Not to beat a dead horse but ...

[BeachsideRN]

I have been accepted to a great nursing school, BSN program. They have a 100% NCLEX pass rate. However, it is a private, catholic college which means tuition is not inexpensive ($6k/semester - $36k total). After the initial high of being accepted wore off reality hit and I am rethinking my decision to attend this college. So my other options are a top ranked (nationally) ADN program (5 semesters) or a state school BSN program (6 semesters) that has a mediocre reputation among local hospitals. If I were to do the ADN program I would immediately roll into an RN-BSN program, since I would have the money (not spent on the private school) and I would still be able to have my BSN within 3 years.

So, I guess my question is ... is there any stigma associated with a RN-BSN program when applying for jobs or is a BSN a BSN no matter how you acheived it?

Thoughts? Help! So stressed an anxious over this.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Honestly, I don't think your BSN program is all that expensive. If you have the opportunity to go there, I would do that. It's hard to go back to school once you've graduated and start working. As klone said, many hospitals are getting picky about hiring new grad ADNs; some won't hire them at all. (The hospital where I worked no longer hires ADNs, not even the grads from their own ADN program.)

Unless you can't manage the cost, I'd encourage you to get the BSN right off the bat.

I had the same reaction to the cost. $36K is less than what one year at my university cost.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Have you researched your local area as far as ADN/BSN employer preference? The BSN "push" is not happening in all areas, including mine.

It's hit or miss here. The graduates from the ADN program I am applying to are getting jobs at some hospitals but not others. But, really I am not so much focused on that because I have every intention of rolling into a RN-BSN program as soon as I can because that is my goal.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I think the program you just got accepted to sounds great, and I would stick with that. $36k really isn't that much debt, and you'd be coming out with the more desirable degree. Any advantage you can have coming out of school is a good thing because the market for new grad nurses is tough right now.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I have a call in to the Dept Chair of the program asking about deferring admission. $36k is not a lot of debt in an of itself - however adding onto my already large student loan debt just isn't sitting well with me. I'm not young. I have a previous BA and MPH. I also learned some very valuable lessons about real estate during the housing market crash in Florida circa 2007. I think I have decided that even if I have to wait another year to start a program, in the end, being able to save $16-20k will be worth it. So, I am going to apply to both the ADN and the state BSN program. Oddly enough almost as soon as I made this conscious decision my anxiety and reflux nearly resolved.

[suanna]

Show me a BSN program with a 100% pass rate on boards and I'll show you a school that kicks out 1/3 or more of thier students in the last 3 semesters. No refunds of coorifice for the tuition you spent for freshman through junior year. For my money, I'd go to the less expensive state school. It is easier to find your nitch, easier to stand out and shine when you find something you love, and they don't have to kick out the bottom half of the class before they take NCLEX so they can advertise 100% passing rate. Reminds me of a stop smoking program I thought of starting: 100% sucess rate in quitting- the trick, whenever a person is tempted to light up- just push them in front of a bus-no failures in the program ever!

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I've registered for 2 additional pre-reqs for the fall. That will enable me to apply to 2 state BSN (one local and 1 that is a bit of a commute) and the ADN program for spring admission. Here's to casting a wider, less expensive net.