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Discussion

ADN vs. BSN

What are anyones thoughts about the ADN or BSN programs. I am debating on whether I should go for my ADN for the reasons that it is cheaper and you get paid the same as if you had a BSN. The only difference that I have hear of is that with the BSN you have more room for advancement into administrative positions. The schools I am specifically trying to decide between are Linn Benton CC and Linfield. I am accepted to the Linfield College on the McMinnville campus and will have to transfer to the Portland campus. The reason I am debating this is because I am worried about having a lot of debt. I just don't like the idea of having over $30,000 in debt by the time I wil graduate. Then again there is also the change that I don't get into Linfield's nursing program because I talked to the admissions counselor and she informed me that for this year they had 760 applicants and 160 were accepted. Those numbers are scary, as opposed to Linn Benton CC where I talked to the admissions counselor there and she informed me that they had around 150 applicants and about 55 were accepted. So the numbers from both programs don't sound very promissing. I am just scared to death of spending so much money at Linfield (over $10,000 in loans for the first year) and not being able to get into a nursing program. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Amber

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Hi Amber. Finances are definately a concern, and why a lot of people go the ADN route. It was my only option at the time. However, I regret that it's taken me 15 years to finish up my BSN.

Both ADNs and BSNs start out on equal footing making just about the same amount of money.

The BSN offers more than just positions in administration, it offers many positions away from the bedside such as teaching, community health, case management, research, etc. Twenty years from now are you sure you won't regret not getting a BSN now? Twenty years from now you might be stuck in bedside positions and have aching feet and a back that just says "quit". So the BSN is an investment in your future.

There is always the option of getting the ADN, then working and going back to the many available RN to BSN programs and letting your employer pay for part of it as most hospitals have tuition reimbursement. Just don't do like me at wait 15 years. LOL

In the end do what's best for you and your situation.

Tweety,

that is my plan. I am starting with the lpn this fall (quickest way into ns school). Then bridge over--my college said it is much easier to bridge over and you are almost guaranteed a spot if you got your lpn there. Personally, I just cannot deal with any student loan debt. It may be alright for others but I do not feel it is for me. I am going to pay as I go. I will eventually get the bsn degree--I will just have to get it after an employer helps with expenses.

Amber,

Hedge your bets and apply to both progams. If you are worried about the debt and the thought of owing that much scares you, go the ADN route. The second you pass the NCLEX apply to an RN to BSN or ADN to MSN program. When you negotiate your salary and benfits as a new nurse INSIST that the HR person include a generous tuition payment in your package. They need nurses and if us new nurses stand our ground we can make it beter for everyone.

Read Tweety's post carefully. A BSN is a geat thing to have and you should take the opportunity while it is available. Life has a way of sneaking up on us.

Don't be scared of loans. If you can keep the loans at a decent level and live modestly for 2 years after graduation, you can pay back $10-15K fairly quickly on a RN salary. The same way you negotiate tuition payment and salary, you can negotiate employer loan repayment.

  • Expert

This is a frequent discussion on this board. For further info, please do a search.

  • Expert

Hi Amber and welcome to allnurses.

I graduated from Clark College in 1990 with my ADN.

I resisted going after a BSN because I was (and am) not interested in management.

Due to severe back problems (that have nothing to do with nursing) over the last 12 years I've had to take progressively less physical jobs.

Right now I am wanting to go back to work and have been looking at job postings with the major systems in Portland. I've found many positions that interest me, meet my physical restriction and for which I have the required certs & experience. MOST of them require a BSN and NONE of them are management or administrative jobs.

Next week I am mailing my application for Linfield's online RN to BSN program. I chose the Linfield program because it is designed to meet the needs of working nurses, takes 21 months, costs less than other traditional or online programs available in the area and it includes the clinical hours required by the Oregon BoN.

If it were me and I was just starting out...I would do an ADN program at a community college with the plan of to going into Linfield's online program ASAP after licensure. Linfield has a pretty comprehensive 10 page pdf brochure about the online program on their website. In it is a list of their prerequisite classes with a table of area college's classes that satisfy them and most of the classes are part of the specific community college's nursing programs.

There are many threads that discuss the ADN -vs- BSN in general on the board. In this area I believe the BSN is becoming a necessity. There are >15 LPN/ADN/BSN programs within 100 miles of Portland that are graduating classes as often as every 3 months. We just don't have the severe shortages that some communities do and employers are able to limit or restrict their hiring practice to BSNs.

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