ADN to BSN or Traditional BSN

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I am a nursing student currently enrolled in an ADN program. The question I find myself asking is this, "Should I continue where I am at and finish and then go on to a RN-BSN program or apply now for a BSN program?"

Here is some background that influences my decesion

1) The only schools I can apply to are UTHSC in Houston and UTMB in Galveston, I could apply to others but those alone are quite hassling so i decided just 2, or should I go for more if I can??? I guess thats a second question lol opps

2) I am in my first semester of the ADN program that currently has a pass rate of 98%, UTHSC AND UTMB have 94% or lower pass rate on the nclex..............from what I am told nursing school does give you knowledge you need to be a nurse but the nursing world is nothing like the textbook, I want to pass that nclex to be a nurse though so the first thought is "go with the school that has the highest pass rate BSN or no BSN and then further you education because you will have what matters most, your license"

3)When applying to these schools I know my classes completed and grades count, I have a 3.33 GPA and all but statistics and nutrition to take, everything else is done.

4) The biggest impact.............I am a single mom whose partner in parenting might as well be dead cause hes that much help. (jerk) anyways (Can you feel the bitterness??? i can) I work a part time job right now doing what i naturally do good and make decent money to pay bills which is make up, low hours and good pay, my original plan was to obtain my RN and get a better job and my son off medicade and then go on to the UTHSC in downtown or UTMB to do the RN/BSN program, because it would not only further my career but it will count towards my continuing education hours, I don't have the stress of passing the NCLEX and when I do get my BSN I will have a year experience in the nursing field and a BSN which is very in demand EVERYWHERE.

Thing is, I run into nurses a lot!!!! I met one that had a master's, she was very excited for me and was happy to just hear I wanted to be a nurse. Another graduated from the program I am in and she seemed very happy and encouraging to me. The one I met today seemed to be on pedal about telling me how it is and how I should be going for my BSN and not a demeaning ADN and that Texas and all other states are "getting rid of ADN programs in the next 2 years" ???? I kid you not she said that which sound quite unreasonable to me because of the amount of impact that would have, I know plenty of schools that would shut down if they didn't have their ADN program, but it did raise this question, should i just apply for the BSN program now??? or wait till i have completed what i started???

I know this is a long post but its a HUGE decision for me and my son and I need help, its the difference between a nice income 3 years from now or a so so income 2 years from now and a better one a year later

thank you sooooo much:redpinkhe:heartbeat:redbeathe:heartbeat:redpinkhe

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There is not initially that big a difference in pay between ADN and BSN. Some hospitals are requiring BSN for their new hires but you would know the situation in Texas. Since you are already in the ADN program, I'd finish, get your ADN, start working and get some experience. Then, many hospitals will pay your tuition to do the "bridge" program, ADN to BSN. Best of luck to you.

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Finish what you have started but be clear that you need to get your BSN ASAP. You may actually be better off where you are because many undergrad BSN programs are very difficult (if not impossible) to get in. Once you are already an RN, there will be lots of options.

Start doing your research now by imagining that you already have your Associate Degree...start looking for your ideal BSN program...perhaps online? Once you have located the program check out whether you can start to take some basic courses so you will be further along.

You will be fine...just keep on going!

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Just a follow up: you are quite right about nursing school. It teaches you to pass the NCLEX and to be safe out on the floor. Most of "real" nursing you learn during your first couple of years of work.

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Finish your ADN and then do the BSN, Thats what I did.

As long as you school is accredited, nothing to worry about, there is no pay difference (usually) and I found out that hospitals like ADN because usually they more clinical experience. BSN focuses on many areas for the degree but the ADN is just on nursing.

There are also RN to MSN programs (you get a BSN on the way but credits can be substituded) check it out at washington state university,

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Finish your ADN and then do the BSN, Thats what I did.

As long as you school is accredited, nothing to worry about, there is no pay difference (usually) and I found out that hospitals like ADN because usually they more clinical experience. BSN focuses on many areas for the degree but the ADN is just on nursing.

There are also RN to MSN programs (you get a BSN on the way but credits can be substituded) check it out at washington state university,

That's a good point. There are lots of RN to MSN programs now that include the BSN along the way. That would be a great choice because the future is MSN.

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Just be careful, some RN to MSN do not offer the BSN, so if the specialty you want to go into requires a BSN, then that might be a problem. Also, depending on your AS degree GPA, some MSN programs require the GRE / GMAT test.

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I'm at student at UTHSC and I absolutely love it here. However, if I were in your shoes, I'd stay in the ADN program and then immediately apply for a BSN program after passing the NCLEX. I feel that the traditional BSN program is really time consuming and it would be really difficult for you to find time to work, raise your child, and study. If you didn't have to work (maybe take out school loans?) I'd say go for the BSN now, though. I think that the RN-BSN program is a little more accommodating to your needs, since so many people work as an RN while they are in school.

In terms of "getting rid of ADN programs in the next 2 years," I've heard a lot about that, too. :mad: That's so ridiculous given the huge nursing shortage that we'll see over the next few decades. I know that the Methodist system won't hire new grads unless they're from a BSN program, though pretty much all other hospital systems hire ADN and BSN grads. Now, the army only recruits BSN nurses and Houston ISD only hires BSN school nurses. It's all very competitive in this job market.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

ADN grad here. Here are my thoughts. If you are actually in an ADN program already, finish it out already! You are in a city with many opportunities to transition later. Having said that, I always intended to go back to school and even registered in a few courses and would always withdraw. I have never been able to make myself go back. Also, I have never lacked for job opportunities and have been very well compensated, so the financial motivation has never been strong enough.

Some hospitals will even reimburse you some (or all) for upgrading your education.

Oh, and all of us in nursing have been hearing about "getting rid of ADN nurses" for as long as we have all been nurses, and some have been nurses a very long time. If ADN nursing goes away, it will be because hospitals stop hiring them (and maybe that is starting to happen), but if the licensing boards change anything it will likely be like it has been for Pharmacists, PT's, OT's and ST's; they will grandfather in everyone already in the profession.

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Yeah, make no mistake about it -- the idea that the nursing profession will be "getting rid of ADN programs in the next 2 years" is nothing short of farcically absurd. Certain quarters of some nursing organizations and nursing academia have been pushing to try to establish the BSN as the entry-level RN credential for more than three decades now, and ADN programs have only proliferated during that time. The ADN isn't going anywhere anytime soon; the demand for nurses (longer-term, not necessarily right this moment) will simply be too great. The same quarters are also trying to brainwash everyone into thinking that advanced-practice nurses will all be required to earn a DNP as of 2015, but that's also a ridiculous notion. So many grad-level nurses running around these days talking about the "DNP 2015" thing like it's a done deal when, for a variety of reasons, it is anything but. It is quite safe to say that APNs will still be trained and credentialed at the MSN level several years from now when I'm ready to make the jump to APN study, and most likely indefinitely beyond that point to boot.

I'm just getting into my own ADN program at this point (few more prereqs, then wait a while for clearance to enroll when my number comes up), and I agree fully with the general sentiment expressed here. The ADN gets you the most important thing: the RN license, which is your ticket to a decent paycheck and invaluable real-world professional experience -- and, in some cases, at least partial if not extensive tuition assistance from your employer. Why take on a bunch of extra debt to get the same professional credential via a BSN program when BSNs rarely make much more money than ADNs (the BSN differential is typically no more than $1 per hour!), especially when you may be able to have your employer pick up a portion of your ADN-to-BSN program tuition? You pay less for the ADN; it gains you decent pay, nursing experience and even tuition assistance in many cases; and you can earn a BSN without putting yourself into hock to do it. When I originally worked as a CNA some years back, every one of my nurses felt that the ADN-BSN route was the way to go for similar reasons. I still agree fully with them: Stick to your ADN, get that finished, and go from there. I'm entirely confident that if you make that choice, you'll be glad you did! Whatever you choose, though, hang in there and best of luck to you! :)

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I graduated in 1981 from a diploma program and, even then, there was talk of "BSN entry level". The diploma programs did phase out but I see the Associate Degree programs are very strong and it doesn't look like they will be going away. I do see a problem, at the moment, with getting hired but I think with all the nurses retiring in the next 5 years that may start to change.

What I would really like to see is the profession of nursing be clearer in its use of the different educational levels. As a diploma grad I could work circles around both experienced BSN grads and nurse managers but it wasn't until I completed a BSN program that I realized there really is a difference in the level of practice. Nursing has never made a clear distinction in the job descriptions or use of the differing levels so most nurses are still unclear that there actually should be a difference. I hope we keep Associate Degree nurses, strengthen the Masters Degree nurses, and phase out the BSN.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

My personal opinion would be to finish the ADN program pass the NCLEX and start working. After that, I would then look into and RN-BSN program. It sounds like your choices of local BSN programs are limited, but there are many RN-BSN programs out there and a lot are offered online. I also found the RN-BSN program easier to get into then getting into my ADN program.

On a side note I just graduated an RN-BSN program in August and I have been a nurse for 5 years. I really feel like I got more out of my BSN program because of my previous experience as an RN. After having some experience I could really appreciate and get involved in the different subjects and topics covered in a BSN program. I went the the University of Wyoming RN-BSN program and thought it was great. They also have one of the cheapest tuition around, I think they are about $110 a credit for their online program.

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