by C. Lyn Walter

Created on: January 22, 2009

The difficulties of getting a degree in Nursing
Becoming an RN requires commitment to an intense but not impossible college level education. For someone who has determined this to be their preferred course of study, it is a matter of researching options, evaluating information and coming to an informed decision regarding when, where and how to reach such a goal.

In my personal experience, I can say I have not found there to be any insurmountable difficulties in obtaining a nursing degree. I attended a community college many years ago and there I took the usual prerequisites for an Associate of Arts Degree. These classes included English, American and World History, Speech, Algebra (6 units), Chemistry (5 units) Psychology, Sociology, Physical Education, etc.

Once I decided to apply for the RN program I was required to take Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology, along with standard nursing classes. For information on a nursing program at the community college level, simply search for a nursing program locally, then select nursing information. If you are looking for a four year BSN program search the state and private universities as well.

At the time I entered the local community college I was married with 6 children at home. It was a big undertaking but also a lot of fun and becoming a successful nursing student did much to increase my personal growth. The Nursing Program prepared it's graduates for the National Council of Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and to perform as entry level registered nurses. The entire process took three years.

After graduation, I was determined to obtain my BSN in nursing but found myself putting it off till later, while striving to become certified in Case Management, Utilization Review Legal Nurse Consulting and also becoming an experienced OR nurse. Many years had passed since completing the Associate Degree Nursing program but the nagging desire to go back to school for my BSN was relentless.

I am very pleased to have recently completed my BSN through The University of Phoenix. I cannot say enough about the experience and I would recommend it to any nurse who is committed to life long learning and the process of enhancing his or her professionalism. Exposing oneself to higher education is a definite benefit, no matter how experienced we have become and no matter our age.

I applied to the UOP about two years ago and found no difficulty in being accepted. The most difficult aspect was the financial consideration

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