4 years to get ADN? Is this just stupid?

rayofsunshine · Jun 28, 2005

I believe most get the ADN because it cost a lot less than going to a four year school and getting your BSN. If you have the money your better off getting the BSN because it gives you the option of management.

Is it really tough to get into the Nursing program your're interested in? If not, why would you take classes over that you received a 'B' in? Taking classes over again only adds more time.

Hello everyone,
As things stand now, it will take me 4 years to get my ADN. I'm really questioning this.
My first year in college was last year, and instead of fulltime studies as I had planned, I had to drop down to part-time due to a year from hell with my family and husband, plus I went through a cancer scare myself.
Anyhow, I have two semesters left (Fall 05 & Spring 06) to complete ALL pre-reqs which leaves the following two years of strictly clinicals.
Currently I have a 3.5 with 18 credit hours. I am thinking of taking two of the classes over, I got B's in both, but should have gotten A's very easily.
Anyhow, wondering what others would advise. I hate taking 4 years to get an ADN - from here on out, it will all be fulltime studies. So, would it be wiser to try and enter a BSN program?

onehusbandsevenkids · Jun 28, 2005

I believe most get the ADN because it cost a lot less than going to a four year school and getting your BSN. If you have the money your better off getting the BSN because it gives you the option of management.
Is it really tough to get into the Nursing program your're interested in? If not, why would you take classes over that you received a 'B' in? Taking classes over again only adds more time.

Hi, thanks for replying.

I'm not too good with the financial aide side of things, BUT, my family is very low income, my last EFC has ben $0 and this past year we had even less income, so if my EFC is 0 -does that mean that in a BSN program, I get all of the tuition paid for via the gov't? Like all of my tuition was covered this past year at the CC I am attending, can I expect the same at a university or small private college for a BSN? I guess I'm not sure if there is some kind of $ cap from the PELL and other gov't grants...

So, thats one major consideration. ALSO, I'm more than likely going to be approved for financial assistance from my state's vocational rehab dept (congenital hearing loss from a birth defect qualifies me) and I believe they pay for tution and books up to a BSN, possibly up to an MSN. (the one way I've found to make lemonade out of lemons regarding having to live with my birth defect) BUT, nothing is final on paper yet so.....

The main reason I decided on a CC and a ADN was because I needed to be able to enter the workforce quickly. Now I realize that its gonna take me 4 years for my ADN, well....its sure making me reconsider! Guess we'll be continue to be poor for the next 4 years! :crying2:

As you can tell, I'm not a non-traditional student and the thought of trying to enter a BSN program with a bunch of just from high school young people is a bit intimidating. My mind, while prety good, is very RUSTY and I don't catch on as quickly as I did about 15 years ago!

Are BSN programs typically easier to enter than ADN programs? I would want to take the class or two that I got B's in again to get A's if I was trying to enter a BSN program - is that not a good idea? I could re-take them during the summer or online...I also have 2 W's from the semester with my cancer scare, not sure how that would look on a BSN application.

I'm SOOOOO confused! :uhoh3: And I really need to be making a decision quickly.

My CC has rolling admissions, if an applicant has at least 12 credit hours with at least 3.0 AND scores in the 70th pecentile or above on the NLN entrance exam, they are automatically guarenteed a seat in the nursing class. All I have to do is score well on the NLN entrance exam and I'm in for next fall.

One last bit of info....I do have in the back of my mind the desire to possibly become a CNM *someday* I'm almost 34 and feel like I'm geting too old to think about that much schooling though.....

hollyster · Jun 28, 2005

When I went to NS, it was two years prerequ.s and two years for the Nursing classes. I still wonder why the BSN students take the classes we took as prereqs during their regular nursing classes.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2005

If it will take just as much time full-time, why not go for the BSN?

I took me about 5 years to get my ADN, so don't feel like the lone ranger there. :)

Kabin · Jun 28, 2005

I believe around here ADN and BSN programs are about the same length of time. The big difference is ADN students need to complete a nursing assistant program first whereas BSN programs have to complete a couple more general education prerequisites. Of course there are always accelerated BSN programs that shift some time advantage, but the cost advantage goes to the CC.

Talking with fellow students working as NAs or LPNs leads one to believe the local ADN programs have better clinicals and the BSN programs have more textbook and writing experience.

Also, the local BSN program is more difficult to get into as you need to have a good GPA, NET, and writing result. I think it's fair to say, the ADN program allows everyone in, however applicants must wait about 2 semesters.

On edit: I forgot to add, the ADN program has a NET requirement, but the cutoffs are slightly lower.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2005

For myself, money talk aside, I would consider 4 years for an ADN if it meant the same scenerio with getting a BSN....6 years, 8 years?????? Who knows until your're finished.

Good luck! :)

luvmydanes2 · Jun 28, 2005

Hello everyone,
As things stand now, it will take me 4 years to get my ADN. I'm really questioning this.
My first year in college was last year, and instead of fulltime studies as I had planned, I had to drop down to part-time due to a year from hell with my family and husband, plus I went through a cancer scare myself.
Anyhow, I have two semesters left (Fall 05 & Spring 06) to complete ALL pre-reqs which leaves the following two years of strictly clinicals.
Currently I have a 3.5 with 18 credit hours. I am thinking of taking two of the classes over, I got B's in both, but should have gotten A's very easily.
Anyhow, wondering what others would advise. I hate taking 4 years to get an ADN - from here on out, it will all be fulltime studies. So, would it be wiser to try and enter a BSN program?

I have to say that I chose the BSN route over ADN simply because of a two year waiting list at our community college and the length of time was only about a 6 month difference for me. I graduate 6 months after the date I orginally would have at our community college. I have found the transition from community college to university challenging but it will be worth the work. Find out what the requirements at your local 4 year colleges are you may find that it is worth taking the pre-reqs for their course and then going through a BSN program. FOR ME this was the best option, but you may find that a ADN program will work better.

Brinley · Jun 28, 2005

Where I am it takes most people 3-4 years to get their ADN, that is the route I have decided to take b/c of cost, and b/c some employers will pay for your BSN. I am also taking extra classes towards my BSN as time allows in my schedule. I guess you have to look at it as an investment.. an LPN in my state takes at least a year, so there is not quick route to nursing. I have days where I get impatient myself, but when I talk to new grads I realize that I too will be there someday and I wonder what the heck I was so impatient for :) Good luck.. (and I wouldn't take those classes over.. it doesn't seem necessary in your case)

jennk · Jun 28, 2005

Our school is the same way. It is only because the waiting list is so long for the clinicals. This is probably why they have the nursing shortage because people do not want to go to school for 4 years for a 2 year degree. I only wish that my degree at the end would say 4 years instead of 2 years.

luvmydanes2 · Jun 28, 2005

Hi, thanks for replying.
I'm not too good with the financial aide side of things, BUT, my family is very low income, my last EFC has ben $0 and this past year we had even less income, so if my EFC is 0 -does that mean that in a BSN program, I get all of the tuition paid for via the gov't? Like all of my tuition was covered this past year at the CC I am attending, can I expect the same at a university or small private college for a BSN? I guess I'm not sure if there is some kind of $ cap from the PELL and other gov't grants...
So, thats one major consideration. ALSO, I'm more than likely going to be approved for financial assistance from my state's vocational rehab dept (congenital hearing loss from a birth defect qualifies me) and I believe they pay for tution and books up to a BSN, possibly up to an MSN. (the one way I've found to make lemonade out of lemons regarding having to live with my birth defect) BUT, nothing is final on paper yet so.....
The main reason I decided on a CC and a ADN was because I needed to be able to enter the workforce quickly. Now I realize that its gonna take me 4 years for my ADN, well....its sure making me reconsider! Guess we'll be continue to be poor for the next 4 years!
As you can tell, I'm not a non-traditional student and the thought of trying to enter a BSN program with a bunch of just from high school young people is a bit intimidating. My mind, while prety good, is very RUSTY and I don't catch on as quickly as I did about 15 years ago!
Are BSN programs typically easier to enter than ADN programs? I would want to take the class or two that I got B's in again to get A's if I was trying to enter a BSN program - is that not a good idea? I could re-take them during the summer or online...I also have 2 W's from the semester with my cancer scare, not sure how that would look on a BSN application.
I'm SOOOOO confused! And I really need to be making a decision quickly.
My CC has rolling admissions, if an applicant has at least 12 credit hours with at least 3.0 AND scores in the 70th pecentile or above on the NLN entrance exam, they are automatically guarenteed a seat in the nursing class. All I have to do is score well on the NLN entrance exam and I'm in for next fall.
One last bit of info....I do have in the back of my mind the desire to possibly become a CNM *someday* I'm almost 34 and feel like I'm geting too old to think about that much schooling though.....

yikes...never to old for school is my motto..I am 30 and just beginning core nursing requirements...I too have disability assistance and financial aid and everything transferred perfectly from the cc to the university and actually I get more at the university than I did at the CC. Like I said before though BSN route works for me, look at some universities before making a decision you may find that you can get in as early has fall (though most deadlines have passed) or spring as I did. I had a 3.6 when I applied for nursing school and got in on my first try. I could have waited another 1 or 2 for the cc spot to open up but I had no other pre-reqs to take.

laney1733 · Jun 28, 2005

one thing you might want to look into is the requirements where you would go if you decide to become a CNM. The school that I will attend for my CNM studies requires a BSN. As it's the only program anywhere around me, I'm going straight for my BSN. I'm thirty one, with three kids. It's going to take me 5 years to get my BSN even though I already have a year and a half of credits from YEARS ago. I think I'll be at least forty before I'll be a practicing CNM! Better late than never.... :chuckle