ADN, BA versus BSN

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Hello All! I need some advice! I have just been accepted into an direct entry program in southern California for Fall 2016 entry. I was super excited to get into this program, but the excitement has waned as certain realities have set in. I am from San Diego, but was admitted into the campus in the Inland Empire, which would require me to move there and have to pay rent as opposed to staying with family here in San Diego. The program is 18 months for the pre-licensure portion, then we work as RN with a second BSN, while pursuing the Masters portion of the program. This portion is about 2 years and 2 semesters. The pre-licensure portion of the program is $45K (not including living expenses). While the masters portion is somewhere around $25K. The website for the program puts the average cost of the entire program to be $72-82K. I already have a bachelors degree in communication and I am starting to wonder if going the junior/community college route is the way to go for the ADN since I already have a bachelor's degree. My ultimate goal is to be an FNP which is a part of the direct entry program I was accepted into. I guess I am wondering if I should go the junior college route and if hospitals will consider a bachelor degree (BA) and an ADN equivalent to a BSN. I am in San Diego, and I think most of the area hospitals are magnet or becoming magnet, which I have heard compels them to only hire bachelor trained nurses or hire ADNs who are currently enrolled in an BSN program. Again, the reason I am considering this route is cost: The cost for the junior college ADN programs in SD are no more than $5K for tuition and I would budget about $30K to live on for 24 months (not paying rent). So I could be looking at $35K versus direct entry program at $45K tuition plus maybe $20-25K (living) for 18 months totaling $65-70K for the BSN portion. So I could be saving $30-35K. I know this is a long post, sorry! I am 38 years old and I just am worried about the debt I would have to to pay back. I think i would't feel as nervous if I was younger..but I still want to buy a house one day and save for retirement! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

BA/BS + ADN is not the same as a BSN. Personally, I would (and did) go the ADN route as my second career for cost. But my area does hire ADNs. That is going to be your biggest concern - can you get a job with your ADN while you do a RN-bsn or RN-MSN bridge

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Thank you for your feedback! I will have to look into some RN to MSN programs. Just frustrating to be charged so much for a second bachelors degree especially since most of the classes are the same classes as in ADN programs, and not to mention in SD the JCs have better NCLEX passage rates.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Yep! I have a BA chemistry and masters public health (along with a chunk of debt) and research experience before I decided on nursing. I am also older - like you. I will be 37 in a month (what?!), I have a 3 yo and I'm married. I did the math with all possible scenarios - time vs cost vs employment opportunities. And for me ADN made the most sense. I also didn't know RN-MSN programs existed for people with previous non nursing degrees. They apply your previous degree as your gen eds. Some have 1 semester "bridge" classes the. You start the masters portion. Others have 2 semesters "bridge" and award a BSN before you start the masters portion. Start doing some research on ALL of your options and be realistic. I don't know your market for new grads, so I can't attest to that. But for me, the ADN had so many advantages - cost, flexibility in clinicals being the biggies for me - so, of my acceptances that's what I chose.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

My program also had better nclex rates and reputation than some of the other bsn programs around

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You are right about most acute facilities in San Diego. Most will only hire new grads with their BSNs, or enrolled in a bsn+ program. Just consider if it's worth potentially not being able to work right away, let alone get accepted into a lottery program. Time is money. And it's not impossible to get a job with an adn in San Diego, but highly unlikely even if you knew people. If it's going to take an additional year or 3 to get into an adn program locally there's no point financially since it's the priority topic. If you can get yourself a position in a local cc program the same time as this BSN program, I'd consider that and get yourself into a BSN bridge program asap, move for your first job or both.

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Also with finances up there.. Unless becoming an fnp is your ultimate desire, it's not worth it especially in our market. You won't make significant more (you make less per hour as a salaried staff), will have more student debt. I don't know your personal situation with family but you mentioned you want to save up for a home and retirement. Id personally just look into image tech or even stick with bedside vs advanced practice. More likely working days, reasonable comfortable wages, no debt. I will start crna school soon and it will take me about 8 years of work before I profit compared to sticking with what I do now. That's if I return/get a job in San Diego.

It was brought up a couple of times that cc pass rates could be higher. That doesn't really say anything at all, in all honesty. And when it comes to requirements, they'll steer towards BSNs, and the application pool is huge. You're applying against of pool of individuals across the US, so keep that in mind.

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Thank you zzbxdo for your response. Yes, San Diego is super competitive, and I am wondering how the JCs keep graduating so many ADNs if they will ultimately find it hard to get a job in a hospital setting? My ultimate goal at the moment anyway is to be an FNP. So I will need to get a masters degree, ironically most of the direct entry programs charge more for the second bachelors portion of the program than the masters. Not sure what that is all about! Sigh...yes, I may try to see if I can still apply to some JCs in the area to go in spring 17, but it is super competitive so we will see. Seems like there are pros and cons to both options, just need to weigh them out.

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Since you already have your Bachelor's, why not look into an accelerated bsn program? It would be faster than your other options - most programs are 15-18 months.

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I'm assuming that you got into the APU ELM program. I just completed the pre-licensure portion and I think that it is totally worth it. It will be a lot harder to get a job (especially a new grad program) when you get your license. Also, APU is very reputable in the nursing world. You can always wait and apply next semester. A girl in my class was able to transfer to the SD campus for her masters portion.. it's not guaranteed they will let you do that, but definitely possible!

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Thank you zzbxdo for your response. Yes, San Diego is super competitive, and I am wondering how the JCs keep graduating so many ADNs if they will ultimately find it hard to get a job in a hospital setting? My ultimate goal at the moment anyway is to be an FNP. So I will need to get a masters degree, ironically most of the direct entry programs charge more for the second bachelors portion of the program than the masters. Not sure what that is all about! Sigh...yes, I may try to see if I can still apply to some JCs in the area to go in spring 17, but it is super competitive so we will see. Seems like there are pros and cons to both options, just need to weigh them out.

Most will go out of town, county state. It's one of the most saturated markets in the US, and it is easy to fill gaps with travelers. I will go into slightly more depth about fnps in our area from what I mentioned earlier. Most fnps will make even less if you are not associated with an acute institution. My comparison earlier was my job v np in ucsd. Expect to make 5-15 less/hr as an np in a clinic etc if you find employment. 35$/ hr at a little clinic? Yikes. You're already starting more as a new grad (I hope). There are a ton of nurses with their np still working bedside because it's stupid how less they make as a np, or how much time is required, or the job opportunities aren't there. I feel like there are more opportunities with ICU experience. 2 of my previous peers found jobs in trauma and surgical icus(dnp) with the later trying to come back for a clinic position, one we hired returned to the bedside, a few just graduated or in school with very low prospects of keeping years of service within ucsd.

I personally think getting a fnp with work in San Diego is a horrible investment. But that's just my opinion, along with many whom already put in time at the bedside here. If finances isn't your top concern, then that's a different story.

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I'm assuming that you got into the APU ELM program. I just completed the pre-licensure portion and I think that it is totally worth it. It will be a lot harder to get a job (especially a new grad program) when you get your license. Also, APU is very reputable in the nursing world. You can always wait and apply next semester. A girl in my class was able to transfer to the SD campus for her masters portion.. it's not guaranteed they will let you do that, but definitely possible!

Hi akkl,

Congratulations on completing the pre-licensure portion! Will you go on to the Masters portion, do you think? Are you in the SB campus and what did you most like about the program? I know the job market is pretty stiff down here for new grad nurses, do you feel the same way for where you are, assuming you are not in SD :)

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