I am currently enrolled in an ADN program in a community college. I love it, I love my instructors, the college, the clinical sites as well. But I cant help but starting to think that it was a mistake not applying to Stony Brook BSN program or any other programs. Originally I wanted to get my BSN from Stony Brook so I've looked up all the classes that I need, I have taken almost all the pre-reqs except for chemistry and group dynamics. But in November 2010 I figured I would apply to my CC's nursing program just for the hell of it, not thinking that I was going to get in at all. I didnt hear from them for a while and my peers started to get rejection letters so I thought that I would be on the same boat. However, to my surprise in mid April i received a phone call from my CC's nursing program that i made the cut. I was so happy I could not stop screaming "YES O MY GOD" I think that I possibly caused deafness for the person on the other end of the line. Now that I am in, I enjoy the program but I have this fear of not being able to get a job at all after I graduate. Money is a huge problem for me. Sometimes I fear that I am going to waste my time working toward my Associate's.
I am currently enrolled in an ADN program in a community college. I love it, I love my instructors, the college, the clinical sites as well. But I cant help but starting to think that it was a mistake not applying to Stony Brook BSN program or any other programs. Originally I wanted to get my BSN from Stony Brook so I've looked up all the classes that I need, I have taken almost all the pre-reqs except for chemistry and group dynamics. But in November 2010 I figured I would apply to my CC's nursing program just for the hell of it, not thinking that I was going to get in at all. I didnt hear from them for a while and my peers started to get rejection letters so I thought that I would be on the same boat. However, to my surprise in mid April i received a phone call from my CC's nursing program that i made the cut. I was so happy I could not stop screaming "YES O MY GOD" I think that I possibly caused deafness for the person on the other end of the line. Now that I am in, I enjoy the program but I have this fear of not being able to get a job at all after I graduate. Money is a huge problem for me. Sometimes I fear that I am going to waste my time working toward my Associate's.
Anyone feel the same way?
You're not wasting your time. You love your program, see it through. It'll be easy enough to bridge down the road. Congratulations!!
And I didnt know that about ADN BSN students? I thought BSN students would also have clinicals as soon as they take nursing classes?
BSN students take just as much clinicals as ADN. Honestly, I will never understand where this misconception comes from-- Isn't there a required amount of clinical hours for a school to keep it's accreditation? A BSN-RN requires the same skills as an ADN-RN, from my inquiries. Yes, BSN's do take more theory, but that doesn't mean those classes are in place of clinicals, they are in addition.
BSN students take just as much clinicals as ADN. Honestly, I will never understand where this misconception comes from
Understood, but at least where I live the ADN students are usually clinically superior to the BSN students. IMHO, it's not necessarily the clinical hours that are required that make the difference, but rather the student body. I only speak from the schools I see doing clinical on our floor, and I know everything varies from program to program and region to region.
Our area's ADN programs FOR THE MOST PART have second career people, and a lot of people with some kind of clinical experience behind them (CNA, etc). They have experience in some kind of workplace, want it badly, and it shows. A lot of the BSN programs have younger people who are
To the OP. Be thankful you you were admitted into a program that is most likely cheaper than your BSN program of choice. It is the economically smarter option. When you find employment (you eventually will-regardless of ADN or BSN status), you'll be thankful, and the return of investment on your education will be very apparent. You can get your BSN for
In my area the hospitals (3) actually prefer ADN students. We have one ADN program and WSU's BSN. Our program is just known for producing far more quality nurses. Therefore, the hospitals have invested money into our schools program and tends to hire our graduates over the BSN students. I think it largely depends on the program and the surrounding employers. I plan on going back online to get my BSN. The hospital here will pay for me to continue my education so ultimately it might take me a year longer to get my BSN, but I won't pay for it out of pocket.
You can always bridge & its never a waste of time to get an education & obtain skills. Will you have a harder time finding a job? No one knows. Maybe. Maybe not. Sometimes people make it seem as if getting a BSN is an automatic ticket to a job & that is not the case. Having said that, I think its rough out there & yes with some hospitals going Magnet, you may find some doors closed but that does not mean its a waste of time to get an ADN and no one will ever hire you. Just be willing to be flexible as a new grad, you may not get into your desired facility. I hear NY is pretty rough for all new grads so if you live in the city & surrounding boroughs, be flexible & consider hospitals upstate & in LI. Maybe get licensed for the surrounding tri state area & be willing to commute to NJ & maybe some places in PA that are not that far away. I know no one wants to travel long distances but I think as new grads in this terrible economy we have to be flexible.
I'm in an ADN program & have no regrets. It made sense timewise & financially for me to do it this way. The closest BSN program to me is actually a 3 yr traditional track. Not including pre-reqs. So it would take about 4.5 yrs total for me to have gone that route. I graduate in May & it will have taken me 3.5 yrs to complete. I plan to start working on my BSN immediately & that should take 1-1.5 yrs to complete so in the end, at the most I'm looking at an extra 6 mths but @ pretty much half the cost since my CC tuition is half the cost of the 4 yr uni.
More than anything, I think the best thing any nursing student can do during school is to network, network, network. I want to do psych nursing, during orientation for my psych rotation, one of the nurses making a presentation said we love new grads so we hope you will come back when you finish school. No one else in the group wants to do psych so they didn't care, of course my ears perked up & I made sure to make it my duty to speak often with her & ask for advice about getting a job there after school. Nothing is guaranteed but every little bit helps. Its no guarantee that getting a job as a tech will get you a job, but it may help & its another way to network.
At this point there really is no point in lamenting on the ADN vs BSN route when you are already in the program. If you feel that you are getting a good education, its not a waste of time. I do think that in order to remain competitive that indeed it is worth it to further your education.
In my BSN program we had skills lab starting the first week of the first semester and we were in the hospital doing our first med-surg rotation at the end of the first month of our program. I'd say we've had as much skills practice as possible - both in the lab and in the hospital. I guess things must be different wherever onyx77 is, but I can assure you in my area BSN and ADNs all do plenty of foleys, dressing changes, IV starts, and everything else.
Are you in a bridge program or accelerated program? Most BSN programs that I've heard of (not only in my area) don't start their actual clinical skills until their second year.
Every program is different, especially in different states because of differences in regs. And yes, honest to goodness - I worked with 2 different nurses that went through school without ever doing a "real" dressing change or foley insertion. Absolutely blows my mind!!! Leaves me wondering how some schools are even considered "accedited".
I am currently enrolled in an ADN program in a community college. I love it, I love my instructors, the college, the clinical sites as well. But I cant help but starting to think that it was a mistake not applying to Stony Brook BSN program or any other programs. Originally I wanted to get my BSN from Stony Brook so I've looked up all the classes that I need, I have taken almost all the pre-reqs except for chemistry and group dynamics. But in November 2010 I figured I would apply to my CC's nursing program just for the hell of it, not thinking that I was going to get in at all. I didnt hear from them for a while and my peers started to get rejection letters so I thought that I would be on the same boat. However, to my surprise in mid April i received a phone call from my CC's nursing program that i made the cut. I was so happy I could not stop screaming "YES O MY GOD" I think that I possibly caused deafness for the person on the other end of the line. Now that I am in, I enjoy the program but I have this fear of not being able to get a job at all after I graduate. Money is a huge problem for me. Sometimes I fear that I am going to waste my time working toward my Associate's.
Anyone feel the same way?
It would be a mistake to stop at at an ADN, but so as long as you continue and get your BSN via RN-BSN program, I do not see what the issue is.
Are you in a bridge program or accelerated program? Most BSN programs that I've heard of (not only in my area) don't start their actual clinical skills until their second year.
Every program is different, especially in different states because of differences in regs. And yes, honest to goodness - I worked with 2 different nurses that went through school without ever doing a "real" dressing change or foley insertion. Absolutely blows my mind!!! Leaves me wondering how some schools are even considered "accedited".
For my school, the first year is prerequisites, and then in your very first semester/term, you start clinicals.
If you're in NYC it's hard, if not impossible, to get hired in a hospital with an ADN. This comes directly from nurses in the field. Professors at my school are advising ADN students to move to another state after graduating. Hospitals in NYC are going magnet and many are in support of the BSN-in-10 proposed legislation, but still won't hire ADN nurses. If you don't believe me, just log on to any NYS-area hospital's career site and read the requirements for any available nursing position. It will most likely read, "BSN required." Consider completing your program and doing some research into what states have hospitals that still hire ADNs. I know Pennsylvania does, but some require experience. The trick will be getting the experience. The last round of hiring ADNs for most hospitals were late 2010.
I have an ADN and I am working on my BSN via University of Texas at Arlington's Academic Partnership program - one year, all online.
I have had NO PROBLEM finding a job. I applied for 5, interviewed for 5, was offered 3.
I also have two more years of nursing experience than I would have had if I had not gone for the ADN vs the BSN to start with.
Just my opinion.
Bust your behind in clinicals, remember your preceptors - treat EVERY clinical like it is a job interview. Your reputation will establish itself, regardless - might as well make it a good one... and if you have the opportunity to work as a nurse's aide - take it. Even when the job market is tight, hospitals typically hire (good people) from within first.
Please, stop doubting yourself! You are in nursing school. Do you know how many students who would LOVE to take your place? You mentioned that you love it, well, keep at it. :) Finish what you have started, either way, it'll make you a nurse. Now, if you find that you hate your program, instructors, clinicals and whatever. Then, you can transfer to another school but it doesn't appear to me that that is the case. If you are dead set on getting that BSN, then go for it. Do a RN-BSN bridge program after you graduate. As for working, well the economy does suck right now, but who's to say that that won't change by the time you're ready to graduate. People still do find jobs. It may not be exactly what you've wanted but at least its something until something better comes along. If you know what I mean.
I think it depends on where you are wanting to get a job. The ADN students here seems to have little problem finding jobs in this area but the BSN students can have a problem finding one. I find that smaller towns hire more ADN's because they normally have more hands on training than BSN students so they don't need to worry about longer training times.
lifelearningrn, BSN, RN
2,622 Posts
You're not wasting your time. You love your program, see it through. It'll be easy enough to bridge down the road. Congratulations!!