Running Head: RN to BSN: My Plan

RN to BSN: My Plan Melissa B. Scholtens Ferris State University

RN to BSN: My Plan

BSN Timeline and Class Completion

Through continued education I intend to transform my Associates Degree in Nursing into a Bachelors Degree in Nursing over the next seven continuous semesters. My plan is to complete this degree part time so as to hopefully achieve a harmonious balance between work, school and home. With the exception of two semesters where I will have to take more than one class at a time, I will only be completing one Nursing class each semester. Upon completion of my ADN through Ferris I had already completed all of the non-nursing pre-requisites, therefore greatly reducing the amount of credits and requirements to be completed or met during this completion program (Appendix A). I plan to complete the Nursing classes in the suggested course sequence for optimal program success (Ferris State University, Attachment). Having completed all of the pre-requisites with the exception of one elective nursing class, I have the option to complete this elective in any semester that it is offered and still at maximum only have to balance two classes at one time. One of my nursing and personal goals has been to volunteer in a disaster area. As part of my preparation for such an opportunity, my plan is to complete NURS 319 (Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness) as my nursing elective option. NURS 319 is offered during the spring semesters, so my intent is to complete this class Spring of 2012.

RN to BSN: My Plan

Financing a BSN
My employer offers tuition assistance for degrees that are in demand, and a Bachelors of Nursing is considered an in demand field thus granting me $3,000.00 in non-taxed assistance each year. The allotted amount of $3,000.00 a year will cover close to all but one class and books making this program possible without tremendous financial ramifications.

Support Systems
My husband Duane is a pillar. Duane is the best support system that I could pray and hope for. Having a supportive, intelligent, rational spouse to bounce ideas off from and to cheer me on when I am losing ground is priceless. Duane finished his Masters degree a few years into our marriage, so he is acutely aware of the time demands and challenges associated with continuing education. Many of my close friends are either completing their Bachelors degrees or working on attaining a Masters Degree making it helpful to be able to interact with others who know to a certain extent exactly what you are going through. My manager at work is not only a manager, but a friend and a tremendous supporter as well, who I think hopes when I am done will apply for and take her position so she can retire!

Barriers to a BSN
The biggest barrier I foresee myself needing to overcome is that of trying to keep myself on track with school while not feeling as if I am cheating my children or my husband from time spent with them. I think that it is going to be a delicate balance

RN to BSN: My Plan

between my family, my continued schooling and my full-time career. Another barrier that I tend to encounter in any endeavor is that of my need for perfection. I am perfectionist to a fault at times, and while there are circumstances where this trait is desirable, it is not always an asset when attempting to manage several aspects of life at one time. Overall I believe that my support systems and desire to succeed will overcome any and all barriers and I will attain my goal of a baccalaureate in Nursing.

RN to BSN: My Plan References Ferris State University. (2011, February 14). College of Allied Health Sciences. RN to

BSN Completion Program-Schedule of Courses. Effective Fall 2011. Retrieved from www.ferris.edu.

Appendix A
St u d e nt ID N u m b er :

10144449 Melissa
First Middle

Advisor:

Scholt ens
Last

Dionne Serges
sergesd@ferris. edu

Current Status
Gr ad e Po int Av er ag e
Total Number of credits at the 300-400 level: Total Number of Ferris State University Credits: Tot al Nu m be r of Cr edi ts Ea rn ed :

40

Minimum of 40 required

60

Minimum of 30 required

Minimum of 120 are required

Pre fix

C re di t

C o m pl et e d =

S e m es te r

L oc ati on

F S U Cr e di ts

3 0 0 or Hi g h er

Prefix

C re di t

C o m pl et e d =

Se mes ter

L oc at io n

F S U Cr e di ts

3 0 0 or Hi g h er

X or R e gi st er e d = R
Co re: 8 cr ed its re qu ire d
RN lic en se or RN lic en se or RN lic en se or Epi de mi olo gy & St ati sti cs CCH S 101 CCH S 102 CCH S 103 3 X

X or R e gi st er e d = R

Major: 66 credits

ADN or Diploma

40

NURS 320

Fall 2011

NURS 324

Sprin g 2012

CCH S 315

FS U

NURS 310

Sum mer 2012

Communi cations: 12 credits required

ENG L 150 ENG L 250 ENG L 321 3 3 3 x x x MC C MC C FS U 3 3

NURS 340

Sprin g 2013 Fall 2012 Sum mer 2013 Fall 2013

NURS 350 NURS 440 NURS 450

3 3 3

3 3 3

3 3 3

Ad va nc ed Co m po

siti on Co m m uni cat ion s Ele c: CO M M 10 5, 12 1, 20 0, 22 1, 20 1 or 25 1

NURS 495

Fall 2013

COM M 105

MC C

Nursing Elective

Scientific Understanding (SU): 7 credits required

SU Ele cti ve (in c lab ) SU Ele cti ve

NURS 300, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319

NURS 319

Sprin g 2012

BIOL 205

FS U

Global Consciousness (GC): 3 credits required

CHE M 114

FS U

SPAN 101

FS U

na

na

Social Awareness (SA): 9 credits required

SA Fo un da tio n co ur se SA Ele cti ve SA Ele ct (2 00 +

PLSC 121

MC C

SOC Y 340 PSYC 325

3 3

x x

FS U FS U

3 3

3 3

lev el)

Quantitat ive: 3 credits required

MA TH 11 5 or 11 7 or AC T Su bs cor e 24 +

MAT H 115

FS U

Cultural Enrichment (CE): 9 credits required

CE Ele cti ve CE Ele cti ve CE Ele cti ve (2 00 + lev el) SPA N 101 MUSI 228 3 x FS U FS U 3

Legend -X=Completed and R=Registered. Semester = year + 01 for spring/Winter semester year + 05 for summer semester year + 08 for fall semester

HUM N 220

FS U

To tal s

32

12

28

28

To Be Completed When Conducting a Graduation Audit

I hereby certify that to be eligible to graduate from Ferris State University, I must fulfill the requirements as stated in the University Bulletin and as indicated above. Should I interrupt my studies and not continuously enroll until these requirements are met (not including summer semester), and if changes are made in my curriculum, I may need to complete requirements other than those stated above. Co nfi rm ed by Ad vis or: Gr ad Au dit to St

Projected Graduation:

ud en t: