ADN or RN

[Jamie, CMA]

I am interested in becoming an RN. I have been living here in Texas since June 2015. I currently work as a NRCMA. I am interested in somehow getting my foot in the door to a hospital of sorts. Ultimately that's where I want to work as an RN. But I was told 2 different things. 1.) Get my ADN & find a job, and work on getting my RN after that. 2.) Don't bother getting my ADN. Go straight for my RN. I have no idea where to start to get my RN. I know nothing about the colleges here in Texas. My apologies if this is confusing.

[caliotter3]

ADN is the 'two year' degree you get before you take the NCLEX RN to become an RN. You need the RN license to get a job as an RN. Do not mix up the education with the license. You do not have to get the ADN to become an RN. You can choose a BSN education program, a diploma nursing program, or an entry level MSN level program. But all of these are education programs. The license is still RN.

[PD82]

An ADN is a RN with an associates degree. A BSN is a RN with a bachelors degree. A MSN is a RN with a masters degree.

They are are ALL a RN.

If your looking to get your foot in the door I'd suggest a patient care tech or unit secretary position in a hospital. As far as schools go, you just need to do your research on nursing programs in your area and find what works for you. Good luck!!

[foggnm]

I think you're asking ADN vs BSN. If you're getting your ADN from an affordable community college then it is a great way to do it. Then you can get a job where they pay for you to do your RN to BSN. However if you're going to spend 1/2 million dollars on one of those private ADN programs, then yes just go ahead and do your BSN unless you're pressed for time. I find most ADN students still spend about 3 years in college and you can do your BSN in 4.

[twhite9015]

Hello Jamie!

I am a CMA as well and have asked the same question several times. It basically depends on what route you want to take. I live in Alabama and have access to both ADN programs and BSN programs. I've decided to go the ADN route. I will finish in 5 semesters. After that I plan on doing a RN-MSN bridge program which is completely online at a university close to where I live. I will obtain my BSN and MSN at the same time. But there are also RN-BSN online programs (public and private) that you can complete in a year. My CMA instructor went from not having a college degree to having her MSN in 4.5 years (full time) and she went the ADN route. The reason I chose the ADN route is because I'm a single parent and the CC offers the ADN program during the evenings, which still allows me to keep my same work schedule during the week and do clinicals on the weekends when childcare is easier to obtain. Either way you decide to go, I wish you nothing but the best! Hope this helps! =)