Associates degree

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2011

I am currently enrolled in Northern NJ, it takes about 3 years to complete an Assoc. program if pre-reqs are done first.

Pre-Reqs: English I & II, A&P I&II, Microbiology, Chemistry I&II, General Psych, General Soc, Developmental Psych. Those are generic courses as each college would differ slightly.

Toyodax · Dec 5, 2011

so if you didnt take the prereq it would've taken you more that 3 years?

lrobinson5 · Dec 5, 2011

It depends on where you place in math and English. To get the degree you have to take up to a certain level. So if you start at remedial reading/writing it will take you a while to get up to freshman English. The same can be said for other classes. The total for me is probably 3 years once I graduate next December.

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2011

Associates Degrees in Nursing are marketed as "2 year" degrees, the harsh reality is that logistically this is impossible when core nursing courses take up so much time that it is strongly encouraged they be taken alone. With that in mind most students including myself complete all necessary general course work (pre-reqs and co-reqs) before the actual core nursing courses.

tachybradyRN · Dec 5, 2011

i have my associate's in nursing. it took me about a year and a half for pre-reqs, and then two years in the actual nursing program. however, i went full time, and took one 8.5 credit nursing class per semester (there were four) as well as additional classes such as medical micro, sociology, etc. i also went during a summer session.

plasmatix · Dec 5, 2011

Associates Degrees in Nursing are marketed as "2 year" degrees, the harsh reality is that logistically this is impossible when core nursing courses take up so much time that it is strongly encouraged they be taken alone. With that in mind most students including myself complete all necessary general course work (pre-reqs and co-reqs) before the actual core nursing courses.

IVanillax, happyloser is right: the two-year Associates Degree is a myth. While it is true that the registered nursing programs that offer an ADN are typically 4 semesters (2 academic years), you are expected to have anywhere between 25 to 30 college credits, at least half of which are in basic sciences, PRIOR to entering that 2-year program. Also keep in mind that

(1) You may have to take 2 or 3 classes, or more, to enable you to enroll in the nursing pre-reqs. For instance, General Biology is not typically listed on nursing pre-reqs, however many schools require that you have credits in Gen Bio before you are permitted to enroll in Anatomy/Physiology and/or Microbiology; some require Chemistry also.

(2) It's not just the number of credits, but the difficulty of the courses you have to consider. Many students, determined to cut down on their time in school, overload themselves with classes, and are forced to drop them when they realize that they can't keep up with the demands of Micro or Chem. This not only costs them more in time, but also in wasted tuition money.

(3) You also have to consider grades. There are more and more people competing for an inadequate amount of nursing program seats, and schools can afford to be picky. They use grades as a way to predict whether a student is prepared to handle the rigors of nursing school. And, to be honest, a student who starts his/her nursing career by being content with a C average probably should switch to a career path in which they won't have responsibility for human lives.

With this in mind, if you're reasonably bright with above-average reading and comprehension skills, didn't have problems with Algebra I & II, Biology, and Chemistry in high school, and, most important, are willing to make the necessary commitment to classwork/studying, you can get through the prereqs for many ADN programs in 12 months. It will help if you have some college credits already (English comp, Intro Psych). However, if you need to work more than 20 hrs/wk and/or you have very young children, it may significantly impact your ability to focus on more than 2 or 3 classes a semester. It's a very individual thing, however, no matter what your ability/achievement level, don't make the mistake of thinking that this will be an easy process.

Don't automatically discard the idea of a BSN program due to time constraints. Many students do because BSN programs are known as "4-year degrees", and the "two-year ADN" sounds more appealing. The truth is that the nursing programs for the ADN and the BSN are BOTH 2 years in length. The BSN requires more prerequisites (approx. 45 to 50), but if you have some pre-existing college credits, they may apply toward that total. The other thing to consider is that you will almost certainly want to go back for that BSN one day (many employers have made it a requirement), and it's very likely that you will have to make up those pre-reqs you missed before you are accepted into an RN-to-BSN program. I include this only for information purposes, not to pressure you; you are the only one who can decide what type of program will work best at this point in your life.

You need to research each of the schools you are thinking of attending, both online and via personal visits. Realize that you may attend one school for pre-reqs, and another for nursing, and MAKE SURE that you know which prereqs are required for which program, and whether your credits will transfer. Because of competition, you need to keep your options open as to where you'll go to nursing school, but this means that you may be keeping track of requirements for 3 or 4 schools. In addition, even if you plan on attending nursing school where you are getting your prereqs, be aware that you have to maintain communications with both the college itself and with the nursing program; do not take it for granted that they are aware of, or familiar with, the requirements of the other. I cannot stress the importance of COMMUNICATION enough: I've known many students who had to spend money they didn't have to re-take the "approved" class, or who missed being able to accept a seat in a program because they didn't have the proper credits.

You CAN do this, but you have to be (A) extremely well-organized and focused; (B) expecting and willing to work harder than you ever have before for the next 3 to 4 years in school, and then as a working nurse; and © firmly committed to being a member of the nursing profession, while being sure that you know exactly what that means. I wish you the best.

Palliative Care, DNP · Dec 5, 2011

So as you can see it would be easier to just go on and enroll in a BSN program. I wish I had just started that way would have been faster. Instead I went Associates to BSN. Currently in a MSN program trying to switch to a DNP. It feels like I have been a student forever:twocents:

Jaimie.RN · Dec 5, 2011

Took me 3.5 years to get my ADN. Would have just been easier to get my BSN and then I could maybe get a hospital job and not be treated like ignorant garbage because I'm not a BSN, but I couldn't afford it.