ADN vs BSN My daughter and I having a heated Discussion!

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My daughter has taken, with the exception of A&P I&2, her prereqs. She is taking both this summer. She will be eligible to enter the ADN program this fall. I am so excited about her getting her uniform, white shoes, stethescope, nursing care plan sheets, and clinically rotating this fall! She is contemplating going to a BSN program instead. The BSN program at the university is $455.00 per credit hr as opposed to $81.00 at the Jr college. Obviously money is an issue for us, and I do not want her to go into debt. I told her that it is best to take her NCLEX asap and not to put unnecessary time and info between that time. I also feel that she will get more nursing experience by doing it what I call the 2+1 way, which is the bridge program rather than the 3+0 way, not to mention that the hospital will probably pay for the bridged year. I do not like (4) yr colleges b/c I have never had as great an exp. at any of them as at the community colleges. I have gone to (4) diff (4) yr colleges, and (2) diff community colleges. I am currently enrolled in an ADN community college program and I love my instructors! She will be going to a different community college in a different state. I am very familiar with the community college that she will, God willin', go to this fall, b/c I graduated from there with an AS degree and she has taken all her prereqs except Micro there. We disagree every night about this decision b/c I do not feel that more general education classes will make her a better nurse, and it will cost her a year of work. She plans to meet with the (4) colleges and find out if she can enter with sophomore status. I have looked at some of the (4) yr curriculums and they are absurd. They require pathophysiology (4) cr, pharmacology (3) cr, foundations (5) cr, nutrition (3) cr, and sociology (3) cr this is a ttl of (18) cr which is inhumane, as opposed to (8) cr at the Jr college. I really feel that (18) cr is a recipe for failure. She tells me that she wants to be challenged, live on campus, she is convinced that she can have a social life while going to nursing school, and has long range plans to go to med school. I tell her lets make small successes, and then progress to bigger ones.

Edited by Nurse Ratched: exciting update to original poster's story on post #75! Congrats to daughter! :) Adding this because I don't want folks new to the thread to miss it.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1034637&postcount=75

I thought you were a nurse... My bad. I must be confused. You mentioned that I have resourse you dont which is my husband.. well you have a resource I don't have which is a job. My husband is our only income and he in the military so it isn't like we are rolling in the dough or anything.. Not meant to be a pissing contest but I wanted to emphasize we all have our unique challenges.

Me thinks you only want people to agree with you. You sound like any opinion given to you that opposes yours is unwelcome so whatever. If I were your daughter I would trot my happy self down to San Antonio and go to UT Health Science Center and get my BSN. I would take out loans and live on my own. School and the Cost of living is fairly low in San Antonio. I lived there for 5 years.

Another bit of advice although I doubt you will take it.. Don't get so caught up in "teaching lessons." You seem to keep posting how you want her to learn this lesson or the value of this or that.. Just be a parent and take it day by day. If you get caught up in teaching lessons, I garauntee you are going to LOSE her. I am sure she is not interested in life's lessons at 17 years old.. I certainly wasnt...

I am a full-time ADN student. I had to resign from my job as a travel agent so that I could b/c a full-time student, that is one of the reasons that I know how important money is. My daughter is kind of an "old soul". She is very interested in life's lessons. She loves history. This is what makes her such a unique individual. Stay tuned you will love the outcome of this....

Been following this thread from the beginning and holding my tongue ;-)

I know from whence I speak: I'm a previous bachelor's degree (took me until 28 to get it; had no $$ & no family support), currently ADN senior, mom of three (20, 18, and 11 year olds)--my daughter is a HS senior, applying to BSN programs.

God love you, OP, and I appreciate that you are looking out for your daughter--but it all seems to be about what you want, not your daughter's needs or wishes. From the info given here, I do sense control issues.

She's an adult. I hope she'll profit from your counsel, but the decisions, benefits, and consequences are rightfully hers.

Your point is well taken. You will really love and APPRECIATE the outcome of this....

:balloons: I went to the mailbox yesterday and I set the large white enveloppe down on the dining room table. (Thank you all who have been collectively praying for my daughter's wish to come true)

There in the enveloppe was an (4) yr tuition scholarship!!!

My daughter WON the war!!! I shook hands with her yesterday and told her that she fought a hard fight and I am very proud of her! I told her that this is her scholarship and she can do whatever she wants to with it. She has always scored extremely high on history. She got 105% in AP history. Here I go again, but I think that this would be her perfect opportunity to pursue history, since this is what she loves. I told her that she can always get her RN license by going to weekend school, or she may choose to use the scholarship for the BSN program, or something altogether different. IT IS HER CHOICE, AND SHE CAN SPEND IT HOWEVER SHE WANTS TO!!!:) :) :) :)

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Specializes in Pediatrics.
:balloons: there in the enveloppe was an (4) yr tuition scholarship!!!

:) :) :) [/b]

that's great news!!! i'm sure you are both thrilled!! is it a full 4 yr scholarship??

I was attending a community college and didnt get accepted into the program despite my high GPA. I also had the same attitude about 4year colleges until I gave it a shot last semester. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to excel in academics of every subject not just Nursing courses. I have a new found appreciation for education which is something I sort of lacked when I attended a community college.

Not that there is anything wrong with ADN programs because there isnt. However, It sounds like your daughter has a strong drive to challenge herself which to me seems like an incredible attribute! I say if your daughter wants to excel in academia then by all means let her make that decision. She will be able to become a well rounded scholar which will lead to good decision making which is essential not only in nursing but all aspects of life. On a different note, ADN programs are harder to get into than BSN programs. If your daughter isnt taking A&P until this summer then there could be a chance that she doesnt get in this fall. At least if she doesnt she will have the BSN option.

Cheerfull, how did you get the cute avatar? I've tried copy and paste and can't get it to work.

Thanks!

If she want's to furthur her education she needs to go to BSN program. Let her take out loans, etc if you can't afford it. Also if she has to foot the bill you will definitly find out how serious she is. Good luck

read this after my other reply....Congrats to you both!

As a graduate of a 4 year liberal arts college-based BSN program, I think that going for the BSN right off makes sense for a "traditional" college student. Maybe she might be willing to take responsibility for the additional expense by finding scholarships and working for a hospital as a student tech (thus also getting tuition reimbursement). Even if she has to take out a few loans to fund her "college experience," having all of her education out of the way might free her up later in life.

I think that ADN programs are economical and provide a good solid clinical base. I would never discourage someone from persuing their RN through an ADN program. These programs are especially ideal for adult students. But even for younger students they provide a quick start to a good income.

What I liked about going to a four year college ( I was blessed with good scholarships), was that I was able to persue some other academic interests besides nursing. I took elective courses in history, Christian ministry, and music. My social group were students from a variety of majors including accounting, music education, and history pre-law (my now husband). Living on campus and having to get along with roommates, etc. had many other good lessons for me too. What I did not like was all of the "fluff" that you get in a BSN program. But I would have had to put up with the "fluff" sooner or later to go back for the BSN.

I hope you and your daughter can figure out what is best for her and her circumstances. Either way I'm sure she will do just fine.

Obviously money is an issue for us, and I do not want her to go into debt. \

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I dont know if you ever watch the Suzy Orman show on MSNBC. But she is a firm believer that education is good debt and I agree.

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Congrats to your daughter! :) I hope she cherishes her education - she has earned it!

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