Advancing ADN to BSN

[csnba9]

Hi all, I am a current ADN student with exactly one year left. I plan to work after graduation to gain some experience, but would like to continue on to get my BSN and possibly MSN. I've noticed some nurses have received their BSN through University of Phoenix and then their MSN. Anyone out there able to tell me how that works? For the BSN, are all the classes online and what about clinicals? Thanks for the info!

[Jo Dirt]

I know U of Phoenix is ultra expensive. I am going a much cheaper route at the local university, and the RN to BSN classes are available online at a lot of universities now. I also tested out of gerontology today (got an A, thank goodness.)

[misjac2]

I wanted to ask, why are you going for your BSN? I start in 3 days for a 2 year program to get my Associates (I've spent 5 years getting all of my prerequisites done). I have been told that it's all I'll need.

[becembrie]

I just sent away for information on a distance BSN program through a local university. It is mostly online with one weekly on campus day for about 5 or 6 hours. It costs way less than the University of Phoenix and allows me to work full time while I work toward my BSN. I plan to start in January. I anticipate it will take me about 3 years at this rate, but I'm not in a huge hurry.

I want my BSN strictly for personal reasons. I know it opens doors as far as management and leadership positions go, but I like bedside nursing and don't really want to pursue any other positions at this time. I think it will help with my clinical skills which is really important to me as well.

[uscstu4lfe]

the reasons for pursuing a BSN would be a) advancement to management/leadership positions, b) higher level degree, such as masters (NP, CRNA, etc), and/or c) personal satisfaction for having a BSN. The salary of a bedside nurse with an ADN and one with a BSN is virtually identical, so it would be pointless to get a BSN for more money.

[Jo Dirt]

I'm getting a BSN as a stepping stone to go to graduate school.

Another reason for getting a BSN (I think) would be that you might be more desireable for employment. A lot of hospitals advertise "BSN preferred."

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

There are many reasons to get a BSN, mainly to get "BSN-required" and "BSN-preferred" jobs away from bedside nursing such as in education, research, safety, public health, management, etc.

I'm not sure about UoP, but the online program I took gave clinical hours through teaching projects: for example during the Community Health course we had to teach a "population"....fortunately one of those populations was co-workers considered "occupational health", then I taught a group of male friends about some men's health issues. Other clinnical hours were given in leadership when we interviewed two nurse leaders. Still further clinical hours were given in assessment class in time spent with a nurse practioner for 8 hours, and doing an in-depth head-to-assessment. They have their ways of verifying that you're not making it up but mostly it's honor system.

Otherwise ADN to BSN programs are a lot of research and papers.

There's a good discussion here: https://allnurses.com/forums/f125/rn-bsn-online-105380.html

Good luck.