ASN or BSN route? confused! :/

[babyv15]

Honestly, I dont know what is the best route for me.. I live in Bakersfield, CA. and I don't know if I should get my ASN at my local community college then go a ASN-BSN program after a get job or just go straight for my BSN at my local university?

some of the hospitals in Bakersfield I only know of 2 for now that will accept ASN but the others "perfer BSN".

but the hospital in my city that i would LOVE:redbeathe to work at seem to only perfer BSN.

The thing is that I barely turned 20, I took a year and a half from school after graduating high school because i got a full time job just get a car to make it back and forth to school. My mom is a single mom trying to support me and sibilings. so basially i work to support myself. now I'm going back to school this Spring and I still work full time.. and im going to only take 2 classes. I really wish i could take more for i can get my degree quicker but i dont want to be overwhelemed and get bad grades..

I feel like taking the ASN would be simpler for me then transfer to a ASN-BSN program. But when i think about i feel like i would be wasting more time getting my ASN. people say the waiting list at my community college is a long wait.. and i heard my friend say that it took her sister 5 years. when i could waste that time actually going for my BSN which i would have to end up getting anyways! but overall it seems like when you get your ASN all you have to do is take a few more college courses and transfer to a university for the ASN-BSN program which seems simpler.. plus i need to think fianically because im not in a weathly family..

I just want to pick the route thats worth my time in the long run, 10 years from now. something that works with me fianically.. I guess im little afraid to go straight for the BSN because sometimes i feel like its going to take me long enough to get my degree since i cant be a full time college student like would love to be :/ so at times i think the ASN is better for now. because i calculated that its going to take me 2 years to finish my general classes at my community college and 2 1/2 years if i want to transfer to a university before applying for the nursing program

so i dont know what to do? what is the best route to go ASN then transfer to ASN-BSN program or straight to BSN? HELP!!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

there are many options and you are the only one who knows which is best for you. If you need $ right away, take the ADN route then work and finish your BSN. If you can wait another year or so, take the BSN route as it will be considered the entry level in the near future. I worked and went to school thru all three degrees (ADN, BSN, MSN). It can be done, but it is difficult.

[StarBrownRN]

Really, it all comes down to $$. Getting a BSN takes 4 years in any scenario (4 years at a university or 3 years at a community college plus one year at a university--many RN to BSN programs are only 3 semesters).

If you have the means to pay for college, a BSN program is great. You'll get an opportunity to form relationships with faculty and participate in some professional activities (like nursing honor societies and sororities).

However, when it comes to finances and scheduling, the ASN first may work better. The tuition for many community college programs is below Pell Grant award amounts, meaning you would have enough to cover tuition and books.

Just be sure to take all the pre-reqs during the process. Don't just take the pre-reqs needed for the ASN program and then finish the BSN pre-reqs after that; that would take forever. Find out what the program you want to go into requires and make sure you take those classes along with your nursing classes and in the summers. That way, you're already ready to enter the RN to BSN program of your choice. There are even a few RN to MSN programs out there.

And if you choose to go the ASN route, don't limit yourself to your local community for work (if you don't have to) there are places that hire ASN nurses. A FEW even pay for their nurses to return to school for a BSN.

Whatever you decide, best of luck to you!

[susieeq]

Since getting accepted into any nursing program is very competitive, I would suggest applying to both and see what happens. Apply for financial aid and if your grades are good, apply for any and every small scholarship offered for academia. Every little bit help. Personally I would recommend doing the ASN in your situation because it would probably be the most cost effective in the short-term. Even if you may not get hired at the hospital of your choice right out of an ASN program, you WILL find a job, which will pay for your BSN in the long run. I started working as an aide in a hospital which has a partnership nursing program with a local college. With a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, I got in and they are paying for my tuition, books, and supplies and I owe them 4 years of employment when I'm done. I know that a lot of hospitals hold seats for students in nursing programs around the country, but it is not advertised, so do your research. Don't give up, if you want it bad enough, it will happen. And you're young...I'm 30 and I do the whole"wish I should have done this earlier and yada yada yada". Good luck to you!

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Another consideration is which programs are easier to get into. I live in Northern CA and (until now) the ADN programs in my city have been lottery based, while the BSN program is competitive. Because of this, some students prefer to focus on getting great grades because then they will be able to enter the BSN program with no wait. Some people also opt to start with an LVN program because the bridge programs (LVN to RN and LVN to BSN) are easier to get into. You have a lot of options. Feel free to PM me with any more California specific questions.

[rys22]

I had the same decision to make and I understand everything you are going through! I personally chose the ASN route and plan to get a job once Im done, and then work towards my BSN one or two classes at a time. Thats how it made sense to me because I need to finish school as soon as I possibly can so I can go back to "normal" life that has me working one job and having time to be with my husband and start a family. Having money that wont be going towards school will be nice too! (Im not taking out any loans).

I think it makes sense for you to do the same so that you can hopefully improve the quality of your life and go on from there. You will find a hospital that will be willing to hire you with ASN. There are many around - they may say BSN "prefered" but that doesnt mean you cant give it a try! You might not get your ideal job right out of school but at least it will be a start. Bsn wont help you in that anyways.

Good Luck!