Let me start by saying this is a vent post so if you are not interested in an opinion based post please skip over.
I am currently about to graduate from an ADN program in December. I have worked super hard to get into my program, worked hard throughout my program learning all the same stuff as BSN nursing programs, and just recently took the same Hurst review for the same NCLEX program as BSN students. With that being said, I see so much "title throwing" on this site. By that I mean there are so many posts almost belittling ADN nurses and they are a bit discouraging.
Don't get me wrong I 100% understand it will be more difficult to find a job however here in the DFW where I am at, 2 major hospital groups have partnerships with ADN programs meaning they are still hiring ADN nurses. If anything, and again I mean no disrespect but I hear better things from floor nurses during clinical rotations about our program than some of the major BSN programs in our area.
I guess my frustration comes into play when it seems as though at the point I am in now in terms of getting close to application time there is no support for others. Rather if you read this site and you are an ADN nurse you may feel as though you wasted your time getting a degree. I definetely need a job ASAP but I am not going to belittle those who I feel over paid for their education at which once the "new nurse" title is gone it really doesn't matter where you went to school so long as you have a valid RN license.
Hmm, just feeling a bit discouraged I guess. At any rate, just thought I would share my silly rant. :) Hope everyone is having a great day!
This is a horribly judgmental reason to choose a degree program filled with nothing but totally ignorant assumptions about people you don't know the first thing about.
Whoa! I should have been more clear in my post. I did actually KNOW the students in both programs. I had classes with them, studied together and took other pre reqs together. I did in fact know the people who had been accepted to the ADN program (by lottery) and those accepted into the BSN program (point system only). I chose to put myself in a situation where I would be challenged by my classmates who I perceive to be better students than myself.
If you still think I'm selfish or judgmental then it is my fault for not having made myself clear in the original post. You'll also notice I encouraged nursing students to support and encourage each other.
And based on this post, you didn't take classes at the bachelor's program school you're saying you took classes at either.
When I went back to school after a 20+ year absence I made my goal to get into an ADN program at my community college. Fast forward 3 years and I applied to, and was accepted into an ultra competitive BSN program. I should find comfort, or at least some reassurance in the fact that out of nearly 500 applications, mine was ranked in the high 80s but instead I'm panicking.
I'm definitely way outside my comfort zone and while I'm proud of the achievement I'm afraid I won't be able to maintain my success. I have to learn a whole new school, with new professors - not to mention an increased level of comprehending the course material. A friend who's already completed the first 2 of the 4 semesters has assured me that if I was smart enough to get in, I'm definitely smart enough to pass.
But I think nursing school is like labor. People who describe it once their done must have forgotten the torture, anxiety and the pace of an accelerated program. Just like a woman who has a 3 year old doesn't describe giving birth as being incredibly painful.
Am I alone in my anxiety? Is having my first summer without summer school giving me too much time to think (overthink)? I don't expect to find someone in my exact situation, but I can't imagine I'm the only one who felt they tackled more than they could handle. I'd love to hear a success story or two from someone else who's been teeter tottering between confident and nauseous.
None of that was my intention. I'm not a horrible, hateful and competitive person. I will make certain to be more clear in future posts. Not to preserve how I am perceived by others, but because this should be a forum to have helpful, supportive conversations - not tear each other down. I regret having given you that opportunity.
You're right! I took my pre reqs at a community college and then took another semester to complete my transfer requirements to get into the university so I could apply to the BSN program. The BSN program was way, way, way beyond what I thought I could achieve - and the ADN program was beyond my wildest dreams when I started. My dreams changed as I achieved other goals I had never even set for myself.
Had I been accepted to the ADN program, and not the BSN program I would have been over the moon to be starting this fall.
We all worked hard to get where we are. Whether it's CNA, LVN or an NP - we all share the same goal to provide great care.
I was accepted into two ADN programs and one BSN program to start this fall. I ultimately chose the BSN program because (at least in my area) the BSN is harder to get into and I wanted to be challenged by a higher caliber of classmate. I looked around at the orientation for the ADN program and saw people who had to take their sciences two or three times to get their As. I didn't feel like those were my peers. I CHOSE to make my peers the students who also have a 4.0 and scored well on the TEAS.
It's a personal choice for everyone. Neither of them are easy. We will all work hard when we're done and find jobs. ADN and BSN students all struggle and sacrifice to make it happen. So let's support each other's choices instead of comparing opinions.
See but this is specific to you, your school and your area. There are some locations, including mine, where the ADN program is the gold standard, has the highest number of applicants despite the smaller number of seats, and the better and more consistent NCLEX rates.
Even the counselors themselves from the BSN schools told me that if I got accepted into my CC ADN program to just go there and then go to their RN to BSN.
Idk. Since joining AN I'm kind of over this debate. ASN vs BSN is going to depend on your situation, your location, and your goals.
For me, I chose the ASN because as a mother of two, it's way more affordable, and I would accrue much less debt. My area still hires ADN graduates, even in hospitals. But I plan to get my BSN anyway, because my goal is to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. So far from the research I've done, I'm leaning towards WGU with the goal of completing it in a year. Which means that in the end, prerequisites and all, I would have spent 4 years to get my BSN, but at a much lower cost than going straight for it.
I could care less about what other people think about the route I am choosing, the route is mine. Until the day someone I work with let's their ASN vs BSN bleed into the workplace good riddance with this ever pointless battle.
See but this is specific to you, your school and your area. There are some locations, including mine, where the ADN program is the gold standard, has the highest number of applicants despite the smaller number of seats, and the better and more consistent NCLEX rates.
Even the counselors themselves from the BSN schools told me that if I got accepted into my CC ADN program to just go there and then go to their RN to BSN.
You're absolutely right. Even within CA there are different requirements for different schools. I will make sure I take the time to be more clear when I post to anything - especially on a thread which has the word "battle" in the headline.
My best friend is a single dad and will taking his TEAS this summer and for him, the ADN program is the best choice for him. He'll pursue the bridge program when he can, because that's what's necessary for our area and his career. I admire him, and you, for getting yourselves where you are while raising children.
I'm proud of all of our accomplishments, we all have different challenges, goals, outside pressures and hurdles to overcome.
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
I know many will get mad at this,but i think Adn programs should place more emphasis on NON-ACUTE bedside positions.
We know we are not wanted in acute care,so why not educate us on where we are most likely to be employed?
I wonder how many Bsn's want to work in Ltc?
Ltc facilities do not pay anyone well,but if thats where you really want to work in,why waste time on a Bsn(unless you want to work management)?
Us Adn's are still needed,just not in acute care.
Its kind of interesting we are always having this debate,yet we say nothing when more and more of our nursing skills are being done by UAP's.
So what about the twist to the above statements that change when taking into account that a lot more new grad BSN's don't want to work in hospitals anymore as bedside nurses? The biggest issue my hospital is having with retention happens to be that neither our BSN's nor ADN's or Dilpoma RN's are wanting to stay at the bedside for more than three years or even less. We became "BSN preferred" because of Magnet but are always working short because no one wants to stay at the bedside for a decent amount of time anymore! This is a good place to work with many benefits and a nice Pt ratio but most new grads today (regardless of their degree) want to be away from the bedside. These hospitals and their Magnet push are in my opinion shooting themselves in the foot with nursing turnover. We are not a huge name hospital but we are a top 100 with many many other accolades under our belt AND we are the place everyone wants to work at in our area (level 1 trauma, level three NICU, teaching hospital, clinical sites, awesome general and specialty services, etc). I get the BSN push but what I don't get are how unrealistic new grads are about nursing and the hard work, critical thinking, and education it entails. Yes there is way more to nursing than just bedside but when does it not become a problem for our profession when the majority of our new comers are no longer centered or interested in direct Pt care?
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
Had to break up the previous thread because I still have no idea how to do paragraphs when on my phone. I did want to add though that I'm sure most of us have noticed the degree inflation moving to management positions as well, now most are needing a MSN with an MBA, not just a BSN anymore. The other "leadership" roles that may not yet are ranging from hospital education to quality control, etc.
I did want to add though that I'm sure most of us have noticed the degree inflation moving to management positions as well, now most are needing a MSN with an MBA, not just a BSN anymore. The other "leadership" roles that may not yet are ranging from hospital education to quality control, etc.
Courtney in CA
22 Posts
Whoa! I should have been more clear in my post. I did actually KNOW the students in both programs. I had classes with them, studied together and took other pre reqs together. I did in fact know the people who had been accepted to the ADN program (by lottery) and those accepted into the BSN program (point system only). I chose to put myself in a situation where I would be challenged by my classmates who I perceive to be better students than myself.
If you still think I'm selfish or judgmental then it is my fault for not having made myself clear in the original post. You'll also notice I encouraged nursing students to support and encourage each other.