ADN program points now include BSN reqs

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I'm wondering if anyone else is seeing this and what your thoughts are. A program I was hoping to enter for LVN in Jan. (and then move onto ADN year after the required year working period) will now be figuring in the BSN pre-reqs. If I didn't get into the LVN, I was planning to apply for straight RN for Fall '13. There had been 8 classes for the ADN (LVN to RN) up until now and the point system for that school added up to 13 possible points. Now they are including 8 more classes in their point system for a total of 21 points.

I had already taken one of these new classes for my school but that would leave seven more I would need in order to maximize points. Not sure how to proceed with this new info. I had intended to enter their LVN program because, schedule wise, it's probably the best for my family and it would give me a chance to feel out office jobs (instead of not being able to get some of the jobs I would like to try because they don't hire RNs). The next entry point for this school's RN or my schools LVN (they only do LVN year then RN year) is Fall '13, so it just makes sense to try and get started with LVN in Jan. After micro. in the summer I was done with all possible pre-reqs. and co-reqs. through RN for my school and this school. Now things are changing and I don't know if I should just go ahead and jump in to the rest of those or what. It's not like I can just wait around and see if I get into the LVN because I would need to be taking more classes in Fall to apply to the straight RN in Dec. if I didn't get in or for transition later on.

I just really hate the thought of chasing never ending changing guidelines. I could also try to get back into my school for the RN year later on but who knows if they don't go to this too. Is anyone else seeing this? Between my school and this school, they have changed guideline 3 times within a year. What would you do? Just try to stick to other schools or go ahead and do the extra classes? It begs the question though, if I had to do the classes anyway, why not just go for a BSN (there are no programs within an hour of me and I was never really interested in that anyway but you get what I mean)? Also, this will eat up pell for credit hours I may never need. I don't mind paying out of pocket, it just feels like I'm chasing something that is always just out of reach. I have a 3.9 GPA and have all the classes and so I have been told, by the counselor, that I will probably get into LVN (provided I do ok on entrance testing) but then what?... or should I skip this school all together? (Sorry this is so long and all over the place, this has just really thrown me off.)

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I would stop worrying about all these changes and just do what I was planning to do, consistent with my completed courses. You will either waste time, or money, or time, money, and peace of mind, if you try to keep ahead of the institution's apparent changing landscape.

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

I would consider another school...just consider. There is a school 15 minutes from my house but the students don't do well and pass rate is real bad. So I decided to go to a school almost two hours away. Best decision for me. High pass rate and they take care of their students. I love my school and the drive gives me time to get into school mode and drive home allows me to get in home mode. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I'm not sure what you mean by "BSN pre-reqs." All nursing schools that I am familiar with require beasic prerequisite courses (algebra, english, anatomy, biology, etc) before you could apply to the program. This hold true whether they are BSN or ADN programs. There are simply basic skills that you need for nursing that you don't have time to cover in the program.

If you don't like the requirements of this certain school, then I would suggest looking into other nursing schools that don't have these requirements.

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I would go in to another program as it sounds like you had bad luck as you're applying when they're changing their reqs =\

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Ashley....The ADN reqs for most schools close to me are AP1, AP2, Micro, Gen. Psych., Psych-Lifespan, Sociology, English 1, Pharm., Nutrition, Med. Term., Arts, and Microcomputer Applications. A couple of those are just for my school, a couple are just for the other one. I will take Micro. in summer, everything else is done. The school I am talking about will also now count History 1 and 2, Government 1 and 2, Speech, Stats., English 2, and Humanities. Those are all BSN courses around here.

caliotter3- You are right. I need to learn to quit jumping at everything that changes. I just don't feel like I have much wiggle room to change plans, which comes from having a kind of inflexible situation with kids and no assistance from family/husband. It keeps me too uptight and I need to learn how to get around that. It makes it harder that our programs here are only considered once per year.

Camwill- WOW! I have heard of some people driving that far. I could see the perks of being able to just drive and think. We don't have a lot of school choices around here and the ones around an hour from me would be two hours with traffic. However, with family commitments, I can't afford to tack on the four hours a day to an already 10 to 12 hour schedule. There is a top rated school only 45 minutes from me and if the other two don't work out, I can try them. They consider twice per year and I would just need to take stats.

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

Yeah it is the best choice for us. My family is big but all going to school. So I am lucky for that. I will go to school Tuesday through Thursday. So that isn't to bad. My family can have me four days a week. But I do understand, it is hard to be away from my family. But this sacrifice will be worth it. My school is supportive, so are the professors. I also can stay at any hotel around the hospital and get a discount. Also when I have had to miss class because of weather or the kids being sick and they have helped me stay on track. I think sometimes the school makes the difference. Good luck everyone!!!!!

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I actually just found out from my BIL (who just started reqs. there) that some of the students from that school have backed out already because of the changing guidelines. He told me that they sighted making it easier for students to transition to a BSN program after finishing the ADN. It still seems wrong to me to ask for BSN requirements for an ADN program but I may end up doing it anyway. It's not the classes that bother me. I had thought about doing them anyway to work toward a BS in something else while waiting if I don't get in this time. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. People choose to do the ADN for different reasons and for those, like my BIL, it's a huge deal to have to pay out of pocket for eight more classes they may never need. It also adds another year, when the 2 year degree already takes three as it is now. Whatever though, rant over. It is what it is..lol.

Camwill- You are so right, the school definitely makes a difference. You sound fortunate to have a family that is able to accommodate (as they should) your schedule. It will benefit your whole family that they are able to do that. I wish my circumstances were more flexible and maybe they will be by then. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

The right school will find you I am sure. Good luck with everything!!!!!

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