Accelerated BSN Program or RN program?

Depends on the day! A few people have told me there is no pay differential between RN and BSN so to take the cheapest route, which would be a community college RN program.

However a friend of a friend who did that route said by the time she completed her pre-reqs and was accepted into the actual RN program, it ended up being close to 3 full years and she suggested that I just do the BSN program and get it over with. Because 3 years, plus a year of experience and an online RN-BSN program could mean I couldn't go for my NP for atleast 5-6 years!

She also alluded that in Columbus when hospitals are looking to hire, they tend to lean towards BSN grads and some RN grads have difficulty finding positions--I have no idea if this is the case but it worries me!

Unlike you, I think I will qualify for some financial aid but I have no idea how much, if it would be enough to leave my full-time job (which pays a very decent salary) or if i'd need to take night classes/online classes, etc. Have you looked into the NEALP assistance loan program? Are you excluded from that as well? It's only $3k a year but it may make a sizeable dent in the cost of a community college program.

I wish there was one place to go that could advise you on the right path for your situation because I keep doing research and it seems like the more I read, the more confused I become!

I had dinner with an accelerated BSN grad last night who now works as a nurse as Childrens. Same boat as all of us, different Bachelors degree, wanted to go back, wasn't sure what option to do.

She strongly suggested an accelerated program because she said many hospitals prefer to hire BSN's now because there is not a huge demand in this area. The demand will increase in the next 10 years and RN and BSN may be equal again but at this time, most hospitals are choosing to hire BSN's.

She also said a lot of RN's in her unit (critical care) have always said they'd go back to get their BSN and just never found the time, didn't get around to it, etc.

Of course this is just one opinion but it rang very true for me.

At this point, I'm looking at completing my pre-reqs at CSCC starting in the fall (i'll need to complete 9 courses) and looking to apply to Akron U, Kent U and Mt.Caramel for 2011.

Does anyone know if the RN program at CSCC has a waiting list? That was also mentioned as a "con" to the RN program--she said people at work were talking about the 2 year waiting list to get into the nursing courses?