ADN to BSN vs. ABSN -- experience of recent grads?

[nt2002]

Hi everyone -- I'm just starting my pre-requisites so I know it's super early for me to worry about this, and, the reality is, I would go with whatever nursing program accepted me . . . .

Still, as an older student, I'm really torn between -- it looks like getting an ADN one of the OCNE community colleges and then getting the BSN is significantly cheaper than getting an accelerated BSN. Then again, as an older student, I also like the idea of getting my BSN as quickly as possible, plus, it seems like the current Portland-area job market is favoring BSNs.

Soo -- which route did you go with and why? A year or two (or more) out from your degree, what are the pros and cons?

Recent ADN grads -- how tough was it to get that elusive 1st job and what made the difference? How quickly did you get your BSN and how much of a difference has it made employment-wise? What about the rest of your cohort? Which program were you in?

ABSN grads -- how do you feel about your choice? how tough was it to get that elusive 1st job and what made the difference? How much do you think the BSN helped? What about the rest of your cohort?

I'd especially love hearing from older, second-career nurses.

Thanks -- this is a great forum and I'm so happy to have found it!

[RN403, BSN, RN]

There are many threads on this topic and the questions within that you might find of assistance.

Which route you take will depend on your personal financial situation and also the demand in your area. If you research the facilities in your area and find that they want BSN nurses than you might just go for the ABSN.

[nt2002]

Thanks RN403 -- I am hoping to get some Oregon-specific responses since I have step-children here and won't be able to move out of the area for at least 10 years.

[osbick_bird]

Many of my OCNE graduate ADN classmates have gotten jobs in rehab-type facilities, some in home care, some in clinics, a handful in acute care settings, so there really are jobs out there, though landing one in a hospital is pretty difficult with an associate's. The BSN will open more doors, and most of us seem to be either already working on it or planning to soon. For me, going to CC and finishing the last three terms up on the hill at OHSU--will be finishing up this March--have been absolutely the best of both worlds. I think because ADN graduates are expected to be able to go out and work after graduation, we are pushed a little harder a little sooner to be confident and self-directed. As a pretty cautious person, this is something I really needed, and it's been serving me well. Just a couple of observations about those accelerated programs: the pacing is supposed to be insane (just the normal pace of the OCNE curriculum seems insane, hard to imagine learning all that in less time), and there is less clinical time. People will say different things about the value of clinical experience, but for me it really takes some practice in figuring out what I'm looking at to begin connecting what we've learned in theory to the flesh-and-blood person in front of me. There are amazing & successful nurses who have taken all kinds of pathways (and I think having that diversity in how we get there is a strength! Not everybody thinks about things in the same way), but I personally feel pretty lucky to have had this opportunity to have gotten both the more practical hands on CC approach AND the big-picture view from the University. The Ac-Bac is the right program for a lot of people! But I personally wouldn't change a thing about my path through nursing school. Hope that some of that is helpful! Maybe some Ac-Bac grads can chime in with their point of view.

[nt2002]

Thank you, this isexactly the type of feedback I was hoping for!