ABSN vs ADN

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Hi everyone,

I am in need of some advice. I am about to graduate with a BA in Psychology. I know I want to go to nursing school, but I am not sure which route to take. I am worried about the price of the ABSN programs and I am also worried I won't get in with a low GPA (3.0). Does anyone have any advice for me? Thank you!

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Do you have your pre-reqs finished yet? An ADN degree is a good option because you can start working and then go on to get a bachelor's. However, some hospitals are really wanting BSN prepared nurses. It depends on your area. ABSN programs will also get you finished very quickly, but typically they charge a lot more. How much does each program in your area cost? How competitive is each one? A lot of schools use point systems so you'll want to look at how they decide which applicants are accepted. What's the reputation of each nursing program?

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I have most of my pre-reqs finished. I am going to try and finish them all this year (my senior year of college). In my area, a lot of hospitals are wanting BSN prepared nurses. The ABSN programs near me cost anywhere from $40,000-$80,000 (some are public and some are private). They are all pretty competitve from what I have heard as well as very respected. I also already have many student loans from my undergraduate career, which adds to my concern. I am just trying to figure out if getting my BSN is worth the cost versus spending two years in an ADN program and still having to go back to get my BSN later on.

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At $40,000 for an ABSN program, I'm thinking doing the ADN plus Bachelor's will be way cheaper. You can do the bachelor's once your working - assuming that you can get a job in your area. Are you open to relocating if necessary? Several online BSN programs only cost around $10,000.

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At $40,000 for an ABSN program, I'm thinking doing the ADN plus Bachelor's will be way cheaper. You can do the bachelor's once your working - assuming that you can get a job in your area. Are you open to relocating if necessary? Several online BSN programs only cost around $10,000.

Not only would the ADN +BSN later probably be significantly less expensive, it's possible to work part-time during the ADN to help cover the costs, which would not be recommended or likely during an ABSN program, and most BSN completion programs are designed for RNs who are working full-time while in the program. I was able to pay for my BSN completion program out of pocket as I went, without it being any hardship (and that was without any employer educational assistance; it would be even less of an issue if employer is helping to pay for it).

Unless one is just not going to be employable with an ADN, I would consider that the way to go.

OP, what happened or changed that you're walking away from your psychology degree?

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And even though your hospitals want nurses with a BSN, let's be realistic... There's a national shortage of nurses. They'll hire you with your ADN. All they really care about right now is that you're licensed.

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And even though your hospitals want nurses with a BSN, let's be realistic... There's a national shortage of nurses. They'll hire you with your ADN. All they really care about right now is that you're licensed.

There's actually an interesting thread that was just started about the nursing shortage. Everyone has a different take on it. OP, you might enjoy reading it. https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/-quot-thats-a-1168985.html

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There's actually an interesting thread that was just started about the nursing shortage. Everyone has a different take on it. OP, you might enjoy reading it. https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/-quot-thats-a-1168985.html

I read through it. It's taking the same approach as my old career: Trucking.

There's a shortage. When a hospital has 70 different jobs posted looking for an RN, that's your hint that they need a lot of RNs. Nursing homes are hit even worse. Most don't want one nurse to 20 patients, but sometimes it has to happen. Home health is suffering even more. All the different other jobs that RNs get that most people tend to not think of REALLY struggle.

An experienced nurse can make a phone call, do an online interview and be moved across the country, paid by a hospital, and given thousands of dollars to work for them. That's a lot of cost for a hospital to take on when if there's no shortage, they should be regularly turning away applications because they just don't need anyone.

Just because a good nurse can handle 6-7 patients alone doesn't mean that there isn't a shortage.

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