ASN for a college grad?

bouncer13 · Mar 25, 2009

That is exactly the same place that I'm in.....from what I hear....a RN is a RN, no matter where you get your degree.....and if you already have a BS you will not need to get a BSN - you will be able to go straight from the ADN onto your master degree

Cari001 · Mar 25, 2009

Hey Hopefully,

I also have a Bachelor's degee and have been going back and forth for months on what I'm going to do. I decided to apply to both ASN and BSN programs. I, and I'm sure you as well, find getting an associates degree to be a step down from what you have, but nursing school is just so dang competative, sometimes there's no other options! Good luck in what you decide.. We'll both be RNs someday!

Sheepwithagun · Mar 25, 2009

I'm graduating in May with a BS in Biology. In August I'll be starting school to get my BSN. [if only I'd decided earlier I want to be a nurse!] I have both a good BSN program and a good ADN program nearby. For me, the decision to go with the BSN came down to one factor..waitlists. The tech program has something like a year or year and half waitlist. [And you can't even apply until you finish your prereqs.] I'm doing an accelerated BSN, so by the time I graduate, I would've just been starting at the other progam. I did't have a full time job lined up for after I graduate which, with this economy, made me nervous. This way, I'll start right into school and hopefully in a year and a half the economy will have bounced back a little. Plus, I was afraid that if I waited for the other school I'd get lazy and decide to not go.

I had heard good things about both schools, so quality wasn't that much of an issue for me. Have you tried asking around to get people's opinions on local schools? If it makes you feel any better any better about your chances of getting into the BSN programs, my GPA was only 3.4 and they let me in. [i did get As in my pre-reqs have medical experience..well..veterinary medical experience.] Maybe you could try boosting your resume with hospital volunteer work or something similar?

Adams_Mommy_07 · Mar 26, 2009

Wow this is going to be redundant but I am in the exact same situation as you. Like you I graduated from a good school in '07 with a high Gpa, lots of honors, etc. I am competitive enough to get into any of the local Nursing programs including the accelerated MSN. I decided to the ADN-BSN-MSN pathway simply because I am ineligible for financial aid at the bachelor's level based on having too many credit hours and because I need to work (something the accelerated MSN would not allow me to do). Like someone mentioned, I feel like it is a step down for me, but financially it makes sense. I will get to where I want to go and at the end of the day it will only take me about 1.5-2 years longer this way but I won't have outrageous loans to pay back either!!!

Piglet68 · Mar 26, 2009

I have a BA degree and I am currently going back to school for an ASN. It's a change of careers for me. My roommate from College and another good friend both have BSN and both have told me that it does not make a difference until you want to go into management.....then a BSN is required. I have decided to go the ASN route as many hospitals will pay for you to get your BSN or MSN.

Freedom42 · Mar 26, 2009

I graduated from an accelerated BSN program in December. I opted for that program over the local ADN program for a number of reasons.

First, pursuing the BSN was faster than the ADN. The BSN program operates year-round; the ADN program does not. Tuition for the ADN program is substantially lower. The higher cost of the BSN program was the trade-off for a quicker entry into the job market.

Secondly, depending on where you want to work and what you want to do, an RN is not an RN. The hospitals in my area are all pursuing magnet accreditation, which means that they prefer to hire BSNs over ADNs; once they attain magnet status, part of maintaining it will mean that they agree that ADNs will not be promoted. If you know where you want to work, I'd suggest looking at the area's ads for nurses' jobs to see if they require or prefer BSNs.

Thirdly, yes, many hospitals require a BSN as the minimum education for a management job. But many do not. Management opportunities, however, are not the only reason to pursue the higher degree. There are two major hospitals in my area, for example, that have large ICUs and telemetry units. Both require the BSN. Since those are areas that interest me, I'm glad I went for the higher degree. I was recently hired for my first job, which is BSN preferred. In this economy, I was glad to have that credential!

An RN is not an RN. Some hospitals now pay BSNs significantly more, though they're certainly in the minority. But the bottom line is that in the long run, more doors are open to the BSN. Whether you choose to step through them is another matter.

Piglet68 · Mar 26, 2009

The ASN program that I am in goes year round. My credits from my 4 year degree were transfered to meet other requirements of the program.

With the economy the way it is, I could not afford to do an accelerated BSN program. I work full time and go to school as well. I live in the Philadelphia area and accelerated BSN programs that last two years can cost up to $30,000 a year for a total of $60,000 and no real option to work during that time. My ASN is going to cost $25,000 and will take me 2.5 years and for all my pre-req work I can still work and go to school. A girl in my class is taking her pre-reqs through the community college and then is applying for the accelerated program at Eastern. She told me that it's going to cost her $60,000 in tution and she is going to take another loan out to pay for living while in school. She figures she will be in debt to the tune of $90,000. She already has a four year degree in allied health. That is just not an option for me.

I do not plan to go into management as I have been a manager for injury claims professionals before and did not like the management aspects of my job. I do however plan to continue on to a BSN once I am out and working as an RN.

Cari001 · Mar 26, 2009

I'm graduating in May with a BS in Biology. In August I'll be starting school to get my BSN. [if only I'd decided earlier I want to be a nurse!] I have both a good BSN program and a good ADN program nearby. For me, the decision to go with the BSN came down to one factor..waitlists. The tech program has something like a year or year and half waitlist. [And you can't even apply until you finish your prereqs.] I'm doing an accelerated BSN, so by the time I graduate, I would've just been starting at the other progam. I did't have a full time job lined up for after I graduate which, with this economy, made me nervous. This way, I'll start right into school and hopefully in a year and a half the economy will have bounced back a little. Plus, I was afraid that if I waited for the other school I'd get lazy and decide to not go.
I had heard good things about both schools, so quality wasn't that much of an issue for me. Have you tried asking around to get people's opinions on local schools? If it makes you feel any better any better about your chances of getting into the BSN programs, my GPA was only 3.4 and they let me in. [i did get As in my pre-reqs have medical experience..well..veterinary medical experience.] Maybe you could try boosting your resume with hospital volunteer work or something similar?

Hey Sheepwith, what accelerated program did you get accepted to? You had a 3.4? I have around a 3.0 in my previous degree, but hope to have a 3.5 in my pre-reqs. I'm scared I won't get into my program!

Takiyah · Mar 26, 2009

This is basically what I plan on doing.

I'm taking my pre-reqs at a local community college. I will be applying to that same school's acclerated ASN program that will begin this fall. For me, the choice really came down to money. I already have a lot of debt from my undergrad degree I received from a private university...very expensive private university. I could not fathom having to take out an additional $30K or more, just for a one year program. The ASN program will only cost me $6K in tuition, which is a HUGE difference.

The program begins in Aug 09 and will end Aug 10. If I chose to apply to an acclerated BSN program, the only one that I stood to a fair shot at getting accepted into, does not begin until Jan 10. So the ASN is not only more affordable, but will also allow me to start sooner. What I am doing however, because I do plan to get my BSN, is taking additional pre-reqs now that will allow me to apply to a preferred BSN program in Dec 10. I will be able to pursue my BSN through mostly online courses, if not all, from a 4 year university, while working full-time. Chances are I will even be able to have my employer subsidize my degree, thus making it even more affordable (ideally). In the end, it will take me 2 years to finish with a BSN, but I will be working after just one, and if I have to pay for everything myself, will save me over $20K.

Good luck with your decision!

Lovelymo79 · Mar 26, 2009

I'm not even doing an ADN program. The ADN programs in my area are so popular (mainly because they are cheaper) that there can be up to 2 year's waiting list. TWO YEARS. One..I got into easily..but there's a waiting list to even take the first nursing course. Um..no..not what I want to do.

I have a BA in English but decided to do a 2 year diploma progam at a hospital. I chose this particular diploma program because I've heard nothing but praises for the program. Also, the clinical hours are ASTOUNDING. And that's what I'm looking for...the clinical experience. Not another elective course.

Since I already have a BA, I can do any of the local RN-MSN programs and skip over the BSN..which is what I plan on doing..and hopefully, on my employer's dime.

Cari001 · Mar 26, 2009

Lovely, the 2 year diploma program gives you an RN? Do you take the NCLEX?