Associates or Bachelors

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Trying to decide if I should go the associates route or bachelors route.

I could do an accelerated bachelors, but unsure O can balance 24 hour's of work (Only way to keep health insurance and pay bills). I actually do better cramping school work in, but only did it during the summer not a whole year (Only 4.0 I received in college was a 4 week Math class).

Other option is a $20,000 community college program. I believe I am eligible for $10,000 a year in aid and $3500 from my hospital (If I continue to be 24 hour's). Would be zero cost to me. Issue is job opportunities not to concerned about. I can work at a nursing home or leave the State. Corrections on our State is slowly shifting to requiring a BSN and all the hospitals require a BSN. ADN is super competitive due to its low cost (85% higher on TEAS, 3.0 really 3.5 or higher nursing prerequisites). Also CC program is 8 to 3 Monday through Thursday with class and clinical. I think my employer would be flexible in allowing me to work Friday Saturday Sunday ( Have good rapport so far with my employer. My employer requires a BSN.)

Secone option be a bachelors program full or part time for 2 to 3 year's costIng about $35,000. Plus is its spread out, admission entry is less competitive than the ADN (Only need a 75% on TEAS or higher a GPA of 3.0 on Prerequisites.) Not sure on the schedule of the program and if you do the program they require you to take 60 credits at their college. Not a huge big deal because I went to one of the State college's I would just apply there.

Seeking some insight into what route to go.

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BSN and since you have to work... The traditional track

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My crazy thinking is leading to a crazy idea. Even though there is a push for Nurse's in the State I live in the BSN programs lack uniformity. By that they have your generic prerequisites required, but each have their own additional prerequisite required. In addition to their are special requirements to each program and their lengths vary.

Now my previous college I attended in college is affiliated with a local community college in my area. The program is actually 5 minutes from where I live. Even if I move the town over only adds another 5 minutes and dint have to deal with stress of driving like other programs. Most of the clinicals are completed at the two local hospitals and various nursing homes in the city the Community College. That's a plus as many programs have their clinicals spread out.

With that said the program also has a very good reputation and is a must sought out program for am associates degree. With that very competitive. To be competitive leads to my idea.

I am in the midst of my second semester of prerequisites. I have recently retaken Psych 101, already have Sociology 101 under my belt, I have a computer science class under my belt, health and wellness class, and the English classes required completed. Now I am taking a math class and a A and P class this fall. Math class isn't required it's only required at this CC for their chemistry clas, which is a good thing. Because this math class is a requirement for the BSN program the Community College associates with.

I could have taken the math class in the Summer and Chemistry in the fall. I would then be eligible to apply to the program at the end of the fall semester. Didn't go this route due to financial restraints and feel it worked in my favor. So now have some wiggle room to build my GPA up to be competitive and time to prep for the TEAS.

So my plan is to take AP2 and Chemistry in the Spring. Then in the summer take online Stats class and the TEAS. In the Fall Semester take Micro and Lifespan. Then apply for the program in the fall of 2018. Plan is my grades would help me enter the program. In the Spring I will take Genetics class. The Summer Spanish 101.

So all I have to do is 4 Semesters and 2 classes each. They rotate each year MWT or TWF (Class twice a week and clinical once a week) + 1 online class either in pharmacology or Nursing Lifespan course. The last semester have to take 2 online classes plus clinical. Most people in the program will also have to be taking Lufespan, Micro, English classes, and filler classes. However for me I can alleviate sone stress by lightening the load a little bit.

I enter the program at 31 be done by 33. I can jump right onto the BSN program and only have to take 5 classes be done in a year, but do it while I am RN.

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Just curious, are you considering the program at Western Ct university? wasn't sure because of your username..

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West Conn is my alma mater. I was thinking of going back to WCSU, but to do a BSN they start you off at as a Sophomore where SCSU starts you off as a Junior. I only have 2 years of college instead of 3. Love to go back to West Conn great school might do my Graduate degree there.

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I am planning on applying to SCSU and three community colleges in the Fall. If I can't get into a program the previous fall I'll apply again to the community colleges, a PTA program, SCSU accelerated program, and a LPN program.

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