ADN vs BSN

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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This is my first question/comment so forgive me if it is in the wrong place...there is a lot to navigate in this site :) Just as the title suggests...for those of you who have been there done that...Are employers picky about this title? I realize both are RNs...I am assuming there is less you can do holding only an ADN? At the school I am contemplating going to...the LVN program is 3 semesters...the ADN is 4...not much difference...14 more hours. Obviously the pay would be better for a RN...do you get less because you don't have a 4 year degree? Just trying to gather some info here. I am 37, so I am thinking I dont know if I want to get myself too far in debt with going all four years if I don't necessarily need to. Thanks for any help/opinions/suggestions :)

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This is my first question/comment so forgive me if it is in the wrong place...there is a lot to navigate in this site :) Just as the title suggests...for those of you who have been there done that...Are employers picky about this title? I realize both are RNs...I am assuming there is less you can do holding only an ADN? At the school I am contemplating going to...the LVN program is 3 semesters...the ADN is 4...not much difference...14 more hours. Obviously the pay would be better for a RN...do you get less because you don't have a 4 year degree? Just trying to gather some info here. I am 37, so I am thinking I dont know if I want to get myself too far in debt with going all four years if I don't necessarily need to. Thanks for any help/opinions/suggestions :)

It really depends where you live and what type of nursing you hope to work in.

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Depends on the where you live. Look on the websites of the hospitals near you. How many nursing positions, especially new graduated from positions, are there. Do most of them require a BSN?

How important is it to limit loans, do you have others to care for?

I'm in an area where ADN are still accepted in the hospitals in my area, and I also have 2 young daughters so I want to keep my loans to a minimum, especially because I know I want to pursue a masters eventually.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
It really depends where you live and what type of nursing you hope to work in.

This.

There have also been many threads on here that may help with determining your decision that I used the search function on here to get results:

https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=ADN+vs.+BSN

Depending on the area, there isn't much of a difference in years of schooling, the only difference is awarding the degree; one is two year degree (even if it would take one 3-4 years to complete, which includes pre-req's before actual nursing courses) and the other is a four-year degree.

I had the unique experience of attending an ADN program and an entry level BSN program-long story; short story was once I found out my schooling would produce a two year degree for four year work and testing struggles, I bucked going back in hopes to secure a BSN, but along the way became a LPN then obtained my BSN-the curriculums were pretty much the same; the difference is what the credit hours amounted to due to the Department of Education guidelines; nothing more, nothing less; with the exception of the market in my area changed to desiring BSNs, so more of an opportunity was presented in getting the pick of jobs. *shrugs*

There will be plenty posters that have commented on those threads I searched that will come on here and point out which would be optimal for you, and other posters will contend otherwise, just letting you know

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Keep in mind your goals as a nurse. I want to be a midwife and in order to get into a grad school I need at least one year of experience as a nurse. So, I have decided to get my ADN so that I can work while I do my RN-BSN bridge program, and then by the time I'm done with my BSN I'll already have that 1 year experience and can apply to grad programs right away. It really just depends on your goals and such. Also, some hospitals will pay for you to have further schooling. I know a lady whose husband is in the military and she decided to just do her ASN in case they were to get transferred to a different state/country.

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Well...my husband makes ok money...enough for me to stay home and take care of our toddler. My other son is 13...So, yes I have other people to care for which was my reason for wanting to limit the loans for school...also, because my husband is wanting to go back and get some type of certification to get him in a refinery here in South Texas. SO two people going to school around the same time is a big concern. Do ADN's get looked at as "less than a RN" since you dont have the BSN title? I cannot see myself going back to school at my age...for four years and incurring that type of debt. Which leaves me with either doing LVN or ADN. I would almost rather to the LVN and know I can get a job vs get the ADN and not be able to find something. Do nursing homes hire ADN? I am, as some suggested, looking at the places here to see what the requirements are for new hires...thanks for all the input!

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If you can get into a BSN program, go that route. If you can't, then do the ADN program and then bridge to a BSN.

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Keep in mind your goals as a nurse. I want to be a midwife and in order to get into a grad school I need at least one year of experience as a nurse. So, I have decided to get my ADN so that I can work while I do my RN-BSN bridge program, and then by the time I'm done with my BSN I'll already have that 1 year experience and can apply to grad programs right away. It really just depends on your goals and such. Also, some hospitals will pay for you to have further schooling. I know a lady whose husband is in the military and she decided to just do her ASN in case they were to get transferred to a different state/country.

Are you looking at Frontier? Your reasoning sounds almost exactly like mine since Frontier requires a year, so I'll hopefully be getting my ADN and work the one year while I work the RN to BSN online.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

It very much depends on where you live. Some areas of the country an ADN is fine, other areas a BSN is required for pretty much everything. Some places a BSN is required, or at least preferred in an acute care setting while an ADN is ok with LTC facilities, home health, clinics etc. The nursing degree required to find a job is very much regional.

Nothing against LPN's at all, but it seems job openings are limited with an LPN degree though that may not be the case where you live. The pay is definitely lower than RN pay so if an RN degree is only one semester more it just makes sense to get at least the ADN. If you live in an area that seems to require BSN nurses for everything you may want to transition right into an ADN to BSN program. That way is usually more cost effective from what I am understanding than going directly into a BSN program at a traditional 4 year college. Plus there is the advantage of maybe getting that RN job and working while in school for the BSN.

Whatever you decide is best for you, good luck...and welcome to AN!

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I know this will sound stupid...but how long are semesters? The LVN is 3 semesters...are they 3 or 4 months long each semester?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
I know this will sound stupid...but how long are semesters? The LVN is 3 semesters...are they 3 or 4 months long each semester?

Again it depends on the program. Generally a semester is about 16 weeks, give or take. I've heard of as short as 14 weeks to as long as 20 weeks. Plus the summer semester is always shorter, so factor that in if the required 3 semesters also include a summer session.

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