At what age should you choose AS over BS?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 9, 2008

It's not just management jobs. A lot of nursing jobs are "BSN preferred" if not required. If getting the BSN now is a viable option, I'd recommend it. The BSN will give you more options later -- not just in management positions, but in many clinical positions as well.

JStyles1 · Dec 10, 2008

It's not just management jobs. A lot of nursing jobs are "BSN preferred" if not required. If getting the BSN now is a viable option, I'd recommend it. The BSN will give you more options later -- not just in management positions, but in many clinical positions as well.

i agree. there is no age limit on furthering your education. a bsn is not a path strictly for management

bfisher5560 · Dec 10, 2008

Ok, that makes sense. So which would you do if you could have your choice? I thought I had everything mapped out and was on a perfect course to get in the program by doing my prereq's at the CC and getting in their program.

Now I have new prereq's with chemistry, 2 years foriegn language, additional math's, and a couple others added for the BSN. I was set (in my mind)to start the AS program w/ prereq's completed in Fall 09 but if I do the BSN I wont start until Fall 2010.

I would be done with AS at 51 years old!

I would be done with BS at 52 years old!

Taking age into consideration, ability to get a job with type of degree, and the knowledge you all have as having done this already,

What Would You Do??? Thanks for your advice!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2008

To answer that you'd have to ask yourself: How long am I going to have to work? If the answer is like me age 65 to 70, you have about 15 years to work.

Next question: How is your health? Your feet? Your knees? Your back? Do you imagine yourself at retirement age running up and down hallways, working 12 hour shifts, pulling and tugging on patients?

What are your goals for your nursing career?

If you're going to habve to work 15 or more years, go ahead and get the BSN if you have that opportunity because you might want to move away from the bedside as you age. I'm recently got my BSN so I will have options as I age.

Dirkje45 · Dec 11, 2008

what's the rush to get a bsn if you don't even know that you're cut out for nursing? people get different ideas about nursing and sometimes those ideas and the reality of nursing are two completely different situations. i started as a asn and said, "no this is not for me" and went the pa route.

get your asn, work and then make a decision about getting that bsn. there's no hurry or good reason to have a bsn from the git go. good luck.

jen122 · Dec 12, 2008

I have been debating as to what path I wanted to take. I have a BA already so I have an option to do an accelerated BSN or can go for my ADN. The only accelerated program in my area (which is an hour away) is full time for 17 mos but I have a lot of prereq to do before I can apply for the program so it would probably be 3 years at least.

The ADN program I can do completely part time and with 2 younger kids, I like that idea. Not to mention the cost, it is less than half the accelerated BSN. I worry about spending a ton of money on a 2nd career change to find I don't like it as much as I think I will or once I am a nurse I can truly see what I like and pursue my BSN then or go direct for a bridge MSN program.

I know this post isnt about me but I just wanted to share so you can see others are having the same dilemma as to what to pursue. I am 35 yrs old so I am not a kid starting out and I think there is always a lot to consider.

Breathe...relax....this board is full of wonderful people as I have quickly found. I say there is no right or wrong answer, just what works best for you and your goals for now.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 13, 2008

I would go for te BSN right at the beginning because it will give you more options. It gives you the options for jobs in case management, utilization review, gives you the springboard to an advanced practice degree, etc..

Dirkje45 · Dec 13, 2008

i would go for te bsn right at the beginning because it will give you more options. it gives you the options for jobs in case management, utilization review, gives you the springboard to an advanced practice degree, etc..

you don't need a bsn to be a case manager or do utilization review. i became a pa, my springboard was my asn.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2008

you don't need a bsn to be a case manager or do utilization review. i became a pa, my springboard was my asn.

i'm relatively sure when she meant "advanced degrees" she meant nursing degrees such as msn's, crna's, or np's which all need a bsn.

Dirkje45 · Dec 13, 2008

i'm relatively sure when she meant "advanced degrees" she meant nursing degrees such as msn's, crna's, or np's which all need a bsn.

if that is what the op wants, an advanced degree, then she would have to get her bsn first. so the delimma is whether she wants to have her bsn or whether she needs her bsn? it came across to me that she just want's to be a nurse, not a manager or anything further up the line.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2008

if that is what the op wants, an advanced degree, then she would have to get her bsn first. so the delimma is whether she wants to have her bsn or whether she needs her bsn? it came across to me that she just want's to be a nurse, not a manager or anything further up the line.

this is true, so getting the bsn to obtain an advanced degree is probably empty useless advice for the op.