Previous Bachelors degree going into nursing - do I need a BSN or just an ADN?

[k.ronning]

I am about to graduate from a university with a Bachelors in Psychology and a Bachelors in Spanish. I would really like to go into nursing. I've already been accepted into a school where I will get my RN/BSN in a short amount of time, but it is kind of expensive. Since I already will have 2 bachelors degrees, would it be better for me to just go through an ADN program that would be cheaper? Eventually, I would like to go through a MSN or DNP program to be a nurse practitioner and I've looked and they all say to have a BSN or your ADN with a previous bachelors, but I'm wondering if it'd look better that I went to a nice school for BSN instead of a community college for ADN. I'm just trying to decide what would be better for my career in the long run. I'm trying to factor in money, but loans are an option. Please help!!!

[nurse simmy]

I'll share my experience. I needed to become a nurse as quickly as possible to feed my family. I have a bachelors, but choose the ADN route instead of an accelerated program. I don't have enough sciences and would have had to do at least a year of prereqs to get in the program. It is also more competitive, and I would have had to wait longer to get accepted. But the biggest issue was cost. The community college I'm attending is affordable, the other program wanted me to pay graduate fees for the classes since they classified me as a grad student because of the BS. $350/credit hour or $80/credit hour, I did the math, and decided a facility with a tuition reimbursement plan could help pay for the BSN.

~Simmy

[happyinillinois]

The difference in pay @ UIC is $1.05/hour more for BSN vs. ADN. Not worth it. Your Spanish will be a MAJOR asset, your Pysch not so much.

[NightOwl0624]

I faced this two years ago. The Associates and Bachelors were almost equal in duration (about 15 months). It was also a wash in terms of prerequisites required. I went ahead and got the BSN.

Right now in my area (Central Florida), BSNs are getting interviews and offers. The only Associates that are getting in that I've seen are ones that already had a previous deal worked out with the hospital.

There is a difference between a bargain and a value.

I am so thankful that it isn't like that in my area, but when the economy is tight and jobs are scarce, the decision makers can set whatever requirements they want.

When I hired in last year, 3 of us were ADNs and 3 of us were BSNs. Three of us were female, three were male. Three of us were over our mid thirties, three of us were younger. Three of us were married with kids, three single. Three of us had previous careers, three did not.

I have to say, we all got along great and blended well with the team. Since then, two ADNs and two BSNs have moved on to more critical care floors. And I miss them so much!

I am so glad that the hiring manager could see all of us for who we are and what we brought to the table, and not just a checklist of requirements.

(by the way, I am a ADN, female, > 35, married with kids with previous career).

[StarryEyed, RN]

[partial quote] "...but I'm wondering if it'd look better that I went to a nice school for BSN instead of a community college for ADN."

OP, I don't want you to demean ADN programs. I know way too many smart nurses who have their ADNs.

You don't have to have a BSN to get into MSN programs. There are many career changers who decided to do the Direct-Entry MSN program than an Accelerated BSN. In fact, there are Universities in my area that offer it. These programs are only offered to students with at least a bachelors in a non-nursing field.

If price is your biggest factor, than go for the ADN and then bridge to an RN-to-MSN later. I personally prefer the ABSN programs, because for me, I'll finish quicker taking that route. It would have been a total waste of time and money to get an ADN (sorry ADNers). Later, I'll specialize as an FNP.

Good luck to you.

I don't mean to specifically harp on you, but why do ppl (in general) assume that because one points out the difference between and ADN or BSN one is trying to say that ADN RN's are 'not as good as" BSN RN's? The fact of the matter is that the level of degrees is a doctorate is higher than an MSNs who is higher than a BSN and is higher then ADN -- in terms of formal education level/degree. Pointing out the difference in degree, doesn't need to mean that you're saying one RN is less than the other. Being on the job as an RN is a completely different thing.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

I don't mean to specifically harp on you, but why do ppl (in general) assume that because one points out the difference between and ADN or BSN one is trying to say that ADN RN's are 'not as good as" BSN RN's? The fact of the matter is that the level of degrees is a doctorate is higher than an MSNs who is higher than a BSN and is higher then ADN -- in terms of formal education level/degree. Pointing out the difference in degree, doesn't need to mean that you're saying one RN is less than the other. Being on the job as an RN is a completely different thing.

There is no need for you to generalize from my statement. I partially quoted the OP about their statement. If he/or she wants to respond to that they have every right to or not. We all know the difference in degree levels, that has absolutely nothing to do with my statement. If OP said, "would it better for me to pursue a BSN over an ADN.." I wouldn't have commented on that statement. Many people have already pointed out any potential differences between the two, to hopefully help her/him decide.

[nyemt2005]

this is an old post but I had a BA in Psychology and decided just to go do the associates because the school was affordable, nearby and it has a very good reputation for putting out good nurses in this area. I figure when I finish I can always continue with my education while working as a nurse. I've found that a decent number of the students in my program are in the same position as me, having gone to four year schools and having degrees in other fields.