[Kabin]

Originally Posted by ali_gator

Many hospitals are willing to make one's loan payments for as long as he/ she works for them. .... The school I'll be attending is a top one (they have a 90% pass rate for the NCLEX) and I'll be proud to put it on my resume..

Yep, that's always an option. Just beware of strings being attached.

I'm not aware of any schools in my area that have low NCLEX pass rates. I think almost all are over 90%. And to be honest, standardized test pass rates aren't necessarily a good indicator of a school's quality as it's easy to "teach to the test."

Originally Posted by ali_gator

Many state colleges have B.S.N programs, and they do not cost too much more than community colleges.

Your results may vary. It all depends on the state's financial condition and education philosophy. Most states aren't doing that well financially as the federal government has lowered funding nearly across the board.

[BETSRN]

Originally Posted by momandnurse28

Let me first start out by saying I am an ASN RN plannining on going onto at least my BSN. My feeling is that if we want to be taken seriously as a profession, a BSN should be the entry level. All other professionals recieve 4 year degrees. By only requiring 2 years or worse dimploma nurses- we are lumped into all the other technical fields- mechanics, electricians, hairdressers. Not to knock anyone at all...but, we are medical professionals who take people's lives into our hands everyday and I would personally feel better if all nurses had 4 years of college. You need four years to be a teacher, an accountant, or a biologist...why not nurse? I know this is a huge debate with many contributing factors- the nursing shortage, the lack of nursing intructors, ect...but I wanted to open it up to debate! I think this requirement would earn us more respect and maybe more wage. I know my program lacked some basic science, health promotion and maintainance, assessment and pharmacology classes that would have better prepared me as a nurse. My whole class felt lacking in Pharmacology and demanded the class be added only to be told there was no room in our 2 year program. This is just one school, but; I'm sure there are others out there with the same problem. What ever you decide...education is never a waste of time and money!

A BSN is not going to earn nurses any more respect until we stop back biting and stabbing each other. Also, until we all learn to stand up to MD's and demand respect, it isn't going to happen either.

[Ventjock]

........

[Rosa2Little]

I agree that you need to do what's best for you. I'm in a BSN program that will take me 2 1/2 years (I have an associates degree, but it was not in nursing). For me that worked out best.

When I was doing my pre-req's at a local CC, I had many classmates that were pursuing an ADN that had a B.S. and one also had a M.S. The ADN program fit their needs and goals better than a BSN or accelerated MSN program.

Decide what you want and find the best path for you. All this debate about who/what is better is counter-productive.

[rhinojogger]

Originally Posted by nursingyoursoul

Would someone tell me what ADN is?

It means Associate Degree Nursing

[alejuandria]

Originally Posted by mary777

BSN is only 4 years, 2 years of prerequisites other 2 years of nursing program. True, BSN is better, but anything else is not neccessarily a waste of time. Just do what you think is best for you. Remember depending what area you live you will get paid more. some other places you get paid the same. Check out careerbuilder.com or monster.com, and look up RN positions, check for requirements to apply, you'll see.

2 years of prerequisites and 2 years of nursing program is not the standard for all nursing programs. The BSN program that I am currently enrolled is actually three years of nursing courses. During your sophmore year you are taking both prerequisites and nursing courses. To be exact 6 nursing courses.

[alejuandria]

Originally Posted by ali_gator

I read Nursing Against the Odds, and the author, Suzanne Gordan, advocates for a BSN. Many nurses begin with an ADN because that is all that is available to them, but I feel it is in the best interest of all nurses if everyone has or is working towards a BSN. If we do this, hospitals can no longer use the "lack of education" card as a justification for inadequete pay, poor working conditions, etc. Gordan points out that teachers, who used to need only and associates, discovered that by increasing their education requirements, they were able to demand more money, better working conditions,and more respect.

It's not a matter of competence, or trying to argue over what degree produces the best nurses. It's a matter of nurses getting paid what they deserve, and no longer having to endure terrible working conditions. Education is power.

Couldn't have said it better!

[jsteine1]

Originally Posted by Chicklet2

I'm about to graduate as an LPN. I have considered taking my BSN, but was wondering if I should just get my RN or go for the BSN. Any thoughts?

30 years ago, I graduated from one of the most common ways at the time to become an RN, A hospital based diploma school of nursing. In '75, the 2 yr associate programs were just starting in many areas of the country and one by one the Diploma schools were just starting to close. At any rate, back then, a BSN to an extent was a rarity and often pursued along with a teaching or admin track. Look at the job postings for RNs these days, a BSN is a minimum requirement in many of the most sophisticated hospital systems, insurance companies and other business environments using registered nurses.
If you have the money and time to invest, go for that BSN. It may not occur in my lifetime, but I believe it wont be that long before a Masters is a minimum requirement. Having said that, I recently left the business world after 20 years as a healthcare executive and officer of a very large corporation. As I see it, I got lucky, had natural ability in sales, finance and management and was willing to work and travel 80 hours a week. Rewards, yes. Big price to pay in terms of personal time, also yes. Here's the rub: Im returning to Nursing now part-time and the jobs I really want and would be most successful at require a BSN and often an MSN or MBA. This is a definite trend and becoming stronger every day. Acquire the highest level of education you possibly can, advance degrees are rapidly becoming minimum requirements for entry level professionals.BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!!

[Tinkerbell2]

In our state, ADN/ASN's make the same amount. There are also mgmt. opportunities for ADN's who are qualified. (There is no difference).

Many nursing students start out with ADN/ASN, bridge over to BSN
(with online courses - local university); and some then bridge over
to MSN. I feel that the decision of whether to go for ADN/ASN
or BSN is simply a personal one and should be based on any long-
term goals. If you just want to be a nurse - try the ADN/ASN first.

[cosette123]

Originally Posted by Chicklet2

I'm about to graduate as an LPN. I have considered taking my BSN, but was wondering if I should just get my RN or go for the BSN. Any thoughts?

Hi...get that rn first....you may like nursing....but not necessarily want to ever be a manager...or a teacher...you may later want to do to other things.....and if you want you bsn...there are an abundance of rn to bsn programs for you to chose.........good luck......