Running head: RN-BSN DEGREE COMPLETION PLAN

RN-BSN Degree Completion Plan

Erin Ludwick
Ferris State University

RN-BSN Degree Completion Plan

Completing a bachelors degree has always been a dream of mine that, at one point, I
never thought I would achieve. I am proud of what I have accomplished so far, but am anxious to
finish the long road ahead of me. Anxiety and fear are the strongest descriptions of how I
feel when I think about the future. By sitting down and planning my next steps, I have changed
those descriptions to excitement and encouragement. I am ready for the challenge!
Reasons for seeking BSN
There are countless reasons for ADN-nurses to pursue their bachelors degree. Many
would agree that the ever-changing hospital requirements play a big role in why many complete
their undergraduate degrees. Numerous hospitals are striving to reach Magnet status, which is
where the American Nurses Credentialing Center acknowledges that a hospital employs only
BSN-nurses (Boyd, 2010). While this does play a small role in why I want to achieve my BSN, it
does not encompass my reasoning in its entirety. The medical center where I currently work does
not require a BSN degree to work as a nurse, nor has there been any talk (publicly) about trying
to achieve the Magnet status. However, I am uncertain to what the future will bring. If I need to
change jobs or change hospitals, I want to be prepared. Having a bachelors degree will put me
ahead of the game and may give me that extra push in an interview process. It shows that I took
the initiative to go back to school and complete my bachelors, even though I had the minimum
requirements for my job (my RN license).
A second and more prevalent reason for me to finish my bachelors degree is my goal of
becoming a Nurse Practitioner (NP). In order to become an NP, a nurse needs two things:
experience and a bachelors degree. By obtaining my ADN first, I am able to work and gain
experience while completing my bachelors degree. Doing this may lessen the amount of time I
will be out of school and allow me to feel more comfortable with going back for a graduate
degree. In the big picture, it appears it is taking me longer. When I think about it, it just seems
right for me.
Strengths and weaknesses
I have numerous strengths that can assist me in attaining my goal. My biggest strength is
that I am organized when it comes to school. Every semester, I grab a daily planner and colorcode my classes and assignment due dates. I add in my work schedule and any other outside
activity in order to plan my homework accordingly. On days that I have no plans, I schedule my
homework as needed. My usual schedule is 45-minutes of homework, followed by 15-minutes of

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free-time. This has been my organization plan since starting college and has always worked for
me.
Another strength I have is that I have a history of taking full class loads during each
semester. Although this doesnt seem like much, in my mind it proves that I have done this
before and it is possible. Each semester gets more challenging, and I am up for the challenge. My
stubborn personality gives me the we will not fail attitude even when my mind wants to quit.
My family is incredibly supportive, which is also a huge positive for my achievements. They
understand when I cant make family functions and are always encouraging me to do my best.
Finally, I can honestly say that I work well under pressure. I know what my duties are
and will do whatever I need to in order to achieve my goals. By constantly challenging myself, I
am building confidence and trust in my decisions. I become more reliable as a student and as a
nurse.
While I have a few minor weaknesses that will only provide small bumps in the road, my
biggest weakness may trump all of my strengths. I have always struggled with time management.
Although I am good at organization, I am still a procrastinator at heart. I am easily distracted
when I know I have extra time to complete my tasks. This is why I feel more comfortable
working under pressure; it seems to be when I actually get all my work done. Admitting that I
have this fault is a big step in overcoming it, but it is only the first step. I have been changing my
homework and study habits in order to combat this weakness, but I still procrastinate from time
to time.
Sequencing and timeline
In order to complete my bachelors degree dream, I have completed a semester-tosemester plan. My plan began this semester by finishing my English and biostatistics class
requirements and starting my nursing requirements. When I first started, I had many questions
about class load and what to take first. Katie Lair really stepped up and patiently answered all my
questions until I felt completely comfortable with my semester plan. It was after her advice that
deviated slightly from the suggested plan. My goal is to get done as soon as possible, but with a
full-time job and family I knew I wouldnt be able to complete the full-time track. I am aiming
for the part-time accelerated track, with a few tweaks. The part-time accelerated track suggests
taking 7-10 credits per semester, over a course of five semesters (Ferris State University, 2013).
My current goal is to take 9-10 credits per semester. My second semester will include Transition
into Professional Nursing, Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness (which will be my
Nursing elective), and a Humanities course which will satisfy both my cultural enrichment and
global consciousness requirement. During the summer semester, I will be considered a full-time
student as my goal is to take nine credits. I will be finishing Population Based Health
Promotion, Community Nursing, and Research in Nursing during that time. This leaves
three classes for me to complete during my fourth (and possibly final) semester: Leadership in
Nursing, Nursing Capstone, and Senior Capstone Leadership Practicum. This last semester
is not set in stone yet, I may push the last class into a fifth semester depending on how I handle
the summer classes and where I am in life at that point. Ten credits is a lot to take while working
full-time, so I am prepared to change my plan as needed.
I have deviated my first few semesters from the suggested course of plan because of
advice from past students. A few of the classes were switched in order to achieve ease into
others. For instance, I took my Biostatistics and Epidemiology class earlier than suggested
because I was told it will help when understanding material for Population Based Health

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Promotion and Community Nursing. I am also taking my last general education requirement
early in order to put my complete focus on nursing for my last two semesters. Some consider
taking a different subject a break, but it has worked best for me in the past to take the same
subject-classes together.
Barriers and Plan
I have three major barriers that I am anticipating while completing this program. The first
barrier is my new job. I am currently a Surgical Intensive Care nurse at a very busy medical
center. I will be switching from day-shift to midnight-shift by the end of October. This shift
change will affect my organization, and I will need to adapt a new study plan. I will take into
consideration the amount of sleep I will need, when my days off will be, and any other stressors
that may come up (doctors appointments, family plans, etc.). This is an actual barrier that I am
anticipating because I know it is going to affect me psychologically and emotionally for the first
month as I transition into a different schedule. This is just part of adulthood and the trials we face
in the nursing profession. Because I know it is coming, I am able to plan accordingly and
hopefully alleviate any discrepancies in my study habits ahead of time.
The second major barrier is a potential one, and hopefully a happy one! My husband and
I are hoping to expand our family and have a child within the next year. Many factors will come
into play here, as it is not a guarantee that we will succeed. I have prepared for the birth of a
baby in my plan by making multiple other plans for me to choose from, if the time comes to do
so. The plans vary by class amount and potential semesters off, depending on the need. I will
drop down to 1-2 classes per semester. The good news is that I will know nine months in
advance, so I will be able to plan accordingly. The bad news is that pregnancy may not go as
smoothly for me due to previous medical conditions I have had, so I may need to relax my
schedule a little sooner than need-be.
The third and final barrier I see in completing this program is the fact that my husband
and I are paying for school out of pocket. We have been paying for his schooling at Northwood
University for two years now, and he graduates in December of this year. We have planned ahead
and saved every extra dollar we had in order to cover the expenses of both schools (as well as
any unplanned expenses, if need be). We also consulted a financial advisor to aide us in financial
planning and budgeting to get us through school and the possibility of a child in the future. This
has really put our minds at ease. We are aware that, given the recent circumstances at both our
established jobs, there is always a chance of being laid off. If this is the case, we have a back-up
plan in order to combat our financial loss. Our last resort is to take out student loans.
Conclusion
I am very pleased I have been able to lay out a plan for my future. I am lucky enough to
have a school that gives multiple options for completion of their RN-BSN program. This will be
a challenging endeavor, but I feel the reward will be well worth the wait.

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References
Boyd, T. (2010, October 18). Hospitals begin to require BSNs, arent waiting on BSN in 10
legislation. Nursing Spectrum. Retrieved from
http://news.nurse.com/article/20101018/NATIONAL01/310180001
Ferris State University (2013). RN to BSN completion program - course schedule. Retrieved
from http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/colleges/alliedhe/Nursing/RN-to-BSN/Schedule1.pdf