Bachelors versus Associates in nursing?

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I am a 43 year old male and taking prerequisites for an LVN program in community college. After entering and completing an LVN program I plan to attend the college's LVN - RN bridge program which would give me an associates degree. I am debating whether to go for a Bachelors straight off or continue on my plan and get the Bachelors after hired as a nurse with an associates degree.

What are the benefits of having a Bachelors versus an Associate degree in nursing, i.e. where you would work, starting pay, opportunity for advancement, respect, etc?

Thank you.

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Specializes in Tele, LTC.

Depends on what you are looking for

ADN: pros-->faster time, pay about the same as BSN in most places, some hospitals reimburse for tutions assistant for (ADN-->BSN program)

cons-->big medical centers only accept new grad applications from BSN such as UCLA, USC, UCSD, Ceiders, Hoag..

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Since you are attending a community college, I would go straight for the AA RN program to start and skip the LVN all together (you can sit for your boards after I think the first 2 semesters of the RN program anyway just to have that license under your belt) You can start work with your RN and then move forward with your BSN or ADN.

It gets very easy to just stay in one position once you are out. Just my 2 cents :jester:

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The BSN is considered to be the desirable entry level of education for professional nursing. If you have a BSN, you won't have to worry about getting any ultimatums to upgrade your education when you are working in a hospital that decides to go magnet or just unilaterally upgrades their education requirements.

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I figure it would take about the same amount of time to get into and finish the LVN program 1 1/2 years then get into the LVN-RN bridge which is a one year program...versus...taking more pre-requisites, 2 or 3 year lottery, and 2 years to complete the nursing program. I would plan on furthering my education and attain a BSN after I got hired.

I guess I am worried that ADNs are not as desirable as BSNs and I may have trouble getting hired. I am also 43 so time is of the essence. I really need to get a career going. Finishing a BSN would take quite a long time.

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BSN is what bigger hospitals are "preferring" when they are hiring. You can also end up with better pay, probably as you are gaining the experience.

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Specializes in Civilian+military ER, CVICU.

Down here in San Diego, one of the hiring managers said they don't even look at ADN applications at Scripps anymore, BSN or higher.

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