Need advice on career path

[pixiedust]

I graduated with a BA in Social Work and decided that it is time to change careers. I am not sure which path I should take to becoming a nurse. I can devote my time fully for going back to school and I want to go to fastest and easiest way. ^^

#1 LVN/LPN which takes 1 year and then going back for 1 years for RN.

#2 ADN (Associate's Degree in Nursing) which takes 2 years to complete.

# 3 Accelerated BSN / Second Degree BSN - I heard that this program is designed for non-nurses who have bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields, but there's only a handful of schools with this program in the U.S.

#4 Direct Entry MSN - designed for non-nurses who hold bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. This takes 3 years and very limited schools.

I would appreciate your thoughts to my question. Thank you.

[JSouder]

Hey Pixie,

I am in a similar position. I graduated with a BA five years ago and have been working in mental health ever since...time for a change. I decided that I would go for the ADN and after I am working as an RN for w hile, look into an accelerated BSN program.

Your situation is different that mine, since I am still working while doing the pre-reqs (AKA all the sciences getting a BA allowed me to skip), but once clinical starts I have to quit working, which will be tough.

So you have lots of free time. I guess you need to find out what schools offer BSN and MSN degrees in your area. Do you like those schools? Are they affordable? Do you want to devote 3+ years to school right now? These are all things you have to decide for yourself...and just do it.

Good luck!

[CaliRN]

Have you talked to a counselor at a community college or university's nursing dept? I'm not sure you're taking into consideration the time it'll take you to complete prerequisites. A combo nurse/social worker background could be very useful.

[pretti_goodnurse]

I am a BSN and after only nine short yrs my back is screaming at me. I am interested in becoming a phone triage nurse, casemanagement, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Infection Control and many many more. I just don't know where to go for these programs, where to get the financing for this as I am the only income. Truthfully I need lots of help. I'm scared too. I have always worked as a med/surg nurse and some rehab. I live in a place that has a small medical community and RN jobs are being replaced with LPNs. Please anyone out there that can guide me in the right direction to make this change in my nursing career I would really appreciate it.

[Button2cute]

Hello,

You are so lucky to have those options because I did not have them. You have most of the pre-req completed except anatomy, physiology.

I chose my path the following:

I had a BA to MA to ASN to 30 credits to BSN to working on my MSN

If I had your opportunity I would do this way:
MSN....And be done with everything. Three years

[maire]

Consider what programs are available locally unless you are amenable to moving to go to school. Prepare with the prerequisites for those programs. They will be the same with a few exceptions. Apply to all of the programs when you are able to do so, then choose from the programs that offer you a seat. Most people apply to all programs nearby hoping that the one they are most interested in accepts them. As far as the degree: if accepted by a BSN program, then get your BSN or entry level MSN. You will save time and money.

[Edson!]

I know these programs mean well, but I personally think less then 2 years of clinical nursing is a mistake. Nine months can make a difference--and not just in terms of pregnancy.

[awarneka]

I graduated with a BA in Social Work and decided that it is time to change careers. I am not sure which path I should take to becoming a nurse. I can devote my time fully for going back to school and I want to go to fastest and easiest way. ^^

#1 LVN/LPN which takes 1 year and then going back for 1 years for RN.

#2 ADN (Associate's Degree in Nursing) which takes 2 years to complete.

# 3 Accelerated BSN / Second Degree BSN - I heard that this program is designed for non-nurses who have bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields, but there's only a handful of schools with this program in the U.S.

#4 Direct Entry MSN - designed for non-nurses who hold bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. This takes 3 years and very limited schools.

I would appreciate your thoughts to my question. Thank you.

Look into BSN programs. The BSN will allow more flexiblity in your career if you are interested in travel nursing or if you are interested in growing your career in management and administration.
Nurseguardian@bloggspot.com

[NurseEducator]

I am a BSN and after only nine short yrs my back is screaming at me. I am interested in becoming a phone triage nurse, casemanagement, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Infection Control and many many more. I just don't know where to go for these programs, where to get the financing for this as I am the only income. Truthfully I need lots of help. I'm scared too. I have always worked as a med/surg nurse and some rehab. I live in a place that has a small medical community and RN jobs are being replaced with LPNs. Please anyone out there that can guide me in the right direction to make this change in my nursing career I would really appreciate it.

I would look on insurance company websites liek Aetna, Blue Cross, etc many of them hire expereinced nurses to do triage from home or office setting. You could go over to home health case management but, may not like to drive, on call can be a bit much sometimes, etc. I did home health case management and learned QA on the job. Talk to HR at current facility, as well as nurses that do those jobs, maybe you could split a position lieke .5 staff and .5 in IC to get started. THere are nursing professional organizations for each speciality and that may be a good way to learn more about hte positions, training, certifcation, ces, etc. There are are options out there. Don't wait until back get worse. Good luck!

[Frankreich]

I graduated with a BA in Social Work and decided that it is time to change careers. I am not sure which path I should take to becoming a nurse. I can devote my time fully for going back to school and I want to go to fastest and easiest way. ^^

#1 LVN/LPN which takes 1 year and then going back for 1 years for RN.

#2 ADN (Associate's Degree in Nursing) which takes 2 years to complete.

# 3 Accelerated BSN / Second Degree BSN - I heard that this program is designed for non-nurses who have bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields, but there's only a handful of schools with this program in the U.S.

#4 Direct Entry MSN - designed for non-nurses who hold bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. This takes 3 years and very limited schools.

I would appreciate your thoughts to my question. Thank you.

If you know that you're not going to quit your best bet is #4. I know people who have gone through accelerated programs and did well. I'm jealous of them because I did my education the old fashion hard way and it took me years and tons of money.

Good luck regardless of what your decision is.

[EileenWilliamson]

I graduated with a BA in Social Work and decided that it is time to change careers. I am not sure which path I should take to becoming a nurse. I can devote my time fully for going back to school and I want to go to fastest and easiest way. ^^

#1 LVN/LPN which takes 1 year and then going back for 1 years for RN.

#2 ADN (Associate's Degree in Nursing) which takes 2 years to complete.

# 3 Accelerated BSN / Second Degree BSN - I heard that this program is designed for non-nurses who have bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields, but there's only a handful of schools with this program in the U.S.

#4 Direct Entry MSN - designed for non-nurses who hold bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. This takes 3 years and very limited schools.

I would appreciate your thoughts to my question. Thank you.

The fastest and easiest way as I'm sure you know may not always be the best way. Since you can devote full time to school, I would suggest you select the BSN as a second degree route. There have been initatiatives in nursing for years now to either require BSN for licensure and entry into practice or to require a BSN in a certain amount of time (years) after graduation from diploma or AAS program. And I think the day is not too far hence when the BSN will finally and forever be a necessary educational credential for RNs. So if it is at all possible for you to do it, do it now. Then you can begin your professional nursing work and make decisions about graduate work later on after you get some experience. And because you already have a degree, you have some necessary pre-requisites completed, and you can move through the BSN in a somewhat expedited fashion. Best of luck to you; you are making a wonderful, wonderful career choice! Eileen Williamson, RN, MSN, VP, Nursing Communications and Initiatives, Gannett Healthcare Group, NY/NJ Nursing Spectrum