I have no healthcare experience. I'm not sure which program I should try to get into. I live in Atlanta, so there are plenty of programs but if I go for my BSN it will take 3 years because I don't have any of the pre-reqs. I was wondering should I just go to school for the LPN (shorter time) and start working within a year?

Also, will I be eligible for management positions without a BSN even though I have BA in another field? It just seems silly to go to school for another 3 years for a second bachelor. There has to be an quicker way where I can get the nursing experience and not be penalized for having a different type of degree..it should count for something!!

Thanks, for your help and responses!!

Hopeful Nurse

I realize you don't live in Austin, TX. However, hear me out. UT, Austin, School of Nursing, has a program [forget the specific name since I worked w/someone that did same but not I] where if you have a bachelor's degree [not nursing related] you can apply for their accelerated Masters of Nursing program. Cool thing is once you reach a certain point in the program you can take the NCLEX, pass same, and practice as a BSN, while still in the program for your Masters.

Maybe similar is close by you? BTW, if you want into Nurse Mgmt, then an MSN is a lock. Of course, you can do some mgmt w/BSN, and can certainly be a charge nurse w/ADN. Yet, with MSN you would certainly be marketable in nurse mgmt.

... just my 2 cents.

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by MagRedC5

I realize you don't live in Austin, TX. However, hear me out. UT, Austin, School of Nursing, has a program [forget the specific name since I worked w/someone that did same but not I] where if you have a bachelor's degree [not nursing related] you can apply for their accelerated Masters of Nursing program. Cool thing is once you reach a certain point in the program you can take the NCLEX, pass same, and practice as a BSN, while still in the program for your Masters.

Maybe similar is close by you? BTW, if you want into Nurse Mgmt, then an MSN is a lock. Of course, you can do some mgmt w/BSN, and can certainly be a charge nurse w/ADN. Yet, with MSN you would certainly be marketable in nurse mgmt.

... just my 2 cents.

To follow the above sound advice, I recommend that you consider Excelsior University. This is a program through which you could earn both a BSN and MSN. Google Excelsior University and check out their website. On the matter of earning an LPN/LVN certificate, you could certainly do so and enter the nursing workforce sooner but from what you write, this level of practice would be too limited for you. You would be doing patient care but nothing more.

Good luck,

R