What would you do? HELP!!!

[dplyrooted]

I have been currently working towards my bachelor's in nursing from Indiana State University, distance ed, through the college network. I have been on a roll recently with testing out of classes and doing very well, thanks to this site of course.

Here's the situation, I've recently been thinking about the 2.5 - 3 years from the date of actually starting the nursing classes, which I'm hoping would be January 09, that seems like a really long time. I've been thinking about doing the associate's from excelsior, but I am very intimidated by the weekend clinical, I'm afraid I would fail it, there is like a 67% pass/fail rate. The clinical through the BSN is a check off, not a pass fail. I guess I'm getting impatient and feeling overwhelmed by the classes that I need to take in order to start the program by January I need to take Chemistry and Statistics and 4 nursing classes. I've been on this plan here recently to take all the easy classes, so that I will feel motivated to continue to test out, but I am AVOIDING the Chemistry and the Stat, and I figure the Algebra before the Chemistry, so that's actually 1 more class that I'm avoiding. I'm holding myself back because the sooner I pass those classes the sooner I can start the program. I need some advice, some encouragement, a smack in the face something.

Would you continue with the BSN or go for the associates since it's quicker, and come back to the BSN later.

Or would you continue with the BSN, test out of everything so when you start the actual nursing classes that's all you would have to take, or hurry up and finish those couple of classes, and finish the other stuff later during the program?

[flowjoe64]

I got my associates years ago, as it was the only real program available in my city. However, I also did it so that I could start earning an income immediately.

Are you an LPN/VN now? or are you going to nursing school for the first time?

I think I would get my associates, and then get some real nursing experience under my belt and then get my BSN....

But, depends on what you will do with the BSN. I never needed it and was able to make way more money without it, until recently. Now I have reached a "ceiling" of opportunity and moneys, and that is wh yI am going back now.

I am going to TESC where there are no clinicals if you are already an RN, and it is only about 12k for the BSN.

They way you are doing it.....possibly I would get all my co-reqs out of the way first, so I can concentrate on only the nursing, which you will need all your resources for anyway.

FK

[Ronny]

I understand how anxious you are to get it your training done with but what do you think will make you better with patients? Nursing is a critical kind of job. I think it would be better for your future patients to get more hands on patient care before getting your license and to do your clinicals the traditional way. If I or a loved one was hurt and needed a nurse to take care of me or my family I'd want a more experienced nurse rather than one who was "winging it". Is it possible to test out of the general education classes and do everything else the traditional way?

[dplyrooted]

I am currently an LPN, the real reason I am doing the BSN, to tell, the truth is because the clinical is easier, I am terrified of that weekend pass/ fail clinical.

[Lindagerr]

If you are already an LPN why do you have a fear of clinical?

Are you sure the Chemistry exam will fulfill your chemistry requirement? I have not gone to nursing school in over 30 years and I never did finish, but when I looked at them the chemistry had to have a lab. I would hate to see you stress yourself out and then it didn't count.

On the other issue If you are already an LPN would just doing the AA RN program really do that much for you? I would think if you want to have a future in nursing the BSN would give you more chance of advancement.

Just my 2 cents

[dplyrooted]

I've heard some horror stories about the pass/fail clinical, that have scared me. Since being an LPN, I've never worked in a hospital, and most of my jobs have been pretty easy, so I wouldn't feel confident passing a clinical. The real reason I want my nursing license, is so that I can become a Legal Nurse Consultant, and basically all you need for that is a nursing license, I guess that's why I am torn. Thanks for everyones input!