ADN or BSN Please give me your opinon!! (Mom with a 1 year old)

[lpalmeida]

Im sure this has been asked before so I apologize in advance. Im new to the board itself so I thought I'd ask a pretty basic question to start off.

I have recently decided to change my career path. I would like to become a nurse and I initially thought that getting my ADN was the best route but now I feel a bit conflicted. I do not have a degree but I do have many credits from another college. After reading many posts on this blog I see that people advise against getting your ADN over a BSN due to the fact that more employers are requiring it. The whole reason I was going for my ADN was because I am a mother of a 1 year old who cannot afford daycare nor is comfortable putting him in daycare so young. So I figured getting my Bachelors wouldn't be possible unless the first half was online. If online is possible the other concern I have is finding a reputable and accredited online program.

Should I get my ADN first or just go for the BSN? Does anyone know of BSN online programs out there that offer at least the prerequisites online? I know in 2 years I would be more comfortable putting my son in daycare because he would be a bit older.

Thank you!

[16mm]

If you scroll up and see that little yellow bar there is a link that says "U.S." all the states are listed there! I swear this site is awesome!

Here you go!

Texas Nursing

[AlannaCT, BSN, RN]

An ADN and a BSN do the same science courses, the same prerequisites and the same clinical times and clinical skills. The only difference is that the BSN opens more doors for you, and you take more community health, global health courses, etc...but as for the actual nursing care, an RN is an RN, the difference is in the opportunities for jobs and advancement.

[PNW0212]

I don not know of ANY BSN programs completely online. As far as choosing ADN/BSN, if you have a good GPA and meet all the prereq. requirements, why not apply for the BSN?! You don't have to send your child to daycare, maybe get an at-home sitter? :) Care.com is great. Getting your ADN is fine, but yes most hospitals and such want employees with BSN's. You can always get your ADN then do an online RN-BSN program (that is what I am planning on doing because the RN-BSN online is offered in my Seattle area). Good luck to you!

[bargraphix]

I think you should go straight for your BSN. I have a ADN and I am having a lot of difficulty finding a job. I have heard that there are some places that most nurses only have and ADN so unless where you live is one of those places I would suggest going for the

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

As a dad married with 2 kids I tell you I had the similar dilemma. What I thought about was, its going to take sacrifice to do the ADN and then another bunch of sacrifice to do RN to BSN. I was still undecided and applied to both programs, but I got into a BSN program and I think its the best decision I made. What I did for preqess is do them at a community /state college then transferred- I got my AA first(getting the AA helps with entry into BSN) with all prereqs then transferred to University for the BSN. I have less than a year left and I'll be a BSN and I wont ever have to worry about going back for the RN to BSN while working and with family and all that drama again. The worse thing with being a parent is spending almost the same time in school for the ADN and not getting a job after all your hard work.

A lot of prereqs I did online while working fulltime. However, for the science courses many State colleges now do hybrid classes. Your MUST physically go to school for the labs but its only once per week then the rest of the course is all online. Some state colleges also have daycare/financial help for non traditional students. There's also single moms in my class. I'd go straight for the BSN and get it over with kids, something is always going to come up no matter what choice you go with, it just has to be managed well. Good luck.

[clsmommy]

lpalmeida,

I felt the same way about my child who was only 8 months when I started school. I had some prereqs already completed from years before. I actually started out at my local CC (with the majority of classes online). When the time came, I decided to apply to both the ADN program (@ local CC) and the BSN program (@ the local University). I have to admit that despite the fact that I had wonderful teachers at my community college, I had a strong desire to get into the BSN program. I ended up being accepted to BOTH programs :), ultimately choosing the BSN program, which I start Spring 2014.

I really believe that you will know what to do when the time comes, and only you know what will work best in your particular situation.

I wish you the very best in all of your pursuits...I hope my story has helped you with your decision. :)

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I agree with the others that have said to check the job market in your area. I live in an area where most RNs that are hired are ADNs. Most people with BSNs here are in management. I may someday pursue my BSN but it won't be until after I am working. I want to do bedside. Not really interested in management.

[bankssarn]

As others have said, it definitely depends on your location. I have my ADN, and I have never had an issue finding a job. I had several offers in both the hospital setting and LTC right out of school. I currently work in LTC by choice, not because I "have" to. I went to school full-time while working part-time and had a young child. I'm currently enrolled in a RN to BSN program while working full-time and raising 2 young children.

[multinurse]

I know first hand that you don't need a BSN to excel in your career or move up. I have known several Director of Nurses who did not have BSNs, and I was recently hired for a job where my team was composed mainly of nurses with BSNs however, I was paid approximately $7 more an hour than them because of my foreign language abilities. Further, when most of them, who had been with the company for years, were laid off, they kept me, and I had only been with the company for 7 months or so. They kept me because they needed a nurse with foreign language abilities. Although I have no Bachelor's, I have applied for jobs which stated that a Bachelor's and foreign language skills were preferred and I was offered the position because of my language skills. I do know that if you want your Master's then obviously, a BSN would be required. Also, if you want to ultimately teach. It also depends on job markets. Browse some general employment ads to see what requirements/preferences they list.

[tamm93]

I know that if you go through Rasmussen college you can do the bsn online but i tried applying to them and they never responded to me ): haha good luck!(: my school offers a bsn program at the community college tuition price which is not because ive been trying to get into their nursing program but they kept changing it. so now it's 3 more years to get my bsn(: