Help, I'm still confused on how to be a nurse.

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hello.</p>

<p>It seems that upon closer analysis of the steps required to become a nurse, which is what I want to be, I am confused about how to get there.</p>

<p>I live in California, and am interested in state schools, as almost all of them offer Nursing majors.
However, if I attend a state school as a nursing major, will I attain a Bachelors of Science in Nursing upon graduation (approx. 4 years?)</p>

<p>I am a junior and we are going to be visitng Sac State soon, and I was browsing on their website, which had a link about RN to BSN, so at what point do I become an RN? Aren't RN and BSN the same level of nursing?! Can I work as a RN without a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, is that how it works?</p>

<p>Please explain.</p>

<p>What other questions should I ask while I'm at Sac State?</p>

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<p>You can become an RN with an associates degree/2 year program. I think the reason why you see RN to BSN, is because it gives the options to people who are already Registered Nurses to continue their education. I don’t think in terms of employment it’ll make a difference if you have an Associates or a BSN. Maybe I’m incorrect, but I would think that the purpose of a RN to BSN program is to give RN’s the opportunity of going on to get a Masters to then become a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Anesthesiologist.</p>

<p>Some Cal States also list BSN programs (without the Rn to BSN) which I believe is just generally meant for those who are doing their RN program at a 4 year school, and as such you end up taking more classes in the liberal arts than just classes for your major(like you would at a community college)</p>

<p>You should ask at Sac State if there is a waiting list for the Nursing Program, and how long it is. I know of some Cal States that have a long waiting list for their nursing program, meaning you won’t finish your program in 4 years. You should also ask how long does it take a Nurse to graduate from a BSN program? Maybe ask what is the benefit to a BSN program over an Associates in Nursing</p>

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<p>I think those with BSNs can be in management at hospitals.</p>

<p>Anyway…investigate closely at Calif publics. Most/all of the nursing programs (AA and BSN) are all impacted. :(</p>

<p>Can you go out of state?</p>

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<p>In my experience working with a university health service they will only hire BSNs.</p>

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<p>Hospitals in my area are requiring all hires to be BSNs by 2015.</p>

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<p>I think the two-year RN programs are left over from the era when the bulk of RNs received all their training at hospitals rather than colleges. The four-year BSN program came along as a way to increase the “book-learning” to go with the hands-on experience. </p>

<p>My sister graduated from a two-year program and went to work. But she soon saw that she needed to go back and earn her BSN in order to make the most of her career. And this was back in the 1970s. I imagine the need for the BSN is far greater today.</p>

<p>I recommend that you consider only BSN programs. The two-year programs are dinosaurs these days.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for all of your replies- you don’t understand how much this helps me!</p>

<p>So I want to get my BSN in California- what are the best state collges and what should my SAT scores be? </p>

<p>Does Davis have a new nursing school opening up?</p>

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<p>Davis does not currently offer Nursing. A few UCs offer it, but it’s more of a Cal State thing.</p>

<p>Four year state schools offering nursing in CA:</p>

<p>Nursing B.S. (CSUB, CSUC, CSUCI, CSUDH, CSUEB, CSUFRES, CSUFULL, CSULA, CSULB, CSUN, CSUS, CSUSB, CSUSM, CSUSTAN, HSU, SDSU, SFSU, SJSU, SSU)
Nursing Registered Nurse B.S. (CSULB)
Nursing Science B.S. (UCI)
Nursing-RN-BS/Postlicensure/B.S. (UCLA)</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for your help, coureur.</p>

<p>Another question, what are the SAT scores for entry into a State college in Nursing?</p>

<p>I always considered that I was over-qualified for a State school, so I didn’t worry too much about my SAT scores, so now that I realize that it’s ultra-competitive, I am worrying - I am about to take my SAT’s for the first time in January. </p>

<p>What should I aim for?</p>

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<p>I got to SFSU with SAT 1810 and GPA 3.73 (W 4.17)
However I didn’t go.</p>

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<p>ok, so what’s the lowest do you think?</p>

<p>Also, what SAT Subject Tests should I take? I am thinking Biology E/M (What is that E/M for?) and Math 2. </p>

<p>Do I even need to take SAT Subject Tests for State colleges? I know that my generation is the first that doesn’t need then for UC’s, but what about CSU’s? I think kids my age just take them for privates, but I’m not really considering any privates, except maybe St. Mary’s.</p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

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<p>coureur, that’s JUST what I was going to say! My friend was a RN way before she went back to CSU Sacramento and got her BSN in 2002. Definitely get your BSN, the Bachelors of Science in Nursing. RN is simply the license/title of Registered Nurse, which you get after you complete the board exam. You’d have to look at the nursing application/admission requirements for each individual school and see what test scores they require, since they could differ. And don’t the in terms of the lowest range you can get, just do your best.</p>

<p>EDIT: *think, not the.</p>

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<p>‘E’ stands for “ecology”, while ‘M’ is for “molecular biology”. The test consists of a general biology section (60 questions), which must be taken by all test takers, and a specific section (20 questions) where you can choose either the ‘E’ or the ‘M’ modules.</p>