[Tweety]

Originally Posted by lizz

Again, this is just my particular situation, it could be different elsewhere ...

Thanks for clarifying, that's what I was having trouble wrapping my mind around, is that ADNs take 3-4 years and BSNs take 4 years. I didn't realize BSNs took even longer.

Here in Florida most BSN programs are like all other Bachelor's programs, four years. The first two years are pre-reqs and gen ed core classes (which are several more courses than ADN programs require), then you apply for the remaining two years which is the two years of nursing course, which is the same as the ADN's take (or pretty similar), with the co-req courses like management, patho, community, etc. etc.

What would stretch it out for some students is that they don't get in on the first try. One school here has 60 slots for several hundred that apply.

Bottom line is anyway you look at it a BSN is an investment choice that individuals need to make given their particular situations and their particular goals, the particular environment unique to their location, and can be quite costly.

I'm going to a private school for RN to BSN, paying some out of pocket expenses and taking out some student loans (not much but about $5000 by the time I get done). I'm maxed out salary wise, so when I get my BSN I won't get a dime more, so the investment isn't going to have any financial gain. But that's not what it's about for me. The RN to BSN is a very good option for many people, and the only choice some of us have. There was no ADN program in the town I lived when I became a nurse, and I couldn't move.

[Kathyz]

I'm at the BSN vs ADV point right now myself.

I've been accepted into a local BSN program and am waiting to hear from my local community college. Both programs start in January.

I have a Master's in Psychology and can easily complete the BSN route. However, the BSN school appears as though not to have a stellar reputation and $30+k is a lot of money. The ADN program is obviously cheaper and the pace is a little slower (what's the rush?? I've been waiting so long anyway!).

I think I may do the ADN program and then have my employer (hopefully) pay for my RN-BSN. I've already taken so many of the BSN classes in hopes of getting into a BSN program that I wouldn't have much left!

Good luck to everyone. BSN or ADN, we'll all be RN's!!

[nursinguy]

Originally Posted by lizz

True ... but, with one of the BSN programs in my area, they wanted you to take more "optional" pre-reqs which weren't required but, you pretty much had to take them to get in ... and they had another year of nursing school itself.

I've taken all these as well because I plan to get my BSN after I get my ADN.

Another program required additional religious courses on top of that (it was a private school) and they would cost yet another $15K on top of the additional $10K the state university would cost (for a total of $25K)

Simply dont go to that school, there trying to milk you.

Either way you were looking at 1 to 2 years additional time minimum, or 5.5 to 6.5 years with the BSN ... and a lot of lost income and tuition costs.

So yeah ... the California ADN can take a long time at 4.5 years but, BSN would have taken even longer at 5.5 to 6.5 years minimum, at least for me.

Again, this is just my particular situation, it could be different elsewhere ...

Aye, but the only difference in my area between the BSN and ADN are a few different classes, Bio Chem, and general ed classes for BSN which I have done, and Nursing managment classes which you wont use untill many years as a nurse and only then if your in a managment position.

[gauge14iv]

Originally Posted by nursinguy

Aye, but the only difference in my area between the BSN and ADN are a few different classes, Bio Chem, and general ed classes for BSN which I have done, and Nursing managment classes which you wont use untill many years as a nurse and only then if your in a managment position.

As a nurse you end up negotiating with management ALL the time - best to know what their game is!

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by nursinguy

Aye, but the only difference in my area between the BSN and ADN are a few different classes, Bio Chem, and general ed classes for BSN which I have done, and Nursing managment classes which you wont use untill many years as a nurse and only then if your in a managment position.

You're going to be very disappointed when you go for your RN to BSN if your thinking all you're going to have to take are a couple of nursing management classes to complete it. Sorry.

I certainly understand all the great reasons why people do ADN first, I did it myself. But look a little closer at the RN to BSN program at that school. If it truly is just nursing management classes that differentiate the ADN from the BSN that's awesome, which I'd went there because it's taken me 16 courses to complete the degree (of course I had all the wrong co-reqs....funny how accounting, economics, astronomy and such we not needed. LOL).

[gauge14iv]

Pathophysiologic Processes
Family Health Assessment
Nursing Research
Advanced Nursing Seminar
Community Nursing
Nursing Management for the Registered Nurse

This is pretty typical of RN-BSN bridge programs in Texas. I only see one management course.

Of course there is also the additional English, History, Fine arts, and other pre-req or general education requirements. But - I only see one management course. Frankly I leared a LOT in patho, assessment and community - a number of things I wondered how I'd practiced for so many years without knowing.

Absolutely I understand why people do the AD to BS - it is what I did. At the time I had 4 young kids and I needed to work FT. I took all the pre-reqs first so that nursing school would be a part time program. It was the only way I could do it at the time. but if I had it to do over agin, I think I would have done the BS the same way...

[Tweety]

Mine is smilar here's just the nursing portion (the aging class is a sociology):

DSOC 349 3 credits Aging and Society
DNRS/NRSG 326 3 credits Concepts of Professional Nursing
DNRS/NRSG 327 4 credits Health Promotion and Assessment
DNRS/NRSG 328 4 credits Principles of Pathophysiology
DNRS/NRSG 329 3 credits Pharmocology
DNRS/NRSG 446 3 credits Community Health Nursing
DNRS/NRSG 447 3 credits Population-Focused Health Promotion
DNRS/NRSG 485 3 credits Leadership and Management in Nursing
DNRS/NRSG 497 3 credits Nursing Research Methods
DNRS/NRSG 499 3 credits Seminar in Nursing

[gauge14iv]

BIOL 4344 Pathophysiology 4
NURS 3643 RN Baccalaureate Nursing Experience 3
NURS 3612 Introduction to Nursing Research 2
NURS 3614 Nursing Assessment Across Life Span 4
NURS 3804 RN Experience with Families & Groups 4
NURS 4612 Promoting Wellness in Aging Families 2
NURS 4614 Nursing Experience with Communities 4
NURS 4803 Nursing Leadership and Management 3
NURS 4813 RN High Acuity Nursing Experience 3
NURS 4823 RN Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing 3

That is TWU's program

[MB37]

NUR 3806 Educational Transitions for Registered Nurses (3)
NUR 3064 Physical Exam & Assessment (2)
NUR 3064L Clinical Experience in health Assessment for RNs (1)
NUR 3145 Pharmacology in Nursing Practice (3)
NUR 3125 Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice (4)
NUR 3829 Ethical Legal Aspects of Nursing & Health Care (3)
NUR 4165 Nursing Inquiry (3)
NUR 4636 Community/Public Health: Population-focused Nursing (3)
NUR 4636L Community/Health Nursing Clinical for the RN (3)
NUR 4838C Leadership & Mgmt in Professional Nursing Practice (3)
Nursing Elective (3)
Total: (30)

That's USF's 30 credit bridge program, after earning an AS from HCC or wherever else. The advantage here is that with an RN you are guaranteed acceptance, vs. accepting based on GPA alone for the upper-division CON (usually 3.6+) and accelerated BSN (what I'm applying for, 3.4-3.5 min GPA). Anyone that had one bad semester is pretty much out of contention for the regular BSNs and then has to go the CC route. I already have a degree, so a 15 month accelerated program is the way that seems best to me. Then I'm prepared already if I want to go get a master's someday instead of trying to take courses while working, raising kids, etc. To each his or her own, however, and I would never judge someone else for taking the route that's best for his/her family.

[Fun2Care]

For the past 4 or 5 'acceptance letter mail-outs', at least, the 'CC' I attend has had a 4.0 or 3.77 minimum GPA. (including for the upcoming Spring '07)


So if you have a 'bad semester', you are out of the running for the ADN program.




i.e.....you HAVE to have an A in A&P 1.