Question For Nurses

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Originally Posted by Chicken Little

Get the two year and make the hospital pay for your BSN. It's good economics. It doesn't matter anyway. We all take the same test, and no matter what's after your name, every patient poops.

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This is what my sister just did. And I am very pleased to report that she is finally taking her state boards and is considering it an early celebration of her 45th birthday :) In her case the pediatrician's office she works for reimbursed her for all of the assorted testing-related cost. I had no idea there were such expensive tests before her state boards!

I am very proud of my little sister for doing this, she has worked so hard for so long because she was only able to take 1 class at a time.

Seems requirements vary by region but perhaps this is an indication of future trends: North-ShoreLIJ-Requires-New-Nurses-to-Have-BSN

I also read another article recently (can't find the link right now) that said new nursing grads are having a difficult time finding hospital jobs right now because so many experienced nurses are either putting off or coming out of retirement due to the economy. New grads are looking to SNFs and such for jobs. But as the economy improves (whenever that may be), that situation will probably change again.

I have a friend who recently finished her Associates in nursing and passed the boards. She loves her work. She is working towards her Bachelor's now, and eventually her Master's because she wants to be a nurse practitioner.

So you could start with the Associates and see if you like it and want to keep going.

When I went back to school to become a nurse (I already had a bachelor's in Spanish), I did the BSN route - but only because the program at the university I attended had a two years of prereqs - two years of nursing type program. Since I had already completed all your prereqs, it wouldn't take me any longer to do the BSN than to do the associate's degree. I got a scholarship to the BSN program, and that really helped me make up my mind LOL. Some states do require BSN entry into practice, so you should check that out before making your final decision.

I work in Atlanta, and it is getting harder for new grads to find a job in an area they like. Work is out there, but you might not be in the area you want.

Good luck!