Should I get an ASN or a BSN?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Either way, I plan to get a BSN eventually, because my career goal of mental health nurse practitioner requires a masters degree. I'm at a community college right now to cut my debt. My CC has a really great ASN program and I really fear that I won't have the financial means to go to the university next year. I would have to get private loans and I don't have anyone to cosign.

However, I also fear that if I get my ASN, I will never go back for my BSN or my MSN... I would like to get started on my masters degree ASAP, because that is where I truly want to be.

What do you nurses think? What should I do?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I vote BSN. If I could do it over I would go straight to BSN. It takes most people more than 2 years due to prerequisites. By the time you complete the BSN it is more than the 4 years. Also, in my areas several hospitals are only hiring BSNs

Specializes in Emergency Department.

I would say that if you have a realistic choice between an Associates Degree in Nursing and a Bachelors Degree in Nursing, choose the Bachelors Degree. Get all of your prerequisites and lower division general Ed done at the Junior college level so that you don't have to repeatedly coursework once you get to the University. Start your homework on that now so that you know exactly what is needed for you to get into a BSN program.

If it turns out that you are unable to afford, in any way shape or form, attending the University for the BSN, you need to go to the ADN program. Please do not misunderstand me in that I am not disparaging the ADN program that your Junior college has, it's just that many times hospitals preferentially hire BSNs over ADNs. So that is a market reality for a new grad to consider.

In my case, I did not have that choice that you do. The local four-year university was not accepting any new second bachelors students for any program. That included nursing. Therefore, my only choice at the time was to go to a Junior college and attend an Associates level program. Because I have a Bachelors Degree already, I did not have to complete any additional coursework for graduation. Once I go to the University to complete my BSN, which is my plan, my educational path will be slightly shorter simply because I do have that first Bachelors. The other option that I have, because I do have a Bachelors Degree, is that I could simply take approximately 4 courses in addition to the coursework that I have already completed, and apply directly to a MSN program and perhaps pick up the additional coursework needed for a BSN along the way.

However in your case, simply because you have that option of going to either program, choose BSN first, if you can afford it. Choose ADN if you can't. Something else to consider is applying to both programs at the same time. If you got accepted into the ADN program and the BSN program at the same time, then you have a choice to make. If you are rejected from the BSN program and you get into the ADN program, your choice is you can wait until the next opening for the BSN program and hope to get in then, or attend the ADN program. It might very well be quicker in the long run to go to an ADN program, get licensed as an RN and go back to get a BSN if you are turned down for enrollment directly into a BSN program.

Some of what I said a be confusing to you, but basically look at all your options and whichever looks best to you, go for it!

If you have a B.A or B.S in another area (preferably one relevant to health and science), then you should go for ADN. There are several RN to MSN programs that are available online or on campus. There are also hybrid programs that will do BSN/MSN once you complete your ADN. Definitely worth checking out!

I have similar aspirations so good luck to you! :cat:

I did the ADN because I was 34 and wanted to be a floor nurse sooner. I knew if I worked super hard I could get into my local "fast track" program at the community college and be a floor nurse in 2 1/2 yrs (the ADN can take 3 to 4yrs with pre-reqs.. the traditional nursing program itself is 2yrs not including pre-reqs) I got into the accelerated track which was 18 months after my prereqs were completed I went non stop full time no breaks so I got it done in 2 1/2 that was my goal with my age though and it was very challenging I didn't work my husband supported our family the whole time. I knew once I completed that I could work slowly on getting my RN to MSN online while working as a Nurse :). Good luck ultimately you got make a choice that's conducive to your life. While many ADN programs seem like the "easy way to a degree" I can assure they are not. I have friends who have their BSN and when I tell them about the program I went through they are blown away. In my program the workload was insane and anything less than a 78 = F the grading scale was 92-100 = A 86-91= B 78-85 = C less than 78 and you're out. My friends who went to university and got their BSN said they had calculation tests they had to pass with greater than 96% at times but a 72 was still a C and passing. One aspect of this is that an 85 reflects as a C or a 91 a B on your GPA (which hurts a lot) and there is a lot to be said for getting your BSN. Ultimately we all ( I think ) want to continue on with our education. and there are no "short cuts" while the ADN takes less time it has it's own challenges to overcome. I would disagree with anyone who says it's "easier" to get than a BSN. Actually the BSN program at the UofA is easier to get accepted into then the ADN program simply because they accept more students. My ADN class only accepted 32 students and only 30 of graduated. good luck !

O and if you go for the ADN one thing you really want to look into is make sure the program is Accredited!

Specializes in Critical Care.

I was in your position last year (deciding between ADN and BSN programs) and I went with the ADN. Like you, I plan to go for an advanced degree at some point, and like you I would have had to take out a bunch of loans to finance the BSN program. The ADN program I chose has small class sizes, highly-educated faculty, a very high NCLEX pass rate, access to the best clinical sites available in my mid-sized area, and an excellent reputation in the community. And my total out-of-pocket costs for my first year totaled less than $1000.

I know having a BSN is critical to finding quality employment so I plan on applying to RN-BSN programs as soon as I graduate; in the meantime I've given myself the chance to save up for my BSN and get my financial house in order so that I can minimize the amount of debt I'm going to have to accrue. I know I'm going to have to take out loans somewhere down the line for the BSN and then whichever graduate degree I choose to pursue but I'm not going to cripple myself with extra debt just for the sake of expediency.

If having a Master's is "truly" where you want to be then you don't have to worry about not having the motivation to carry your education forward. Like a PP mentioned there are several ADN to MSN programs out there that award a BSN in the process - maybe that's something you could look into. Good luck with whatever you decide! :up:

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