Associates after Bachelors

Bluebolt · Mar 18, 2015

I can totally understand what you mean here. I have a Bachelors degree and went through an accelerated BSN program. For me it made sense because I felt like I was "moving forward". I would have never gone to a community college to get an ASN because the hospitals in my city don't hire nearly as many ASN's as they do BSN's. Also, my perception would have been that I was academically "going backwards" if I were to go for an ASN after having already earned a Bachelors degree as well as graduate work.
However, so long as your community hires ASN's then it is a viable option. Then you could always do a RN-BSN program and you're right where you would have been if you did the accelerated BSN. Howcome you can't do the accelerated program right now? It really is the quickest option for those that already hold a Bachelors degree.
If you just can't do the accelerated program right now, and the ASN is your only option right now, then you just have to find a way to reframe your perception. And your previous Bachelors will never be a waste. You gained education and experience which you can bring with you to any further education and job.

I agree.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 18, 2015

I can't enter an accelerated program because I can't quit my job and not work for a year? How do people do it?

They likely either have a significant other who can support them, or they have saved enough money to live off while in the program.

And some people are able to work full time while attending school full time. It is not easy, but it is possible.

mecapon91 · Mar 18, 2015

no form of education is a waste. I have a bachelors degree in public health and am going back to school to get my BSN. I feel my bachelors degree could only help, not hurt. So whatever you choose to do, your bachelors degree wont be "a waste".

socialworknurse · Mar 18, 2015

I have a previous Bachelor's degree as well. I chose BSN instead of ADN because the ADN school didn't accept any of the credits from my previous degree. The BSN option ended up being faster than the ADN for me. My first degree is in Social Work and I see it to be a potential asset in hospice/psych/public health nursing jobs. Otherwise I will leave it off my resume because it isn't relevant to other nursing jobs.

PMFB-RN, RN · Mar 19, 2015

no form of education is a waste. I have a bachelors degree in public health and am going back to school to get my BSN. I feel my bachelors degree could only help, not hurt. So whatever you choose to do, your bachelors degree wont be "a waste".

Oh I don't know about that. One of my sister's friends has a degree and seems to be a very employable person to me. However she hasn't been able to find work beyond working in a call center and being a waitress. She would like to go to grad school but the $600/month student loan payments she is locked into paying have made it impossible for her to get her feet under her enough to make it happen. She is aware that she can get a deferment on those payments while in grad school but so far hasn't been abale to afford to get her ducks in a row for grad school. She still lives with her parents, lives a very frugal lifestyle, drives an 18 year old car, and doesn't have expensive habits.

She is rather bitter about having followed the advice of MANY people and gotten her bachelors degree. She admits she didn't make a great choice in picking a degree, but she was encouraged to get an education to become "more rounded".

I would say that her degree is not only a waste but harmful to her.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 19, 2015

Oh I don't know about that. One of my sister's friends has a degree and seems to be a very employable person to me. However she hasn't been able to find work beyond working in a call center and being a waitress. She would like to go to grad school but the $600/month student loan payments she is locked into paying have made it impossible for her to get her feet under her enough to make it happen. She is aware that she can get a deferment on those payments while in grad school but so far hasn't been abale to afford to get her ducks in a row for grad school. She still lives with her parents, lives a very frugal lifestyle, drives an 18 year old car, and doesn't have expensive habits.
She is rather bitter about having followed the advice of MANY people and gotten her bachelors degree. She admits she didn't make a great choice in picking a degree, but she was encouraged to get an education to become "more rounded".
I would say that her degree is not only a waste but harmful to her.

Which is why I am encouraging my 17-year-old to NOT go to college immediately after graduation. Because he has no idea what he wants to BE, and I don't want to help fund a bachelor's in art history because he has no idea what he wants to be when he grows up. I would much rather he wait 5 years, then go to school with a concrete goal in mind, and the motivation to do it.

Good lord. I just reread my post. I cannot believe I have a 17-year-old. I'm only 25!!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2015

if you can spend one year getting your BSN as opposed to 2 years getting for AAS, why wouldn't you do it?

I can foresee two reasons a candidate with a non-nursing BA/BS would opt to attend an associate degree nursing program instead of the accelerated BSN program.

1. Cost: one of the accelerated BSN programs in my city of residence costs $17,000 per semester for three semesters (summer, fall and spring), resulting in a whopping $51,000 tuition bill. On the other hand, a person can attend one of many local community college nursing programs for two years for about $2,000 per semester.

2. Grades: not everyone has a competitive-enough GPA for admission into accelerated BSN programs. I know someone who had a previous BS degree, a 2.5 GPA in the prerequisite coursework, and a 2.6 GPA overall. This person chose to attend a community college LPN program, and later on, an LPN-to-ASN bridge program.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2015

I can foresee two reasons a candidate with a non-nursing BA/BS would opt to attend an associate degree nursing program instead of the accelerated BSN program.
1. Cost: one of the accelerated BSN programs in my city of residence costs $17,000 per semester for three semesters (summer, fall and spring), resulting in a whopping $51,000 tuition bill. On the other hand, a person can attend one of many local community college nursing programs for two years for about $2,000 per semester.
2. Grades: not everyone has a competitive-enough GPA for admission into accelerated BSN programs. I know someone who had a previous BS degree, a 2.5 GPA in the prerequisite coursework, and a 2.6 GPA overall. This person chose to attend a community college LPN program, and later on, an LPN-to-ASN bridge program.

My ADN program was extremely competitive. I waited 2 years to get in. One of the main reasons I chose it was because it was considered the best program in the area.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2015

But one must, must, must get the required nursing degrees in addition to what you already have. I haven't seen any evidence that a previous degree means anything and I've been researching it since doing per-requs.
Maybe it's just my city- where bedside nurses are getting their DNP's and not planning on leaving bedside!! It's a big Eds and Meds city with multiple academic medical centers.

You are joking right? Why would anyone get their DNP and practice bedside? If you know people doing that, tell them that is not the smartest move in the world. They would never make enough money in their lifetime in bedside nursing to pay for that degree. That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. A nurse with a DNP looks more at the medical model than a nursing model. They have prescribing privleges. I know I spelled that wrong. They could make over a 100k a year which would compensate for the intense education they have received. They would be over-qualified to be a bedside nurse.

There is nothing wrong with getting an ASN. It's what I am getting. The hospitals hire them in my area. I know many people say you have to have a BSN nowdays. I constantly check the job openings in my area. Very few say BSN required. I will get my BSN eventually, but in my life plan, the ASN works for now. I'm doing this so I can have a job. I don't want to be a life schooler. I'm 39 and have to make money for my family to survive. It's as simple as that. I could care less what anyone thinks of me getting an ASN. I live my life, not them.

You need to research your area. And let me reiterate something you said. You said I didn't realize nursing was my passion. Don't treat it as a passion. Too many people have this idea of what they think nursing is. When they realize it's not what they "dreamed" of, many people flunk out of nursing school or end up hating their job. Treat this as training for a job you want to do. Not as a passion or dream. Every where I go, I find people who either really want, or are in nursing school, thinking this is the career that is going to change their lives. They will save someone's life everyday or be this super compassionate nurse who is going to affect someone's life deeply on a daily basis. Then they will go home feeling this great satisfaction and all of their problems are gone. Or they will make tons of money and doesn't money fix everything? This is a job. This is a job working with people who are sick and vulnerable which makes them angry. Just realize you are dealing with the public. You will see them at their worst. It's not always fun. You will have good days and bad days. Just do your research to see what you are getting into.

anie10 · Apr 6, 2015

I thought I would be finished with my BA and my ADN, concurrently. However, things didn't work out that way, thank God (He had a plan). I will receive my ADN after my BA, but guess what? I think just by having my BA before my ADN, got me into the very BSN program I wanted.

So, please don't worry about how your educational decisions will be viewed ~ especially if people aren't chipping in for your tuition ~ you will do the right thing for you.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 7, 2015

You are joking right? Why would anyone get their DNP and practice bedside?

Maybe because the DNP is free and getting it will get them a raise? That's why nurses do it at my hospital.

A nurse with a DNP looks more at the medical model than a nursing model. They have prescribing privleges.

LOL! Not even close. Advanced practice nurses may have prescribing privalages. The DNP doesn't tell you if the nurses is an APN. Several of our nurses have got education, or clinical systems leadership DNPs and do NOT have prescribing privlages.

They could make over a 100k a year which would compensate for the intense education they have received. They would be over-qualified to be a bedside nurse.

Just about any nurses with 5 - 10 years excperience is making over $100K/year were I work. Usually they don't get a pay raise when they become APNs (with or without the DNP).

BeachsideRN, ASN · Apr 7, 2015

I have a BA and an MPH. Now in an ADN program. The result is the same - RN. I'll work on my BSN after graduation, hopefully while I am working. My area actively hires ADNs. The local ADN program is highly respected and is way less expensive and more flexible than the BSN programs. I am glad I chose this program