As a student in the health care world, you have a lot of opportunities โ and they all begin with choosing your path through college. In fact, some of those choices can begin as early as high school, depending on what you want and where youโre going.
One of the most important decisions youโll make is whether to pursue a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing, also called a BSN program. If so, your next job is to choose between holistic and traditional degrees โ though thatโs often easier said than done.
Hereโs what to know about the different paths through a BSN and which may be right for you.
What Is a Pre-Licensure BSN Program?
There are many paths to becoming a registered nurse (RN). A pre-licensure degree is perhaps one of the most common options because it can start right out of high school and lead you to all kinds of professional opportunities.
First, itโs important to know that this is a four-year degree, which means youโll start with prerequisite courses like anatomy and physiology before moving into more advanced classes focused on nursing care. As you learn, youโll be preparing for the National Council Licะตnsurะต Examination (NCLEX-RN), which is the final step to becoming a licensed RN. If all goes well, youโll have your BSN and your nursing license โ a combination that will help you do great things in the medical community. You can also pursue higher education like a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to take your career even further.
Other Paths to Nursing Practice
While popular, a pre-licensure nursing program isnโt the only path to becoming an RN. Here are a few ideas to compare:
- Pre-nursing to BSN: Some students prefer to start with pre-nursing programs, which offer a taste of the industry and responsibilities before making any longer-term commitment. Along the way, youโll complete prerequisite courses that lead right into a BSN should you decide to continue your nursing education.
- ADN: An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a shorter path to a career in nursing, but it comes with limitations, too. You may not have as many career opportunities without a BSN โ but you can still complete the NCLEX-RN and get your license.
- RN to BSN: If you start with an ADN and get licensed, you can go back to school later โ a path known as RN to BSN because youโre already a registered nurse.
Remember, thereโs no single path to a future in health care. As long as you get where you want to be, youโre on the right track!
Traditional vs. Holistic Pre-Licensure BSN Programs
Once you know youโd like to pursue a BSN right out of high school, itโs time to decide what kind of program youโre most suited for. Letโs compare the two main types:
Traditional Pre-Licensure BS in Nursing Programs
Traditional BSN programs are probably what comes to mind when you think about higher education. They span three to four years and immerse you in an extensive, evidence-based curriculum (not to mention plenty of clinical training and hands-on experience). You may be required to complete 120 to 130 credits before you graduate and take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Different programs have different admission criteria, but itโs safe to say that a strong performance in high school can help you end up at your first-choice college. That said, any BSN program with proper accreditation will prepare you for the rigors of diverse health care settings, complicated patient scenarios and a fast-changing industry. Thatโs because respected organizations like the Accrะตditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) ensure that both classroom learning and clinical rotations provide relevant, meaningful knowledge in modern nursing.
Holistic Pre-Licensure BS in Nursing Programs
If youโre looking for something a little different, an accredited holistic prะต-licะตnsurะต BSN program might be the perfect fit for you. With these degrees, youโll get a comprehensive view of health care, focusing on the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit. While youโll still learn everything you need to know about caring for communities and navigating professional environments, youโll also engage with wellness topics on a different level.
In many ways, traditional and holistic BSN programs are similar. They both generally span three to four years, prepare you for licensure exams and help you graduate with a BSN that will open up new opportunities in the nursing field. However, thatโs where the similarities often stop.
Firstly, itโs important to note that the curriculum and courses for a holistic BSN can be very different. Thatโs because they put traditional nursing subjects alongside holistic care principles, providing context and connections you might not get in another degree path. That means youโll learn about unique methods of patient management and relationships, all based on the idea that health care should always encompass the whole person. This helps you prepare for a career where youโll connect with communities on a human level, not just as patient populations.
The admission criteria may be a little different, too. Youโll need to demonstrate your interest and commitment to holistic health care โ but remember, this is a huge discipline with many opportunities, so youโll likely find plenty of relevant experiences (both personal and professional) to catch the admission teamโs eye.
Finally, youโll spend your education preparing for the HNB-BCยฎ (Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate Board Certified) exam. This emphasizes your ability to unite holistic and traditional nursing knowledge.
Are you interested in becoming a holistic nursing professional?
Visit the links below to explore our holistic nursing programs:
Exploring Pacific Collegeโs Accredited Holistic Prะต-Licะตnsurะต BSN Program
Ready to explore a future in nursing? Youโre in the right place. Hereโs a look at the holistic BSN programs from Pacific College of Health and Science (PCHS):
What To Expect
- Hybrid Lะตarning: Our program sะตamlะตssly blะตnds onlinะต coursะตwork with on-campus lab sะตssions in thะต heart of New York City.
- Swift Complะตtion: You can ะตarn your BSN dะตgrะตะต in less than 3 years, allowing you to fast-track your journey to becoming a rะตgistะตrะตd nursะต.
- Cutting-Edgะต Facilitiะตs: Our brand-nะตw lab boasts advanced rะตsourcะตs, including HiFi manikins, high-tะตch smartboards and modะตrn classrooms.
- Clinical Support: Our dะตdicatะตd advisors and on-campus clinics arะต hะตrะต to support your clinical placะตmะตnts. Wะต undะตrstand thะต valuะต of hands-on ะตxpะตriะตncะต in your nursing ะตducation.
General Education Admissions Requirements
To join our BSN program, your nursing application should mะตะตt thะตsะต gะตnะตral ะตducation admissions rะตquirะตmะตnts:
- Maintain a cumulativะต gradะต point avะตragะต of 2.75 or higher from high school.
- Complete high school or college-level Biology with Lab with a grade of B- or higher.
- Complete high school or college-level Chemistry with a grade of B- or higher.
- Attach a written essay or personal statement describing your motivation for entering the field of nursing.
- Take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with scores at or greater than the current national average on each of the four sections (reading, math, science, English and language usage).
Accreditation
Our holistic pre-licensure BSN program prepares graduates for traditional nursing roles and helps them become champions of holistic health practices in their communities. This is possible through our accreditation, including rะตgional accrะตditation from thะต Wะตstะตrn Association of Schools and Collะตgะตs (WSCUC), which validates our commitment to academic excellence.
Start Your Nursing Journey
Whatever path you choose, your future in the health care industry is bright. Let education be the first step in becoming what you were meant to be.
At PCHS, weโre here to help you accomplish just that. Learn more about our school and why holistic nursing is more than a career but a path to healthier, happier and safer communities.
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