How competitive are RN-BSN programs?

[lovebug86]

Hi all! I am not yet a nursing student but I am trying to become one. Anyway I currently have both a bachelor and masters degree. I was wondering if I should try straight for a BSN program or get my RN first and then go into a RN-BSN program? How competitive are RN-BSN programs? Sorry if this doesn't make any sense.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Most RN-BSN programs are not very competitive. Because most courses are online, they can expand to admit the vast majority of people willing to pay the tuition -- even at very respectable schools. They are the "cash cows" of the nursing schools -- cheap to run online classes, no clinical courses that require small student/faculty ratios, students find their own preceptors, and 1 faculty member can oversee many students, etc. So the admission standards for RN to BSN programs are very different than for pre-licensure BSN programs (even at the same school) in many cases.

[brandiep1982]

Some are highly competitive, others are not. I was advised by my current school to go straight for my BSN because I already had most of the prereq's for it. However, if I hadn't already had all those, I was told they would have recommended RN because that would get me working as a nurse faster, then I could just bridge over.

[Sweet charm, ASN, RN]

most aren't too competitive. I have a Bachelors as well. It was advised to me to get my ADN then do a RN-BSN route OR RN-MSN. I am glad I'm doing it this way because its cheaper, less time and I can work while getting my BSN