Hello everyone. I am new to the boards. I'm currently in my 3rd semester of nursing school. I'm at a 4 year private college. My school is unique in that it has the option to "step out" after two years and earn the ADN.
I don't want to start a heated debate about ADN vs BSN!
:chuckle
Here's my question:
Do any of you regret not getting the BSN right away if you had the option?
Also, I would like anyone's opinion on my current dilemma:
I am single, 23. I went to school for 3 semesters as a pre-med major, decided to be a nurse. I'll graduate with an ADN May 2004. I have the option of staying and obtaining the BSN. It would only take me 1 year, so I'd graduate in 2005 with a BSN. Should I do it?
My dilemma you ask?
I'm so tired of school. I do well, but I am so anxious to be done with it. BUT.... I don't want any regrets. I know eventually I'll get the BSN, but should I do it NOW?
I hope you can help me!! I need some advice. Thank you.
I say if you think you might want to do something like teach or be an NP or a CRNA or do Management someday, then go for the BSN. When I completed my ASN in 91 I had NO desire to go any further. But after doing 10 years of bedside nursing I got burnt out and decided to go for the BSN. I am now considering a NP program when I get the BSN next spring. I am also working in a supervisory position and I feel the BSN has helped in that respect. My point is: You may want certain things right now, but you MAY change your mind later! I have known nurses who have done nothing but bedside/floor nursing and aren't interested in doing anything else. Think about what in nursing interests you and go from there. You might also want to consider the physical aspects, most ASN positions are patient care, lifting etc. I had several friends who had work related injuries and had a difficult time finding appropriate work since they only had ASN's. Seeing that made me decide to move on to the BSN level.
Hope this helps, good luck with whatever you decide to do!! :roll
Kayella, congrates on being in Nursing school. It's a tough go. Always has been. I graduated in 86 with an ADN. I was able to get a job right away in med/surg and work my up to unit manager without getting my BSN. But, if you want to get into education, enterstomal therapy or wound care certification etc, they usually want a BSN degree.
I would suggest to go ahead and finish getting the BSN now as it is very difficult to go back to as you will find nursing is very tiring!!
My first response is "get it now." However, I have been there. I was in a simular program. It was an ADN program and after the first year you could get your LPN.
When we came back the 2nd year most of us did not want to be there for the reasons you describe.
On top of that I had an attitude. In the last med surg class in the first year the instructor said, "there now you know all there is to know about med surg."
I believed her. So what else could they possible teach us in the second year that we would actually use.
So I didn't put much of an effort into school when I came back the 2nd year. I was passing in no danger of actually failing but My grades were not what they were the previous year. Got sick after Thanksgiving. So sick I couldn't study let alone attend class. Failed the final so bad it brought my average just under the needed 75% for passing.
This was just me. My friends who also were burned out and bummed out on school went on to finish that year. I went to work in Jan and came back to school in Sep a different and smarter person.
One class mate did the same thing I did and we both returned wiser for the experience of actually working.
I would hope you are not like me. But if you know you just need to get out of school right now then opt out. Otherwise go for it.
When I was in high school I wanted to go to medical school, had the grades, had been accepted to a great university for pre med with a scholarship, was all set to go.... then as the song goes "life happened". Here I was looking at the "what could have beens" and had to change my direction. I went to LPN school, worked 4 yrs, went to RN (ADN) school, and have been working as an RN for what seems like forever and now Im in school to finish my BSN....... 16 yrs later. My husband tells me now to go on to medical school if that is my dream...... honestly I dont know if it is now after being in nursing for as long as I have been.
The point Im trying to say is this....... with you being 23 and single..... go for the BSN now. It is very hard to go to school AND work full time AND have family responsibilities. I have had some great jobs over the yrs, but some that I would have loved to have done required a BSN. If you have the opportunity to complete your BSN now, then go for it!! I wish you the best of luck!
Quicksilver
23 Posts
I say if you think you might want to do something like teach or be an NP or a CRNA or do Management someday, then go for the BSN. When I completed my ASN in 91 I had NO desire to go any further. But after doing 10 years of bedside nursing I got burnt out and decided to go for the BSN. I am now considering a NP program when I get the BSN next spring. I am also working in a supervisory position and I feel the BSN has helped in that respect. My point is: You may want certain things right now, but you MAY change your mind later! I have known nurses who have done nothing but bedside/floor nursing and aren't interested in doing anything else. Think about what in nursing interests you and go from there. You might also want to consider the physical aspects, most ASN positions are patient care, lifting etc. I had several friends who had work related injuries and had a difficult time finding appropriate work since they only had ASN's. Seeing that made me decide to move on to the BSN level.
Hope this helps, good luck with whatever you decide to do!! :roll