ABSN, LVN, or BSN 3 year Program?

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  1. ABSN, LVN, or BSN

    • 8
      ABSN
    • 3
      LVN to RN to BSN
    • 5
      3 year BSN (West Coast)

16 members have participated

Hello All,

I am a recent college grad with a BA in Psych from a UC. I was originally planning on going into a ABSN program like Concordia or Samuel Merritt but it hasn't been easy to complete my pre-reqs since classes at Community Colleges continue to dramatically fill up.

So I've been considering entering a LVN program and then working my way up to becoming an RN through a 30 unit option and then an RN to BSN program.

My third option is to go to West Coast in Anaheim and complete their BSN program which would take about 3 or so years and cost 100K+ to attend....

Please help me! I appreciate any advice! :)

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Why Samuel Merritt? They don't have a particularly good reputation in the nursing community here in CA, just FYI. I'm not familiar with Concordia.

What about a CSU BSN program? If you're in SoCal, I know Long Beach offers a 2 year BSN (goes through summer). I realize the CSUs don't offer aBSNs, but a lot of second bacc students are choosing this route, and more and more CSUs are condensing their programs anyway.

Keep trying with the nursing prereqs. They're SO competitive, I know. Have you talked to the schools about getting a high priority to try to get in before they fill, or at least to get some tips for getting in. I had to be open to whatever I could get into. I also took micro over the summer, which was a little easier to get into (and was intense, but good).

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I've never heard that Samuel Merritt (SMU) has a poor reputation. Can you please elaborate?

With regard to the original question....

*i think* the CSUs are a good option if your grades are competitive enough to get in.

If not, an ABSN such as Samuel Merritt or some of the CSUs might be a good second choice.

I think 100k for a BSN is a bit too much.

Ps if you decide on SMU they offer the prereqs in a condensed easy to access format. It's listed on their website. This way you can skip the community college adding game. (Though it can be done, it took me a couple of years but I'm on my last semester now)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I more thing..I did pause my prereq journey to obtain my LVN. That path has pros and cons.

Cons:

Lots more debt as I went to a private accelerated program

Makes the whole process of becoming an RN take longer

Pros:

I earn more as an LVN than as a CNA

Added to my foundation of knowledge

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Where do you stand on your prereqs? How many more?

Do the schools you're interested in take online classes? You could knock out some of them online...lifespan dev, sociology, and even chem and A&P if you're a person who can do online. A lot of people have different opinions about online classes, but to each their own. I took all mine online and feel extremely confident. Another benefit is some can be completed in shorter semesters than 4 months at a time.

100k? That's way too much imo.

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Basically I need almost all the pre-reqs :( A&P, Micro, Chem, Lifespan, Soc, Speech, etc. So it will take me a good 2-3 semesters to complete them all. I have a list of all the ABSN programs that I'm interested in and its about 9-10 schools in California, Arizona, and Nevada.

If I do decide to go the LVN > 30 Unit Option > RN to BSN route will it really take me a much longer time than the ABSN route?

Also if I went to West Coast's 3 year program it would cost 100K+ which includes all pre-reqs but if I went to Samuel Merritt it would cost 80K and who knows how much my pre-reqs will end up costing me....

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100K for a BSN?! I have about 25K in a two-year, and at the end of my four year BSN, I'll have about 50K in debt, which I can live with. 100K seems like a ton of money to me for that..

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I think anything over 50k for an ABSN is crazy. If you have the money, then by all means, but if it were me I would not put myself in that kind of debt for a BSN.

I did a lot of research in California for ABSN schools. Every school I contacted in Cali did not accept online coursework for any prereqs. Something to think about if you are considering online classes.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Basically I need almost all the pre-reqs :( A&P, Micro, Chem, Lifespan, Soc, Speech, etc. So it will take me a good 2-3 semesters to complete them all. I have a list of all the ABSN programs that I'm interested in and its about 9-10 schools in California, Arizona, and Nevada.

If I do decide to go the LVN > 30 Unit Option > RN to BSN route will it really take me a much longer time than the ABSN route?

Also if I went to West Coast's 3 year program it would cost 100K+ which includes all pre-reqs but if I went to Samuel Merritt it would cost 80K and who knows how much my pre-reqs will end up costing me....

Why do you need to take all of those steps? That seems like taking the longest possible route. Why not focus on banging out your prereqs with the highest grades possible to boost your GPA (as your prereq GPA is also considered), and go straight for a traditional BSN?

$80-100K is asinine, if you ask me.

No school in CA will take online anatomy, physio, micro, or chemistry. The others you can take online if needed, but don't even consider taking those sciences online. Look at community colleges in your area and do what it takes to get those classes knocked out there, which will save you a ton over university tuition (private or state).

@vintagemother- the nurses and managers talk a lot about the universities in the area, as we are a teaching hospital, and they talk about how students from one school compare to another. They don't speak well of Samuel Merritt's program.

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OP, if you have a competitive GPA (3.4+) then try for those ABSN schools!

The LVN to RN to BSN route sounds so much longer if your goal is just to achieve a BSN. Have you thought about going the ADN/ASN to BSN route?? It does feel like taking a step backwards since you already have a BA, but it would be a step faster than the LVN to RN to BSN route!

Have you looked into MEPN programs? They're competitive as well, but it's a step forward considering its a Bachelor's to Master's program.

I'm not 100% on which route to take as I'm a "pre-nursing" student right now. But these are some different paths to consider!!

I realize the CSUs don't offer aBSNs, but a lot of second bacc students are choosing this route, and more and more CSUs are condensing their programs anyway.

I believe CSU Northridge & CSU San Marcos are some CSUs that offer an ABSN, but they are still pretty competitive to get into. :sorry: (1.5 to 2 year programs)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I'm pretty sure csu Stanislaus in conjunction with sac state has an ABSN. It's listed under adult ed or something like that and tuition costs more than regular, but I think less than private.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
I believe CSU Northridge & CSU San Marcos are some CSUs that offer an ABSN but they are still pretty competitive to get into. :sorry: (1.5 to 2 year programs)[/quote'] I know Sonoma State and CSULB are down to 2 years for their traditional tracks. There may be others as well.
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