Would it be best to go for the BSN or ADN in my situation?

[Kosis]

Hello :)

I'm currently finishing my pre-reqs at Richland community college in Dallas, TX for entry into Nursing school for my BSN. As of now, I have about 78 credit hours (was an Art major before) so I'm just now knocking out all of the Science courses.

This Spring semester I'm taking Bio II and Math, and in the Summer plan on taking A&P I and II. This leaves out Chem I & II, Organic Chem, Microbiology, Biochemistry(?) and possibly a Nutrition class (all required for Nursing school entrance at UTA.)

Another thing is I'm still a California resident (until June - moved back to TX to finish the prereqs) and I found out that SFSU does not consider out of state applicants for their Nursing program. That was where I had wanted to go to Nursing school. So my options are:

1) UT Arlington for my BSN - after I complete the pre-reqs at the community college, which should be at the end of Spring 2011.

2) Brookhaven Community College for my ADN - which would mean all of the general courses I've completed in the past that could have been used towards a BSN are now rendered useless. However, if accepted, I could begin Spring 2011.

My long-term goal is to work in Oncology and also as a Flight Nurse and I'm not sure if you can achieve this with an ADN. I would also like the option of pursuing my Master's later on to become a NP. But at my age, 26 (soon to be 27) I am starting to feel like a loser because I haven't completed anything academically.

Would love to hear your advice if you have any for me. Thank you.

[superdave]

Do the BSN. The job market has changed so you need to position yourself to succeed.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

Not at all. Why should anyone have to take (per the OP) two biology classes, two chem, organic chem, bio chem and nutrition just to start out at $20 and hour as a floor nurse? I wouldn't. My friends who have gone to CRNA school didn't have that much science in their nursing program.

A&P, micro and one chem class is more than enough to give one the background needed to be a nurse. We all know we don't learn to be nurses in school, we learn OJT. Nursing school just gives us the background needed to learn.

The accelerated BSN program that I'm interested in only requires A&P, micro and one chem as well. Other programs apparently require more chem, which is why i'm shooting for the other program.

As far as the OP, I'm 28 and I'm going and will be finished with my prereqs in June. Don't worry about age at this point, and focus on what degree will get you closer to your goal. I would go for the BSN over the ADN. Also, try looking at other colleges beside the one your most interested in.

[Nsteen87]

Don't feel like a loser because you haven't accomplished anything academically because it sounds like you are now on a path to do something you love and enjoy and there are few things in life that are more satisfying than enjoying you're work! There are lots of people in the world (and I consider myself one of them) who accomplish a lot of things academically, get into careers they don't enjoy and are miserable. I recently had a life changing experience while my grandfather went through Hospice and I had the priviledge to work with some of the most caring, excellent nurses on the planet and I decided I want to be one of them. Some probably think I'm crazy, but I am dropping my full-time Wall Street gig to go back to County College for my ADN so I can follow my dreams and work in pediatric nursing and and I'm looking forward to doing some volunteering along the way. At the end of the day life is a journey and it's not about how you get to where you end up..the only thing that matters is that you are happy when you get there. Follow your dreams...study hard...and if you want to be a flight nurse...you can certainly do it!

P.S. All else equal...I would do the BSN if I was in your shoes. The job market is so competitive right now that you need to do anything you can to get ahead. I will probably end up going back for my Masters in Public Health or MBA in Healthcare Management because I don't think I will be able to use my B.S. in Economics and my ADN in Nursing to leverage future promotions.

[KirbyEMT]

As a healthcare tech, I work with a bunch of nurses. Unfortunately it is the BSN nurses that are the least competent. Does anyone else notice the same thing? Do BSN programs spend too little time in clinical and too much time in psychology courses and gen eds?