ADN or BSN?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hello everyone. I currently already hold a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development & Family Science. I graduated in 2010 and now I am thinking I want to go back to school to become an RN. Now my dilemna is whether to enroll in community college for cheap and get that ADN in one year or less so I can sit for the NCLEX and work for awhile...OR to just go for one of those accelerated BSN programs (expensive as crap) which would take 1-2 years. I already have 60k loan debt from my first degree, so the cheap ADN route is appealing to me. But my ultimate goal is to become an NP, so maybe getting the BSN now and not bothering with the ADN would be best. My plan was to get the ADN and get employment (hopefully) at the hospital so they will pay for me to go through the BSN-MSN program as I work as an RN. This plan would save lots of money and then my BSN-MSN would take a total of 3 years. Is this the best plan, or will it be difficult to obtain an RN job with the ADN? I am trying to make the most financially smart decision based on all the debt I already have and the fact that I am young (23) and have time. Thanks!

I was in the same boat as you. I had a B.A. prior to starting nursing school. I ended up going the ADN route because I was accepted to a program I had been accepted into a few years earlier, prior to getting a B.A. One of my friends I graduated nursing school with and ended up working with is currently doing her ADN-BSN program and honestly, I'll never do it for a few reasons, one of them being that I've been through the process of getting a Bachelor's. In my opinion, there's no point in getting a BSN unless you plan on moving on to NP, CRNA, or wanting to get into administration.

If you get into a straight up BSN program, great. I think that's a great track for someone who doesn't already hold a degree. For you, I think an ADN program would be better. It will be cheaper and you will get to your goal much faster.

thanks :) good to know others have been in my situation

How long did that ADN take you with a previous bachelor's?

Are you sure the ADN would take you a year or less to complete? Does that school offer an accelerated option?

I was a second degree student and the ADN would have taken me longer to complete than the accelerated BSN. My area also has a strong hiring preference for BSNs so I went that route.

ADN was still a two year program, there's no cutting down the time on nursing classes unless it's an accelerated program (which I'd rather commit suicide than do, lol).

Specializes in Med/Surg, Rehab.

I was in the same boat and went with the ADN program. It took me about 3 years part-time because I worked through it. The good thing about my choice is that I was able to work full-time throughout school and got a really great education at a decent price. The bad is that I was severely limited to unappealing job options after graduating. There are many days where I wish I had gone the BSN route. If you live in an area with a lot of other nursing schools, you may want to get the BSN to be more competitive. People in more rural areas have a better chance of getting a good job with an ADN.

I'm unaware of a nursing program (RN) that would take less than two years of clinical time. Do you have knowledge of a specific program that would cram 2 years into one? And if that's the case....CAN you still do all the nursing curriculum AND the clinicals in only one year for the ADN?

Worked with a nurse that did a one year RN program in Kansas City. Can't remember the name. But it was 8 hours a day, every day. No way I'd ever subject anyone to that kind of punishment.

Worked with a nurse that did a one year RN program in Kansas City. Can't remember the name. But it was 8 hours a day, every day. No way I'd ever subject anyone to that kind of punishment.

Ouch. I imagine the eight hours would be a combination of clinical time some days, labs and lectures other days...and somewhere in there have to put in the out-of-class, out-of-lab skills time? Not pretty. I appreciate the desire to do it in less calendar time, but that just seems insane. But hey, maybe if you're in your early twenties, don't have spouse and kids, it might be a better plan than for others. With a family....can't see it.

Well, everyone is different. My BSN program was 12 months and there were many folks with families in each cohort. I actually thought being married without kids made it a lot easier in some ways because my husband could provide income for that year.

consider looking into a bachelor's-in-anything-to-mn program. i don't know if you can do a np program like that, but there are a number of those around. ask.

you could also go over to the advanced practice nurse board and ask around there.(see "apn" in the top margin above)

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