ASN With Second Degree

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · May 18, 2015

As someone else stated, it all depends on your area and what point you are at in your life. I didn't know if you were stating about ABSN programs being expensive because you didn't want to pay back that amount of loans or if you understood whether or not your financial aid had been exhausted. If you can do an appeal and get financial aid the BSN route would be the best way to go. An ADN which is done at a community college is going to be much cheaper. But it depends what people hire in your area. In mine, ADNs are still hired. Heck, they have LPNs working floors in hospitals here so it's not a big deal.

The place where I am at right now, I need to get my ADN for cost-effectiveness and I need a job relatively soon. Once I get my job, I can do a BSN program online. So you need to look at what people are actually hiring in your area. I see all the time on here that ADN RNS are being phased out and every hospital in America is only looking for BSN nurses which is not true. I go to the hospital websites from time to time in my area and see what the job postings are for.

It also depends on what your end game is also. I've tossed around getting a MSN in my mind, but for what I want to do, I won't need anything more than a BSN eventually. So research your area and think about what you want to end up doing eventually. Also have a financial plan in place to take care of all of this and money while you are in nursing school. Nursing school is expensive. Those little add ons add up significantly. Scrubs, shoes, supplies for school, drug and background checks, vaccinations, stethoscopes, penlights, BP cuffs, I could go on forever. Almost always the first day of school there is oh and we forgot to tell you that you will need this.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 18, 2015

I haven't 100% decided yet. I did find a few RN-MSN programs that offer a BSN midway. I am looking for inexpensive and reputable. At the very least I will do a RN-BSN but have been looking at the MSN programs so that I can teach if I choose to. My heart lies in oncology research, I did research for 10 years prior to going to nursing school. I don't think I want to go FNP route but I am not putting anything completely off the table (except CNM because :.no:: that's just not me at all) :)

runsalot · May 18, 2015

I did the adn and I already have a degree due to cost. People from my program got hired into the ER, but that just totally depends on your area.

oldsockventriloquist · May 18, 2015

I did the adn and I already have a degree due to cost. People from my program got hired into the ER, but that just totally depends on your area.

Did they get in by doing their preceptorship or having other clinical activities in the ER?

oldsockventriloquist · May 18, 2015

I haven't 100% decided yet. I did find a few RN-MSN programs that offer a BSN midway. I am looking for inexpensive and reputable. At the very least I will do a RN-BSN but have been looking at the MSN programs so that I can teach if I choose to. My heart lies in oncology research, I did research for 10 years prior to going to nursing school. I don't think I want to go FNP route but I am not putting anything completely off the table (except CNM because :.no:: that's just not me at all) :)

I haven't seen any programs like this. How long do the RN to BSN to MSN programs take?

Heathermaizey, I have never heard of an appeal process for financial aid. Does this occur when you're applying? Are you talking about appealing for getting additional financial aid?

Also, for anyone pursuing a BSN or MSN after your ADN, are you applying right after you get your ADN?

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 18, 2015

I haven't seen any programs like this. How long do the RN to BSN to MSN programs take?
Heathermaizey, I have never heard of an appeal process for financial aid. Does this occur when you're applying? Are you talking about appealing for getting additional financial aid?
Also, for anyone pursuing, a BSN or MSN after your ADN, are you applying right after you get your ADN?

I think it was 4 years with the BSN awarded after the first year. U South Ala. is one of them.

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 18, 2015

I think it was 4 years with the BSN awarded after the first year. U South Ala. is one of them.

The appeal process would be done through financial aid after admission. I had to appeal because of my previous degree it appeared that I had "unsatisfactory" progress toward a degree because I had so many credit hours. It's a single page you fill out and send to FA

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · May 18, 2015

I haven't seen any programs like this. How long do the RN to BSN to MSN programs take?
Heathermaizey, I have never heard of an appeal process for financial aid. Does this occur when you're applying? Are you talking about appealing for getting additional financial aid?
Also, for anyone pursuing a BSN or MSN after your ADN, are you applying right after you get your ADN?

I am pretty sure it is called a second degree appeal. This is for people who already have a degree. But I think it also depends on how much of the initial FA you have used up. I have never done it. I don't have a degree. But I have heard of it on here and I remember when the financial aid guy came into our class on the first day that you could try it if you already had a degree. I would talk to them.

ready2baRN · May 18, 2015

I have a previous Bachelors and Associates and I chose to do ADN route and then enroll into RN-BSN program due to not being able to get a single solitary cent from financial aid. Not a dime. So I have to pay out of pocket. If I could have afford it I would have went straight into a BSN program.

Because of your previous degree you won't qualify for any additional federal/state grants (the free money). If you have not maxed out your federal undergrad student loans you will be able to still use the remaining balance to fund your ADN or BSN program up to your aggregate loan limits which right now is capped at $57,500 for a independent student age 24 or over.

If you have money left over with your federal undergradute student loans I would say try to go straight into a BSN program if your loans will cover it and you don't mind taking on the additional debt. BSN is preferred in many hospitals especially magnet hospitals.

If you are out of funds the ADN route would be cheaper and you can possibly find some scholarships that can help cover the cost of the degree.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · May 18, 2015

I had a BA when I got my ASN. My plan was to get a job, then let my employer pay for my BSN. Well, life happened. I graduated just before the economy collapsed. Even nursing homes refused to hire new grads. Ten months later, after one SNF job got cancelled, I finally found a job, 200 miles away, in an ALF that didn't even offer a retirement plan, never mind tuition assistance. I figured I could get a year of experience and go elsewhere. One year later, the same jobs that wanted 1 year of experience now wanted 3-5 years of experience. I found a job in Nursing Home Hell, and ran screaming after 6 weeks. I took a job in home health, which was a nice change of pace, but paid less than $20 per hour.

Five years later, I'm still in home health, making slightly more with shift differentials. My employer offers very limited tuition assistance, I want to stay out of the student loan trap, and public schools cost more than private schools. Without a BSN, my only option is a SNF, and I will only go back to that if my family is facing immediate homelessness.

If I had to do it again, I would've gone for a direct entry MSN or BSN. It would've been a lot more expensive, but it would have opened a lot of doors. Home health is starting to require BSNs.

oldsockventriloquist · May 18, 2015

What did everybody get their first degree in? What were your original plans for that degree?

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 18, 2015

What did everybody get their first degree in? What were your original plans for that degree?

BA - chemistry; mph - community health & behavioral science. Worked in academic medical research for 10 years