Diploma or ADN??

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I am new to this post, I have just started back to school at 37. I am currently in a community college that offers an ADN degree. But they are not accepting students into the nursing program until Fall of 2007. There is a local hospital that has a diploma program for nurses, that is accepting students in the fall of 2006. They work with the community college i am currently in, you have to get an assoicates degree in science along with your nursing diploma. Can anyone tell me which one is better? You take the same test after graduating from both to become an RN, so I would think they would be equivalent, but alot of things I have read about diploma programs is that they are out dated and you get the lowest paying jobs with them. Since I am an older student, i would like to get my degree as soon as possible, but i also want something that can later lead to a BSN. Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone else ever attended one of these diploma schools?

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

:balloons: Welcome to Allnurses!!! :)

I have not attended a diploma program before. I attended a community college and obtained an A.A.S. with a major in nursing and psychology. I had plans to continue in college, but "life happened" in ways that I had not planned.:o

Do you have all of your pre-reqs completed? If the answer is no, it will take you a year or so to complete those pre-reqs (depending on whether or not you can attend full time or not).

You must do what is best for you, and fits best with your budget. :)

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Hi jaylynn ... I'm a new grad nurse who graduated from a diploma program earlier this month. :) I hope I can give you some meaningful info.

You are correct that ADN, diploma and BSN nurses all take the same NCLEX and start out as entry-level RNs with the same amount of RN experience - zero. Their entry-level positions in hospital settings are the same. Some hospitals pay a nominal amount more to those who have a BSN, many do not. So no, there is no dungeon of low-paying jobs relegated to us diploma grads ... :chuckle

Advancement opportunities vary greatly, and depend on many, many things, including education.

Only you can decide what's right for you, but if it were me, I'd start sooner rather than later - at the diploma program.

If I can give you any further info feel free to send me a PM (private message). Welcome to allnurses. :)

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

I am also a Diploma student about to start my senior (final) year in a 3 year diploma program and concur fully with MLOS. I can tell you that you will receive wonderful education and clinical experience in a diploma program.

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU,Wound Care,LTC, Hospice, MDS.

I've never run into a salary difference in my 38 years of nursing in three states. Diploma grads require much less training and supervision than AD's right after graduation, but after a year or two of working, I see no difference.I agree get started as soon as you can!

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I cannot imagine why salaries would differ. However, I would be sure that the diploma program was accredited by local college/university in case you want to pursue a BSN in the future. You never know. I know that some diploma programs offer classes thru local universities, so you are really getting a college education onsite.

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Thank you all so much! I couldnt wait to get home to see if i had any answers. I feel much better. I think i will go for the diploma with associates of science degree. Im afraid if i wait, i'll get out of the habit of being in school, and i dont want to do that. I have to just keep going. Thanks everyone!

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

:balloons: I wish you well. Just be happy with the choice you make, and it will turn out right for you. Good luck to you! :)

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I am actually a Diploma grad and quite proud of it. And it has never kept be back in any way, in some ways even helped.............. :)

Good luck with which ever program that you select. :Melody:

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Glad to see this discussion here. I'm having the same dilemma, returned to school at age 43 to pursue an ADN (associate degree in nursing) at a local college here in San Diego, but the waiting list is 3-4 years right now! Wouldn't be an RN until 2010 or 2011!! I'm anxious to start working as a nurse right away, so was considering the LVN route while continuing my RN goal. The wait time to finally be an RN would be the same, but I thought at least I'd be working as a nurse in the meantime. The downside is that LVN's make no more money than I currently do (actually would be less than I'm making as a full-time medical transcriptionist at my hospital), so most people tell me to keep working as an MT, be patient and continue towards the RN goal, don't waste time doing extra classes to be an LVN. The other option is an advanced RN program thru Maric (though it's $40,000 I've heard)....but I'd be working as an RN asap and would make up the cost with the nearly doubled income. What would you do in my shoes? Keep plugin away (the cheaper way) as I am and wait, wait, wait OR become an LVN in the meantime to have the experience right away OR do the expensive shortcut at Maric to become an RN now?

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