ADN or Part-time accelerated Nursing

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I need some advice on deciding which schools to go. I already have my bachelors in accounting and owe around 20k. If I go to a community college next to me, it will be around 20k for two years and I will get my ADN. If I go to a private college, I can get my BSN two and half years, but double the cost. The good thing about the community college is it's about 20 minutes each way, while the private college is an hour each way. Also, I will have to work in the hospital next to the private college in order for the cost to be the same or it get's more expensive, because they have a discount for employees specific hospital. I'm scared that I will get burnt out and 40k on top of my 20k loan is scaring the crap out of me. But, to get my bachelor's with just going a semester more is really attractive. What do I do? 60k is a lot of money >.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Consider your local job market. Are ADNs hired? Are BSNs preferred, required or is it optional?

Also consider the rate of pay in relation to your debt. Can you afford a 60K loan payment on a new grad starting salary?

In my region, nurses are paid well. I owe $57k and my payments were about $400 which I could afford because when I graduated LVNschool, I didn't buy a car or move into a bigger home--as many of my friends did.

I think it's an important factor to consider that the BSN takes only 6 more months. In my area, 1:4 hospitals requires a BSN. 1 other will not take new grads.

The other 2 are fine with new grad ADNs, but I heard, not confirmed that they look more favorably upon those that say, "BSN in progress."

I'm going the long route. I can't afford to add on to my debt. So I'll cash fund my BSN after my ADN. I graduate in a few weeks with my ADN, G-d willing!

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I would do the ADN program. It's less money, a better commute, and you wouldn't have to get a job just to pay for it (assuming you're eligible for stafford loans). I'm also a second degree student (I have my BA in Philosophy) and I'm in more debt than you are (really wish I would have worked during school), and I'm going for my ADN. If all goes well I should be starting this fall. Getting to work sooner really made an ABSN program even more expensive than just the tuition in terms of opportunity cost. And you can likely bridge to a BSN for even cheaper than your ADN program was.

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I would still need a job either way to pay for living expenses. I honestly can't imagine living off loans for two years. The only difference is my job will be closer compared to an hour if I go to a private school.

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