NBR: need some help with my degree choice

chizekgeena

I was just about to start my nursing clinicals to obtain my RN in August but unfortunately I have to turn down my "seat" because I am due in Sept. Prior to this I was working on my Bachelors in Family and Human Development at one of my state universities and I am contemplating whether or not I should complete the degree. I honestly don't know what I can do with a degree in Family and Human Development. I honestly want to just get my bachelors over with. I have switched my major so many times and have even switched schools a couple times (yes, I am 5th year college student as of now). I must sound like the biggest flake but with baby coming I just really need to figure out a plan and my H and friends are getting tired of hearing me flip flop about this stuff.

Any ideas of what I should or could do with a Bachelors of Liberal Arts in Family and Human Development? I tried to ask my adviser this exact same question but she told me that a degree in liberal arts can get me pretty much any entrance career (she was very vague and didn't help much).

 

I know that it would make sense for me to just keep on pursuing my RN but since I have to turn down my acceptance into the program I would have to wait another year till I can reapply and by then I should be done with my Bachelors. 

dufferoo

I would rather wait a year than settle for a useless degree. I got my degree in philosophy years ago just to graduate and I can guarantee you that was a total waste of money! Why not take the year off, focus on your baby, and then reapply next year when you will probably be more eager to get back to school anyways? And who cares if your H and friends are tired of hearing about this! That's their job

NiniM22

What you may want to do is put off pursuing the RN degree for one year.  My ex studied to be an RN and the classes are tough even without having to care for a little one.  I would recommend going for the RN degree if that is what your heart desires, especially since the pay is really good.  You will need it to pay student loans and for little one.

 Good luck! 

SLHurst11

Sometimes just having the degree is enough to get any decent job.  My job has nothing to do with my degree at all (Mgmt Info Systems - software programming and database design).

Some places just like to see that you went through the extra effort and stuck it out.  Sounds lame, but your counselor saying that Liberal Studies or whatever gets you in the door is right.

LuckyMissus

OP, is the RN program a bachelor's degree?

If it isn't, I would point out that you can do a whole lot more with a finished bachelor's in anything than you can do with an almost bachelor's.  Remember, those credits might not be transferable at a certain point.  I'd knock the bachelor's out and move on from there. Lots of jobs give salary bumps just for having a degree. 

If the RN is a bachelor's program, then I would *maybe* wait to start that, and not finish up your current bachelor's. But, you know, bird in the hand... And you've come so far!  Don't get discouraged now.

dangerkitty102

jociejones:

I would rather wait a year than settle for a useless degree. I got my degree in philosophy years ago just to graduate and I can guarantee you that was a total waste of money! Why not take the year off, focus on your baby, and then reapply next year when you will probably be more eager to get back to school anyways? And who cares if your H and friends are tired of hearing about this! That's their job

This. Unless you are so close that you can just take a couple of classes online and and get your degree, I'd wait. It will be really hard with a baby anyways. 

dixneuf

I'd get my BA just to have my BA as a jumping off point. I started with a liberal arts degree too and it's been a non issue for any job I've ever wanted, although I suppose WHERE you go to school plays a role in that too. 

rarazz

Honestly getting a useless degree was one of the stupidest things I have ever done. Unless you can get a degree by only taking a extra class or two I would just wait and finish your RN.

mommybear77

I am in the same boat as you.  I was going for my RN did a semester of the clinicals and realized that my life just did not have room for school home, and that.  My program does their semesters in 10 week increments instead of 16 and it was just crazy, I had no time for my family at all.  I switched to the Human Service Bachelors program because I really love people, I was told I can also take some classes on drug addiction and become an Addiction Counselor.

So now I am pregnant and my first has severe Autism and I am trying to decide what to do.  I looked online and it looks like I can switch to Bachelors of Psychology with only having taken 2 classes that didn't count from the HS and 4 from the RN (sucks that I took all the extra.  The Psychology is all online, I can't imagine going full time right now at land classes so online may be my only option. 

The end result I wanted from either career was to become a teacher of it in a college so I plan to go to get my Masters and maybe PhD if I need to.  I really hate school right now, I am pretty bitter about missing out on my RN after all that work.  I guess the good thing is I have no idea how I would have worked midnights at a hospital for 5 years (usually how long you have to here as a new hire) with 2 kids and a husband that works afternoons.  Good luck on what you decide!!

mccrazy

I think you're asking the wrong question. Instead of asking which degree, you need to be asking which career(s). Sure, some jobs just require a bachelors in anything, but do you want some job or a specific job? If you want to be a nurse, and you feel very confident about this career choice, I'd highly recommend you pursue nursing. And if that's your choice then you'll need to decide if you want to wait a year and start clinicals for an RN or transfer to a BSN program. A BSN is preferred and will open the door for more opportunities (management, advanced degrees, NP), but if you think you'd rather just get the RN so you can start working, there are plenty of RN-BSN track programs and many hospitals will provide tuition reimbursement for that.

You can always find something if you just need the income, but try to think long term. It's not worth it to waste any more time or money on a useless degree unless you honestly have no idea what you want to do. 

natgkelley

I agree with above.

I would look into a Bachelor's program and take the non-nursing classes you will need over the next year, then re-apply. Or take the year off and enjoy your kids since nursing school=no life (I've been there and I had no kids and worked part time).

You can also look into PCA or med tech program so you could get your start working in a hospital while waiting. Experience does go a long way. It will also help with nursing school and you will know if you'll like the health care setting.

I was in college for 5 years before I graduated so don't feel bad. Now I am a full time Pediatric ER RN and I love it. GL!