[lilmamita]

Hi Fatima!
I hope your new addition is doing just fine. Like nptoobee, I also have a B.S. In Community Health and now working on my Associates. I would like to continue school right away, but I want to take advantage of tuition reimbursement as well. I'm not sure if I will do a RN-MSN program, there are a few here in New York, or a RN-BSN, but I'm looking into it. Right now, I'm concentrating on passing my current class, so I can be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN. This way, I can at least work per diem as an LPN, make extra money, gain experience, and get through my last semester in the fall!

[Disablednurse]

Please get all that you can while you are still young enough to do it without too much stress. When I graduated from High school, I had a man, friend of my family, that offered me a 4 year scholarship to nursing school. In my young ignorance, I turned it down because I was just 17 and had never been away from home. I took the LPN course and started working at age 18. I never took the opportunity to take pre reqs for further education. After working for six years, I was able to get in the ADN program because I was befriended by one of the nursing instructors at our local satallite campus in the second class of the ADN program at this campus. I finished the ADN program, started working, and got married. Found out that to get the BSN degree, I would have to take algebra, calculus and chemistry. Decided then that I was all I wanted to be. I have been the DON, charge nurse, ADON, MDS nurse and spent too much time doing bedside nursing thinking that I was invincible and would last forever. I found out differentlly. Now I am disabled and no longer to work as a nurse or anything else. Hindsight is 20/20. Wish I had taken that scholarship, but I didn't. Now I encourage everyone to get what you can as young as you can. Never turn down anything offered to you to help and thank God for tuition reimbursements. Good Luck to all of you.

[Nurse Izzy]

I'm in an ADN program now. I hold a Bachelor's in German/International Trade and would have been able to apply most of my credits towards the BSN program nearby. I chose not to because of immediate cost - the ADN is $74/credit hour and the BSN is $176/credit hour. I do plan on going back, however, to finish my BSN and then on to my Masters - my ultimate goal is NP! Otherwise, I wouldn't go back. Around here, both ADNs and BSNs receive the same pay. The only differentiation is if you want to move on up to Nurse Management - something for which I have NO desire!

[Belgndogs]

I am currently taking pre-req's and hope to start in the fall of '03 in the ADN program. I looked into trying to get into the Univ. of WA since my grades are good enough, but was told by an advisor that I probably wouldn't get in since I already have a B.A and they 'don't like handing out second baccalaureates.' The good news though is that since I do already have that B.A. I can go straight into the MSN program.

[John Coxey]

Belgndogs:

- "Can't get into program because they don't like handing out second Bacculaureates."

- What a bunch of crock.

- They are a business. Period!!! They want your $$$. The fact that you have a BS degree means you will probably stick around and complete another one. Meaning - you will stick out the program - and thus make the college more $$$ than someone who drops out.

- If this advisor really said this to you - then go see someone else at the University. Personally, I doubt your story.

John Coxey
(jpcoxey@aol.com)

[marilynmom]

Originally posted by Belgndogs
I am currently taking pre-req's and hope to start in the fall of '03 in the ADN program. I looked into trying to get into the Univ. of WA since my grades are good enough, but was told by an advisor that I probably wouldn't get in since I already have a B.A and they 'don't like handing out second baccalaureates.' The good news though is that since I do already have that B.A. I can go straight into the MSN program.

I know a LOT of people who have Bachelors degrees who are getting a BSN. If they are telling you that he was just a bad advisor (they are in every school it seems). They dont "hand out" degrees, its more money for the school.

Marilyn

[marilynmom]

Originally posted by Nessa1982
i'm currently a first semester ADN student who is 20 yo (21 on 4/12!!) so I shoud be done with my ADN by the time I'm 22 (and some change). I think I would like to take 1 semester off before I go for my BSN because I've been in school full time since HS. Or maybe Ill work full time and go to school part time (which will aslo seem backwards becuase usually I do school full time & work part time). It all kinda depends on my family and how long I can take thier craziness for (living with parents & 2 siblings in a house that is Waaay to small).

I think you shoould get your BSN right now since you have no kids, etc. I am 29 year old mother to 2 very young kids (ages 4a nd 15 months) and how I wished I would have done this before kids- it would have been a LOT easier then. But I am getting my BSN now and am doing great, but if I were you I would get my BSN since you eventually want to anyways. The RN with a BSN here make anywhere from 50cents to $1 hour more and since Nursing doesnt pay great ($16 hour here to start but cost of living is low) everything helps. Im getting my BSN because I want to get a masters (CRNA, Practitioner, Midwife, etc).

Good luck with whatever you choose. But since you are young and have no kids, etc you should really just get in your BSN (since you asked! LOL) get it out of the way.

Marilyn

[NurseDixie]

I plan on taking a couple weeks off when school is over and going to work after that. In the future I may take some evening classes and work toward my BSN. I don't graduate until Dec.

[camkib]

Hopefully I will receive an acceptance letter to my ADN program within the next 4 or 5 weeks...

Upon graduation I plan to immediately enroll in an online RN to BSN program while working on the weekends.

[LaVorneRN]

Originally posted by fnimat1
do you plan on taking the boards and if you pass it do you plan on going in the work world immediately or contiinuing your education and earning your b.s.n. I've been trying to map out my plans. I am married and the mother of 4 so I do need the extra income right away. But I'm also concerned about being hired with just an A.S. degree in nursing. I was thinking about working part-time and pursuing my b.s.n part-time. What do you all think? What are your plans?


Fatima

Fatima,
What do you mean you are concerned about being hired with "just an ADN"? I have my ADN and believe me it is not "just an ADN" and you NEVER have to fear getting a legitimate real live nursing job. You are not as limited as you think you are. And I would hope that anyone who took the time to go to nursing school plans to take their boards. Otherwise it is all in vein. Are you aware that when you take your boards you will become a registered nurse and hospitals will hire you? Before I even graduated I was offered jobs working in a Radiation Therapy clinic, 2 oncologists offices, 2 medical/oncology units in 2 different hospitals, and a cardiac/ICU/CCU unit. They all knew I would have an ADN. Some places don't even care if you have an ADN or BSN depending on where you are looking. Have you called your local hospitals and spoken to their human resources dept. or nursing managers and asked them what their requirements and starting pay for new grads is? Look online for those facilities in your community and see what job positions are available. Don't limit yourself before knowing what's available to you. Having your ADN is not like having a certificate in basketweaving. It is a degree you have earned and worked hard for and it is recognized and respected in the medical profession.
I plan on working for about a year or so and then begin persuing my BSN probably online. My goal is to become an oncology nurse and do some other things in nursing along the way as well as get a MSN as a nurse practitioner after getting my BSN. There are other areas of nursing I like(labor and delivery, teaching, critical and cardiac care) but oncology is my love.
It is not impossible to continue your education under your circumstances. It is more challenging but nothing is impossible. I have seen it done. If you want something bad enough you can make it happen-just do the research and see what it takes. You can do whatever you put your mind to.