3 Comments so far

1. CollegeM on January 21, 2010 12:07 am

   Before addressing the nursing, a note on the other two options. Becoming a Pediatrician is a very very long road. Not a bad one, just one that will not show results for years to come, and it can get very expensive to train. Very rewarding though.
   As for the teaching, this is probably the easiest of the three options, as far as obtaining the training. You would seek a degree in Early Childhood Development, which is a 4-year program. It also pays the least. If you do this, be very very careful not to get a criminal record over some silly little mistake, as this can keep you from being hired.
   Now…
   1) Is it better to attend a community college&get my associates or attend a university&get my BSN ?
   It always looks better on a resume to do the university, but the cc would be cheaper. You can get the 2-year at either place, but the 4-year is only aailable through the university.
   2) If I attend a community college and switch into a university to get my BSN do I need to take 4 more years of college after my 2 from the community college or will it be 2 years from then community college plus 2 more years from the university?
   You would only take 2 more years, IN THEORY. The problem is that each college has different requirements, so some of your cc credits might not transfer over to the university, meaning that you would have to re-take them. The most foolproof way would be to do both your 2-year and 4-year at the university.
   3) If I take a community college plus a university will I have my associates and my BSN or just one or the other ?
   You will have both, but the Associates becomes pretty much a moot point since everyone with the BSN had to get the Associate’s. So, you’ll have both, but the first one won’t really matter once you get the BSN.
   4) Will I have to become a pediatric nurse to help kids or will the R.N. take care of it ? After the R.N. do I need to take extra years of college to become a pediatric nurse ? Do R.N.’S and pediatric nurses do the same things or are they totally different ?
   There is no special college degree for being a PN (Pediatric Nurse.) Once you have your nursing degree, you can apply to be a PN at a hospital, where they will give you any additional training necessary. However, these positions are HIGHLY sought after by other nurses, because Pediatrics tend to be one of the cheerier sections of the hospital, and most hospitals promote “in house,” meaning that they offer new positions to current employees first. Therefore, as a new employee, you’d be competing with nurses that have 20 years of experience, and you’d have to “do your time” before getting one of these prized spots. As for working as a PN in a doctor’s office, you’ll again be going up against applicants with much more experience. I’m not trying to discourage you, just making you aware that you will most likely have to work in another specialty at first.
   You can, however, make your resume more attractive while in college, by taking a few classes in Early Childhood Education, and perhaps Child Psychology. That’s the benefit of the university versus the cc; you can take classes in many areas.
   last question (hopefully)
   5) After 2 years of community college can I just take classes on-line at a university ? is that better ?
   You can’t earn your BSN entirely online. However, most colleges let you take SOME classes online. At mine, for example, you can take A&P and Medical Terminology online, but you still have most classes on campus.
   Now…you should keep something in mind. No matter what, you’re getting your Associate’s. Many nurses (most maybe?) begin working once they have that, and continue to work toward the BSN. Many hospitals will help their employees with tuition, and as the BSN spots at most colleges are limited and competitive, being able to show that you’re already working in your field will move you up on that list.
   If money is too tight or your grades won’t allow for the university, the do the cc. However, if you’re able to, I would absolutely do the university, hands-down. Not only will it be better professionally, but you’ll be taking a variety of other classes, which will enrich your life and keep you from getting strung-out from the monotony of endless nursing courses.
   Another note; avoid the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) programs; they are almost as much work as an Associates, pay squat, and are being hired less and less, due to the fact that they aren’t qualified to perform the same duties as an RN.
   Finally, my college uses an Algebra assessment to rank you, to determine if you’ll get a BSN spot. Make sure to keep those math grades up, and find out the earliest date you’re allowed to apply for the BSN program; you want your app in early, and you want to be ready to dazzle them with math!
   Good luck to you!
   Karen

2. Cnristop on January 21, 2010 1:01 am

   1. If you get accepted and have a scholarship or whatever, I would say go to a university. But if you don’t have the money, choose the community college. i mean it’s only 2 yrs to be an rn. You could always transfer to a university or work
   2. I’m pretty sure you’ll just have to take 2 more years not 4 more years.
   3. I’m not sure if you could attend both at the same time. You could get your associates first and then go get your BSN. So you would have 2 degrees.
   4. Not sure, I’m not a nursing student
   5. Yea you could. It might depend on your college and class.
   Sorry I wish i knew more.

3. Found-1 on January 21, 2010 1:52 am

   1. RN’s with a 4 year BSN make more money than 2 year RN’s from community colleges.
   2. You would take 2 years of classes at a community college and then take 2 years at a university. Be sure when you enroll in classes at the community college your advisors understand your goal is to transfer to get your BSN. The courses to get your 2 year RN at a community college are COMPLETLEY different than those to transfer to be a 4 year RN (BSN).
   3. You could get your associates degree from the community college before you transfer, but you would need to be mindful of 2 things. The requirements to get into the nursing program at the University and the requirements necesary to get your Associates degree. They are not always the same thing. Also note your associates degree WOULD NOT be in nursing. It would probably be in Libral Studies or another generic Associate of Science degree designed to transfer to a university.
   4. Honestly, I dont think there is such a thing as specialized training to be a pediatric nurse. At least, if it is – its not available everywhere (which tells me its not needed much), because most nurses get hired by the hospital and do time in lots of different areas in the hospital before they find their niche. Areas in high demand like pediatric nurses will always higher from within.. (someone who already works in the hosptal, just waiting to work with the babies.)
   5. You will not be able to get the last two years of your nursing BSN degree at an all on-line school. At least, I certainly hope not!!! You would have better luck taking all your general education requirements for your assoicates degree online. (Math, Science, Anatomy, Freshman Comp) these are the classes that will be most often offered on line. Not your upper level nursing classes.