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Questions about planning a degree - Mischief_Managed - 12-10-2016

Ok I posted a similar question the other day in a different thread, but I've had some changes of thought on what I initially asked. So sorry for asking another similar question, but here goes... My end goal is Nursing school, and I was mainly focusing on one path; going the CC route and getting an ASN which I now realize means I would have to concentrate the majority of my studies at the CC. The path I believe would better serve me would be through a 2nd degree Nursing program, where I would have to get a Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field and then could apply to the accelerated BSN program.

So basically this leads me to my new question: What Bachelor's program/school would use more of the credits that I already have?

Here are the Courses/training I've done so far:

COLLEGE COURSES--all taken at regionally accredited community colleges--aka electives-a-plenty
  • TD-102--THEATRE APPRECIATION--3 CREDITS

  • JOUR-147--NEWSPAPER STAFF--2 CREDITS

  • TD-114--ACTING FOR THE CAMERA--4 CREDITS

  • PE-365A3--FITNESS WALKING--1 CREDIT

  • TD-152--LIGHTING AND SOUND--3 CREDITS

  • TD-156--THEATRICAL COSTUMING--2 CREDITS

  • TD-114--ACTING FOR THE CAMERA--4 CREDITS

  • ART-150A--INTERIOR DESIGN CONCEPTS--3 CREDITS

  • ART 159A--APPLIED DESIGN RESIDENTIAL LIGHTING--1 CREDIT

  • JOUR-146--PHOTO STAFF--1 CREDIT

  • PE-352A3--BEG AQUACISE--1 CREDIT

  • ART-133A--BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY--3 CREDITS

  • MUS-160E--PIANO REPETOIRE--1 CREDIT

  • ART-121A--INTRO CERAMICS--3 CREDITS

  • MATH-151--ALEGBRA I--5 CREDITS

  • HIST-121--HIST OF RADIO--3 CREDITS

  • ADJUS-120--INTRO TO ADMIN OF JUSTICE--3 CREDITS

  • RNURS-001--NURSING CAREERS SEMINAR--.30 CREDIT

  • MATH-025--ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA--3 credits

  • CAOT-179--MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY--2 CREDITS

  • FLAN-207--CULTURE OF FRANCE--3 CREDITS

  • MUSH-127--SURVEY OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC--3 CREDITS



CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
  • EMT-B
  • PHLEBOTOMY
  • MEDICAL ASSISTANT

Thanks again for the support!!

Questions about planning a degree - Nixi - 12-10-2016

Love your username!

Sorry, that's all I can contribute to the thread.

[Image: tZOS8.gif]

Questions about planning a degree - OakLakeNC - 12-10-2016

Liberal Arts degree from Thomas Edison.

Questions about planning a degree - longtermstudent - 12-10-2016

Yeah, the liberal studies would accept the most of these current hours. However, with it you do have to take an actual capstone class. Depending on your situation, the BSBA might want offer greater utility. You may have to take a couple more tests or straighterlines with it to finish based off what you have, but you could test out of the capstone with a tecep.

Check out the wiki for liberal studies courses you can take and also there is a page about the Gen Ed's. I would guess at a glance your regular electives wipl be pretty close to finished.

Questions about planning a degree - Mischief_Managed - 12-10-2016

Thanks!!! And I love that gif!!!!

Questions about planning a degree - cookderosa - 12-10-2016

I strongly - for almost 2 years- accumulated premed and prenursing courses for this path. I was undecided between medical school or nursing school, so I did both sets of prereqs. In the end, I opted for something different, but I had a BA from Thomas Edison in Social Science and was considering both ASN and accelerated second degree programs. I applied to, and was accepted at 7 nursing programs before I pulled the plug.

You can absolutely do it. You have certs that probably have work experience attached to them, and that is very good on your applications. What's better? A's and high placement scores, but you probably know that. The only caution I would have about programs you're considering are the costs. When I considered the return on investment, I realized that what I was doing wasn't the fastest or most efficient use of my time, and was probably too expensive. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, it means I decided not to do it.
This was about 5 years ago, but knowing what I know now, here's what I would do if [I]I [/I]were planning from scratch:

-Earn a BA through one of the Big 3 and incorporate all of my lab sciences into that degree. Use courses for labs so I can get GRADES. Get enough to apply to multiple programs, not just my first choice, so include the optional ones like: Stats, College Algebra, and even Microbiology. (in addition to the standard bio, chem, A&P sequence, human growth and development) I'd add to that list Intro Psych and Soc CLEPs for good measure. Do everything that's not a prereq as cheaply and quickly as possible. (Edit to add: you'll be tempted to use Straighterline and the like to complete your lab sciences, but don't do it. Later, it's possible that BSN and MSN programs won't recognize those since SL is not a regionally accredited college - take the time to do these through a college)

-I would grab all the relevant certs for nursing assistant in my state (CNA or whatever your state calls it) and start working, even if it's one day per week. Every one of my applications looked favorably on this, and multiple schools required it in the prenursing sequence.

- I would earn my RN through an ADN program at a non-profit public community college. This means I'm spending at or around ten thousand total. Some schools much less, a few are more. Avoid anything even remotely related to a for-profit health career school.

- I would get a full time job as an RN through the largest hospital I can land that has education programs for nurses to get their BSN. As soon as I qualify, I'd start my BSN online while my employer pays. This means I receiving all the benefits, insurance, and seniority while also taking free online BSN classes. I can do this over a 2 year period without much disruption in my life. Cost - hardly anything.

- If I desired, at this point, I would dump my money into an online master's. There are very few hospitals that will pay for this, but in my scenerio, this is where you get the most return on your investment. These can cost about twenty grand and up, so not cheap - but you pick your career path at this point. Many RNs like informatics, many like to get an MBA and manage a practice, some become educators, and others advanced practice nurses (mine would have been to become a Certified Nurse Midwife) but of course swing from the rafters and go for anesthesia if you're really really motivated.

----
So, the point is that you could over-spend at the undergrad level and then you'd be an in-debt RN with no chance of employer reimbursement at the graduate level. I realize that it's a year faster to do an accelerated second-bachelor's program, but it's probably a great idea to talk to nurses in your area and ask them what they would do if they were starting over- and ask about cost. Most people are willing to be frank about that.

Questions about planning a degree - KayV - 12-10-2016

I am so glad you commented on this thread, Jennifer. This is outstanding advice, Mischief_Managed.

By the way, are your credits semester hours or quarter hours?

Questions about planning a degree - KayV - 12-10-2016

I'm looking at your certificates. Is this the medical assistant certificate you earned? It is worth 22 hours (14 of which are upper level) upper level at Charter Oak.
https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learning-assessment/medical-assistant-certified-cred.cfm
Phlebotomy is worth 4 lower level.
https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learning-assessment/certified-phlebotomy-technician.cfm
And EMT Basic is worth 2 lower level.
https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learning-assessment/certified-phlebotomy-technician.cfm

In which case a Health Studies major a COSC might be a good choice for you.

[ETA: Investigating further, those certifications are worth 13 lower level hours total at TESU, and zero hours at Excelsior.]

Also, do you have any other credits, like AP credits for English Composition?

Questions about planning a degree - Mischief_Managed - 12-12-2016

KayV Wrote:I am so glad you commented on this thread, Jennifer. This is outstanding advice, Mischief_Managed.

By the way, are your credits semester hours or quarter hours?
They are all semester hours (at least for the college credits)

Questions about planning a degree - Mischief_Managed - 12-12-2016

KayV Wrote:I'm looking at your certificates. Is this the medical assistant certificate you earned? It is worth 22 hours (14 of which are upper level) upper level at Charter Oak.
https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learning-assessment/medical-assistant-certified-cred.cfm
Phlebotomy is worth 4 lower level.
https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learning-assessment/certified-phlebotomy-technician.cfm
And EMT Basic is worth 2 lower level.
https://www.charteroak.edu/prior-learning-assessment/certified-phlebotomy-technician.cfm

In which case a Health Studies major a COSC might be a good choice for you.

[ETA: Investigating further, those certifications are worth 13 lower level hours total at TESU, and zero hours at Excelsior.]

Also, do you have any other credits, like AP credits for English Composition?

None of my certificates are through the certifying bodies that they list unfortunately. But it wouldn't hurt to double check. Thanks
As far as English I believe when I took placement test I got credit for English since I tested out of it? But I would have to double check that test.