Considering nursing career.....ADN or BSN??

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I am new to nursing, and I'm seeking to research as much as I possibly can about this career. I am currently working in the engineering field (have been for 15 years), making pretty good money, yet finding my career rather unfulfilling. I started out as a draftsman and have worked my way up to a designer. I'm pretty much as far as my education will take me, so I started back to school in 2000, working on my core for a BA or BS. I had considered becoming a mechanical engineer, however I want to do something that involves helping people (not replacing their jobs with automated equipment) and contributing to society. I want to come home with the feeling "I helped improve someone's life to today - I made a different." I wish I had this outlook 15 years ago, but time does different things to different people. I also would like to enter a profession that would make me useful in foreign soil, when my children are grown and on their own. My choices have been communications and nursing. I am leaning more towards nursing at this point, and need to make a decision before this fall, because my core work is at the point where the two majors start to require different studies. This fall I am considering taking pre-requisite courses to enter into nursing school, but I'm not sure what I should do? I have many questions............far more than the title will allow me to post :o)

One major question is ADN vs BSN? What's the difference? I realize that this may be a loaded question, and that I am not the first to ask this question, and that some answers are sure to be fueled by anomosity, jealousy, or lack of understanding, but I'm hoping that someone on here can truly give me an objective answer to this question. What does a BSN give me that an ADN will not? I've been dead set on getting my Bachelor's, regardless of major, however as far as nursing is concerned I ask myself "Does it gain me anything, by being a BSN?" Will a BSN afford my more opportunities in the nursing field? If so, what?

Thanks :)

I am also considering an ADN program at a local community college. I work in the IT industry full time and am trying to make the transistion into health.

I am reading that the BSN would give you better chances at management opportunities. I have a Bachelor of Business Admin in Management and also some coursework in a MBA. Would I still need an BSN if I want to advance?

The ADN for me is cheaper and quicker.

Nurseguy:

I don't think the BSN route would benefit you much at all. You already have a Bachelor's Degree, and in business management at that, so I would see no need of pursing another bachelor's. You have the management skills, now you just need the nursing skills and experience that put you into a management position in the nursing field. I'm pursing the BSN, because I never got my bachelor's, but if I already had it I would take the ADN route. In fact, I have heard very good things about our local ADN program from those in the nursing field. In fact, some of the comments I have received have indicated that they had been more pleased with the students coming out of that program than some of the BSN's. I would just look at your options and ask around. Find out from other nurses what their thoughts are regarding your local ADN program. However, beware of opinions driven by bias experience :o)

Good luck.........and let me know how your transition goes. I'm interested in seeing how other guys like ourselves will make the transition to office desk to nursing :o)

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Nurseguy:

I don't think the BSN route would benefit you much at all. You already have a Bachelor's Degree, and in business management at that, so I would see no need of pursing another bachelor's. You have the management skills, now you just need the nursing skills and experience that put you into a management position in the nursing field. I'm pursing the BSN, because I never got my bachelor's, but if I already had it I would take the ADN route. In fact, I have heard very good things about our local ADN program from those in the nursing field. In fact, some of the comments I have received have indicated that they had been more pleased with the students coming out of that program than some of the BSN's. I would just look at your options and ask around. Find out from other nurses what their thoughts are regarding your local ADN program. However, beware of opinions driven by bias experience :o)

Good luck.........and let me know how your transition goes. I'm interested in seeing how other guys like ourselves will make the transition to office desk to nursing :o)

What made you make a transisition? So are you in school fulltime? well I can enter an ADN program and finish in 2 years if i get admitted..Im scared my gpa would be a fault.Im enrolled in MBA classes now and I dont know if I should put that off or not? I htink I need like 1 or 3 pre reqs for nursing

The thing about nursing is the over nite shift you may have to work. I do that now and I hate it

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What made you make a transisition? So are you in school fulltime? well I can enter an ADN program and finish in 2 years if i get admitted..Im scared my gpa would be a fault.Im enrolled in MBA classes now and I dont know if I should put that off or not? I htink I need like 1 or 3 pre reqs for nursing

The thing about nursing is the over nite shift you may have to work. I do that now and I hate it

My transition is tri-fold. 1) I am a father and husband of six, and the needs of my children and family are increasing. I am as far as my education will take in my field (mechanical engineering). I do engineering work, however, I am not a degreed engineer. Realizing this limitation 5 years ago, I began to take classes part time at a local community college. We have four local community colleges that have made arrangements with the state universities into putting together what's referred to as a 2+2 program. Meaning, you can take the first two years of your core ciricullum at the community college level, and all of that work will transfer to the state university of your choice. It's a very nice arrangement, mainly because the community colleges offer so much flexibility schedule wise (nights, weekends, flex classes, maymesters, etx). I started five years ago knowing I needed my core no matter what (my current associates is purely trade oriented), so I started taking some classes at night with few possibilities in mind. I had interest in an BSME, mainly because of the money and that is where all my experience lies. However, to be honest, I don't think I could handle the math intensive courses after this many years away from it, also (and this is my 2nd reason) I do not find much fulfillment in design machines that replace peoples jobs. That's not completely fair to say, I do design things that enhance associate's tasks - but you understand my point. I want to work in a field where I am actually contributing to people's lives, making a different, helping others. So, my two primary thoughts were communications and nursing. I first started out pursing communications, because I was ignorant of the fact that you could obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing. I was just under the impression that you went to a nursing school took the required state text and became an RN, and that's all there was to it. Once I found out there was such a thing as a BSN, and that we had a good local university program my desire instantly changed because 3) I wanted to also use the field I become degreed in for future missionary work. Nursing opens up many opportunities in foreign mission fields. I have interest in being involved in pioneering works when my children are grown and on their own. We will see what the Lord develops.

As far as my current schooling status. I still need several pre-requisites in order to enter the BSN program. Once I discovered the program I had already taken some classes that will end up not transferring, but I've mapped out the next fall, spring, and summer semester to be finished with all the pre-req's and be ready to enter the nursing school in the fall of 06' - that is if I get accepted. I will apply in February for the fall of 06' and find out sometime in March if I get accepted. They only take 100 student each semester. Last semester there were over 800 applicants...GULP. The nice thing is they have no waiting list, and the determining factor is completely driven by GPA. Right now I'm carrying a 3.89, and I only need to finish my summer and fall 05" classes to apply, so hopefully I should make it :o) Right I'm taking college algebra and my brain is frying from all the quadractic fuctions, polynomials, graphing asymtotes, etc.......can't wait for A&P and the nursing stuff!!

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I can't speak to the 2+2 programs. I know many of the ADN programs have long waiting lists, but the ones near me have a point system where, if you have lots of points (due to GPA, more prereqs, healthcare experience, etc.) the wait is quite a bit shorter. Most of the BSN programs around here do not have a waiting list. And for NurseGuy, have you looked into the Second Career/Second Degree programs? I'm in a 12-month program. It requires a bachelor's degree and all the sciences as prereqs, but it was quicker for me than an ADN program, AND gave me the BSN I need to get my master's degree later.

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Specializes in OR, Hospice.
...1) I am a father and husband of six...

WOW! You have six wives??? :rotfl: Just kidding!

I think its great that you want to make a career change, and for all the reasons you mentioned. I'm so glad to see more men getting into the field of nursing. My mom had surgery in December and one of her ICU nurses was a man. He was a wonderful caregiver. Good luck to you!!

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Students choose between the ADN and BSN for many reasons; location of school, waitlists, money, family, time, previous education, work experiences, educational goals, personal satisfaction. }

Sunnyjohn hit the nail on the head. My local community college offers a 2-year ADN program and it is located less than ten minutes from my house. I have a business degree and several years of management experience. I have supervised people and all that that entails (paperwork, reviews, reprimands, employee squabbles, did I mention paperwork?) and have had my fill. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the experience but I feel I've "been there done that."

I'm entering the field of nursing to help children (I'll be going the peds route). I want to concentrate on caring for patients at the bedside. I'm not interested in the stress of being responsible for other nurses and their actions or lack thereof. Although I'll have great respect for my superiors, I just can't see myself wanting to join them.

On the other hand, it's nice to know I've got the experience if I should ever change my mind. I suppose it all depends on whether you have a desire for advancement into the administrative side of the nursing profession. Like many have posted already, there are plenty of ADNs out there holding management positions based on their own innate leadership skills and not on having taken extra classes.

So, BNS or ADN? Who knows for sure?!!!! It's quite an individual decision.

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