ADN nurses with other BS degree

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone. I recently was accepted in my local community colleges AAS RN program (they have a FANTASTIC program there). I chose this route instead of an accelerated BSN program because of the course schedule and know I can further myself to a BSN or MSN after my RN. I guess what I am asking is, did you find that having a BS degree helped you at all after achieving your ADN in finding jobs or furthering your education? I see so many threads and info on needing the BSN now to get a job or get into a MSN program even though they say another BS is acceptable. My BS degree is in biology/animal science with a pre-vet track so I have had many additional classes than the regular biology degree (2 semesters of biochem, 2 semesters of Ochem, genetics, human parasitology, reproduction, disease, graduated with honors with my own research) and I also went to vet school for a year and did well (I left for financial reasons). I'm sure all these factors led to my acceptance in the ADN program even though my GPA wasn't ridiculously high, my NLN was as high as you can get. I'm not exactly worried about it, just curious really if I have a leg up or not. Thanks.

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I have an ADN with a BS in enigneering. I have been accepted to, and started a bridge program for my MSN. I only had to take 2 undergrad classes before starting my masters' classes.

I don't know about making it easier to get a job, only about 1/3 of the nurses on the floor I work on have a BSN.

Emily

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Home Health, Geriatrics.

I also went the same route as you: I attended a fantastic community college for my AAS (it was soo competitive to get in b/c you practically paid nothing for it) and I already had a previous BS in Advertising and Marketing Communications. I found that a lot of my BS credits were easy to transfer and also cut the classes that i had to take b/c they were taken back then. I also enrolled in an online BSN program and it's almost cutting the time even shorter for that b/c of all these credits that are transferring over.

In finding a job, they do like that i have a previous BS but they like even more that i am enrolled in a BSN program. I've gotten jobs due to being enrolled in a BSN program with less than a year left to complete. If it were mainly on my BS from the business program, I don;t know that they would offer me the positions.

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Thank you! I did have all of my prereqs except for sociology and human growth and development, which helps greatly since I can do them online and focus mainly on nursing (and with a 20 month old I need ALL the time I can get to focus solely on my nursing classes/clinicals LOL).

MrsCrypes. Did you find that it mattered to them at all that you were doing an online program for your BSN? Thats the route I would do afterwards as well.

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Specializes in Mom/Baby.

I am a new grad RN, and I do think it helped somewhat in getting my first job, especially since my bachelors is somewhat related (Exercise Science and Nutrition).

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

I have a 2 year nursing degree and a bachelors in Finance from years ago. I think any 4 year degree would only help with opening up doors. I know my business degree helped me get into school. I know it also helped me obtain a job as a nursing assistant. If both candidates were equally qualified for a new grad position and both had a 2 year nursing degree with the only difference being one had a bachelor's degree in another discipline I believe the employer would choose the one with more overall education.

Having a degree in pre-veterinary science would be such a great degree to open doors to a graduate degree in nursing. It shows you were intelligent/hardworking enough to get accepted into vet school. I am sorry you could not finish vet school. My dream was to be a vet and like you it was just too expensive for me.

Education can only help and never hinder when applying for jobs and grad schools.

Best wishes

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Specializes in LTC.

I completed a BS in Computer Information Systems between LPN and RN. With the Joint Commission requiring hospitals to go paperless within the next few years this puts me in a very nice position as far as career possibilities go.

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Most of the hospitals in my area are either applying for Magnet status or already have it. They look at new RN grads with a Bachelors in many instances before the ones without one. Before you finish your program, check out which hospitals have achieved Magnet status in your area, they will most likely want you because you already have a BS degree. Good luck!!!

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

I also went "backwards"...I had both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Health Administration and a Bachelors degree and licensure as Registered Dental Hygienist.

Then, I went to nursing school. My nursing degree is Rn=ADN.

I do think the other degrees helped me in the long run...and it certainly helped when I applied for and got a position as DON. However, I don't think they are essential.

I think any extra education is a valuable thing and it at least shows your commitment to higher education.

By the way, my daughter will start school at the University of Florida college of Veterinary Medicine on August 16...so I know from the financial aspect of vet school. So sorry you had to give it up, I know it is usually a passion.

Good luck on your next career.

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I was faced with a smilar decision 2 years ago. I will graduate in December from an excellent ADN program and hold a BS in Health Ed from my previous life. I went this route, like you, because of the schedule and also financially it cost 1/3 of what the comparable state BSN program was. I have all of the pre req's to move directly into the RN-BSN program OR more likely I lean toward moving right into an RN-MSN in a few years. I don't want to spend the time and money taking classes for a BSN, when I can move directly into the MSN bridge in the future.

I look around now and I feel like all I see working are BSN nurses. I know it's probably a similar phenomenon to when you buy a car, suddenly you see hundreds of them on the road that you didn't notice previously. I have banked on the idea that 'as long as you are a qualified candidate, with a desire and drive to further your education, you will be just as competitive as an entry level BSN candidate'. I sincerely hope that holds true in this very competitive market come graduation at the end of the year.

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If your goal is an MSN, then do what works best for you. I just graduated w/ my MSN and had a classmate w/ a BS in psychology and ADN. I think she had to take one or two extra classes for not having the BSN. She is a very smart person and did well in school.

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Specializes in ICU.
I also went "backwards"...I had both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Health Administration and a Bachelors degree and licensure as Registered Dental Hygienist.Then, I went to nursing school. My nursing degree is Rn=ADN.

Wow how cool! I also have a Bachelor of Science degree and licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist. My nursing degree is an ADN. So far the Bachelor's degree is not helping me in the search for an RN position:( Any tips SWS RN?

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