ADN or BSN

My suggestion is go for the ADN first. The pay is the same for RN or BSN, and you can start working sooner. Do the ADN program, get a job, make some money, and let the facility pay for your RN-BSN bridge. Also, many people can make it through the ADN program without loans, looks for grants or scholarships. Most hospitals pay for education, either by contract agreements, or tuition reimbursement, so don't worry about having to pay student loans for a RN-BSN bridge program.

Good luck!

I know the situation is getting tricky where I live because a lot of hospitals are applying for magnet status and they would like RN with BSN's. However, I think you have to look at your situation and find out what fits best for you. I am going to apply to both ADN and BSN programs. The ADN program I am applying to is like your school: just 10 mins. away from my house, affordable, and some semesters they offer weekend clinicals. All that works with me since I have a one year old.

I good thing is that you can bridge over to a BSN if you decide to go to the ADN. Just be careful in automatically assuming that whatever facility you work at will pay for you. You may have to compete for those reimbursements with other nurses. But I don't think it should be a problem if they you are dedicated in receiving higher education. Good Luck in whatever you decide:).

I'm getting my ADN at a junior college and then going straight for my BSN probably at Uof Pheonix...the extra few months are worth it when you think of saving big $$$$$$$$$¥$$$¥$$$$$

Raqi,

Personally, I would rather go the more affordable path, get my ADN, graduate, and take the remaining year or so of online classes to get my BSN. Why? First off, you get a job sooner=faster opportunity to get your much needed experience. Secondly, hospitals will typically reimburse or pay for you to go back to get your BSN, therefore you don't pay out of pocket. And lastly, with an ADN, you don't have anything to lose. I just made the decision this past Friday. Now, there is no turning back. I will graduate in a little over 3 years, since I am transferring to another school this summer, and want to take my time so as not to put my GPA at risk. You also want to look at your situation personally. I am married, had a 6 month old, and have to help with the driving in my family for a while. This means taking everyone to and from work, so you can see how this could all affect taking science classes, and study time in general. You might not have as much responsibilities as other. Use that to your advantage. Unless you have the time and confidence, I wouldn't put too many sciences together as well. At my school I will be attending this coming summer, the drop rate of anatomy 1 alone is 50%. Of those considered for the program, with a minimum GPA of a 3.0, the average accepted had a GPA of 3.6! BEst of luck to you with your studies and Happy Easter.:w00t:

I'm in a bit of a difficult decision right now.

I applied to my Junior College for their Nursing Program and just got their acceptance e-mail today for the start of Fall 2012.

I was/am also in the process of applying to Chamberlain School of Nursing and I am more than positive if I really concentrate on studying for their entrance exam that i can get in for Summer of 2012.

Now heres where the decision gets hard. Both are around the same time length (Junior College 2 years, Chamberlain 2 yrs 4 months) Now at the Junior college it is much more affordable , i want to say less than $15,000 but its for an Associates Degree. On the other hand Chamberlain is going to run me about 50-55,000 for two yrs and 4 months for a BSN. I was already getting into the thought of taking out a student loan and I was ok with that as long as I can get into the Program and finish school. But now seeing how my junior college has accepted me into their program I'm not sure what to do.

My Junior college is about 15 mins away, and clinical sites are about 5-10 mins from me. On the other hand Chamberlain is a good hour away and thats with out traffic into the city. Clinical sites for chamberlain could even be farther than that.

I would like some input on the difference between an RN with an associates and an RN with a BSN. Obviously a BSN will always look better and I do want to go for my BSN. It would just be a bit longer and less expensive if i go through my junior college first.

Also some input on how fast/easy (or not) it is to pay off student loans on a Nurses pay right out of school.

I am a single mother of one and would love to be on my own right out of school.....

Advice please..

There is a long running debate on AN about this very issue. Typically I would say go for the BSN, no doubt about it. However, with the details you listed I believe it would be a wiser decision to obtain your ADN first. Speaking strictly monetarily, you could obtain your Associate Degree (15,000) and subsequent Bachelor Degree (10,000) for a total of 25,000. To attend Chamberlain College of Nursing and obtain your Bachelor Degree it would cost you 50,000-55,000. You're saving 25,000-30,000 dollars by making the decision that previous posters and myself have recommended. The drive time is also a factor that needs to be considered. Speaking as a student who drives roughly 2.5 hours round trip to and from school, I would tell you that it is a blessing to live 10-15 minutes from both school and clinical sites. Summarization of the post, attend the local junior college, graduate, then attend an accredited RN-BSN program.

Thank you all for your replies! You all make very good points. I'm going to ask for my$95 application fee for chamverlain to be refunded since I am still within the 10 day refund date. This acceptance couldn't have come are a better time. I have worked my butt off to try to get in! It is a true blessing! And I'm excited to officially call myself a nursing student!

Thank you all for your replies! You all make very good points. I'm going to ask for my$95 application fee for chamverlain to be refunded since I am still within the 10 day refund date. This acceptance couldn't have come are a better time. I have worked my butt off to try to get in! It is a true blessing! And I'm excited to officially call myself a nursing student!

Congrats on the acceptance raqi89. Get some rest now, once nursing school starts you won't have time.