Advice on Choosing Program of Study for Fall 2010

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Hi everyone!

I was accepted into a BSN program to start this fall 2010. Since I will be getting my first undergrad degree this may and have finished all of my pre reqs for the program, they are accepting me right into the nursing core courses. But here is my dilemma: For some reason this schools core nursing program for a BSN is 3 years long. Arent most BSN programs only 2 years long, with pre-reqs/gen ed courses the first two years and the nursing courses the second two years?

I really dont like the fact that the program is three years long especially since Im just about to finish up my first four year degree. This would mean that I'll spend 7 years in undergrad alone. At this same school there is and ADN program that is 2 years long. The ADN program goes Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall-Spring and then graduation. But the BSN program on the other hand would be Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring. The school doesnt offer the core nursing courses in the summer so there is no possible way for me to speed up the process.

So I guess my question is whether it would make sense for me to go the ADN route instead in order to finish a year quicker or would it just make more sense to spend the 3 years going for the BSN? If I did do the ADN course of study I would try to find a job that would pay for me to go back to school and get my BSN, but Im not sure how common that is anymore.

I think most of my second guessing is coming from the fact that I have a one yr old and a four year old, so I want to be finished with school as quickly as possible.

In my situation, what would you do? Go the ADN route or spend the extra year and get a BSN?

Thanks:D

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Since you will have an undergraduate degree already, I would encourage you to look at one of the accelerated BSN programs. Some of these will allow you to complete a BSN in as little as 12 months. They are constructed for people such as you --- who have an undergraduate degree already.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has a listing of the 100+ ABSN programs in the country.

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Since you will have an undergraduate degree already, I would encourage you to look at one of the accelerated BSN programs.

I thought about the accelerated BSN programs, but decided against it. Many people say those programs are too strenuous and I just dont think that would be a good idea for a single mother like myself. Thats what my mother wants me to look into, but those programs are extremely competitive and I dont want to turn down an acceptance that I already have to "hopefully" get into an ABSN program. But I know what I can handle and I dont think an accelerated program is something I can handle in my situation.

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I am in the same boat as you. I have a bachelor's degree already, and decided to pursue nursing now. I just got accepted into an ADN program. I have a 2 year old girl, which I had to consider. This is why I did not go into an accelerated BSN program as well. I thought that it would have been too demanding. (That, and the fact that my ADN program is more respected than the BSN programs in my area.) My plan is to get my ADN, work for a few years, and then go on to get my master's in nursing. Being that you and I already have a bachelor's degree in another field, there are master's programs out there for us. We can just skip out on the bachelor's part. Just something to think abt... I don't know about you, but at this point I want (and need) the fastest route to get a good education and start working.

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I am in the same boat as you. I have a bachelor's degree already, and decided to pursue nursing now. I just got accepted into an ADN program. I have a 2 year old girl, which I had to consider. This is why I did not go into an accelerated BSN program as well. I thought that it would have been too demanding. (That, and the fact that my ADN program is more respected than the BSN programs in my area.) My plan is to get my ADN, work for a few years, and then go on to get my master's in nursing. Being that you and I already have a bachelor's degree in another field, there are master's programs out there for us. We can just skip out on the bachelor's part. Just something to think abt... I don't know about you, but at this point I want (and need) the fastest route to get a good education and start working.

I agree with you completely. I need the fastest route as well which is why Im thinking of pursuing the ADN instead. My school is also more respected than other schools in the area and their grads are hired before the grads of the other 3 schools in the area. I eventually want to be a pediatric NP or a CRNA, Im not sure if you can enter the CRNA programs without having a BSN first, but youre right. I'll find out what RN-MSN programs are out there before I make a definite decision.

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