B.S. in Health Administration and ADN? or BSN?

[Noble91]

Hello community!

I recently graduated with a B.S. in Health Administration this past May 2014. By the time summer ended, I was able to snag a full-time job within an IRO. This was my first step in the health industry, but I have realized that sitting behind a desk for 8 hours a day is not my cup o' tea.

So I jumped right back into school this Fall 2014 in hopes of completing some pre-reqs needed for Nursing School in Fall 2015. But I feel in a bit of a bind... I have my eyes set on an Accelerated Bachelors Nursing Program that is offered at a private Catholic institution near my house, but it would require me to tack on additional religious studies courses to be considered for admittance. This is on top of the nutrition and physiology course I would need to take. So if I set my eyes on this competitive program... I'd be flirting with almost 13 units for Spring 2015 and losing hours at my job (if they even choose to work with my schedule since I am still in my 90 day probation period).

On the other hand, I could simply knock out my physiology/nutrition and go for a ADN program at my local community college. But I keep hearing from my LVN classmates within my anatomy class that most Southern California hospitals (e.g. Kaiser) will only consider BSN grads.

So my questions are... which route would you preferably take? Is a BSN truly that much better than ADN? Do the leadership, critical thinking, and strategic skills I acquired for my BSHA make up for not getting a BSN, if I choose to go ADN? And finally, would earning an ADN limit me away from hospitals despite the BSHA?

I apologize for the lengthy post and appreciate any feedback whatsoever!

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

BSN's are the preferred choice for any number of nursing positions. ADN's also get jobs, I am not suggesting that they don't, however, if you have the opportunity to get a BSN I perhaps would think on that line.

You could go to the local community college, knock out your ADN, then do strictly online for ADN-BSN after that. Do a little research on the website of facilities in your area, the job openings, and see what they say--most could be BSN required, or BSN preferred. If it is a preference, you could market your HCA abilities, and that you are (at that time) actively pursuing your BSN.

Best wishes!!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Simply put, the BSN is preferred. You, having a Bachelors in Health Admin, have already covered quite a bit of the broad education and such that a BSN would also receive, with exception of public health/community nursing. I hold a Bachelors in Sports Med. I'm very well educated, but most employers won't accept that as being equivalent (or nearly so) as a BSN because it's not. There's no nursing advocacy or community/public health nursing coursework in a Sports Med program, for instance. EBP is, however, highly stressed and there are other parallels as well. In theory, I could go back to the University where I earned my Bachelors and take the nursing-specific coursework that I "missed" (about 6 courses) and earn a 2nd Bachelors. That, however, is not likely to ever happen... though it's a good school.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Especially if you plan on doing anything with your BSHA (i.e. leadership positions) you will NEED your BSN, and probably your MSN as well.

[mhy12784]

the ADN is a bad idea, youll just need a BSN anyway.

id try to look into alternatives to the religious program as well,

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Look at costs. My doing an ADN and the. Rn to bsn, I saved a ton of money. I also knocked out the BSN porton in about 8 months through careful research beforehand of what was required and what I needed to transfer. So now I have almost a year under my belt as an rn and a BSN if I passed everything.