Would love some advice.....

[Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN]

I have been reading quite a few of the boards and it seems that the consensus is it's better to get a BSN over an ADN. But what if you can't go that route?

The community college that I am applying at to get my ADN is also the place I work. As long as I work there, they will pay for 6 credit hours a semester, that's half my degree I don't have to worry about paying for.

I don't qualify for any grants because I have a previous Bachelors (actually I have my MBA), so I would have to take out private loans, because I still owe loans from my MBA.

In this situation, would you take out the private loans and get your BSN or would you go for the ADN that's half paid for? Yes, I will still be working while going to school, thankfully, I can do my job online.

And I can't go the accelerated route, because I got my Bachelors and MBA at a private college and hardly any of my gen ed credits would transfer.

I hope this all makes sense. I'm pretty sure I'm going the ADN route, but am curious what others would do in my situation.

[cubanrob]

You can go the accelerated BSN route. I don't believe it is a matter of your general Ed credits transferring. I believe it is a matter of getting your prerequisites completed with high marks. I have a previous bachelors as well, but I am going the ABSN route. Of course, if you are getting school paid for, you should complete all/ most of the perquisites at the school you work for. Personally, I would go for the BSN over the ADN if I were you. I'm slightly biased because that's the path I'm taking.

[nguyency77, CNA]

Are there any ADN to BSN programs where you live? If so, a possible route would be to do RN to BSN. Maybe a future employer would be interested in paying for continuing education? My aunt did this route. How easy would it be to find a job in your area with an ADN? That's my only concern.

[Aurora77]

I'd go with get half of my education paid for. I went the LPN, then ASN (did two years back to back, never practiced as an LPN). Now I'm working as an RN and doing an ASN-BSN online program. Before you make firm decisions, I'd call around to local hospital HR departments and find out if they hire ASNs or are BSN only. Sure, having your BSN is where you probably want to end up, but there's no rush to get there.

[Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN]

Are there any ADN to BSN programs where you live? If so, a possible route would be to do RN to BSN. Maybe a future employer would be interested in paying for continuing education? My aunt did this route. How easy would it be to find a job in your area with an ADN? That's my only concern.

Yes, there are! And that's the path I was thinking of taking. Most of the places I have researched in the area state BSN preferred, but no one says it's required.

And I should add, it's actually more than half my education paid for. I need 52 credits to get my ADN and the school will cover 36 of those.

[Boxer Mama]

Are there any ADN to BSN programs where you live? If so, a possible route would be to do RN to BSN. Maybe a future employer would be interested in paying for continuing education? My aunt did this route. How easy would it be to find a job in your area with an ADN? That's my only concern.

This is the path I have to take. I am going to apply to my local CC to get my ADN, but they have also joined up with a local 4-year college to offer a BSN program where you attend one day a week for 2 years. But, it seems like there are many RN to BSN programs to pick from.

[Kendel.G]

What I am planning on doing is getting my ADN at a local community college (however hospitals in my Area are hiring new grads into the ER, we have 3 hospitals in our sheltered valley and only one school that outputs nurses, so the job market is pretty good) immediately after I take my NCLEX I'm planning to start an accelorated online RN-BSNprogram. All the hospitals in my area oat for continuing education. After working at a local hospital a while I am hoping to transfer to a Pediatrics hospital.

[Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN]

Thank you everyone for the input!

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Mama,

My opinion is that you should get your ADN, especially if you can get half of it for "free". Afterward, apply to the online RN-BSN programs. This is how I'm doing it. Most online programs are around a year, especially with a previous Bachelors. Like another member stated, some hospitals have tuition reimbursement for at least part of the classes.

Best of luck!

[Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN]

How exactly does an online RN-BSN work? I know how someone can get an online degree in say Accounting (seeing as that's part of what I do, teach online), but how does it work for a nursing program? What about clinicals?