Hi. I am enrolled for winter semester at
Napa community college for gen ed classes,
since I’m on the waiting list for their
2-year RN program. Now I’m thinking about
getting the gen ed requirements out of the
way here, and then transferring to get a BS
somewhere else. I’d like to ideally finish
up in another state, but I feel overwhelmed.
Where can I find a good listing of everything
that is available in an unbiased way? Also,
is there a way I can figure out which degree
I should shoot for?

Depends on what you want to do.

There is a home study course given by the New York Board of
Regents.

I know a few nurses who took the course. They said it was
convenient but expensive and very, very, difficult. They
said they took their clinical exams at St. Mary’s Hospital
in L.A. area (I think that is where it is) and you only get
no chances cannot make one mistake. Can take the exam over
only once. Others have said the give the same clinical exam
in Arizona and it is a little easier to pass. At St. Mary’s
I’m told if you forget a simple little thing like checking a
wrist band … you’re out!. Don’t know how much of this is
true. Sounds like a good idea to get your gen ed classes
out of the way.

Depending on your age I would go for the R.N. first. Then
pick my specialty. Then go for an advanced degree in that
specialty.

Your Community College should have the information you are
looking for in their Library.

I went straight for a BSN, and I would do it the same way all over again
if I had to. Check into the BSN program you want to get into and make
sure they accept all of the GUR’s you take at the community college. The
university I attended did not accept my microbiology credit from
community college and I had to take it over again (although the
community college micro course was more comprehensive than the
university course….go figure).

I have noticed that two year Community College programs are really three
years, and if you get your AA and RN first it’s not just another two
years for a bachelors, more like three. Depending on your circumstances,
if you have the time and money to invest in school, I’d recommend a BSN.
Good nursing education, good all around education.

How far you want to go for your degree really depends on what
you want, plus the time you can fit into your life for school.
You really need at least a BS these days – for more money and
opportunity. If you’re thinking more about a master’s, you
should consider becoming a nurse practitioner. With managed
health, there is a great need for NP’s. If you want to be in a
leadership position at a med research center/university, go for
the Phd, but that will mean less hands-on. http://www.petersons.com
has pretty detailed links that might give you a better idea of
which schools offers which programs, which may also add fuel to
your decision-making.

You might try looking at SUNY Stonybrook School of Nursing. They had on-line
distance learning nursing programs. They are located in NY

For those interested in Stonybrook’s distance learning programs the following
information is directly out of their guidebook for the Health Sciences Center:

!. There is a baccalaureate program for registered nurses who wish to complete
a bachelor’s degree which is offered both on-site and distant learning.

2. A Master’s of Science degree is available through distance learning in the
folowing areas:

Child Health, Family, Midwifery, Neonatal, and Psychiatric/Mental Health.

They have a website available at:

http://www.uhrnc.sunysb.edu/nursing