Hello,

I am currently in my second year at an ADN program. I am trying to decide between a Biology degree and BSN. I understand the pros and cons of each degree in applying for NA school.

My question is for those of you that went the ADN to BSN route. For the program I am looking into, the format is distance learning, internet and ITV sites. Classes are in a block style meaning I will make the 3 and a half hour drive every other week and have all of my classes on one day. It is purposely formatted this way because it is the only college in Northern MN to offer a BSN program and in this way allows you to continue working.

Finally to my question. How tough are the classes for the bridge between RN to BSN? Are they as grueling as the ADN program? I would really appreciate some input so that I may plan the best route of education.

Thank you so much for any advice/information.

Theresa

Many online BSN programs do not require any clinicals other than a practicum which has to be done in the last semester. Look at the University of Delaware. They offer an excellent program, where you only have to go to the university for three weekends throughout the whole program. When I attended those weekend classes there were students from all over the country. Your practicum can be arranged at a facility of your choice. The courses are not as intense as in an ADN, but you do have to be disciplined as there are strict deadlines for each course. If you are going to have to drive for 3.5 hrs every other week you might want to consider another school where it is a "real" online program.

I had the same dilemma, I was debating between the RN/BSN or biology route. I was considering med or crna school. After talking to the adviser at the university about the biology degree, I decided to go the easier and softer route, which was the RN/BSN. Mainly because they ( the university) did not know what to do with many of the clinical hours from the ADN program. I was not even going get anywhere close to the 72 hours I had earned in the ADN program. So I went into the RN/BSN program where they accepted all my hours.

And the classes were in general not as grueling as many of the nursing coureses I took in the ADN program. Plus no clinicals, at all. However, there was plenty of busy work and not many classes that helped advance my knowledge in the clinical setting. Now you will learn how to be profficent in writing APA style papers. You do many papers, but that is okay because you should know how to write well if you receive a bachelors degree. And you must write well if you plan to survive a masters program.

Now if you were already in a biology track prior to getting a ADN, your experience may be different.

Check the requirements for the schools you wish to apply to. Some schools will only accept a BSN, whereas others will accept a science-related bachelor's degree. The BSN will definitely be easier to obtain. My first degree was in bio and it was pretty darn tough.

Thank you for all of your replies. The few schools I intend to apply to accept Biology or BSN degrees. I'm relieved to see that it is alot "busy" work for the RN to BSN bridge compared to the intensity of the ADN program. I was going to go the Biology route (I may still work on that while obtaining my BSN), but found a BSN program up north in MN. They have a block style schedule - classes from 9:00 am to 8:20 pm one day a week on campus. Campus for me is 3 hours away. The following week is at an ITV site close to my home. Clinicals will likewise be near my home.

I am not afraid of a challenge as far as Biology being a tougher degree - I LOVE my science courses and have done well thus far. Maybe I'm a geek after all. However, I like MICU RN above, discovered that it will take much longer to obtain the Bio degree because they do not know what to do with all of my credits thus far. The BSN program will only take 2 years. I figure maybe I can take more BIO classes along the way. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with 2 degrees.

Theresa