Why do Nurses tell students to go BSN??

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I know this has been discussed before but my situation is a bit different. Quick back-story:

  • Wanted to do ADN '12 but CC lost paperwork so that was on hold
  • Applied and got into BSN Spring '13 while waiting on CC
  • Applied for CC summer '13 and got acceptance on Tuesday :) and clinicals start January
  • I asked a few RNs which to choose and they all say BSN

Our hospital has no preference or pay diff but I get that maybe they want me to get the BSN now vs RN then BSN because life throws curve-balls. Well life threw me one and that's why I applied for the CC...

Im 25, married, mortgage, and mom will have to come live with us until she can work so I have to cover her bills... so I wont be able to afford my BSN.

But why are RNs advising me to get into debt for school despite knowing my acceptance to a good school? (hospital has partnership with them). Im not in a BSN preferred area either and my hospital will pay 100% RN-BSN.

Am I missing something?

Specializes in Emergency Department.
I guess what I can't understand. Why does the university not admit to the nursing program only? Are they trying to get more money from the transfer students? I've never heard of this before

If you're referring to a university not admitting 2nd Bachelor's students, it's that they have limited seats in the Gen Ed coursework outside the Nursing program and, until recently, they had to reserve those seats for those students that have yet to earn their 1st Bachelor's. That meant closing University admission to 2nd Bachelor's students entirely. Remember, this was a few years back, when their budgets were really constrained, so the CSU system (and probably UC too) had to make tough choices about what courses they had to offer, how many of those courses, and how many seats they could put in each course. A couple years ago, they got more funding and they could offer more courses and seats, therefore they could have 2nd Bachelor's students again, in all their programs.

Had it been but a semester or two later, I would have learned about this opening, taken the coursework to be qualified for a BSN program and I'd have applied to that instead.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dang, 30K for the BSN??!?!? Is that for the whole program till graduation or a year? If that's for the whole program, consider yourself lucky. I know others who are taking out more than that for their BSN.

You should just get the BSN since you're already accepted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Dang, 30K for the BSN??!?!? Is that for the whole program till graduation or a year? If that's for the whole program, consider yourself lucky. I know others who are taking out more than that for their BSN.

You should just get the BSN since you're already accepted.

Agreed...especially for the cost.

I paid about that much...a little less than 35 grand.

I worked with someone who went IVY and owes six figures...and is back for her NP at the same school because she couldn't find a job. :blink:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I've never heard of a residency program (in my area at least) that distinguishes. They're for people who haven't worked as a nurse before or are changing specialities. Plenty of people nowadays go from ADN programs to bridge programs and finish them before they ever work, which means they're still new grads.

Not that I doubt that there are some programs that distinguish, but I haven't come across any.

*** One of the hospitals I work for has a great residency program for new grads. No nurse who has had a license for two years, or even one year would be considered a new grads for the purposes of the residency. We expect a person who has been an RN for a couple years to have considerable nursing experience.

That hospital hires ADNs and BSN grads into the residency, with the exception of the SICU residency. The SICU only hires new ADN grads for their residency.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

If I were a new ADN grad with my first RN job I wouldn't even consider doing RN to BSN. I would skip the BSN altogether and do an RN to MSN program. They can be done in two years online.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.
I guess what I can't understand. Why does the university not admit to the nursing program only? Are they trying to get more money from the transfer students? I've never heard of this before

To clarify they admit freshmen to the 4 yr or change of majors already at the school but that's based on space which is limited so outside transfers never usually get in. They do have an accelerated for those with a BS in another field or the RN-BSN program

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.
Dang, 30K for the BSN??!?!? Is that for the whole program till graduation or a year? If that's for the whole program, consider yourself lucky. I know others who are taking out more than that for their BSN.

You should just get the BSN since you're already accepted.

Because I have all gen Ed classes already. It would've been $60k

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.
If I were a new ADN grad with my first RN job I wouldn't even consider doing RN to BSN. I would skip the BSN altogether and do an RN to MSN program. They can be done in two years online.

I did just inquire about this and yes, that is a possibility with my current school if I bridge.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
PMFB-RN, you do not need to justify an error :). We are not children; we are adults. Your advice is sound and non-judgmental and that makes it easier to digest and evaluate.

The fact is "if" my hubby gets ill or I get prego after the optional ADN, I'd rather it happen then while I can work and have a degree to my name, than to have it happen in the middle of my BSN program and risk dropping out.

Thank you all for your help. It IS appreciated and as I have said numerous times, I have only asked advice on half the story and its deeper than whats stated. And even with that, you have provided me with the necessary possibilities to make an informed decision and thats what I asked for.

To the OP: In the end, you have to do what is best for you, and what is the best fit for your individual circumstances. Some people due to their own individual life situations (family, kids, finances, etc.) have no choice but to go for an ADN and then maybe at a later date upgrade if possible. At least that option is available to you now. I think it may be a while yet before it goes away entirely. I am taking a sort of roundabout way myself, partly because of my own personal circumstances. Just became a LPN, partly because where I am located it looks like it's easier to get into a BSN program if you are already a licensed nurse, which I am now. I will have a higher income being an LPN as opposed to being strictly a UAP, and hopefully some of the extra $$ will go to fund an LPN to BSN, don't want to take on a lot more debt, even short term. Best wishes to you in your career and continuing education - please keep us posted on how you are doing...... Every "success story" on here helps give me inspiration and to keep on going....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

Clearly it's been a difficult choice for you, and that's okay. Everyone's life experience is different. I'd go with what your gut tells you to do, and what you can afford.

Here's my story - I had a previous BA with a lot of student loan debt and a poor GPA so my best option was to go to an accredited, well respected community college that lets you start fresh with your GPA and was able to graduate with my ASN and a 3.9 GPA, and a small amount of student loans. This plan worked for my husband and I because I could only work part time while in school, this was all we could afford. I got my RN job before I even graduated and planned to work for a year before starting my RN to BSN program. I saved up money in that year, and I've now paid cash out of pocket for my RN to BSN program. I changed jobs 3 weeks before my first BSN class and I still started on schedule and now I'm 12 weeks from graduation (I'm doing it in a 4 semester all online program), and I have a 4.0 in this program. It's a lot of work,, but it's not difficult like my ASN was, this is more a lot of busywork and paper writing. It's tiring, but it's absolutely do-able.

By the time I graduate with my BSN in December, I'll have 2.5 years of paid RN experience, and will be ready to take my CCRN exam. This plan has worked very well for me, and most importantly for me, it's been affordable. I have enough in student loans from my first bachelor's that I wasn't willing to take on anymore.

I knew that BSN was going to become the new standard, and I was always going to get my BSN, that was never a question. I've had no difficulty getting hired for two different RN jobs as an ASN, including a critical care residency as an ASN with 1 year of RN experience. My next step is to save money for the next three years and then apply to grad school. This plan may not be feasible in all job markets, and where I live just about everything says BSN preferred, but luckily I worked at the hospital already so that's how I got my first ASN job. When I interviewed for my current job in the ICU, I told them about already being enrolled in my RN to BSN program during the interview and they were fine.

Best of luck to you with making your decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.

I am taking a sort of roundabout way myself, partly because of my own personal circumstances.

I am sorry for your detour. Life has a way of "helping" us into making other decisions but it is up to us to make the best with what we are given and I'm sure you are doing what is best for you.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.
Clearly it's been a difficult choice for you, and that's okay. Everyone's life experience is different. I'd go with what your gut tells you to do, and what you can afford.

Here's my story - I had a previous BA with a lot of student loan debt and a poor GPA so my best option was to go to an accredited, well respected community college that lets you start fresh with your GPA and was able to graduate with my ASN and a 3.9 GPA, and a small amount of student loans. This plan worked for my husband and I because I could only work part time while in school, this was all we could afford. I got my RN job before I even graduated and planned to work for a year before starting my RN to BSN program. I saved up money in that year, and I've now paid cash out of pocket for my RN to BSN program. I changed jobs 3 weeks before my first BSN class and I still started on schedule and now I'm 12 weeks from graduation (I'm doing it in a 4 semester all online program), and I have a 4.0 in this program. It's a lot of work,, but it's not difficult like my ASN was, this is more a lot of busywork and paper writing. It's tiring, but it's absolutely do-able.

By the time I graduate with my BSN in December, I'll have 2.5 years of paid RN experience, and will be ready to take my CCRN exam. This plan has worked very well for me, and most importantly for me, it's been affordable. I have enough in student loans from my first bachelor's that I wasn't willing to take on anymore.

I knew that BSN was going to become the new standard, and I was always going to get my BSN, that was never a question. I've had no difficulty getting hired for two different RN jobs as an ASN, including a critical care residency as an ASN with 1 year of RN experience. My next step is to save money for the next three years and then apply to grad school. This plan may not be feasible in all job markets, and where I live just about everything says BSN preferred, but luckily I worked at the hospital already so that's how I got my first ASN job. When I interviewed for my current job in the ICU, I told them about already being enrolled in my RN to BSN program during the interview and they were fine.

Best of luck to you with making your decision.

It is. I have never been so indecisive in my entire life but I am trying to remain positive and shun all doubt because it's all for the best. This stems from a sacrifice for my mother and I'm pleased that I actually have choices and options, and that I can even contemplate helping her in her time of need. I feel really passionate about it as I come from a close family.

Your story is awe-inspiring. Wow! Thank you for sharing and all the best in the remainder of your program.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment