Associates RN-BSN or straight BSN?? Which route to take???

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I live in the Dallas, TX area and I'm looking for some recommendations on what would be a great nursing school to attend. My ultimate goal is to get my BSN, but I didn't know if it would be better to do an entire 4 yr program somewhere like UTA or to get my Associates from a community college like El Centro or Brookhaven and then after I pass the NCLEX go to a RN-BSN bridge program somewhere like TWU or UTA. Any thoughts??? I'm 33 so I don't want to start on one program and then discover it would've been easier/faster/cheaper another way. It almost looks like getting an Associates then going through a bridge program would be faster (and cheaper) than going the straight BSN. Also, I've heard somewhere that you will get more clinical time while getting an Associates vs. the straight BSN - IMO that's one big pro for going that route. Is this true or just myth? I would appreciate ANY pointers that anyone might like to give regarding school and nursing in general. Feel free to PM me if you're in the Dallas area - maybe we could discuss it over coffee!

Thanks!

Julie

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Specializes in ER, OR, Cardiac ICU.

*DISCLAIMER* This is NOT ADN vs BSN. Beating_a_Dead_Horse.gif

IF ultimately want your BSN and have:

1. The time

2. The money

Do it now. It's more practical and '2 year' programs are only that if you have your pre-reqs. However, if you:

1. Can't commit to four years' uninterrupted study

2. Need to support yourself with more than ramen for dinner

Get your ADN and work your way throught the BSN portion.

Do you have a degree? Measure out your current credits and figure out where you are. But most importantly, make sure you want to be a nurse!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You should do what works best for you, time-wise and with your individual financial situation.

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*DISCLAIMER* This is NOT ADN vs BSN. Beating_a_Dead_Horse.gif

Do you have a degree? Measure out your current credits and figure out where you are. But most importantly, make sure you want to be a nurse!

Thanks for clarifying - I am NOT (I repeat NOT) trying to beat the proverbial dead "is one better than the other" horse. The issue is not whether or not to get a BSN, I just want opinions on the different ways to go about it. I currently do not hold a degree in any field, but am fairly close in completing enough classes for an Assoc Arts or Science, which would make me "core complete" in the state of TX.

On another note, you mentioned "make sure you want to be a nurse" - how does one really go about doing this? I mean, I'm pretty darn sure I want to be a nurse, but do you have any suggestions on how to know with certainty? :confused: I'm currently a secretary in a non-medical field, but I'm trying to get work in one of our local hospitals as an admin or unit secretary/clerk so I can get some firsthand observation but I'm finding it hard to break in due to my lack of medical experience. Any other suggestions? Do hospitals still allow shadowing due to all the patient privacy issues?

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I think that TWU (denton) has a program that might work for you.

I attend Northlake, currently, and will be moving to Denton county in a few months so I have had to look into TWU for both BSN and RN to BSN.

If you are almost core complete (48 hours I believe), TWU has a program with DCCCD, that allows you to get your BSN from them in 2 years. It's the same amount of time as a ADN. I think it's called TWU Bound program. It's on TWU's website.

http://www.twu.edu/admissions/transfer/twubounddcccd.htm

Good Luck =]

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Ifyou want to know more about nursing, you might want to shadow some of them on their jobs.

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I think that is the best question to ask yourself "Do I want to be a nurse?" Nursing in my opinion is a calling and although you may question yourself after having one of those "I can't believe I chose this profession days" you know deep down that you would not want to do anything else. Best luck to you :)

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I think that TWU (denton) has a program that might work for you.

I attend Northlake, currently, and will be moving to Denton county in a few months so I have had to look into TWU for both BSN and RN to BSN.

If you are almost core complete (48 hours I believe), TWU has a program with DCCCD, that allows you to get your BSN from them in 2 years. It's the same amount of time as a ADN. I think it's called TWU Bound program. It's on TWU's website.

http://www.twu.edu/admissions/transfer/twubounddcccd.htm

Good Luck =]

WOW - great info! Thanks so much! :p

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In our area the hospitals/recruiters actually prefer the ADN nurses because they know that they have had more clinical experience. This is only in regards to the 2 nursing programs in our areas. I actually spoke to another nurse and she said that she wished she had done the ADN program. When she started at her job her clinical skills sucked but she "sure could write a great paper." Seh was very disappointed.

Also, around here the pay is no different if you're going to stay in a clinical setting.

ETA: Sorry... I didn't know this might get heated. I'm not saying one is better than the other. Personally I would do the ADN to BSN only because you could work while pursuing the other.

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This isn't a simple question for someone else to answer because it depends so much on you, your life situation, your goals, your finances. I did the ADN, went out to work a few years, and now am back in getting my BSN. For me, I was at a point in my life the ADN was best. I was so ready to get a decent job, buy a house, get married, and I don't regret it for a minute. Now I am working and getting my BSN and getting some tuition reimbursement from my employer. One question is what do you want to do with nursing? If you want management or community health, or to go into nursing education, research, or what not, then do BSN right away. If you really want bedside nursing, then ADN may be just fine. THe fact that you ask the question leads me to believe you have the time, finances, and patients to get through a BSN. Although I don't regret the path of my life, it sure would be nice to already have my BSN.

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Totally agree with Jabra....depending on what you actually want out of school, you may choose to go either way. However, i've also heard some nurses say they wished they went to a two yr college first. And when asked why, you get to hear, "skills, skills, skills..." TWU is very good especially on management, however, I would go to a two yr college first before transfering there. And if you've had another Baccalaurete degree before, just like someone staed earlier, your best option is to do their one year accelerated program,,hope this helps

Goodluck

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One question is what do you want to do with nursing? If you want management or community health, or to go into nursing education, research, or what not, then do BSN right away. If you really want bedside nursing, then ADN may be just fine. THe fact that you ask the question leads me to believe you have the time, finances, and patients to get through a BSN. Although I don't regret the path of my life, it sure would be nice to already have my BSN.

What I want to do with nursing is be a Navy nurse and to be a commissioned officer you have to hold a BSN. The Navy will pay for the RN to BSN bridge and I'll be able to work as an RN at a civilian hosptial while I get the BSN.

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