My New Idea!

[poptart26]

Hi Everyone,

I'm getting addicted to this board and have to stop myself from asking every little thing that I want! LOL

So, on another thread I started, I stated that I was thinking of earning a degree in something similar to the field I am currently in: graphic design/advertising.

After speaking with my husband about wanting to finish a bachelor's degree (a long discussion), banghead he said that he would be more open to me earning a degree in something that can be more of a guarantee to having a future income with it. So after talking more, he said he would actually be behind me pursuing something like nursing, etc. BTW, he really does get the whole self-satisfaction of earning a degree, etc. and is very kind, but oh so practical! Especially since he has a bachelor's degree and doesn't feel it's worth much for owning his own business (what he does). I told him that at least you have it... you don't have some desire to earn it to fill a part of you that feels inadequate from time to time (just speaking for myself here).

Anyway, after looking at some of the pre-reqs required by most of the accelerated nursing programs, I will have to most likely complete the following somehow, whether it be at our B&M college here... which BTW is cheap and a 4-year college or online:
[COLOR="DarkRed"]
Can someone tell me what will be the quickest route and degree to look into with being able to use the classes I will need for any nursing program and tying them into a Bachelor's at the same time?[/COLOR]

Here is what I think I will need for entry into most after Bachelor's degree accelerated nursing programs:

Anatomy & Physiology - Need 8 Semester Hours, with labs
General Chemistry - Need 4 Semester Hours, with lab
Organic Chemistry - Need 4 Semester Hours, with lab
Biochemistry - Need 3 Semester Hours
Microbiology - Need 4 Semester Hours, with lab
Statistics - Need 3 Semester Hours
Introduction to Psychology - Taken at Cal State over 10 years ago

Also, I have completed the following, which from what most on here have told me, should transfer into the big 3:

Intro Biology (Entomology)
English Comp I
Intro Sociology
Intro Psychology
Public Speaking
Stage Make-up for Theatre (who knows, but it was at Cal State)
Women's Studies
Poly Sci

And of course my 90 credits at Brown (AAS in Vis Comm), NA accredited and possibly worthless... still have to see! :toetap:

Thank you for reading! And, if anyone thinks of some great threads I should read... that is wonderful too!

[Lindagerr]

Do not go into nursing just beacuse it is practical and your husband says to.:reddevil:

If you really want to get into nursing, look for threads started or added to by Cookderosa. In the last year or so she has done or is doing many of her nursing prereqs through distance learning, including labs.

If you are not sure don't do it. I know what you mean about the degree, I worked in chemistry for more then 30 years and always felt inadequate because I didn't have a degree. When I finally returned to college (20 years after I had last quit) I thought I would earn a degreee in Chemistry. After much thought and experimentation I have earned my degree in Natural Sciences/Mathematics and want to use it to teach Middle School. I love teaching and being able to share my love of science.

If your heart is not in the degree you are less likely to finish it. Don't you deserve to do this just for you? What jobs you can get with the degree will also depend on your enthusiasum and creativity.

[marianne202]

I agree with Linda. I was in the EC nursing program I paid way too many yearly fees just spinning my wheels with only a few classes to finish it because after 25 years in the medical field I decided I no longer wanted to be on my feet, busting my butt to be overworked as a nurse. I had started teaching at the community college in 1991 and I found I loved it and I'm actually very good at it. A huge surprise to myself and anyone that knew me and how I hated talking in front of people. My point is you have to do what you really love and that will help you find a wonderful career that will be successful for you, both in personal growth and financially. Nursing is a great, noble profession but unless you really have a calling to that field you are far better off to invest your time and effort into something you will LOVE for a long time. Good Luck!

[Bunbu]

Well said Marianne!
At this point in my life I wouldn't go for a degree that I don’t want or I’m not completely sure about it. You’re about to invest a considerable amount of time, money, and resources in something you don’t have any interest on. Think for a second about all those nights ahead of you doing coursework that you don’t enjoy a bit.
I've been working on the IT field for 15 years. I love what I do (most of the time) and I feel blessed to have a job, yet there’s no room in my plans for a computer degree. There are many reasons for this, but chiefly, I think I’ve earned the right to do whatever I feel will fulfill my life. So far I’ve survived without a degree; any degree can only make things better, especially if it's something that I enjoy.

[poptart26]

Sorry if I misrepresented myself. I never said I never had any interest in it. I've always loved the medical field and find it fascinating. I just never thought I was smart enough to get through the courses, nor in my younger years did I have the drive to complete much of anything.

Nursing was my idea, it wasn't even on my husband's tongue.

[cookderosa]

Hi Everyone,

I'm getting addicted to this board and have to stop myself from asking every little thing that I want! LOL

So, on another thread I started, I stated that I was thinking of earning a degree in something similar to the field I am currently in: graphic design/advertising.

After speaking with my husband about wanting to finish a bachelor's degree (a long discussion), banghead he said that he would be more open to me earning a degree in something that can be more of a guarantee to having a future income with it. So after talking more, he said he would actually be behind me pursuing something like nursing, etc. BTW, he really does get the whole self-satisfaction of earning a degree, etc. and is very kind, but oh so practical! Especially since he has a bachelor's degree and doesn't feel it's worth much for owning his own business (what he does). I told him that at least you have it... you don't have some desire to earn it to fill a part of you that feels inadequate from time to time (just speaking for myself here).

Anyway, after looking at some of the pre-reqs required by most of the accelerated nursing programs, I will have to most likely complete the following somehow, whether it be at our B&M college here... which BTW is cheap and a 4-year college or online:
[COLOR="DarkRed"]
Can someone tell me what will be the quickest route and degree to look into with being able to use the classes I will need for any nursing program and tying them into a Bachelor's at the same time?[/COLOR]

Here is what I think I will need for entry into most after Bachelor's degree accelerated nursing programs:

Anatomy & Physiology - Need 8 Semester Hours, with labs
General Chemistry - Need 4 Semester Hours, with lab
Organic Chemistry - Need 4 Semester Hours, with lab
Biochemistry - Need 3 Semester Hours
Microbiology - Need 4 Semester Hours, with lab
Statistics - Need 3 Semester Hours
Introduction to Psychology - Taken at Cal State over 10 years ago

Also, I have completed the following, which from what most on here have told me, should transfer into the big 3:

Intro Biology (Entomology)
English Comp I
Intro Sociology
Intro Psychology
Public Speaking
Stage Make-up for Theatre (who knows, but it was at Cal State)
Women's Studies
Poly Sci

And of course my 90 credits at Brown (AAS in Vis Comm), NA accredited and possibly worthless... still have to see! :toetap:

Thank you for reading! And, if anyone thinks of some great threads I should read... that is wonderful too!

Piece of cake. What you'll want to do, is use your prereq list FIRST, and then build your degree around them. The problem, is that it "feels" like you should be able to get a science degree with all the sciences, but you can't. Sadly, all the premedical sciences fall in as lower level. That's where TESC kinda screws you over. Clearly they have never taken ORGANIC CHEMISTRY! Anyway, you'll get optimum utility by using the premedicals in TESC's Liberal Arts degree.
That degree will meet the requirements for an aBSN entry, so you'll be all set. Couple things- don't CLEP your sciences, they won't count. CLEP your gen eds instead. You can use classes and or DSST exams to meet your upper level liberal arts core. In all 18 credits must be upper level (300/400). You'll have to update your psychology. That generally "expires" but contact the aBSN and ask if they'll take CLEP for your "refreshed" credit. Also, are you sure you don't need Human Growth and Development (AKA Developmental Psychology AKA Life Span Psychology)? You should double check, I'd bet it's on the list.

For online sciences, hands down, I'd suggest Ocean County College
Online sciences are the most convenient, however, they are not the easiest or the cheapest. A huge benefit of taking them through Ocean, is that you won't need prereqs for A&P, which adds a minimum 1-2 semesters to your plan.
I'm in my 4th semester at Ocean, and have done all the nursing prereqs with them, I can answer specific questions if you have them.

Orgo and biochem are not typical nursing prereqs, but if your aBNS is asking, then the only place you can get both (and orgo 2 if you want) is at University New England College of Medicine. These are self-paced. I'm pretty familiar with the program there too, so if you have any questions just ask.

My suggestion, is register for fall sciences and then call your local community college and see if you can get into the Certified Nurses Aid course. This is a certificate class, usually 75 hours (a few weeks). You'll get a taste of what nursing is, and you'll get a credential that will allow you to seek entry level hospital work. Even working 1 day per week gets your foot in the door. You won't be able to work in the aBSN, in fact, many schools specifically forbid it. So, at graduation, when your peers are scrambling for a job, you should already have made your connection

Something else I must mention, your program is going to be expensive. The prereq list for the aBSN is easily $10k. Your aBSN is also going to be up around $30-40k. That's a lot of money. Before you totally decide, you may also want to look at "GEP" or "Direct entry" MSN options. Many programs take you without your RN, similar prereqs, and then you do 3 years and come out a nurse practitioner. If you get your BSN first, you can do your MSN online. Of course, if you did an ADN first, you could do your BSN and MSN online lol. Lots and lots and lots to consider. Go get your CNA before you start spending any money.

I have spent hundreds (or more, I'm a little OCD) of hours researching nursing schools, online sciences, and paths to practice. I'll help you if I can.


P.S. my AOS degree in culinary arts was from a (then) NA school, and worthless credit when it came time to get a RA bachelor's degree. I feel your pain. It's not worth the trouble of trying to launder those credits. Your visual arts credits would have only come in as free electives anyway, and you can use FEMA for that. It won't be a big deal, and it will actually be totally free. No worries, just focus on where you want to go from here.