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Careers: Nursing/Different Paths?

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Expert: Ken RN, BSN, CCRN, MICN - 11/2/2009


Question
Hello Ken, I am struggling with the many different ways to go about getting a RN degree. I know you can apply to a 4 year, but at this time I don't have the financial ability to do so.
If I take the 2 year community college path what does that intel? Also do I need to get my actual associates degree and nursing pre-reqs done before I apply to a nursing program? Or can I just take my nursing pre-reqs, apply, and finish my degree after i get my certificate? Any help and clarity to this situation would be very appreciated.

Answer
Amy:

No...you do not need a separate associates degree. Just take all your prereqs for nursing first then apply to the 2 year nursing program. I would get the 2 year curriculum from the college for the RN associates degree to be sure you are taking all the correct classes. Make sure you get all A's and B's in the prereqs as that is what they will use to evaluate you for acceptance into the nursing program.

The 2 year RN degree is the best and most cost effective route to becoming a RN today. Then once you start working in a hospital, they will have tuition reimbursement for you to continue your education.

The recession has hurt new nursing grads, however, hopefully the economy will be better once you graduate. At this time I know a few unemployed new nurses. The cost of orientation has made hospitals rethink the hiring of new grads. Many hospitals are now hiring experienced nurses as they dont have to train them and they can work with a couple of day orientation as opposed to 4-6 months with new grads.

Good luck!

Ken RN, CCRN

Careers: Nursing

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Ken RN, BSN, CCRN, MICN

Expertise

I can answer questions regarding all aspects of Nursing as a career in general. If you need help deciding if nursing is a career for you, then let me help you with your decision. As an added bonus, I can answer your questions from the perspective of being a man in nursing who has a wife that is also a nurse. Men is nursing is more accepted today than it was when I began in 1993. Regardless of your gender, Nursing has so much to offer and is among the most respected professions of our time. I have been a registered nurse since 1993 and have been certified in Critical Care nursing since 1996. I am currently a full-time Critical Care Ground Transport Nurse/Mobile Intensive Care Nurse(MICN).

Experience

My experience over the years since 1993 have been spent between the Emergency Room and the Critical Care Units. More recently since 2007 I have been working in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as a Critical Care Transport Nurse/Mobile Intensive Care Nurse(MICN)/Emergency Medical Technician(EMT). This unit is known as the Specialty Care Transport Unit(SCTU). I transport all age populations with critical medical problems from Hospital A to Hospital B in the back of an ambulance. My job is to make sure this patient remains in the same or better condition and to handle any emergency that may arise during the over the road transport. BLS/ACLS/PALS/NRP/ITLS Certified Provider.

Organizations
American Association of Critical Care Nurses Honor Society of Nursing, Upsilon Rho Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International

Education/Credentials
BSN,Nursing/ Critical Care Registered Nurse(CCRN)/ Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN)/ Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/ AAS Business Management

Awards and Honors
American Ambulance Association-2009 Star of Life Recipient

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