ADN or BSN please read before you flame

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No debating please, I already looked up the ADN vs. BSN debate on previous threads and don't want to be a cause of contention.

Hey everyone, I've only been on here for a couple of days and I already love it. I'm having major issues deciding what I want to do for school. I just found out a few days ago (by reading old threads from this board) that the ADN and BSN take the same ceritification tests and get paid the same and basically do the same job until the management roles. Where I live really limits my options because there aren't very many programs. Anyways, my dilemma is this: I almost have my liberal arts AA. Now I can go to a university and get my BSN, but it will take me until Dec 09 at $4300/semester. Or I can go to a community college and get my ADN and be done some time in 08, with much less money. Obviously I want to do the latter because I'm so sick of school, and I have kids. My husband wants to get out of the army, but he can't until I finish school. My husband is not convinced that I can get a job making enough money to support our family while he is in school with only a ADN. He is thinking that the more school you have, the more money you make. And really that makes sense, but I get the idea that that's not the case in the nursing profession. So I guess my question is, will I be able to find a job making good money with an ADN? Will it be hard for me to support my family with only an ADN? What jobs will I not be able to work at with only an ADN? Any advice about this topic would be greatly appericiated. I don't want to start a debate or anything, I just would like some advice and opinions. Thanks so much.

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Specializes in Family.

First of all, welcome to the boards!! Each area is different. Here in upstate SC, RN is all that matters. I have seen very few floor nurse jobs that actually specify BSN only. Your best bet is to look up your local hospital and view their job listings. Most all list education requirements. I have seen a few that say ADN, BSN preferred. In most areas of the country at this time, nursing jobs are plentiful. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU, Surgery.

Hi

I have a diploma (comparable to an ADN) and live in TN. There is no pay difference at all. You can get hired to all of the same jobs. Most management positions say "BSN preferred". Experience seems to make a bigger impression though. To advance up to "director" or head of education in a department would require a BSN. As a staff nurse, able to work shifts and overtime, you can make more than some upper management positions. You could also bridge over to a BSN later, after husband out of school and if the upper management jobs interest you. You can be an asst. head nurse or Head nurse with an ADN. Good luck :)

Lu

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

First of all, we are not all ladies here. :)

The job market currently is wide open for ADN nurses, especially working at the bedside, home health, dialysis, on and on and on. No need to worry there.

I have an ADN and have been doing very nicely for myself. I'm currently enrolled in an ADN to BSN program for better job opportunities away from the bedside as I age.

Many small towns use ADN nurses as managers, case managers, all sorts of things. Here the BSN is the preferred degree for management, public health, pharmaceautical reps, and of course teaching.

Go for the ADN and get to work!

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Further...

You can get your Associates, then get a job, then work on your BSN while you are earning a paycheck (many, many nurses do this).

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Further...

You can get your Associates, then get a job, then work on your BSN while you are earning a paycheck (many, many nurses do this).

This is my plan. Get the job and some experience first. Once I have "RN" after my name, I'll be able to do almost all my BSN work online.

Amanda

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First of all, we are not all ladies here. :)

Sorry.:mad: I'm so used to posting on my all female board that I didn't even think about it. I know that there are lots of wonderful male nurses to include my neighbor. I guess I'll just have my foot for dinner.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
First of all, we are not all ladies here. :)

Sorry.:mad: I'm so used to posting on my all female board that I didn't even think about it. I know that there are lots of wonderful male nurses to include my neighbor. I guess I'll just have my foot for dinner.

  1. Get your ADN first, then later down the proverbial road do an RN-BSN online program.
  2. Thanks to your husband for his military service... HOOAH! What is his [enlisted?] MOS/ [officer?] AOC?
  3. Yes, about 7% of RNs in the U.S. are Male RNs, and about 33% of RNs in the Army Nurse Corps are Male RNs.

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No debating here. I know LOTS of ADN's who went on to get their BSN's later. Yes, BSNs can make more money.....IF they go into administration, but the big money will not come if you're just starting out. For direct patient care the pay is the same for ADNs and BSNs. As far as I know, the only differences between the two are the education in admin and public health nursing. I care about neither, so I stopped at ADN. I work with a new BSN grad (05) who makes less than I do because she's just starting out, but she makes the same amount of money as the ADN new grad she was hired with.

Tell your husband that if he thinks you can support the family with a BSN, then you can do it with an ADN.

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Thanks so much, this is helping me out a ton.

Corvette guy, we're you enlisted in the army? I was a medic in the army for 3 years. Is nursing a little bit like that? My husband is enlisted, he wants to get out, but not until I'm done with school, so I'm trying to hurry as fast as I can.

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I'm getting my ADN. After that the hospital that I plan to work for has an RN to BSN program where you can work and have a social life while getting your BSN part time. This is my plan. There are also good RN to BSN programs online. It's a goal of mine to be a NP. I just don't want to be consumed by school. I plan to take classes at my own pace so that I don't have to sacrifice time with my family.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

And if you work somewhere decent, they'll PAY for your BSN. :)

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