Already have a bachelors...

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 1, 2015

The best place to start determining which degree would suit you best is to look at program costs (not all BSN programs are expensive, but those that are more affordable tend to have longer waiting lists), school accreditation (ACEN or CCNE), approval by the state BON (should be available on the website), and job postings to see if the vast majority state something along the lines of "BSN preferred" or "BSN required". From there, you can look at statistics about programs such as percentage of students who complete the program on time, first time NCLEX pass rates, and percentage of graduates working in nursing within a year of graduation.

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2015

Definitely depends on the area. I work in the ER as a medical scribe and according to the nurses here, at least half of them are ADNs (and this is a magnet hospital). If you are accepted as an ADN, they do require you to commit to getting your BSN within 2 years, but most are planning to get a BSN anyway.

JaaaeyRN · Aug 2, 2015

I live in MI. Everybody I know and met with ADN (me included), got a job after we got our license.

I had a master's but decided to do ADN at CC before I decide to complete my bsn.

Now I have a job and still on orientation. I won't go back to school until next winter.

Swellz · Aug 2, 2015

I was in the same situation, and it really depends on location. I was told when I was looking into nursing programs that ADNs don't get hired in my area. I chose a BSN program based mostly on that premise, although there were numerous other factors. Well, in the smaller hospitals outside the city, yeah, you can get hired. Make sure you do your research, so you don't end up spending more than necessary.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2015

You can also do a regular BSN if you're concerned about getting hired with an ADN. ADN and ABSN are not your only choices. I would not get an ADN and have to bridge when you could just go back to school once more instead of twice and save yourself a significant amount of time, but I am just impatient like that. Good luck!

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2015

Just curious, what kind of job do you get with a degree in philosophy?

cheesepuff · Aug 4, 2015

Thanks everyone for their advice/opinion! Really appreciated! @Mavrick usually people who get a philosophy degree go to law school, become professors, or writers. I just fell for the subject my freshman year as an undergrad, but by my senior year I was like what did I do! lol

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 5, 2015

I hear you! Both of my offspring minored in Philosophy... one with a Computer Science major & the other with a Clothing & Textile major. Mom (that would be me) "guided" them in to practical degrees because it's pretty much impossible to find a Philosophy company that is hiring these days. :sarcastic: They both attribute much of their subsequent career and academic success (both have grad degrees) to the skills & knowledge obtained in philosophy classes.... including, of course, the ability to support their arguments/points of view with irrefutable logic & reasoning.

perfectversec · Aug 10, 2015

Hey! I am on the same boat as you and i'm from southern california! I am still unsure of what to do!

cheesepuff · Aug 10, 2015

@perfectversec How many pre requ classes do you need to take still? I need the 3 science classes that CC ask for. I will be applying in August if all goes well!

Smartchick0123 · Aug 12, 2015

Hey! I am currently enrolled as a 4th semester at Riverside City College and I have a bachelor's from UCR so I know the dilemma you are going through. I chose RCC because compared to all the other nursing schools I talked to, which was many, I felt this school had the most to offer and had a very high reputation such as passing rates in the mid-90s. I also have the BOG-waiver thus, giving me free tuition that is amazing and incredibly helpful. RCCs reputation goes incredibly far and wide especially in Riverside County as it seems every other nurse I encounter is an RCC graduate. This is the best decision I have made in my academic career and would never regret the decision to go to a community college to get my ADN. RCC has a partnership with Cal State Fullerton that by taking their summer course and doing well I get automatic admission into their distance RN-BSN program which is 95% online as two classes out of nine have a lab and meet once a week for a couple hours at RCC (btw taught by the Dean and current instructor). This will allow me to work full time as an RN and achieve my BSN part time in 1.5 years (can be done in 1 year). Btw you can work for the first year of nursing school but guaranteed you wont be able to as a second year as it becomes incredibly intense and time demanding. I hope this answers your questions I in fact already have a job that will transition to an RN one and I'm not even graduated so that is not a problem as the majority of students find jobs quickly after graduation or do the transition program (intern 3 months post RN license) that they get a job through this program. I hope this helps if you have more questions and are considering RCC you should go to the nursing workshops where sometimes students talk about their experiences and answer questions.