Associates vs. BSN - in East Alabama

U.S.A. Alabama

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I need some advice on the benefits of a bachelor's in nursing vs. an associates. If I choose to go the BSN route I'll choose Auburn since I live in the area, but also would like info on some of the other 2 yr nursing programs around.(Like SU,CVCC,WGTC) I'd like to know about the diffuclty of being accepted, overall quality of the program(did you feel well prepared once you graduated and found employment), and any other factors I may not have thought about. Thanks!

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Specializes in none.

War Eagle! I graduated from Auburn in '96 although in Communication Disorders not nursing. I am now in nursing school at Central alabama community college in childersburg. I can tell you this. Community colleges are way cheaper so if you get a loan scholarship from a hospital that pays $2500 to 3000 a year it will mostly cover books and tuition.

The main question is what do you want? If you are single and your parents are paying ---go to Auburn and enjoy the campus life and emerge with your BSN. If you need the shortest route possible to get out and work then I would go ADN. Then you could get out and be earning good money while you convert your degree to a bachelors online. This takes one year. Either way your going to spend 4 years. In most two year schools you have to have a years worth of prerequisites to even get in to Nursing school which isnt bad because you dont want to be taking basics on top of nursing courses and clinicals. The difference is your fourth year you will be an RN making$$ whilst you earn your Bachelors.

The only reason you will need your BSN is if you want to get your masters such as to become MSN, NP, or CRNA.

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Oh by the way. I have heard some nurse managers say that they would rather have RN grads from community colleges rather than Universities because they get more practical experience. dont know if its true or not but thats what they say.....

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

I currently go to AU I'm in the accelerated program. I love it, I'm happy I chose this route. I know that our clinical experiences are far more than what you get at SUCC. I know that all the graduates who wanted jobs had them before they graduated with this past class. I am feeling more and more prepared every day with the number of clinicals that I get. And because I'm in the accelerated program I have only 4 semesters of courses, so I make it out in 18 months.

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