Attn: ADN peeps

Nursing Students General Students

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how long is it going to take you to get your associates degree? this is for people that are going full time their entire time of the degree.

the reason i ask is b/c around here there are a few of 2 year schools and one 4 year university. the 2 year schools have "co-reqs" that basically take 2 years to complete, then you have 2 years of nursing classes. you still end up with an associates degree.

the 4 year school has the same time frame prior to getting into the program, but the actual nursing program is only 1 semester longer than the ADN program. you finish with your bachelors degree

I dont understand why anyone would choose a 2 year over a 4 year in that situation.

Specializes in LTC.

I chose the two year because I applied to both and I got into the two year instead of the four year.

A lot of people choose two year programs because of the price. You are paying thousands of dollars less. Two year programs also seem to be more gaged towards non-traditional students as they have more flexible classtimes.

The cost and the flexability is why I am getting my ADN. After I get my

ADN I will get my BSN.

I think it all depends on what type of pre-requisite classes are mandatory it may be different depending on what school you choose. I did an ADN program in Michigan and it is possible to finish pre-reqs in a year and a half if you go full time straight through, no summer breaks. But that does mean you can definitely kiss friends and family good by and don't even think about getting a job. It's a lot of commitment.

The good thing I found in doing an ADN program is that even though you don't have your BSN, when all is said and done you and the person who attended a 4 year university are still taking boards together and will still be considered RN's. And at least in Michigan a lot of hospitals have partnership programs with 4 year universities and the hospital will pay for you to finish your BSN as long as you sign a contract that says you will stay with that hospital for X amount of years. So if were you I would definitely look into that with the nearby hospitals.

Agreed. I chose the 2 year because I will not be in debt AT ALL when I am done. Then, if all works out as planned, I can begin working sooner and have my employer pay some or all of my tuition toward my BSN. This will also be helpful if I want to apply RN hours to a specialty area-- which I will try to do!

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab.

I went for the 2 year for the same reasons--less money, and also because the 4 year colleges in my area had a more demanding pre-req curriculum. I was 37 when I started and it would take me 1 1/2 years to get my pre-reqs done before I could apply to nursing school. If I had gone with the 4 year I might still be working on my pre-reqs. LOL

But when I am done getting my ADN I can go to the 4 year on an accelerated program, with the possibility that my future employer might pay for me to get my BSN.

I chose a 2 -year program because it's the only nursing program near my home. All the hours are 2+ hours away. Also, they say the one I go to is one of the best ADN programs on the east coast. I'm not trying to brag, but that was just one of the reasons I chose it.

After I get my associate's, I'll go on to get my BSN and then MSN. It definitely would have been easier to go the BSn route to start with, but at the time I didn't know I wanted to be a NP.

It will take me four years, with having had to take one prereq before I could take another. Getting ready to finally start my clinicals in August, though! A good thing about our ADN program is that with so many prereqs required, I will not be far from getting my BSN once I have my Associates. Also cost is a factor as well, and most of the universities in my area are only set up to give the BSN to those already with an ADN, if that makes any sense.

Specializes in CNA.

I just got accepted in to a 2 year program and I started taking my pre-reqs in January of 2007 (also taking classes last summer and 17 credit hours this spring)so I will have 3 and 1/2 years in when I graduat in May of 2010 but I will also only owe a quarter of what my little sis will and she is getting her degree from a local UNI!!!

As they say "it's ALL about the benjamins!!!"

Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

money and flexibility. first, i have two degrees and qualify to have gone to an accelerated bsn or msn program. however, i did not want to take out a lean/loan/whatever against my house (i do not qualify for financial aid due to prior degrees). so i am paying cash for both my adn and my bsn.

i am not interested in being reimbursed. i already work for a hospital that is willing to help me pay for my education; the reimbursement program is a joke ($2000 for an adn and $5000 for a bsn). fyi, a traditional bsn or accelerated bsn is typically $20,000-$80,000 (tuition, cost of living... etc). new graduate nurses in many areas are no longer in demand in this country; my area is no exception. read the new graduate forum for more information.

in addition, i have one semester left to complete my adn program and i have recently been accepted into a rn-bsn program, where i have started taking nursing courses this summer (yes, nursing courses not co-reqs). i am able to pay cash for that program because it is an optional part-time program. this means that i take the classes i want to take and can afford to take each semester. if i take a break for a semester or two that is fine too, unlike the traditional and accelerated bsn programs that have a set schedule and require large sums of money up front!

by the way, to answer your question it will have taken me a total of three years to have completed my adn and one-two years for the bsn. keep in mind, i will have clinical work experience before becoming a rn because i spent my breaks as a nurse extern working in my hospital of choice. no debts from nursing education. no contracts locking me into working at a particular place. plus, when it is time for me to be promoted (i say about 1-2 years on the floor as a rn) i will be able to do so with ease because as a bsn graduate i will not be a new graduate nurse! also, i will still have my other degrees and managerial work experience to boot.

basically the list of reasons is endless for me to have chosen this route to rn.... it might be smaller for you... gl! :nurse:

Specializes in Critical Care.

I decided to go into the ADN because I knew with all the competition for GPA and TEAS scores at the 4yr college, I would not have had a competitive raw score to be selected. The have over 400 apply and only take about 50. The average GPA of selected applicants is a 3.8 and the TEAS is an 89%. Its really hard to get into State.

I am really happy with my choice because I will not have to pay my tuition due to fee waivers. Since I am a hands on learner I will be able to work as an RN and do the bridge program to BSN and feel more successful, and get it paid for by the hospital!

Here in California the competition just to get accepted into any Nursing School is really stiff. I feel lucky to just have been selected after 2 years of applying. My school had 862 applicants and they took 63.

I think for each individual their choice will varry due to the situation.

I too am going for my second degree and have opted for the ADN rather than the accelerated BSN program. First, I have all the prereq's completed for the ADN but would have 3 additional prereq's to fulfill for the BSN. Second, I am taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement offered by my employer and it will cover ALL of the ADN tuition vs half of the BSC tuition. Finally, I am in a different place in life than I was when first went to college. I have responsibilities and have to work. The ADN program allows me greater flexibility with balancing home/school/work than the BSN program would.

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