Any other ADNs wishing they had done BSN??

back2thebooks · Jan 17, 2009

I am of the same thought process as tero80. I have a family to care for now. I already have a Bachelor of Science, obtained in '97. For me, the ADN was a no brainer. All I needed to complete before applying to nursing school in the ADN program was A&P I and II (doing this in 2009). The cost, flexibility and the fact that we all take the same test (NCLEX) and there is no pay difference in my area practically made my decision for me. Right now, I am thinking I want to go on to become a CRNA. If I still feel that way after graduating/working in the ICU, I may have to do my RN-BSN bridge (depending on where I go to school, the school may accept my prior Baccalaureate degree). ALLLLLL that said (LOL)....nope, I'm glad I am going the route I am going.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2009

I plan to go to graduate school, but even if I didn't, I would still get my BSN regardless.

It's true that the initial pay between ADN and BSN isn't different or much different, but having a BSN carries a greater variety of jobs that you'll be qualified for that an ADN will not.

You never know, when you body may give out and you can't do bedside nursing anymore...a BSN can help you get a good job with probably no loss in pay that isn't bedside.

krenee · Jan 17, 2009

Not sorry at all, why would I want to pay $200 more per credit and spend 2 more years for the same pay? No thanks. I am going to do the RN to MSN and skip the bachelors, and since I will be working I will receive tuition reimbursement from my hospital.

But everyone is in a different situation. If I were 18, right out of high school, and my parents were paying, I'd probably like to go away to college and get a BSN . . . just for the "college experience" that I never had.

Kelly

truern · Jan 17, 2009

According to my Fundi's teacher, the reason that a BSN or higher would be valuable is because the ANA and others are trying to push for an entry-level nurse to have a minimum of a BSN.

That "push" has been going on since I was in school the first time in the early 80s (probably before then as well, but I can only speak from my personal experience).

Yes, if I were 18 again and my parents were paying for my education then I'd probably go the BSN route, but in my late 40s and ME paying every penny I chose the fastest route to get me into the nursing profession. I can always explore the BSN option later should I choose.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 17, 2009

No way! In the two years I'd still be toiling away toward my BSN I'm going to have made $145,000 working. I'm doing the ADN to BSN now while working. :)

tiggerdagibit · Jan 17, 2009

Nope. I chose ADN for several reasons.

1. It was at a community college that I was familiar with. I had also heard good things about their nursing program. I didn't like the BSN school in town and didn't want to travel to the next closest one.

2. It was cheaper. Even though I am receiving financial aid, I didn't have to add any additional money myself. My sister is at a 4 yr school for a different program and even with financial aid, she had to get loans. I will graduate and not have any debt.

3. I can do RN-BSN and get tuition reimbursement from my hospital and still work/make money while getting my BSN. Plus I can do classes online.

4. There is no difference in pay. I plan on getting my BSN at some point in case I want to climb the ladder or go into management later, but for right now it's not a concern.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2009

I'm in an ADN program and plan to get my BSN through an RN-to-BSN program. I was looking at the school that I plan on doing that through and you still have to do all the courses that any other BSN student has to go through!! Although I will have a lot of the credits by the time I get to that point, I am really starting to wish I had just gone the BSN route to start with!! Anyone else??

Have you looked into other RN-BSN programs? The one I'm attending only requires 8 core nursing classes, I'll be done in eight months.

SBT85 · Jan 18, 2009

I'm 50/50 in this situation. I would have liked to go ahead and start my BSN because I had all the pre-req's, but it wasn't practical for me because I was already half through my MBA program when I re-decided to go to nursing school. Therefore in order to finish my MBA (I don't like to start and stop things) and start nursing school it was smarter for me to go the ADN route. I couldn't take 6hours of master's level and 14 hours of nursing.....I wouldn't have made it through. Now that I'm finished with my MBA (thank the good Lord), nursing school is much better for me and I plan to continue my RN-BSN online and maybe one day FNP.

missa4 · Jan 18, 2009

I am glad I didnt do the ADN route, not because of education differences but because I know I want to go on with my education afterwards!

newbie08 · Jan 18, 2009

I haven't really looked much into other school's programs because the hospital this RN-BSN program is affiliated with is the hospital I want to work at and (according to the little recruiting party they had for us) they will pay for us to get our BSN after we graduate from this ADN program. I was going to talk to my advisor Tuesday and see if she knew anything about it. Maybe there are ways around some of those other classes??

ange26s · Jan 18, 2009

It has taken me 7 years to get an associate degree, had I known then what I know now, I would have got a BSN.Now, I have to take another 9 classes of prereq's just to apply to the RN-BSN or RN-MSN track.So as I am working, it will now take me another 3-5 years to get to where I would like to be ( for a grand total of 12 years!) But, on the flip side I love the friends I have made along the way, I appreciate my education, and it worked out the way it did. Regardless of how long I have been in school or how long it will take me to finish, I will have my RN title and thats all I wanted was to be a nurse.In the beginning I didn't know about BSN,MSN ,NP,etc. I just knew I wanted to be a nurse!

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

I'm in an ADN program and plan to get my BSN through an RN-to-BSN program. I was looking at the school that I plan on doing that through and you still have to do all the courses that any other BSN student has to go through!! Although I will have a lot of the credits by the time I get to that point, I am really starting to wish I had just gone the BSN route to start with!! Anyone else??

It's crossed my mind a time or 2, especially considering that my ADN has taken just a bit less time than a BSN would have, relatively speaking (and including pre-reqs). But overall, I'm content with my choice, and save a lot of money in the process.