Associates or BSN?

[Rachellynn11, ADN]

Hi everyone!

I need a bit of advice considering at Housatonic the advising has been a bit contradicting for me. I'm getting all sorts of opinions on this and have been anxiety ridden over what my next step should be.

So, I have a Bachelor's (Liberal Arts) I am done with my nursing pre-reqs this semester. I wanted to apply to the community college system to get my associate's rather than do the accelerated BSN program. 1. Because I am already in student loan debt and can not take out anymore to pay for another university tuition and 2. I feel a calendar year straight of nursing classes may be overwhelming for me due to my style of learning.

However, one of my professors told me that is the most idiotic thing she has ever heard - someone with a bachelors to go to the "totem pole" of nursing programs. It really discouraged me. Will I be able to find a job with an associates? I understand Yale is pushing for BSN but as long as you show proof you are going to obtain it you should be okay. Any advice???

[WCSU1987]

I hear you everyone says go for the ABSN. You'll make more money in a year to pay off everything.

I am trying 2 attempts for the Associates program and if don't get in this second attempt probably go the LPN route.

I look at it as long as I have the title of Nurse can search out of this State for work if not able to find work here.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I'm late replying but I'm a veteran nurse and have worked in most of the hospitals in CT, and I would say nurses in CT really need to go for the BSN in my opinion. Most if not all of the bigger hospitals (HH, St Francis, Yale, Midstate etc) hire BSNs over ADNs and many of the acute care environments won't even look at ADNs for inpatient anymore. Outpatient I think is different, but in this state I would say that BSN is preferable. Not impossible with an ADN, but you'd have hiring preference over an ADN.