Associates or Bachelors??

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

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Hi,

I am currently a student at a community college in northern Virginia. My school has a two year nursing program to get an associates degree. I am very stuck on my next step because I have been told by many that unless I have a bachelors I will have an extremely difficult time finding a job. If I decide to transfer I will spend a few more years at my community college at the rate I'm going since I work as well. But with the associates I'll be done before I know it. I am very confused and I just need to know do hospitals really look for a bachelors??? Thanks!!

I also had a BS in biology prior to a BSN, and while it wouldn't have made any difference in time to complete the degree I'm not sure I'd still chose a BSN over an ADN given the cost difference. I got my BSN at a public school that at the time was pretty cheap (although "top ten" ranked for nursing). Today that same program will run you $80,000 compared to around $10,000 for an ADN that uses the same curriculum.

Interesting. I also got my BSN from a very well regarded public university. The whole thing cost me less than one year at my daughter's private elementary school!

I haven't checked out the differences in tuition nowadays. However, if I lived in a region where all the best jobs were being given to BSNs and my options for ADNs were very limited, I'd do the BSN again with no hesitation. I applied to a critical care internship which required a BSN and had a very high GPA requirement. It was a great program-none of this throwing new grads to the wolves like I hear about now. Lots of class time, very nurturing one on one preceptors through every ICU, and a graduated plan of working with full time supervision with only one patient to being on our own with two. Very lucky to have landed in that new grad internship.

It's one of the rare times when I say things might have been better "back in the day."

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

It's the "Magnet Status" thing. Employers want to advertise they have the proper ratio of BSN nurses.

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Hi Hun,

I went a CC in NOVA too and just graduated and passed boards. You've been told right. It is hard. I've had a total of 2 real interviews and I expect offers from both. So, yes, you will have to work harder to find a job but it is what it is. Many of us choose the ADN route for different reasons. A lot of folks in my program found jobs easily by getting a position as a tech while in school and then they got a job with that same hospital (that would turn down an ADN on the outside) so that's my advice to you. I didn't have the option of being a tech while in school so I have to work harder to find a job and use my networking skills with other nurses in the field.

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You know, your pre-reqs are going to be the same regardless (at least here in Texas) - statistics, bio, a&p, nutrition, pharm, etc. So that "two year degree" winds up being more like a 3 year degree, when you take in the two years of "nursing school" with the at least one year of pre-reqs. And doing ADN-BSN is going to be a good year or two of management type classes, so you'd wind up doing more school in the long run, with that route.

As for work, I can only speak about here in Dallas, Texas, but many of our magnet facilities require a BSN. And the ones that don't prefer BSNs for residencies and internships. So that knocks you out of consideration for a good chunk of the job market. My facility where I work is a county hospital, and ADNs get jobs here and are accepted for residencies just as much as BSNs. But I've heard in rural areas, they don't care at all. Look at the hospitals around you, look at their hiring posts, and see what it says for requirements. That's going to give you your answer. Does it say "ADN, BSN preferred" or does it say "BSN required"? Some of the facilities around here won't let you work critical care without a BSN, too.

Best of luck!

Hi thanks for replying. Unfortunately the pre-reqs are different for both the university and the nursing program provided at my cc. Certain classes that I take for the nursing program will not count for the pre-reqs that I need to transfer to the other nursing program for my bachelors. With the associates program I will easily be done within 3 years. If I decided to transfer I will have atleast another 6 years due to my current work situation..and that is a very long time. I will definitely look into what hospitals require.

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So do you think it depends the area?

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Hi thank you for replying. I am not a big fan of school so when I'm faced with the possibility of finishing school maybe at 24 I'm not too happy. I have been told that the program at nova provides interning too so that it's not as difficult to find a job. But I would like to move past nova one day not live here for a long time. Thank you

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Specializes in Infection Prevention, Public Health.

I say plan on getting your BSN but do it by getting your associates degree first. Why:

1) Life is uncertain, you could have obligations which prevent you from completing a BSN. The associates degree is a little insurance policy.

2) RN to BSN programs are available online.

3) Many employers will heavily subsidize the RN to BSN tuition after you have been employed for a year. Free money to you!

Good luck!

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OP, given your circumstances, I'd probably do the ADN and start working, then work on getting your BSN after you start working, UNLESS you are seeing a big BSN only hiring trend in your area.

Good luck!

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Get your ADN first. Then you can get your BSN in another year full time or two years part time. Hopefully on your employees dime.

This BSN requirement is dumb. I've got a bachelors of science in biology and I can say "whoopie" in regards to having a bachelors. If a hospital really wants me to have BSN or MSN, they can pay for it.

I personally know our ADN program (and grads) and better and more desirable than some top rated Colleges with BSN programs.

The fact that YOU also hold Bachelors in biology is NOT relevant to OP's question.

The BSN requirement is FAR from dumb. OP deserves much better answers than that.

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Who is the "many" you are receiving your information from? Consider your sources. You need to do your own research on the value of an associate degree versus bachelor's in your region. Start with your college advisor.

Many threads here debating the need to acquire a bachelor's degree. It also depends on your personal finances and situation.

I have succeeded with an ASN.. however that was many moons ago.

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I say plan on getting your BSN but do it by getting your associates degree first. Why:

1) Life is uncertain, you could have obligations which prevent you from completing a BSN. The associates degree is a little insurance policy.

2) RN to BSN programs are available online.

3) Many employers will heavily subsidize the RN to BSN tuition after you have been employed for a year. Free money to you!

Good luck!

Best response I've gotten thank you

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Who is the "many" you are receiving your information from? Consider your sources. You need to do your own research on the value of an associate degree versus bachelor's in your region. Start with your college advisor.

Many threads here debating the need to acquire a bachelor's degree. It also depends on your personal finances and situation.

I have succeeded with an ASN.. however that was many moons ago.

I spoke to an advisor today who gave me a lot of false and misleading information on transferring to George Mason, I then called George Mason and they gave me many different options as well. But I have not had the opportunity to speak directly to someone who has experience with an associates and a bachelors except on this forum. I am looking around to see what is necessary but I do not want to spend the rest of my life in this town either.

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