ADN v ABSN - Triangle Hospitals

[Sales2Nursing]

Hello!

I'm hoping to get some advice on whether to pursue (1) a ADN at a local community college and then a ADN to BSN bridge program or (2) a ABSN program. I've been out of college for awhile so I would have to take many of the prerequisite courses over in order to be eligible for UNC's ABSN program. This would take time (delaying application another year) and then of course there's no guarantee I would be accepted into this competitive program. My ultimate goal is to work at a hospital in the triangle (UNC, Duke, Rex, WakeMed). I believe that these hospitals for the most part require a BSN (is this correct)? Assuming it is, is it easier to get a job in the triangle if your degree is from UNC or Duke as opposed to Durham Tech, Wake Tech, etc? Just trying to determine whether going to UNC or Duke is really that advantageous over community colleges (assuming I end up with a BSN at either place).

Thanks!!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

School is probably not as important as getting a part-time job at one of the hospitals or doing your senior Capstone (internship) at one of the hospitals.

[guest699183]

You may want to investigate the RIBN program. Durham Tech and some of the other community colleges have partnered with 4-yr universities to help their students get a BSN.

Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nursing (RIBN)

[Katie71275]

Rex does not require a bsn...but you do have to obtain it within 5 years and they have tuition reimbursement.

[Ndoht, BSN, RN]

I would say start taking your prerequisites first. Although the schools here don't require the exact same prerequisite courses, many of them are the same. Afterwards, you can apply to both ADN programs and ABSN programs at the same time, then see which one you get accepted into. ADN is not a bad choice because you can first get your degree, then work as a nurse while doing an ADN-BSN bridge. That would give you much less financial pressure because ADN programs are much cheaper than ABSN programs, hospitals here pay ADN and BSN the same wage, and you can pay for your BSN degree with a nurse's salary. You also have to keep in mind that many ABSN programs look at your cumulative GPA, but ADN programs only look at your prerequisite courses' GPA, so if you are not too confident about all of your grades after high school, getting into a good ABSN program would definitely be a challenge. Durham Tech and Wake Tech's ADN programs have fairly good reputations and NCLEX pass rates, so I wouldn't say anybody would greatly favor students from one school over students from another. The major hospitals in the triangle prefer a BSN degree, but it is not required. There is a difference. UNC asks nurses with ADN degrees to obtain their BSN within five years of employment.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

It is very hard to get a job at Rex or Wake w/o a BSN. I got a job at Duke and now am finishing BSN this semester. Duke is going the way of the others where you are going to have to agree to finish BSN in x amount of years. Not really sure about UNC, but I imagine is it is hard to get in with an ADN.

If it money, I would try to get the ABSN at UNC. Duke is SOOO expensive.

I have friends that work at all the hospitals and I think all of them are fine. I would work at any one of them. That being said, I LOVE working at Duke.