Do I need a Bachelors in Nursing?

Posts: 1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I have a BA in Education and an MA in Education, but I'm thinking about changing careers and going into nursing. As I've researched, I've seen that I can just get in Associates in Nursing. Do I also need to go ahead and get the Bachelors in Nursing even though I already have a Bachelors degree?

Posts: 1 · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Las Vegas

Hi, instead of getting an Associate program, you should enroll in an accelerated Bachelor & Master Program. Many places offer this program such as Touro University (Nevada), UCSF, Samuel Merritt College in Oakland...etc. The program is usually about 18 months. Many of them specialized in Nurse Practitioner, education or administration.

I hope this information is helpful.

Posts: 12 · Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 12 Location: tennessee

here's the deal:

no difference in pay

the benefit of having a BSN is that if you choose to go back to school for a MSN specialty, it will only require two years of school
for example if you had a BSN and worked 1-2 years in critial care nursing and decide you want to go to CRNA school, then the program is usuall a full two years to obain your MSN (CRNA)

you can travel with a AD or BSN. the pay will be the same and it won't be asked of you in the interview which degree you have

hope this helps

MG
(worthynurse1)

Posts: 29 · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Northeastern US

I made 64 cents an hour more for the BSN in the Northeast & nada in the Southwest.

Went right from a bachelor degree to nursing school. If I hadn't done it that way, I probably would have gotten my Associates & then taken Excelsior to get the BSN.

Posts: 2 · Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 2 Location: USA

With a BA and MA in education I would not bother with a four year at first. Then if you decide later most of your credits will transfer to a BSN degree. The core nursing classes are the same with both programs that is why the pay is almost always the same.