ABSN VS ADN

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Hello all,

I was recently accepted into 2 programs - one an ABSN program and another a ADN program. The ABSN program will run me approximately 60k for relocating and tuition, while the ADN program will be under 10k and I can live at home. The ABSN program is 15 months, while the ADN program is obviously 2 years. I am torn as to what to do - I definitely want to get a BSN, but I'm taken aback by the price tag for the ABSN program. The nurses I know in person tell me the BSN doesnt matter as much as people stress online, but I just worry I won't find employment without one. Of course, I've heard of those with BSNs who still had difficulty finding employment. If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Thanks for reading ?

I'm in a prestigious ABSN program: The education and opportunities because of the connections are invaluable. However, I'm in a fortunate position in that I received a partial scholarship and am paying cash for the rest. Please do not put yourself in a financial hole because the living expenses will also pile on. Go the ADN route, then bridge: Some of the top universities with associated hospitals will offer you 100% tuition reimbursement to do so if you work for their hospital after you graduate. But as others mentioned, there are numerous online programs out there that allow you to get your BSN while you work. The catch is that you want to make sure your area has a market for ADNs: many do, but some large metropolitan areas are requiring BSNs to get in the door.

Congratulations on both acceptances though; it's great to have choices. Good luck!

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3 minutes ago, LadyLamp said:

I'm in a prestigious ABSN program: The education and opportunities because of the connections are invaluable. However, I'm in a fortunate position in that I received a partial scholarship and am paying cash for the rest. Please do not put yourself in a financial hole because the living expenses will also pile on. Go the ADN route, then bridge: Some of the top universities with associated hospitals will offer you 100% tuition reimbursement to do so if you work for their hospital after you graduate. But as others mentioned, there are numerous online programs out there that allow you to get your BSN while you work. The catch is that you want to make sure your area has a market for ADNs: most do, but some large metropolitan areas are requiring BSNs to get in the door.

Congratulations on both acceptances though; it's great to have choices. Good luck!

I agree with you, I forgot to mention that my BSN was fully online , very flexible. I was working full time and getting my BSN.

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On 4/26/2019 at 5:25 PM, BZ2SCS said:

I was in the same shoes, I had a bachelor degree in business then decided to go for RN. I chose to do my ADN instead because it was a better choice financially. I didn’t have any difficulty finding a job , within a month of passing my board I started working at a major Hospital. The Hospital does not pay more money if you have a BSN . I completed my BSN last year and the hospital paid everything because I went to a State University. I am very happy I made that choice. Now am applying for my MSN. Good luck!

Same here. B.S. Business Administration -> RN. Before quitting my job and figuring out if I would even go back to school I made a spreadsheet of admissions requirements, timelines, and the cost of program and life for the timeline required. I refreshed my A&P in 8-weeks and applied the day my grade was official. 3 weeks later I was accepted into my ADN program and am halfway done. When considering the cost of not working FT, extra pre-req's to make me core complete in my new state, and the cost of the program along with the uncertainty of admission into an ABSN, I chose to go with the overall surest, fastest, and cheapest option. I live 1-2hrs from my school, depending on traffic. There are days I leave home by 0400. Granted, I'm in a top-rated program but overwhelmingly, In my area, ADN's are still hirable and they receive the same pay. The only reason I would hesitate on an ADN would be if I was in an area that has unfavorable ADN markets, like NY, CA, etc. I will enroll in an online RN-BSN next spring and I'm looking at 7-15k for that. My program is 4k.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

It depends where you live I think, but where I am (Wisconsin) ADN vs BSN has zero difference in terms of getting hired. I just spoke with a recruiter from a hospital the other day and asked her about it and she said it’s not an issue but you have to enroll for your BSN within a year of being hired and have three or four years to complete it, and they have a very generous reimbursement program. So if you live in an area like that, it’s a no-brainer.

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@ORoxyO That's the way to go!! That would be a dream to do.

@BZ2SCS That's awesome! I'm definitely trying to do the same thing. Good luck to you as well!

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@LadyLamp That's cool your program offered scholarships and financial aid - this program does not, and was a huge factor for me to deny my admission. I live in CA, hopefully the market stays strong for ADNs! Thank you so much, best of luck to you as well!

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@klp2006 I'm looking at a 2 hr commute to my ADN program, but thankfully there is public transportation I can take advantage of. I do live in CA, but I hear that the market is favorable to ADNs as well, per another ADN program I applied to. Yeah, the bridge program over here is ~11k...

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@Rionoir Reimbursement programs?? Oh, sign me up!! I was thinking that hospitals would only pay for you if you were starting the program while simultaneously being employed by them/signing a contract.

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In my personal experience, the ADN program is more flexible time wise than the BSN. I was previously enrolled in an extensive BSN program. It was hectic and basically impossible with my family life. I switched to an ADN program and it's much more manageable, plus, if you need to work while attending school it's an option whereas the BSN program wouldn't allow that to be possible due to the schedule. This ADN program I'm in is a fraction of the price I paid for the BSN program. It's funny, I'm taking the same classes and relearning the same things I learned in the BSN program but at a cheaper price. Fortunately, my school will be offering a BSN program next year so that I can continue my education right after graduating. I hope this insight helped some. Best of luck with your decision and future education.

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I'm trying to make the same decision and for me, it looks like the ADN is the path I'm going to pursue.

Another interesting observation is that, for some reason, most ABSN programs require courses that aren't required going the ADN-->BSN route. For example, a Chemistry Sequence, Nutrition, Medical Terminology, Human Growth and Development, and Abnormal Psychology. Not all schools require all of these, but most I've looked at have required at least 1 Chemistry course. This is not a requirement at any point for the ADN --> RN, as far as I can tell.

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