ADN to BSN Question

firstyearstudent · Jul 11, 2006

It seems a shame to me to not get the ADN, since you are so close. Can it be finished later on, on a part time basis? If you decided to do a bridge program some day, you will need it. Another thought is CLEP! I easily passed Psych, Human G&D, and English Comp and saved myself a lot of time and money. I bet you could CLEP all of the courses you need. You could study for them over the summer while your kids are napping and when they go to bed.

Maybe... There is a gal in my program who agrees with this and is fulfilling the requirements for an associate's degree (she has a bachelor's in computer science). Two other gals in similar circumstances are not getting the degree (bachelor's degrees in psychobiology and accounting). I already have a bachelor's degree, so I kind of agree with the counselor, what is the point of getting a lesser degree?

Also, I'm not sure that it would be required for a bridge program. Many programs that state the you need something (such as an ADN), will often accept an equivalent. A BA and all the nursing courses required for an ADN is most likely more than equivalent to an ADN.

AnnaN5 · Jul 11, 2006

I am a little confused on how you will be able to sit for the NCLEX? Everything I have read states you need to graduate from an accredited nursing program to be eligible to sit for the exam.

I have a previous BS in Human Biology and I am about to start nursing school. I just have to take the clinical portion because I have all the other gen ed requirements done (most of them were satisfied through my previous degree). But when I am done I will actually graduate with the ADN degree.

I was just curious exactly how exactly how your situation works!

ladybugsea · Jul 11, 2006

I already have a BA in math (and an MS for that matter) so I know the frustration of not wanting to have to do all those classes you don't need. But besides the nursing prereqs and actual nursing courses, the only classes I was missing were classes I mentioned above that I CLEPed. So my BA covered almost everything for me. The bridge program I will applying to requires the ADN, regardless of my other degrees. You wouldn't even be able to get into my ADN program without all/most of the other courses done, anyway. I am guessing that you can't get your ATT for the NCLEX without finishing at my school. Maybe your school/state are less strict than elsewhere.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

While it is possible my counselor is wrong about this, she's been there for years and years and I am certain there have been plenty of students who have passed through the school and have gone on to work as registered nurses without getting the official ADN. The way it was explained to me, the board doesn't really care what your degree is in, as long as you have one and have fulfilled their requirements for nursing education (which, by the way, are almost equivalent to the ADN program at the school I'm attending). Or alternatively, have a diploma from a diploma program.

This is intriguing to me. I checked with the New York State Board of Nursing, and found this requirement: "Education: have received an education, and a diploma or degree in professional nursing, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations". So, in New York, you must have both an education AND a diploma or degree in professional nursing.

Is it then true that this is not the case in every State? That it can, in some States, be possible to sit for the NCLEX WITHOUT a degree or diploma in Professional Nursing??

While it's true a Bachelor of the Arts is a "higher" degree than an Associate of Science, the latter can be a graduate of an accredited nursing program, whereas the former might just be a Humanities major.

I don't think I like that, personally.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

I already have a BA and decided to take classes at my community college to sit for NCLEX. (I'm not even getting an ADN degree, actually.) I decided not to go for a BSN right now for a number of reasons, the big one being financial. Anyway, here is my question. If I do want to eventually get a BSN, will I have to have 60 credits at the credentialing institution like most "transfer" students? Or will they give me a BSN with less. My suspicion is that I wouldn't necessarily need 60 credits to fulfill the BSN requirements.

I'll forget the strangeness of not getting an nursing degree and being able to sit for NCLEX (have you had clinicals?). Just check and double check with this experienced person that you are understanding her correctly.

Those 60 credits are more than likely credits they give for the Associates Degree and/or Diploma. I looked into a lot of RN to BSN programs and they all had the same requirements for the Nursing Degree at an accredited school. So if you don't take those 60 credits of nursing course I'm not sure you'll get into a BSN program even though you have an RN.

It would be best to contact the particular RN to BSN program you're interested in and ask them.

Good luck!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

A BA and all the nursing courses required for an ADN is most likely more than equivalent to an ADN.

Acutally "all the courses required for an ADN" is equivalent to an ADN. So you're not making much sense to me.

Why not have the "Associates Degree in Nursing". It may be a "lesser degree" but it doesn't remove or override the BA degree you already have. What you're talking about is getting no degree. There's no shame in adding ADN to your BA degree, especially if it allows you to sit for NCLEX and bridge easily to BSN programs.

I'm not judging you. If I already had been to school four years to get another degree and could become a nurse without getting a nursing degree, and it was quicker and cheaper, I would consider it as well.

Pardon us for thinking that it's a strange and novel idea. You're probably going to be spending more time talking about that than your original question. :) There are many strange and novel ideas out there to deal with the nursing shortage. Good luck!

luvmy3kids · Jul 11, 2006

My program of study isn't much different from the other students. I only have to take a few less humanities and general education courses that are required by the school but not the board of nursing. While it is correct that these courses are probably less rigorous than the nursing courses, I have two small children and need every minute I can spare to spend with them. I was also told that getting the community college associate's degree was pretty much meaningless and unnecessary since I already have a bachelor's degree.

Please tell me that my ADN degree is NOT meaningless or unnecessary just because I already have a Bachelors degree.....:icon_roll I'll really be ticked if I find out I've been wasting my time all along!!! :angryfire

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

Please tell me that my ADN degree is NOT meaningless or unnecessary just because I already have a Bachelors degree.....:icon_roll I'll really be ticked if I find out I've been wasting my time all along!!! :angryfire

Chill. She didn't say the degree was meaningless. She said getting the degree in her particuar situation was meaningless and not necessary because she can become an RN without it.

firstyearstudent · Jul 11, 2006

Hmmm. I don't know how else to explain this so it doesn't seem like I'm getting away with something (not completing an adequate program) or disparaging the ADN. I'm not.

The difference between the program I am taking is 2 or 3 general education classes that the community college requires for their associates degree (for all graduates, not just ADN). These classes are not required by the state board of nursing.

I feel satisfied, personally, that I have already received a well-rounded education that is, in fact, superior to the general education curriculum as mapped out by my community college.

luvmy3kids · Jul 11, 2006

Chill. She didn't say the degree was meaningless. She said getting the degree in her particuar situation was meaningless and not necessary because she can become an RN without it.

Actually, she said she was told it was meaningless.

I happen to be in the same situation.... but I don't feel that because I already have my BS that it is meaningless for me to still get my ADN.

firstyearstudent · Jul 11, 2006

I had no idea I could sit for the boards without getting an ADN. My counselor informed me of this and said that she thought it would not be worth my while to take the extra associates degree courses. And the courses that I would need to take are not interesting to me. One is state government (I plan on moving out of state in the next few years) and the other is a cultural sensitivity class (I've always lived in major metroplitan areas, including New York City, and have had friends and work associates of all different persuasions for 30 plus years). I'm not saying these classes are worthless, I just don't think I'd get much out of them.

Also, and this was one of the reasons for the post, taking more general education classes will not help prepare me for a BSN. Most colleges have requirements that you take a certain number of courses with them to get a degree. For instance, you can't take 3 1/2 years of courses at a state college, transfer to Harvard for one semester, and get a Harvard degree. A university will only take so many transfer credits. Why do I need more credits that won't transfer? I am pretty sure I am already maxed out.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2006

Actually, she said she was told it was meaningless.
I happen to be in the same situation.... but I don't feel that because I already have my BS that it is meaningless for me to still get my ADN.

Here's what she said "I was also told that getting the community college associate's degree was pretty much meaningless and unnecessary since I already have a bachelor's degree.

Getting the degree is meaningless because she can become an RN without it. It still doesn't sound like she was saying she was told the degree itself was meaningless. It's just that they she had no need for it.

If you're getting it when you don't have to, that's your personal choice and meaningful to you.

I'll drop it now. :)